Updates 2007
1) MAMA SAM AND SAM, AN UPDATE
It was great to finally get mama Sam's house built. As you know, mama Sam and Sam are both HIV positive. A family member was threatening to throw mama Sam and her children out of their house last year (this is a common occurrence in Uganda once the husband dies). Mama Sam was really worried as you can imagine. A-Z Children's Charity intervened and we managed to talk with the local leaders and an agreement was made with mama Sam and her relative. The land that they were staying on was divided into two and mama Sam was able to stay in her old house. She now has two rooms built which she is able to rent.
She is also producing traditional beer. With this extra income she is now able to bring Sam to the clinic herself. She is also able to provide adequate nutrition for the whole family. In years to come she will be able to add a couple of rooms onto her new home and the whole family can move in there permanently.
Sam himself is doing really well. He is a happy child. He is attending the local primary school. He has not really had any health problems since A-Z intervened two an a half years ago. This is really amazing considering how ill
he was only a couple of years ago.
THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW PEOPLE, WHEN GIVEN A SMALL PUSH CAN REGAIN THEIR HEALTH AND LEAD PRODUCTIVE, INDEPENDENT LIVES
2) See the impact of the sponsorship programme
This is Andrew Kasibante, one of the first children to start on the sponsorship programme. His mother is dead and his father has to spend a large part of the year working up north to provide for the many siblings and orphaned cousins staying in Andrew's house. Andrew has grown up into a very mature man, acting like a father to the younger ones when his father is not around. Andrew will be starting university next year. When I talked to Andrew a couple of years ago he said he would like to be a politician.
A-Z Children's Charity's vision is to end poverty for the children of Uganda. It sees education as the key to do this. Andrew will now leave the A-Z Children's Charity Sponsorship Programme a university educated man. It is envisaged that Andrew will get a good job and be a positive influence on Ugandan society. In turn, he will be able to contribute towards his younger siblings and relatives education.
ACHIEMENTS IN 2007:-
- Nearly 200 orphans and vulnerable children being provided with school fees, school uniforms and two meals a day.
- 40 HIV positive children and adults gaining access to lifesaving medication.
- Approximately 1000 children per week utilising our children's library and the available library books.
- Over 140 patients per month gaining access to medical treatment.
- Over 250 people being offered voluntary counselling and testing for HIV.
- Over 400 children being taught peer education on HIV related issues.
- 40 Irish volunteers working in Uganda.
