Monday 15 January

Success with bank, obtaining local phone and collecting vehicle, never an easy operation in Africa!

Met with Horace Nassary, the founder of Ndoombo Secondary School Centre and agreed to visit the school the following day to assess progress.

Met with Ally and Chris from TEKUA. A sad sight to see the weeds in the grounds and no teenagers, because they haven't been able to find new premises. We are meeting with them again on Wednesday to discuss their options.

 

Tuesday 16 January

Travelled to Ndoombo Secondary School Centre at the base of Mt Meru, 7000ft above sea level. This is the only secondary school education available in the area as there are no state funded schools here.

Stopped on the way to visit a disabled girl who Horace has provided with a wheelchair, a sewing machine and a tiny dwelling from where she can sell her sewing skills to provide her with a small income.

Warmly greeted at Ndoombo by teachers, pupils and building workers who have recently completed the building of 2 new hostels, complete with 40 bunk beds. It only needs the completion of the washrooms for them to be able to accept boarding students.

One classroom now fully equipped with desks and chairs and awaiting new pupils.

2 classes occupied by 1st and 2nd year pupils. We were warmly greeted by all, please see photo.

Introduced to the 4 new teachers and Horace announced the 12 month sponsorship by Helping Africa 100 of Elibariki Raphael, see photo.

Delighted to see your donations being spent at the grass roots level and making a big difference for these disadvantaged children.

On our return, met with Joanna, an Australian volunteer with Living Water, who has helped us to co-ordinate our charity's involvement in getting some children from St Lucia educated.

 

Wednesday 17 January

4 hour meeting with trustees of T.E.K.U.A to re-visit their vision and viable expectations. Also visited potential new locations from which the teenagers could operate. Agreed to consider and present some options next week.

Meeting with Horace to finalise the donations given by Helping Africa 100 to Ndoombo for materials and equipment for the school, as well as sponsorship of a teacher. Horace also introduced some leads on new accommodation for T.E.K.U.A and agreed to join us for the meeting on Monday. We're pleased things are looking a bit more hopeful.

 

Thursday 18 January

Sad news this morning, as one of the children living at St Lucia Nursing Home and Orphanage, died during the night.

Visited St Lucia, which is now home to 16 HIV positive orphans, 5 of who have Chickenpox.

Visited the new building for St Lucia, which has been sponsored by a charity set up in the USA by a previous volunteer.

We were warmly greeted by the children and Mrs Kimaro of Living Water Children Centre, when we visited in the afternoon. We were shown around the new building which houses a new kitchen, an office and 2 new classrooms. Living Water is now home to 31 children, some orphans and most of them abused or neglected.

Met with Gerald, who we are sponsoring for teacher training at Kampala. He is working voluntarily at Living Water during his Christmas break, and is returning to Kampala this weekend to start the new term on Monday. Astonished to see so much development so soon in a very mature and nice young man, we're sure he will keep up the good work.

 

Friday 19 January

Went to WAMATA, an HIV/AIDS awareness organisation. We gave a donation that they will spend on food, especially fruit and vegetables, which they deliver to people living with HIV/AIDS to ensure they have good nutrition. We agreed to visit some of these people next Thursday.

Return visit to Living Water Children Centre to meet with Mr & Mrs Kimaro and agree how our donation can best help.

Said our final farewell to Gerald and wished him good luck in completing his first year teaching degree in Kampala.