How would your children with such a school outing?
Recently 12 pupils from the Graeme Naish Memorial School (a Alongside Africa Uganda partner school) went on a hike in the countryside to the edge of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park where the family of one Zakaria resides. Zakaria Tumurinde and his wife Mauda Nyiravuguhenda are from the ethnic minority Batwa (pygmy) community. Although in the evening of their years they had with them a very young child of about 7 years, one Akanjuna Gloria, (not her real name) who could pass for a grandchild of the couple. Zakaria and Mauda earn a living guarding the crop gardens of better-off non-Batwa households in the neighboring community from stray wild animals from the National Park.
In the course of interaction the visitors learnt that Gloria was not their blood relative, instead she was an abandoned baby. Gloria had been discovered (as a baby) next to her mother who had been murdered by the predominant Bakiga (non-Batwa) community in the area. By the time Gloria was found she was evidently malnourished, naked, and sickly with visible signs of mosquito bites, hanging on to her dead mother.
Consequently Mauda and her husband decided to take the baby Gloria and raise her up in spite of their meagre earnings. Though theirs was a pitiful life they opted to share the little they get to grant Gloria an opportunity to live. Gloria now looks much healthier but has never gone to school. The visitors were understandably moved, some to tears, to see the pitiful Batwa dance, with Gloria too joined the dancers! One wonders how such a family finds the courage to continue, let alone to smile and dance.
If you can give Gloria and other children like her the opportunity to go to school, get an education and have the chance to escape the poverty trap please PM us or visit our Give a Child a Chance sponsorship page.
Primary Leaving Exams take place in Uganda next Monday.
Earlier today our Director, Wilberforce, delivered success cards, mathematical sets, some little last-minute support and above all words of encouragement to our sponsored children Sophan and Precious who are sitting their primary leaving exams on Monday. Wilberforce told them that they not only have what it takes but also have our prayers and support in the upcoming examinations.
At times what matters most is not money, material gifts or possessions but having someone look you in the eye, hold your hand and calmly and reassuringly mention those four wonderful words: ‘I believe in you!’. Wilberforce was left sensing a greater sense of inspiration in the two candidates. May their dreams come true – they surely deserve all our prayers and words of bright hope (Amasiko).
Alongside Africa is working with University of Ljubljana
Alongside Africa is partnering with the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Ljubljana in Slovenia to design and build the Amasiko Halfway House under the direction of Professor Anja Planiscek
The Faculty of Architecture of the University of Ljubljana is considered one of the best Central European architectural schools. Its level of quality is evidenced by numerous successful students and graduates who are achieving enviable results in Slovenia and abroad, and also by the quality teaching staff who effectively cover the majority of the modern aspects of architectural creation.
The Amasiko Halfway House project will form an integral part of the architectural course with students involved in the design and building of the structure.
Recently representatives from the university, including Professor Anja Planiscek, met with the Alongside Africa team in Kabale to survey and assess the land, learn local building techniques and investigate the availbility and quality of local building materials.
Building of the Amasiko Halfway House, using local builders and materials, is scheduled to start in July 2017.
Women’s group receive the first high value Obumwe loan
One of the recipients of an Obumwe loan was the New Foundation Parents Association (NFPA). NFPA was constituted in 2009; the group currently has a membership of 25 (2 male, 23 female) and operate based in Katasya village, Nyarurambi parish, Muko Sub County – in the newly constituted Rubanda district, SW Uganda. They received an Obumwe loan in January 2014, which they initially injected into their savings & loans association kit; the proceeds were ploughed back to finance several development initiatives. The loan was repaid on schedule and the group has used the proceeds from the loan to grow over the past two years.
Following a visit to the group on our recent trip to Uganda we were delighted to have been able to offer them our first higher value Obumwe loan. The group will use this to complete the production of 11,000+ bricks, increase the size of their apiary project and invest in agricultural production.
This increase in the scale of the Obumwe micro-finance programme was thanks to a few generous donors who have injected funds into this self-financing programme.
To contribute to the self-financing Obumwe fund click here
Opportunities, not aid.