'Building hope is the key to understanding our life in each of our Communities in Rwanda.
Working and living alongside our neighbours is not only our way of earning a livelihood but above all through friendship our lives are mutually strengthened. We want to live our charism and spirituality right at the heart of our neighbourhood through not only friendship and hospitality but above all through the prayer which we hope can animate all we do and are. Each of our communities is open to people who would like to join us for our prayer together or for silent adoration. We are also very active and available in our local parishes and in the small basic communities, we love to share together the Word of God. At this time of change and upheaval in our society we feel called to share the message of building unity and reconciliation so dear to Little sister Magdeleine and Brother Charles. In the schools and parishes we visit we feel an appreciation for a vocation 'to be' rather than 'to do'.
Kigali Kicukiro 
At the service of one another just in the ordinary jobs of each day
is our family home for all the Little sisters. There is a constant coming and going in this central community at the service of one another and also being open to the wider picture of the neighbouring Regions of Africa. The little sisters also live community with their neighbours and work with them to try and earn money in small ways: making jam, or doing craft work, building up life together with those without a job.
We really want to be a family, a place where each one has her place and is recognized as unique and a child of God.
It is also important to be a listening ear to so many who have suffered during the events, those who are sick or wounded.
Every child is a treasure
Bagaragara, Byumba is the most recent community replacing Masaka. We live among other small farmers and try to keep the balance between rural life and earning our living. One sister works in the local health centre, a privileged place to meet others.
It is so important just to have time and to share and help each other in small ways, to be a good neighbour. Jesus' life in Nazareth remains a constant inspiration.
Butare is a rural area where it is sometimes hard for people to earn a living. As our house is a bit bigger we often have a noviciate - Little sisters training for their life in the community - and the novices can work on the farm where we grow bananas and vegetables and look after the cows. We find many little jobs in contact with others and where we can build up the dignity of one another.
One of us works at a psychiatric center with the Brothers of Charity and another Little sister works with Caritas (Butare Diocese). She visits people in the villages and makes the link with Caritas to give them a lift for daily living. Sometimes they build a small project together or initiate a cooperative.
The community in Rango is part of a government housing project. Each family is given a small house and a plot of land to farm. Many also go to work in town. Here we feel called in a special way to follow Jesus who for thirty years lived in the small town of Nazareth as a craftsman and forged there his very identity as the servant and the Nazarene.
The Kabarondo community
was started to be with Rwandans who recently arrived back in the country following the war. We have a small farm and one Little sister works in a sowing shop at the market. Several young women wanting to learn a trade work with her and they are helped by this experience of working together. This community also welcomes postulants, those who would like to get to know more about our life.
From the very first months we try to emphasize how our vocation is one committed to reconciliation and rejoicing in difference building up our lives and each one's special gift.
The secret of our life together is prayer and praise!
Crete Congo-Nile was our very first community in Rwanda near the Shrine of Our Lady of the Poor. Little sister Magdeleine saw this foundation as a place of prayer and adoration not only for Rwanda or Africa but for the whole world. The beautiful surroundings are ideal for a time of retreat or rest. The pilgrimage to Our Lady brings many visitors and so welcome is an important part of life in this community. As elsewhere the little sisters make a great effort to earn their living. They have a small farm with cows and cultivate the garden. They also make jam from the wild mangoes which they sell and do craft work.
