A Different Uganda

Our Field Director in Uganda, Alison Barfoot, just visited our Kabale site in SW Uganda. Our local church partner brought that project in significantly under budget, and built the most incredible chapel/multi-purpose building with the savings. They’re cranking towards sustainability right out of the gate, with their local ag production moving forward Day 1. We’ve partnered with the local primary school to expand the school. Here are some excerpts and pics from Alison’s report from the field:

I’m attaching some photos from the visit. Also, a thank you letter from the new Head Teacher at Rwere Primary School. Apparently, the woman we were dealing with before is the Deputy Head Teacher; the Head Teacher position had been vacant. Anyway, the new Head Teacher was with us all day on Saturday and seems to be integrating well. His name is Robert Baguma.

They are busy making bricks for the school block, using the brick machine. They cut down some trees that were planted on their property and are busy making timber for the roof. The ground has been cleared (you saw those pictures in the last batch I sent you) by the community. Obed and Caleb were both very upbeat and encouraged about their progress.

The children welcomed us, and later in the day had prepared a program for us with singing, dancing, and a simple kind of drama.

They have cultivated land within their compound for growing vegetables, which at this point seem to be cabbage. Adjacent to the fenced in property, the community has cleared 1 acre of land and they are growing sweet potatoes, I think. That’s their staple food. Every Saturday, community members come and work in the garden. It’s a wonderful thing.

On Sunday morning, we joined the children at the church, and we were all invited forward to bring greetings. The children sang, and later in the service, during the offering, they got excited and started dancing their traditional dance. The church has really embraced them, and they seem to feel at home in the church.

The sewing center construction is moving along. The multi-purpose hall has a roof and doors. They have not yet put in the glass in the windows or poured the cement for the floor. But, the building could be used as it is now.

Brick making machine in Kabale

Cabbage growing in the garden