LITA

CURRENT PROJECTS

UGANDA

The projects I'm presently working on for the children are located in Uganda. Known as "The Pearl Of Africa" ( so named by Sir Winston Churchill ) Uganda is a land locked country in East Africa located between Kenya (east), Tanzania and Rwanda (south), Democratic Republic Of The Congo (west), and Sudan (north).

A few facts ...

* flooding in March 2010 caused massive mudslides killing hundreds and displaced thousands

* population estimated at 27,600,000 as of 2007;

* 1 in 12 persons is an orphan;

* 56% of population are children below 18;

* more than 50% live on less than $1 per day;

* 97% use firewood;

* 8% have electricity and less than 4.5% have TV;

* 88% live in rural areas and the average household is 4.7% persons;

* English is the official language with a significant number of local and swahili dialects spoken;

* 49% rely on word of mouth as main source of information;

* Bwindi Park in southwest Uganda supports half of the world population of 600 mountain gorillas;

* gained independence from British rule in 1962 remaining a part of the Commonwealth and as such is said to promote democracy, human rights, good governance, rule of the law, individual liberty, egalitarianism, free trade, multilateralism, and world peace;

MOSQUITO NET FUND

Please meet little darling "Tracy", the first recipient of a mosquito net from a fund I started in Uganda in 2007 to help provide protection from malaria for orphaned and vulnerable children. An ongoing fund that I accept donations for, a mosquito net is an inexpensive and very effective way to contribute to the empowerment of an orphaned child.

Since 2007, "Love Is The Answer" has sponsored and raised funds for the purchase of over 200 "long lasting, treated, rectangular mosquito nets" and organized education about and distribution of them, to orphaned and vulnerable children in Uganda.

Given the current exchange rate ( June 2010 ) a $10 gift will purchase approximately 2 nets from a local supplier in Uganda! Thank you for sponsoring nets for the children today!

After the transaction fee paypal charges, 100% of funds raised for mosquito nets will be applied to the purchase of mosquito nets.

AIDS CONCERN INTEGRATED ORGANIZATION- "ACIO"

and ACIO Child Care Center, Sironko, Uganda

ACIO is a small, community based organization "Love Is The Answer" supports that was founded 5 years ago to address the growing number of HIV/AIDS orphaned and vulnerable children in the district of Sironko, Uganda.

Inspired by the Love and direction of Vincent, a local school teacher, ACIO's membership is made up of approximately 100 guardians of orphaned children along with concerned community members all seeking to come up with viable and sustainable solutions to care for the children.

ACIO have identified there are over 400 orphaned and vulnerable children in their district, most living with ACIO members and caregivers in the community, and some living in full time care at the ACIO Child Care Center. You can find general information about orphaned children, caregivers and some history about ACIO by clicking on the archives of this PROJECTS page - March 2008 and June 2008. To learn more about our accomplishments to date with ACIO, and plans and programs that we're currently focusing on, please click HERE .

While there are often specific projects I'm focusing on raising funds for, like the upcoming "Bricks" and "Heifers" programs, one can always make a "General Contribution" to ACIO that will be applied to the top priority on our list for ACIO children at the time it is received. Thanks very much for your support!

After the transaction fee paypal charges, 100% of the funds raised for "ACIO General Contributions" will be applied to projects and programs directly benefitting the orphaned children with ACIO in Sironko, Uganda.

CHILD HEADED FAMILIES

I welcome you to read about Child Headed Families and my involvement with two - 'Betty's Family' and 'Gideon's Family' - by visiting archived updates from March 2008 , June 2008 and November 2008 - 2009

June 2010 ~ This past January before the new year of school was set to begin in early Feb, a friend in Mbale traveled to visit Betty and her brothers. Through him I learned the awesome news that all 3 boys, Moses, Morning and Peter had passed into the next grade of school, namely 7, 6 and 5 ( stunning achievements on the part of the boys, not easily accomplished, you can imagine, by children in child headed families... ). He said they were eager and very happy to get organized to return to classes for this next year of school.

I sent funds by money gram to support the boys with new uniforms and school supplies, including text books for Moses going into P7, (the other boys have the previous years books to pass down to one another) as well as extra money for the boys to begin a small poultry business as an income generating activity.

Betty was not at the property the times my friend recently visited and I have yet to hear definitive news about her, her business, Rose and Stella, and the Auntie living at the compound with her many children. My friend was made aware that there are issues that have arisen regarding the ownership of the children's land. At this time, I am awaiting news about a clan meeting that has been arranged by the village elders at which ( I am hoping ) the children's ownership of the land will be confirmed ( I was told when I was with the children that when their parent's died and left no will, the clan leaders voted and secured the land in the children's name ) and any relatives looking to usurp it from the children shall be stopped. More on this as I am informed...

My friend also went to visit with Gideon's family in January and see what everyone's plans were for the new school year. When he arrived at the compound, he found only Naume, one of Gideon's sister's there. Gideon, she told him, had been enrolled by his extended family and was away at a trade school, and Martha, Gideon's other sister, had been sent to work as a housekeeper/nanny for extended family. Neither Martha nor Naume were continuing on with their schooling this year because they have failed P6, Grade 6, 2 years in a row, most likely due to many responsibilities for, and little support from, their extended families.

To make a "General Contribution" to support Child Headed Families that will be applied to the top priority on my list for them at the time it is received, please do so here. Thanks for supporting the children!

After the transaction fee paypal charges, 100% of funds raised for "Child Headed Families - General Contribution" will be applied to supplies and projects directly benefitting children in child families.

JUNE 2010 ~ CATHERINE'S UPDATE

It's coming to the 2 year mark since I've been back in Canada, the months have absolutely flown by and still, there hasn't been a day when I've not felt one of my feet on the ground and a whole lot of my heart with the children, in Uganda!

In this time that has passed I am happy and grateful to have had the help that made possible the accomplishments for the child families mentioned above and for ACIO, here. These empowering accomplishments and the fact that children and others here in Canada are learning about and helping orphaned children in Uganda makes my time back in Canada very meaningful for me. It's also been wonderful for me to have so much time with family and friends!

While there was some unrest and conflict in Uganda some months back, and more recently flooding and mudslides, and I am watching to understand what this may all lead to in the immediate future, my plans continue to be to return there as soon circumstances suggest it's time!

Friends have recommended I come up with a budget to give interested people an idea of what I am needing to earn, save and gather together before heading over the water again! In this "what comes around, goes around world" I am most grateful and accepting for the support that comes my way personally. Thank you!

On my first journey, not including the approx $5,000 that was donated and entrusted to me for oprhaned children, ( click here to see details regarding donated funds to date )  I estimate I personally spent around $20,000 which lasted me about 9 months.

For now, let's say I probably have a 'needs budget' for my next trip to Africa that goes something like:

1) Between $2500 and $3500 for return airfare, medical, travel and emergency evacuation insurance...

2) Food and accommodation expenses for each month I am there ... say $1000 per month...

... or, when it comes to the accommodation side of things, perhaps you know of someone who would like to sponsor the set up of a "Love Is The Answer compound" ( land and housing etc, for somewhere around $10,000 ) that will serve as a ongoing home base for me and anyone else who'd like to join me on the ground with the children!

3) Ground transportation and travel to the children and grass roots community initiatives for orphans ... say $200 to $400 per month.

... or, perhaps you know of someone who would like to sponsor a camper van for me! VW type vans ( just like my old one that I traveled from Canada to Panama and back in and then sold before going to Africa ) are available and would be perfect for me to use in Uganda!

If you would like to make a contribution toward expenses on my next journey to Uganda, please do so here. I thank you very much for your generosity, kindness and support!

BLESSINGS AND GRATITUDE!

In Love and Service,

Catherine

JUNE 2010