Report on visit to supported projects: May-June 2007

Wellspring Project, Kampala, Uganda

Communicate-ed has contributed to a number of initiatives run by Wellspring, including their housing project and micro-credit business set ups. As interest rates are around the 35% mark (putting our recent UK interest rate rises into a different perspective!) it is impossible for the majority of people to buy their own home or set up in business.

Wellspring have bought 3 acres of land and are building 22 homes. £1,800 builds a 2 bed house! These are then sold to nationals who repay the loan at a low interest rate over 10 years. It was great to meet people who are now living in their own home. The homes are very simple by western standards, but by Ugandan standards are very comfortable.

   

Micro-credit can be made available to those wishing to set up their own small business. Most loans made by Wellspring are for about £30, a loan too small for a bank to even consider. This money is repaid weekly over 6 months, and then the money can be recycled to another borrower. The overall repayment rate for projects such as these is around 97%, a better rate than on loans made by a UK bank! These are hard working people – they are not looking for a free handout. For those of you who have been on a Communicate-ed course recently, we saw the hair dresser and the lady who runs the pharmacy in the flesh................

They run their businesses for a small community on the shores of Lake Victoria.

Masaka School for Deaf Children, Masaka, Uganda

This school, the only one of its kind in Uganda, caters for 100 children who are deaf and is financed by Hope HIV, a UK charity. What an amazing place – the kids seemed very secure and loved at the school though many of them are outcasts from their families and communities as culturally, we were told, their disability is considered to bring a curse.

We had brought a play parachute which they loved.

We agreed to find sponsors for a little girl we were taken to see - Fiona, living in a slum, we were told Mum is in her early 20s (looks younger though...), and doesn't want her. She is deaf and a physical disability means that she is unable to walk. The school needed a sponsor - £14 a month - to take her in. We think that with surgery she could be able to walk. Until then the local hospital has promised a wheelchair.

Fiona now has a sponsor, but there are another 40 children who still need support. If you would be interested in sponsoring another child please email us at admin@communicate-ed.org.uk. Thank you

Uganda Women Concern Ministries, Mbale, Uganda

Our first stop on the (very long) journey up north to Mbale was a Vocational Training school in Jinja, where we met Doreen, 19 year old who was about to complete her Nursery Teacher course (probably the equivalent of a nursery nurse in the UK). She is 4th of 13 children, father has died of AIDs, mother is very ill. When she graduates and finds a job she will support her younger siblings. Communicate-ed has provided the £800 (£400 year for 2 years) to pay for her to be trained.



Once in the Mbale province we visited a number of families who had benefited from Communicate-ed’s support, mostly through providing fees for education.

You may have read about ‘child headed households’ - but nothing can prepare you for seeing one. We were given a very warm welcome by a family of 7 children – their household is now headed by 2 brothers in their late teens. Father died age 46, mother aged 36, and then in February grandmother aged 82. The children showed us the graves where they had buried all 3, just outside their mud shelter. It was hard to hold back the tears.

  

Communicate-ed have helped the 2 older boys through secondary school, one sister is supported by a lady from the UK. Three primary aged children need sponsors to get through school, £15 pounds per month would provide them with a school place, clothing, and food.
Please contact us on admin@communicate-ed.org.uk if you would be interested in supporting these children or others like them.

Micro-Credit Projects, Nairobi, Kenya

Communicate-ed has co-financed micro-credit loans in and around Nairobi. The project is run on a similar basis to the Ugandan ones, though the loans tend to be bigger (average about £80) as the cost of living is comparatively higher in Kenya because the economy is more stable and inflation more under control.

      

We visited a market stall selling tomatoes, garlic and onions; a banana farmer; a small hen rearing business and a tailor. Each had been given a small loan to start up or expand and all had repaid all or most of their loans so the money can then be passed on to another small business. The bank interest rate, though lower than Uganda, is still 15% in Kenya.

LAMA House, Home for Street Boys, San Fernando La Union, The Philippines.

Our first visit was to the main home, which is a large, attractive building constructed about 10 years ago for the purpose. It currently houses 16 boys of various ages - all of whom have been referred by the Social Services here. It had a lovely atmosphere - the boys obviously know it as their home, not 'Home' (as in institution).

  

We then went on to another home about 10 miles away - more out in the countryside. This is a building that was constructed using Communicate-ed money (£4,000), so we were very excited to see it. It is home to 5 older teenage boys, who also have a 'houseparent' (Anthony) living in another building in the grounds - who was once a street boy himself and one of the first at LAMA house. (He is now married and in his late 30s). Once again the atmosphere was excellent, the building very light and spacious and extremely well looked after by the lads. When they are not at school or college the boys look after goats, help work the land etc - picking up useful skills for life here.

The Philippines Christian Foundation Inc, Manila, Philippines.