Dear charity members, friends and family, I hope this newsletter finds you well.
I’m delighted to announce that we have gained Registered Charity status. Thank you for your support as a small charity under the Charity Commission helping us to reach this goal. Charity Number 1197264.
The last two years have been very challenging but as a small charity we have gone from strength to strength and achieved so much. In 2020 the focus was very much on fundraising and regular donations for food to support the children, teachers and wider community who were staring as a result of lockdown. We developed the farming land planting for the future and took on more children who were orphaned.
At the beginning of 2021 we built 2 large classrooms for P7 & P6 ready for the planned phased return. P7 were able to take their Primary Leaving Exams and passed very well. Shortly afterwards UG went back into lockdown and the school remained closed for the rest of the year.
A highlight was receiving letters from some Primary School children in Australia! Some of our children wrote back and both sides found it an unforgettable experience.
Many schools in Uganda closed down permanently but we continued to build the new classroom block for P1 to P5 according to the architect’s plan.
Thank you for your support, your donations – monthly and otherwise. It is very much appreciated. It’s life changing.
Helen
We weren’t able to hold many fundraising events but had a successful evening at a charity member’s house, a coffee morning and an afternoon tea. We finished the charity year having raised over £7000. The charity financial year runs from 1st Nov to 31st October.
Building the new classrooms has been a massive achievement and alongside this we have had to improve the access road, build a wall around the school and toilet block. The Education Authorities continue to impose strict conditions and thankfully, by the grace of God, we continue to keep up with them building a school that is academically and morally excellent.
The object of The Helen Margaret Owen Foundation is to advance the education of the children attending Kirinya Children’s Centre by the provision of funds for education, training, and by prevention and relief of poverty.
2022
What a joy to begin the year as a Registered Charity and to see the schools return on 10th January after nearly 2 years of closure.
The new classrooms were roofed and classes began. There’s still work to done but 120 Primary children were able to start.
The Nursery School is a separate building of 3 classes with currently 45 children. The numbers are rising as the poorest children come from villages far away so we’re likely to have 200 children soon.
I’d hoped we’d be able to take some fee paying children from schools that had closed to help ‘balance the books’ but it’s very clear that our ministry is to the poorest of the poor, the children that other schools wouldn’t want. There are 60 children (orphans/vulnerable), 33 being looked after at school and 27 by guardians near school. We need more beds etc.
The Teachers and children are in houses I’ve purchased over the last few years close to school.
The Inspectors are very pleased with the progress we’ve made and will help us get the Uganda National Examination Board (UNEB) certificate to operate as an examination centre for the region using the large building which was church & school combined (right).
This will be a huge accolade and save money as our P7 children travel far for exams which is costly. Hopefully it will bring in some income.
Let’s not forget our amazing, hardworking, talented teachers and administrators who make all happen there. A huge thank you to them for their courage and commitment. We exist to support them in their work.
Plans for 2022:
- Solar panels for school & church to save the cost of electricity and power fridges etc.
- A container loaded with aid organised through CareUK expected April which will benefit school, people of all ages – hundreds of people in different areas of Uganda.
- Visits in April and November.
- Fabulous fundraising events.
- Website coming soon.
The object of The Helen Margaret Owen Foundation is to advance the education of the children attending Kirinya Children’s Centre by the provision of funds for education, training, and by prevention and relief of poverty.
Every Child Deserves a Better Future!
The Helen Margaret Owen Foundation Sort code 40-08-22 Account 91827731
Cheques payable to The Helen Margaret Owen Foundation
30 Huntsfield Close, Lymm, Cheshire, WA13 0SS.
