House of Hope needs:
- new boys dormitory so that the orphan boys who live there can have adequate accommodations to live in (currently there are 5 tiny rooms with mattresses on the floor and 2 boys to a mattress)
- 5 new classrooms to teach Primary classes in
- bunk beds and mattresses to fit more orphans in the dorms and so each child can have their own bed
- Teacher salaries (this is an ongoing need for HOH, and turn around rates for teachers here is high)
- Food
- a new laptop with a battery
The last two bullets are the primary concern on Jennifer's mind.
Teachers at House of Hope are paid below government salaries because it is not a government funded school. In fact, HOH runs entirely on donations, and is not fully funded by salary yet (although we are working on grants). Also, many of the teachers come during a break in their own schooling to gain experience before returning to University. These teachers stay only a short time in order to finish their studies. Because of this, Jennifer is constantly looking for new teachers and for funds to pay the ones who are employed through HOH. During this month-long Easter break, Jennifer has negotiated with a few teachers to remain at the school to teach P5-P7 (top 3 classes) to prepare them for national exams coming up soon after the break. These teachers requested higher salaries during the holiday because they could not go home and relax for a month.
Posho and beans are the staples of 3 meals given to the children at HOH. Due to inflation in Uganda and the economic situation worldwide, food and petrol has risen exponentially in the past year. To give you an idea: posho went from Ush100/kg two years ago to Ush3000/kg today. In fact, since March 2011, posho has risen from Ush1200/kg to Ush3000/kg today! More than doubled in price. Fuel costs have risen from Ush1700/liter to Ush4000/liter this year alone!! As you all can understand, gasoline is essential in the transportation of Uganda. As it is, everyone loads their taxis, cars, motocycles with more than any legal limit in the USA. I believe the term "carpool" comes from Africa! But even in sharing the costs, the fuel is still too high for many to get around for their jobs, families, or groceries.
Both costs have really hit HOH hard. The children have been given smaller portions since January in order to feed each one of them.
The rise in petrol and food has been the primary motivation behind the many riots in Uganda, which almost always turn violent with tear gas and arrests. These events usually begin as a peaceful protest called "Walk to Work" or "Walk to Church" where people do just as the term states - they refuse using taxis, boda-bodas, or cars to get to work or church. Instead, they walk down main streets in large cities in Uganda to protest gas prices and food expenditures. These riots have been occurring largely on Thursdays and Mondays, but the last serious one was on a Friday. The protest leaders have been arrested and sent to hospitals for tear-gassing injuries. The last Walk-to-Work leader was sent to Kenya for hospitalization last week after his car was tear-gassed and he was drug away by a police truck. But he has since returned to Uganda to continue the "fight" against ungodly inflations. I have been fortunate enough not to witness these riots closer than the local news programs. Many volunteers I know did get stuck in riot-filled streets or tear gassed buildings during the riots. The general consensus of the people here is that they are fed up with the expense of gas and food - basic necessities this country needs to operate.
Needless to say, Jennifer has been challenged to find funds to continue to feed the children and staff the school. So far, your donations have purchased posho and beans for the children for two weeks, and some scholastic materials badly needed for the older classes to study and learn (paper, pencils, pens, chalk, and notebooks). I am limited in how much funds I can take out and will be unable to give her the entire amount raised in cash before I leave. So, I will be depositing the rest into the HOH account once I get home. This amount will be largely spent on food and staff salaries.
The last bullet is something I am contemplating still. Jennifer is in desperate need of a new laptop that has a battery. Power blackouts are the norm in Uganda (in fact, all over Africa) and she recieves daily patience lessons from responding to an email or writing a proposal that suddenly gets lost due to a sudden loss of power. We have noticed power losses everyday, and often several times a day. That's why it is so difficult to write these blogs, check email, or even charge our phones. But for the founder and director of a growing NGO like HOH, a working computer would make her work a lot more productive. Jennifer's computer work is largely coordinating volunteers who come to HOH (arrivals/departures, volunteer work, accomodations, food, transportation, safety, etc.), responding to emails from fundraisers, planning HOH's future goals and plans, establishing the project budgets, and applying for grants to establish a consistent income for the school and the kids. It is impossible to purchase a new, reliable laptop in Uganda, and it is something I will consider when I get home. But I could easily afford to purchase a new laptop once I arrive home with some of the funds you all raised.
Would you all approve to buying her a new laptop to conduct her NGO business with the money you've given me? Tell me what you think about this.
Today, I also used a small portion of the funds raised to purchase epilepsy medicine for a P7 orphan at HOH - Annette. She must take daily medications for epilepsy for two years and the expense was coming out of volunteer donations Jennifer has saved. I gave her around $22 USD for two months' worth of medication. So, Annette thanks you for that!
Student sponsorship is a goal Jennifer has for each student at HOH. For $35/month, a child at HOH would be given 3 meals a day, a safe home and individual bed, school fees paid for, medical care, and a loving school staff to help raise the orphans. $35/month is actually a little more than what's needed for food, accomodations and school fees, but Jennifer gives each child vaccinations and AIDS testing every year. She would also use the small extra money each month to pool into a medical fund from which she can draw out more money for those kids who have larger needs like Annette. I will have LOTS of more information on her budget and sponsorship details when I return. Please consider what it would take to sacrifice $35/month to really change these kids lives. I've met and hung out with them first hand - and they are all awesome. Most of them have lived through horrorific things (everyday I learn more about this) and deserve a real chance at a better future. Please consider how easy this would be for you and I'll be ready for your questions when I return.
So, in closing, HOH and Jennifer would like to thank you so much for your donations. It may sound simple, but the basic necessities of food are what is most needed for these kids right now. And your funds gave them another meal today and for some time to come. I will keep you updated on any other donations you've made here in Uganda. Your generosity has meant a lot in many tummies!! And you all make me so proud!
I am beginning to miss home and some of its amenities. But I'm looking forward to teaching this week and meeting Viola, my sponsored child on Monday. Hope you all are well.
Weraba Mukwanos!
Jillian
