Training to lift young Ugandans out of poverty

In my last report I was looking back at my February visit; now I’m keenly looking towards my next visit which is only a few weeks away!

The main thing to change since February is that we now have a new principal, Josie Abong. I have known Josie since I first went to Siriba in 2008. Since then she has studied hard at Gulu University and has obtained a Diploma in Secretarial Studies and Information Management. We all wish her well .

Bishop George Kasangaki and I have been in touch constantly since I left and he has given much help and encouragement, not only to the VTC, Govenors and staff but also to me! His keen eye and attention to detail is good news for all of us.

We now know that our refurbished tools have arrived in the 'Tools with a Mission' warehouse in Kampala. It has taken four months to reach here from Norfolk in England. Due some clever logistics by Robert the warehouse manager, and Geoffrey of Uganda Development Services, they are going to fit all of them into Geoffrey’s minibus. I am travelling with the tools and have been told that my seat might yet have to be on the roof… and we are still in the rainy season! Maybe they are joking.

The final amount raised by St Leonard’s Church, Woolaton, in their Lent appeal was £2122. We are truly grateful to the congregation for this fine effort. This will go a long way in helping the most underprivileged of youngsters.

I have now launched a personal appeal of my own under David’s guidance and I am hoping for a good response from family, friends and business colleagues. You can read it too, here: http://hatw.org.uk/2014/09/17/hugo-masons-special-appeal-for-siriba-vtc-uganda/

.

I left Siriba at the end of February and when I returned, David Steiner asked me to become project co-ordinator. This was an exciting step for me since having been to Siriba on three occasions, many of the local people had become good friends. Their world is so different to mine and with many things buzzing around in my mind I was keen to to do my best to help the Vocational Training Centre as much as possible in the months and hopefully years ahead.

What I didn’t realise then was that as project co-ordinator, there was never going to be a dull moment! My priority is to keep in touch with the VTC at all times and so we have engaged Rita Epodoi from Uganda Development Services to monitor on a monthly basis in order to improve communication.

When I was at Siriba I noted that many of the tools needed upgrading and so we have ordered refurbished ones from 'Tools with a Mission' costing in the order of £900 including shipping from the UK and transport in Uganda. Delivery is expected soon.

Since I have been back home one of my highlights has been a visit from Hands around the World trustee, Wendy Sutton-Pryce. She has made an imaginative video of my stay in February which can be seen here. She took it to her church and raised over £2000 which we plan to use training the really underprivileged.

April saw the biennial change in the Board of Govenors. We now have a very able Oskar Okumu as Chair, with the whole process supported and encouraged by Bishop George Kasangaki.

A new mains water system has been provided in the surrounding district and once we have clearance we are hoping to connect to it and also provide water harvesting as a back up.

I am planning to return in September, the main priority being to work through a plan of sustainability which we hope will climax in about three years’ time.