Sagamba

Yvan Sagamba is from the western part of Rwanda and came to CVKH in August 2023. He joined us as a Camphill Academy student and has recently started his second year.

“On a personal level, my experience has been great so far. I’ve learned a lot as a person, how to help others, and I’m also getting to learn in my Academy classes. I think it enhances my experience in the community in a good way because what I learn in the Academy is what I’m living here. I’ve now learned about what Camphill is all about, the history of CH, and I’m also getting to know other communities.

Sagamba and Hilda at their recent art show.

When I first arrived here, I felt welcomed.  You know when you get to a place, and you’re welcomed and people are interested in you – it makes it easier to adjust. Everyone is so kind and welcoming here.  That was the first thing I really noticed.”

Sagamba explained that first year students visited Plowshare in NH. They went with students from Beaver Run and Beaver Farm and got to meet others from Heartbeet Lifesharing.  “It was a really nice experience and we had fun.  And to get to experience another community, I really enjoyed that.  I also went to a conference in Wisconsin, and met even more communities from Canada, Triform, Copake, which I liked.”

Thomas, Joseph and Sagamba enjoying a beautiful evening in our community. 

Sagamba reflected on his travels and experiences at other Camphill Communities. He said, “The biggest takeaway is that each Camphill is unique, but they share a spirit of hard work.  They put so much work in to make their communities function.  You can that see that energy…day to day.  They all share that, and all the volunteers!” 

Sagamba first heard about Camphill Village Kimberton Hills from two friends who are involved in Camphill.  In 2022, Sagamba was studying in college  and working at the same time in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda.  He was really struggling financially and couldn’t be very selective about what jobs he took. His artist friend, Romeo, who’s also a talented artist, shared a studio with Sagamba.  Romeo connected him to people who were wanting walls lazured. Sagamba went to the studio and met with them. He shared, “We talked and the next day they took me to see the houses that Camphill built, and that’s how I got the job. We bought paints and for 3 to 4 days we did lazures in those houses. Throughout that process and all the conversations I learned about Camphill. We enjoyed working together, and it turned into a friendship.”

Preparing the walls for lazuring. 

Sagamba also spoke about his parents. “African parents are very concerned about their kids getting an education and art was never considered a career.  Even 10 years ago, 20 years ago you wouldn’t say to your parents, ‘I want to be an artist.’  I mean, they really love and support you, but they want you to be successful.  They could’ve forced me to study chemistry, etc. but they didn’t. I was fortunate that my parents recognized my talent. 

Sagamba and his new American friend, Becky, working on  lazuring the walls. 

Now they can see, art brought me these new experiences and it could bring me anywhere. It brought me here. I’m really proud of the things I’ve gotten to achieve and experience…because of my art.”

“As I go day by day, I realize I need more of the Camphill Academy, and this connection with the villagers. Getting to know them, and getting to help them.  Also, one thing that is interesting, and made we want to stay longer; It makes me happy.  I love helping in the workshops and doing community work, and seeing my talent and getting to use art to help villagers in the Mosaic studio.  When I look back at the projects we’ve worked on, it’s really good.

I am in Mosaics workshop several times per week and I like it, I really do. We studied mosaics briefly in the history of art class.  In Rwanda, in high school you choose a major – so I chose Graphic Art, and that is where I got my basic art skills, and then improved them over the years. I think from there I learned real basic fundamentals, the many ways art can be done, the History of Art and more.

Some of Sagamba's recent artwork.

I’ve been doing art professionally for 6 years. I’m glad that I can manage to do my art while I’m here, and I’m hoping that it can have a positive impact to me and the community.

Being here exposed me to so many opportunities and to live some of my dreams –  like  getting to the Museum of Modern Art in NYC. Learning about post-impressionist artists, or the renaissance, and a painting like Starry Night, and then being able to see it in person.  Coming here was everything, both personally and professionally, there’s so many opportunities here to achieve those things!”

From left to right: Betty, Cindy, Anna, Alan, Sonia and Sagamba, (all community members of Camphill Village Kimberton Hills).  

Sagamba has another year or two here at the Camphill Academy, but he’s thinking about the future too.

“I really want to do art and go to an art school.  I just have this feeling I may want to teach art and it’s hard to do without a degree. So, I really want to study art. I’m looking at art schools and I hope to get a scholarship to go. 

I also have this interest in Social Therapy and Psychology and that is one of the reasons that drew me here.  In my art my favorite subjects are figurative art and portraiture, and I just need to get the education part.  I feel like in the future, I can have a way to incorporate that.  I can see my future, and I dream of starting an Art Center back in my country.  It will be inclusive, raise awareness and include people with special needs – that’s one of the reasons I’m here.  I think with an art education I would be in a position to facilitate that and teach people.  That’s the big thing that I dream of doing.”