FOR THE LOVE OF LIBERTY one year on.

One year ago I took on the sponsorship of lovely Liberty. A friend was sponsoring three children in the village where liberty lives (Kisseka in Uganda) and she  took the plunge and went out to visit the people there, say hello to the children she was supporting and see if there is anything she could do help these beleaguered people to improve their lot.  She has been busy with projects and ideas and you can follow Julies journey with this community at her Charity Facebook page Donnez de l'espoir à l'Ouganda DEO   https://www.facebook.com/FrDEO/  

Julie and her husband are back in Uganda as i write looking at the projects that are up and running (thanks to your generosity) and to see the children and work with Doreen who runs the community project, hoping to make everything easier to access and be completely transparent for us sponsors. They have managed to raise the money needed to fit a huge water tank at the local school and one project that was genuinely heart rending was to raise the money for one young woman  who lived with this cancer riddled leg, unable to afford the surgery.   Her leg has since been amputated and recently the money was raised to fit a prosthetic leg  allowing Judith to work and hopefully   to be reunited with her son  very soon.

Christs grace ministry - cgm (also on Facebook) is a relatively small community project run by one woman (and her faith) Doreen Kanyunyuzi. https://www.facebook.com/www.careforthem.org/

She visits the village regularly and helps to support many needy elderly and sick people as well as the children.

You may remember little Suzanne who I was concerned about because she has a huge umbilical hernia. the costs of a consultants appointment was akin to a months wages but Suzanne has now been seen by a doctor and her condition can be monitored. 

Liberty was found sleeping on a doormat on the floor and at four years old she had never done anything else. Her father is gone and her mother is absent with mental health issues and Liberty is being raised by her grandmother in a small mud hut, with no running water or sanitation.
Liberty was a shy, withdrawn and sombre girl, rather frightened of this grey haired white woman who arrived bearing gifts poor Julie).  
I have over the year sent something to her each month and Doreen duly delivers it and sends me photos of the packages in Liberty's hands.

This doll was her first personal gift. Yesterday Julie a caught up with Liberty who, still clinging to this doll. ran to her and gave her a hug.The second photo shows her with her Christmas box. I was rather concerned about one child receiving regular gifts but the other children and families are genuinely pleased for her. I do send stickers and small items for all the children and much fun was had with an inflatable ball which cost me £1.50!

Liberty has settled well into school and is making good progress. I LOVE receiving updates from Doreen and hearing the stories of the village and what is happening for the children and families there. The village is largely devoid of men and the woman do what they can to grow food and provide for their families. Children have to walk some 4 kilometres to fetch (dirty) water to be used for all functions in the home.
As a result of my plea last year a number of my friends and family joined me and took on the sponsorship of children. Thank you to them, it really lifted my heart.

Liberty's sponsorship costs each week, about the same as a decent cup of coffee but I get a much longer lasting enjoyment out of it. I look forward to seeing how she progresses and what she becomes and hope that in some small way i can help to raise her from her extremely poor routes to become a brave, happy and strong woman who can make some really positive changes to her community.

There is lots to do and sometimes I have more questions than answers. There is no flashy website, no glossy brochures or certificates of sponsorship but there are the pictures, the stories and the contact that enable me to continue to love Liberty. 
There are many more children desperate to go to school, needing a mattress to lay on, some clothes or food. You don't have to be a sponsor but could perhaps send some clothes that your own children no longer wear or make a one off donation to buy a mattress or a soft toy for one child. 

Julie and Jez are busy networking and trying to find ways to enable these people to help themselves and make some real progress in improving their lives. They would like to see a clinic erected, a water supply installed and sanitary products provided amongst many other things.

Kisseka is one little community in a mad, bad world where corruption is rife and life itself is extremely cheap, rape a continual concern and where birth control does not exist. 
One little community where children smile and are truly grateful for the opportunities given to them by people they will probably never meet.

I'm so pleased I got on board and that  Liberty chose me.

If you would like to help in any way visit Julies  Charity facebook page https://www.facebook.com/FrDEO/  

or Doreens community page https://www.facebook.com/www.careforthem.org/

or drop me a message. 

So you want to volunteer...

Pricklington Palace is a small but seasonally very busy hedgehog rescue caring for up to 20 sick or abandoned hedgehogs. Last year some 260 hogs came through the door and at times   I was in the rescue constantly . I would like to avoid a repeat of that if possible and I am looking for a volunteer to help me out with general duties which include, cleaning out hutches and weighing and feeding the hogs. This has to be done every day. 

When the season is at its peak one hedgehog may need a huge amount of input and this can be difficult to give when there are many others to tend to .

This role is voluntarily and people need to be aware that it is important to be reliable and turn up when expected. Most of the work is done between 0800 and 10.00hrs but there are times when hoglets require feeding outside of those times. It would, therefore be sensible if you are local and you must be able to travel to and from the rescue independently. I am situated just outside Howden.

The role would suit someone:

• Who is interested in wild animals.
• Wants to learn.
• Is happy to take instruction.
• Can work on their own once they are comfortable with the routine.
• Is happy to be called upon when the rescue is very busy for extra help if needed.

I am more than willing to mentor someone who eventually might consider setting up their own small rescue. If you make it clear that this is your intention you will be viewed positively for this role. 

You should be aware that their are certain zoonotic conditions (ie spread between hedgehogs and humans) and so you must always take sensible precautions. Hedgehogs must never be handled without protective gloves and i will not be held liable for injury or illness in relation to the handling of these animals. 

You should not apply if you are receiving chemo therapy or your immune system is compromised in any way.

The rescue can only house one volunteer at a time.

Thank you for your interest. please email me at gilldix@talktalk.net and use hedgehog volunteer in the subject header. It would be great to know  a little about you.