Dear charity members, friends and family, I hope this newsletter finds you well.
I recently sent a newsletter but thought I’d update you with the good work that’s going on.
I’m happy to say we are moving on from responding to immediate needs to building for the future. Thank you all for donations during such a desperate time and responding to the great need, not only of the children but others in the community. They thank you for your great kindness. Your help will never be forgotten. Their cries have turned to rejoicing.
The last update brought in some additional donations and I wanted to show you how it’s being used.
In 2017 I bought 3 hectares of land for growing food for the school and we’ve made good use of this. These are sweet potatoes being harvested in March 2017. It’s not far away but during lockdown they were unable to go. Things have been opening up and so they’ve been able to get some produce. Next time I’m in Uganda I’ll go and visit. Out of the money recently sent they have been able to pay the farm workers a little and some has been used to buy seeds, matoke and maize plants so that when the next school year begins there will be food for the school.
Thank you for your support, your donations – monthly and otherwise. It is very much appreciated. It’s life changing.
Helen
This month the land adjacent to the school came up for sale with three houses on it and some land suitable for growing produce.
The two pictures (at the top of this page) are the houses and land.
I know it well and had walked around there often. It’s the next land adjacent to the school toilet block we built last year.
The village is in the suburbs of Kampala so very little land suitable for growing food.
The larger house will have boarders so now we have a house for girls and a house for boys with teachers. The other two houses will be used for teachers.
Out of the last money they began to plant matoke, maize and sweet potatoes so now there will be direct access to food and the children will have a more balanced diet.
They normally have maize ground to flour mixed with hot water to make a porridge at break time and rice with beans for lunch.
Many of these children don’t get any other food so great is the need of these very poor families.
In the last newsletter I sadly told you that a pregnant lady we have supported lost her baby and told you that our security guard Pastor Wasswa’s wife was expecting a baby so a little money went to him as he looks after the school night and day.
I’m happy to report that on 12th July his wife had a baby boy.
A little money has been used for transport for Pastor Wasswa to go back to the village for a short while to see them and then come back.
They are jumping for joy!
They will wait until I’m next in Uganda for the baptism. What a privilege.
The priorities now are the teachers, preparing the school and farming the land so that in three months there will be food from the garden next to school. One teacher was down to nothing for food.
The cleaners and teachers have now had a bit of money out of the money sent recently.
We still haven’t had a date from the President when schools will return but they’re preparing and doing maintenance.
Alan Turner
I also have some sad news. Alan Turner passed away peacefully at home on 16th July.
He was a charity member, great supporter of the school and me personally, a very close friend.
He’ll be greatly missed by many.
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.
