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Liberty was a shy, withdrawn and sombre girl, rather frightened of this grey haired white woman who arrived bearing gifts poor Julie).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.
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