Empower, Educate, Sustain Uganda's Rural Orphans

Dear Esteemed Supporters,

As we welcome the dawn of 2024, I extend sincere wishes for health, happiness, and prosperity to each and every one of you. Since our last communication, we have encountered a series of challenges that put our resilience to the test.

Unfortunately, our Director of Childcare, Sharon, faced a health setback requiring two weeks of hospitalization and urgent care due to high blood pressure and cardiac issues. Additionally, a contagious skin epidemic affected several children, necessitating medical attention for each of them. Unexpected government inspections occurred twice, leading to mandatory maintenance work, which was not initially factored into our budget.

Since our last update, I'm happy to report, electricity has been fully installed within the MCCF compound, providing comfort to our orphans and staff during dark hours. This improvement allows Director Tony to charge his phone and use his laptop without needing to go into town.

Furthermore, we extended our water pipes to a larger well with better pressure, and the water source has been extended for use in the washing area, eliminating the need for bringing buckets. To meet government inspection requirements and address safety concerns, a protective fence was installed around the orphanage, outer walls were cemented for added protection, and a protective cement block surrounding the building (a valander) was constructed to shield the dirt-based hut from humidity and protect against dangerous snakes, an issue we encountered previously. Additional windows were added for natural light, and the entrance door was upgraded.

During the second inspection, it was highlighted that the inside floors of the orphanage must be well-cemented, and a conventional toilet seat should replace the Turkish toilet commonly found in rural areas. Work on these improvements is set to commence this month.

Due to unforeseen expenses, the reusable sanitary pads project will be postponed until the next school vacation period, and plans to acquire hens for sustainability after the completion of all cement work.

Our ongoing special fundraiser to cover surgery costs for Asina is progressing well, with approximately half of the funds raised. The estimated cost for Asina's eye surgery to restore her vision is $1200. Director Tony will be traveling five hours to Kampala with Asina to obtain a detailed quote from the performing eye hospital, as the nearest eye hospital in Tororo is not equipped for the delicate operation Asina requires. This year, we are prioritizing Asina's vision restoration, aiming to achieve this goal before the dawn of 2025.

To address future unexpected medical needs without impacting savings meant for other vital expenses, we aspire to establish a specific medical fund that replenishes after each use.

With the assistance of donated materials from a French seamstress, we engaged a community lady to knit warm sweaters for several children, providing them with clothing for the chilly rainy season.

Despite the unexpected challenges, we concluded the year with a Christmas celebration, including a festive meal, cake, beverages, sweets, and balloons. A full netball set was gifted for the children to enjoy collectively.

Additionally, we are excited to share that merchandise from Mbale, Uganda, is now available for purchase on our website. All proceeds from these sales will directly benefit the MCCF orphanage and the Women's Empowerment Program. The items offered for sale are either skillfully handcrafted by our MCCF single mothers or sourced from local markets, supporting the livelihoods of the talented locals. For inquiries about shipping costs and payment options, please don't hesitate to contact me.

As we look ahead to 2024, we express our deepest gratitude for your unwavering support. We cannot fathom navigating through these challenges without you. Despite setbacks, we remain steadfast in our commitment to progress and anticipate achieving more milestones together. I eagerly await the accomplishments that lie ahead in the coming year.

Warm regards,

Victoria

Links:

• Help support Asina and gift her vision of hope
• Meet our MCCF full time orphan children
• MCCF Shop. Your purchases support MCCF orphanage

In our report to our cherished donors,

Since partnering with GlobalGiving, we've achieved significant milestones and faced occasional setbacks, as is common in any project. Nonetheless, our resolute commitment remains focused on highlighting our remarkable progress, moving steadily closer to our ultimate goal each year.

Our journey began with securing essential materials and empowering mothers with valuable sewing skills and the purchase of sewing machines. This empowered them to mentor other unemployed single mothers and teach sewing to our children. This initiative had a dual impact, equipping our beneficiaries with valuable expertise and enabling them to create clothing. Our dedicated team of mothers crafted clothing for 35 MCCF orphans, and 35 more mothers are set to follow suit. This endeavor will benefit a total of 70 mothers and 50 children, offering new clothing, pride, and income opportunities.

We introduced a diverse range of skills, including basket weaving and jewelry making, with items destined for local markets and international sales. A knitting project started but was disrupted due to a mother's serious illness; we're working to resume it. Utilizing land that was graciously lent to us, we supplied MCCF orphanage with seeds. As a result, they cultivated their own crops, including corn, beans, green collards,tomatoes and squash introducing a variety of nutritious food options to the children's meals. In addition, a generous donation from a local included a rooster for the orphanage, and there are plans to acquire hens in the near future. Furthermore, we experienced the unfortunate loss of our goats due to a bee attack, but thanks to the generosity of a donor, we now have the possibility of acquiring new goats or even a cow with an additional contribution, we plan purchase next month.

Prioritizing medical care, two doctors conducted check-ups, distributed vitamins, and provided guidance on disease prevention, including malaria. The donation of 100 pairs of eyeglasses from French opticians greatly benefited the community. A youngster afflicted with a serious skin condition sought the expertise and treatment of a dermatologist.

To enhance the comfort of our children, we procured blankets, mosquito nets, and replaced several mattresses ruined by humidity. We also installed solar lighting panels to improve illumination.

Our commitment to supporting education continued with the coverage of school tuition fees for September and the provision of essential educational materials. An ongoing project involves the installation of electricity within MCCF for homework,  administrative work and security.

Challenges emerged with our well system, temporarily affecting other planned projects. To ensure a continuous supply of safe water for the children, we will need to extend and replace the pipes to connect to a new water source.

We aspire to initiate a project focused on creating reusable sanitary pads and potentially construct an MCCF school in the community, pending the availability of funding. Our hopes remain high for funding the operation of our visually impaired girl, restoring her vision so she can lead a life like any other child.

Your steadfast support has been pivotal in our achievements, profoundly impacting the lives of those under our care. We're deeply grateful for your unwavering dedication. Together, we're creating a lasting and tangible difference. Thank you for being an integral part of our inspiring journey.

Warm regards, 

Victoria Spencer Geurts

Links:

• Save Children of Mbale website