Operation Reach Out" Launched for Child-headed Families
by Kate Creedon, Canada
Child headed families are homes of orphans who don't have anyone to take them in and are forced to assume parental responsibilities. Kate, a Canadian volunteer writes: "Tragically, people throughout Uganda are dying unexpectedly and leaving many children alone or living with an elderly grandparent. There are no social services for these children and they often fall through the cracks. URF has initially identified 11 child headed families but the 8 most needy ones have been helped first. Family size ranged from 1 - 6 children for a total of 23 orphans helped. There were varying needs, but all required some assistance. On June 16, 2008 "OPERATION REACH OUT" launched and 7 volunteers travelled through villages distributing supplies for these 8 families. Each family received a Piglet. The goal is that the piglets will provide a sustainable resource and set of skills to benefit these youth. It is hoped that the supplies will help make their lives a littl e easier. Supplies included items like beddings, mosquito nets, shelves, mats, kitchen utensils, basins, lamps, paraffin, oil, fertilizers, etc."
Engineers Without Boarders- MN team 7 currently in Uganda is making good progress on the implementation of the water and sanitation system for the Academy. They are installing a rain water harvesting system to provide clean water to the children. Pictures will be coming soon.
College of St. Benedict/St. John's University Students Raise funds for a Cow for a Child-headed family in Uganda
During the spring semester, students at the College of St. Benedict/St. John's University, Minnesota have raised $670 through the Global AIDS Awareness Club to  purchase a cow for a child-headed family in rural Uganda. Melissa (see email below) and a few others have been to Uganda before on previous students service trips (a group of 7 from these campuses are currently in Uganda). The Global AIDS Awareness Organization and other groups at other campuses raised almost 75% of the funds for the Hope Academy initial construction phases upto the roof in addition other donations.
Deo and Zaituni are one of the child-headed families supported by URF. Recently one of the volunteers in Uganda offered to put them in school for this year. They had dropped out of school previously. For the past year they have been participating in the after-school program as the only education they could get. Now they are attending full time classes since the Hope Academy opened for high school classes a week ago. The volunteers in Uganda have purchased household supplies and their home has improved a lot. Keep these brave youth in your prayers. There are many childheaded families in Uganda who need a helping hand. The volunteers in Uganda are currently identifying and profiling similar families so URF can solicit support for them.
We believe that helping them start small income generating projects and practical education is the best way to get them on their feet - other than giving them handouts. Deo and Zaituni have been in the entreprenuership classes for a year so they should have some knowledge to run their project effectively. Training will be provided for them on caring for cattle. When the cow start producing milk, they will be able to earn enough for basic needs and school supplies. Our goal is that these families or communities can sustain themselves in the near future and not create dependence on URF. 
Many thanks to Melissa and the GAAO student team!!!!
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Hendrickx, Melissa J <>
Date: Mon, Jun 2, 2008 at 12:08 PM
Subject: RE: GAAO Fundraiser
To: "John Mary Lugemwa, OSB" <>
John Mary,
I put two checks in the mail today for the cow fundraiser. One is for $305 and the other for $100. St. Ben's should be sending a check for $265, so that brings our total to $670. Could you let me know whether or not you receive the check from St. Ben's when you receive the two checks I sent? That way I can contact Student Actvities if you haven't received the money yet. I was pleased to hear that Deo and Zaituni were being sponsored so they can go to school. I hope everything works out well for them.
Take care,
Melissa
........................................................
" KASIGWA DEO and NAKAWESI ZAITUNI:
Deo and Zaituni are orphan brother and sister whose father died in 2002 and the mother in 2004. At the time Deo was 10 years and Zaituni 9 years old. By the time the mother died they were both in primary four. Their cousin sister paid their school fees up to primary seven when she lost a job. Deo dropped out of school in senior one (grade 8) and Zaituni later while in senior three (grade 10). Their uncle gave them the small plot of land where they built a small mad hat as you can see in pictures. Deo wants to become a carpenter and Zaituni would like to be a nurse. They were both not attending school but they would like the opportunity to study. While attending the after-school program at Hope
Academy they expressed a great desire for learning. This how URF took them in and found ways of helping them."
URF Volunteer Updates - Weeks of June 9 to June 17th 2008
What Got Done:
Child headed families outreach complete and a huge success!
Nampijja was admitted into hospital and Agnes received a diagnosis and treatment
Drug and alcohol talk put in progress binder
Drug and alcohol talk with women's group and weaving program was introduced (the women are thrilled!)
Revised list of sponsor kids
Youth engagement activity introduced successfully (the kids went to Deo and Zaitun's house and helped set up the structure for the cow – will go back to finish structure)
Library inventory list finished (we found the flash drive)
Olivia to clinic and received treatment for Malaria
Clinic, lab and vocational school supply list completed
Monica signed up to be TA for the computer class
By finding sponsors for children at Hope, we have increased the teacher's salary fund!!
Bought clocks and filing system for school
Followed up with John regarding youth conference (our youth can go, but will need to provide money for travel)
Family outreach done
Half of the stories for "Stories of Hope" have been completed
Arts supplies donated and purchased
Dinner made for family and volunteers (mmmm!)
Water tank at church completed
Structure for clinic approved
First faculty meeting at school
SGA interviewing and elections under way
Schedule to help JjajJa with kitchen work made!
We went to Bright Stars primary school and sponsored some youth there
Patti and Laura found another student for Hope
Sewing machines inspected and they were approved
Volunteers helped EWB lay both slabs
EWB continue to work VERY hard! And two of the tanks were delivered!
Thank you all for your continued support to the children and people of rural Uganda.
Blessings,
--------------------
Hope Integrated Academy Opens for High School Students, May 29, 2008
Please allow me to share exciting news of the opening of the Hope Integrated Academy Vocational Secondary school in Uganda on May 26th and other updates from our volunteers on the ground. The first three days enrollment counts to 27 students for grades 8, 9, and 10. Eight of these students are orphans on full scholarship and others on subsidized tuition as most of them come from poor family.
The orphaned students had previously dropped out of school for financial reasons- but they have been participating in our after-school program which we continue to run for other students attending other local schools. We continue to seek sponsors for these students ($300 a year). We hope the numbers to grow in the coming weeks as it is typical of students in Uganda to start show up in the second week. Also, being a second trimester in the middle of the academic year, it's hard for students to transfer to a new school.
The community library and computer center are full operational and are open to anyone in the community. However, we still need more textbooks and computer equipment. The current major need is the science laboratory. We are raising funds for this facility - any help is appreciated. Vocational training courses will be integrated gradually as we obtain funding for needed tools. Seed funding for the weaving project for women has been secured and the project will start soon. Also school uniforms will be made at school so students can learn tailoring skills. These will be the first two skills training programs at the school.
Ugandan professional teachers have been hired in addition to seven international volunteers currently on site. A few other volunteers will be arriving in June, July and August. There is also another set of seven students from St. John's University and St. Benedict's College from Minnesota,USA on at the school for a week. The Engineers Without Boarders team of 6 from Univ. of Minnesota will arrive on June 2 and 7th to start implementation of the water and sanitation system for the school. We will keep you updated on the progress. So far things are going well.
The volunteers are preparing for a big community training seminars for June 14-15 aiming at empowering the entire community. Speakers are identified in these areas: health care, human rights (focus on gender and women's rights), entreprenuership, micro-finance, education, HIV/AIDS, rural development, and will also include women in business series. I have also spoken with our Member of Parliament (MP) requesting him to speak about community leadership and engagement.
Below are the rest of the updates from Uganda:
From: Kayla McCurry <>
Hi JM!
Hope you are well! Here's the list from last week. The school looks great and the students have already expressed how much they are enjoying it and the teachers. Bridget and Kate are in the clinic in Masaka today. Jenn, myself (Kayla), Laura, and Alyssa are teaching english while Tadeous is gone and then continuing the rest of the three week intensive english program in after school.
Peace, Kayla, NC-USA
P.S. I'm having an amazing time!
WHAT GOT DONE:
- St John's & St. Benedict's students arrived from Minnesota
- Jenn and Alyssa from the USA arrived
- Classroom desk's got delivered to the school
- Poultry trainer came to look at structures
- Chicks for Muslim women's chicken project were ordered
- Eye glasses got picked up for Immy, Adrian, and Richard
- Took Nampijja her bunk bed
- Printed more pictures for identity portfolio progress books
- Found a venue for the Conference
- Took 3 local women to the clinic in Masaka
- Took young lower class student to clinic for her eyes (conjunctivitis)
- Made budget for community conference
- Water tank at home got finished
- School opened "Hope Integrated Academy"
- Took middle student to Kyetume clinic for laceration/abrasion
- Went to Orphanage and bought them enough food for 2.5 months
- Took Richard to Kampala and got eye plan for 6 months
- Had Soccer game in Kiwangala (tied 2-2)
- Downloaded Anti-Virus onto computers
- ASP had an assembly about discipline, attendance and game plan
- Started ASP 3 week English course (after school program)
- Upper class Entrepreneurship completed part of the roof of their structure
- Upper class received a donated cock
- Solidified Acc. For school teachers
- Some students got uniforms
- Slashed Compound
- Typed up ASP evaluation sheet
- Bridget also lost her phone on the trip to the clinic and the orphanage in Masaka.
- Laura got a ridiculous amount of insect bites.
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