BETTY’S FAMILY ~ Rose, Stella, Morning, Moses, Peter, Grandmother, Betty
BETTY’S FAMILY – Betty 17 yrs, (completed up to mid primary level at school until parents died, dreams of being a tailor) Moses 15, P5, ( has not attended school consistently since the passing of his parents and is several years behind children his age, dreams of being a Doctor) Morning 10, P5, ( dreams of driving a ‘piki piki’… swahili for motorcycle… just like the one we arrive on when we visit!) Peter 8, P3, ( dreams of being a math teacher) Cousin Rose with baby Stella 20 mths, ( when Stella was born with hydrocephalus both were abandoned by baby’s father and it was at that time they came to live with Betty) Grandmother ( weak, prone to sickness )
Since meeting this family, together you and I have supported the entire family with:
~ sugar, salt and soap weekly
~ mosquito nets
~ safe water collection vessels and education
~ access to health care for malaria +/or other treatments required
~ education about HIV/AIDS
~ used clothing for each member
~ a new bike, a ball and deck of cards
~ new blankets, sheets and foamies
~ 2 large cooking pots
~ an emergency care package of food
~ millet and maize for 3 months while Betty is at school
~ the hiring of return transportation to see the children at least once a week
~ the plowing of 4 acres of their land to make ready for the planting of maize, cassava, ground nuts, millet and a cash crop, as weather dictates
Approximately: CDN $450
Supported Betty with:
~ enrollment in a 3 month tailoring course
~ 3 months of lunches while at school
~ a back pack, tailoring scissors, tape measure, thread and fabric
Approximately: CDN $140
Supported Moses, Morning and Peter with:
~ new school uniforms, shoes, socks and belts
~ school scribblers, pens, math sets and back packs
Approximately: CDN $60
Supported Rose and Stella with:
~ Transportation costs to and from hospital in Mbale
~ Medication for Stella~ Shoes for Stella
Approximately: CDN $15
Supported Grandmother with:
~ a framed picture of herself which she requested and hopes will be viewed after her death
Approximately: CDN $4
Family Total – Approximately 1,140,000Ush or $670CDN< /span>
As we continue uplifting this family into empowerment, Betty, her brothers, Rose, Stella and I ask for your consideration and support in achieving our present intentions:
~ Sponsoring 90% of the outstanding balance for the operation to treat hydrocephalus that was performed on Stella, leaving Rose with a realistic 10% amount to pay off. Approximately: CDN $400
~ Sponsoring the immediate planting of the 4 plowed acres ie: seedlings, seeds, fertilizers, etc. Approximately: CDN $200
~ Sponsoring the purchase of a sewing machine and start up fabric for Betty once she completes her sewing course end April ’08 Approximately: CDN $150
~ Sponsoring the building of a 3 room brick and iron sheet home (as above) Approximately: CDN $2,000
To try and put into words how the children feel about the Love being extended to them seems challenging for me… she who so enjoys to write!I witness changes in their very beings, I see their smiles, hear their laughter and feel their embraces. I know they are amazed that we have even shown up in their lives let alone that we care about and value them and their happiness.
One local man in the trading center near where the 2 families live said to my friend the other day…’I am so grateful for the way that lady is helping those kids because those kids were really in a bad mood and she has really wiped their tears.’
That same friend, who interprets for the children and me, says it this way…”like, now, the way their lives are changing, they are very happy, according to the connection they are having with you… cause like the other day, the families were saying they are very very happy, they are so grateful. They were saying that your assistance is really appreciated, they have said that if you leave this country they will always Love you and never forget you…’
Perhaps it is our Martha who sums it up most simply for us…As my friend and I were riding out of their compound on the piki the other day, she was running alongside us laughing, saying ‘bye-bye bye-bye!’ I called out to her ‘Martha I Love you!’, to which she replied in her very best English ‘I Love you too Cathalin, I Love you like a feeesh Loves waaater!
‘THE CHILDREN AND I THANK YOU FOR THE GIFT OF YOUR LOVE! Cath ~ Feb 18, 2008
SECOND…
In ‘snapshot’ format, by far the majority of ‘Partial +/or Total Orphan Children’ I have met or learned about here in Uganda are currently living with either extended family +/or a guardian. As the numbers of HIV/AIDS orphans are many, there appear to be countless situations where several children can be found in the care of one adult, most commonly a Grandmother or a widowed mother who has taken in other children alongside her own. I have begun to understand the tremendous pressure caregiver and child alike are often feeling in this circumstance.
Many times, because they are physically unwell themselves, +/or of advanced years, +/or unskilled and inexperienced in an income generating activity, caregivers can be severely challenged to provide for the basic needs of the children and themselves. Frequently we find Grandmother (or caregiver) must leave the home early in the day in search of income/food leaving the children in their own care, which will include getting themselves off to school if they are enrolled, (often there are no funds for uniforms, school supplies, health care etc) remaining on their own until their guardian returns to the home late in the day to prepare the meal of the day. Among other things, this results in many children experiencing daily a lack of nutrition and health care, adult guidance and direction, most often missing school, spending their days without supervision or much chance of acquiring basic life skills, knowledge, positive habits etc. An additional effect often felt by the caregiver is abuse and anger directed towards them from the children who themselves are very unsettled in their lives…
ACIO ~ AIDS CONCERN INTEGRATED ORGANIZATION, SIRONKO, UGANDA
As mentioned in many postings, months ago I met a school teacher named Vincent who ‘ heard and began answering the call’ 3 years ago to initiate community based action that would address the growing numbers of HIV/AIDS orphans in the district of Sironko, Uganda where he resides. After gathering together like minded adults from the many sub county’s in Sironko and coming up with a collective vision and mission they formed a CBO (community based organization) ‘AIDS CONCERN INTEGRATED ORGANIZATION’ aka ACIO with Vincent as Director. Over time, Vincent, the board of trustees and program coordinators (all volunteers) of ACIO have made themselves very familiar with the names and needs of the orphan and vulnerable children aka OVC’s in their district while growing the membership of ACIO to include caregivers of these children as well as concerned community members.
ACIO Vision ~ ‘An empowered and healthy child who can build the nation and serve God’s people.’
ACIO Mission ~ ‘To have children who are enlightened with modern skills to sustain their livelihood.