A new school term begins with many new applicants

The first term of 2012 starts on the coming Monday, the 30th of January. We have interviewed close to one hundred children and adults and still have to further investigate 30 families to determine the extent of their situations.
After that process, we need to meet and make a decision concerning who we can assist this year along with our students who we already help. The stories of people dying of AIDS, of struggling mothers and abandoned and orphaned children make these decisions so difficult.

These photos have three different but common stories. The two teen aged girls are sisters and have no capable adults left in their lives who can continue to pay their school fees. The taller girl has an unbelievable report with top scores in every subject. Her sister is a strong student but has a few subjects that she has problems with. They deserve to continue school with their strong desire to make it and their academic abilities.

The next two photos are of mothers who are unable to even pay for primary school fees
for their children. The one with the three boys just lost her husband to AIDS and the extended family related to her husband kicked her and her children out of their home, so that they could have the land themselves. This happens very often and is called “property grabbing”.

The other lady with the smaller children has AIDS and she is very weak and thinks she will soon die. As well her small girl is also HIV positive. The other girl and boy have been in school but the mom is now finding it impossible to work so hard to earn money for their fees and school needs.

Lastly the group picture is what our office parking lot is like most of the time, crowded with children and youth looking for help and support. I have now had to say that we are closed to any more applicants and I pray that we will be able to help those we do take. It is difficult to make sense of and realize the extent of the suffering and needs faced here. We wish that there were more government programs, funding and honorable community-based organizations to ease the suffering and address the critical needs of so many people.

The Start of a New School Year

January is the start of a new year of school in Uganda with first term starting at the end of the month. There is always a huge need for uniforms, sweaters and shoes before classes begin. The schools insist on black shoes so we went shopping and bought over 100 pair of second hand shoes this week.

Now we need to find shoes that will fit all the children who need shoes.

It is a challangeing time of year for us. It is also heartbreaking as many kids come in  begging to be put on the program and have to be sent away.

 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Hello friends and family,
This is just one of many families who had a full Christmas dinner
because of so many caring people who have sent funds to assist the
program.

Enjoying the Christmas meal

This family consists of a grandmother and her 23 orphaned
grandchildren. They all lost their parents to AIDS. The grandmother had 13
children herself and now only 3 are left alive.
The kids ate on the veranda of the house because they do not fit
inside and the food is cooked over fire under three rocks also
outside. The kids are also wearing new clothes we had given to us by
other well wishers. Some of these clothes were donated by many and
carried to Uganda in extra suitcases which is not easy when
travelling.

My heart is filled with gratitude to all and I pray that you all have
a wonderful New Year.
Love, Carol

YES Uganda Program Videos

We would like to thank Rinna Lamalo and Monique Martin-Parent from Mount Royal University’s School of Nursing for putting together these videos for YES Uganda. We hope you enjoy them and share them with others to spread the word about the important work YES Uganda is doing.

This video highlights the program as told by Carol Adams, Director and Founder of YES Uganda:

This next video highlights the story of Chris, one of the graduates from YES Uganda:

YES Uganda Children and Nutrition

Almost all of the children that come to the YES Uganda program typically only eat one meal a day. This leaves them not only hungry and tired while trying to learn at school, but stunted in growth and very weak nutritionally. They are more prone to sickness, especially malaria which is rampant at this time. Because of this issue we at YES Uganda started a lunch program for the kids a few years ago so at least they could get some added nutrition during the day.

We can feed the children a reasonably good lunch for 50 cents a day but with over 200 children being supported by the program, that cost adds up very quickly. Some of these photos are of the children receiving school lunches and the other photos are of the kitchens of the homes and the difficulties faced by most people and children on a daily basis.

A plate of nutritious local food for lunch at school

Children enjoying a lunch-time meal at school

To cook a meal at home, children and families need fire wood, water and food. They often have to walk long distances for the water and wood and they then need to start preparing what they might have available. Again, they do not have electricity or refrigeration. It can take a long time to prepare a meal.

It can take many hours to find and collect fire-wood for cooking

Preparing a meal in a typical kitchen

A typical kitchen

Again, the children and caregivers often have to weed, plant and dig their land to grow food as well. There are many reasons why the children being supported by YES Uganda struggle more than most in school, especially if they are total orphans and living on their own. We always welcome any donations for these kids to be able to continue to receive lunches at school to support their growth, health and learning.

Rose’s Story

We want to try and highlight some of the stories of children and youth that are part of YES Uganda. This month’s profile story is about Rose Kyakyo.

Rose's cousin, Rose, her younger sister Flavin, and her 7 year old cousin (boy).

Rose is 15 years old and desperately wants to do something with her life. She has a 14 year old sister still in primary school while she is in secondary school in senior 2. She was five years old when she lost both her mother and father and was taken in by her late mother’s sister, her aunt.

Flavin, and their boy cousin (7 yr old boy) in background

Flavin, Rose and one of their cousin's they care for.

Rose’s aunt has been in the city desperately trying to raise some money for all the kids. She wants to return to the village as soon as possible, but the family is in a land dispute that she is fighting. So the aunt has left Rose and her sister to care for her own two children aged 4 and 7. They all live in a mud house deep in a rural village. The boy is 7 and the girl 4. The YES Uganda program has started paying the school fees needed for them all, and has helped Rose go to school. Her sister Flavin is studying in primary 6 and the seven year old boy is in primary 1. The four year old girl is left unattended during the day.

When Rose returns from school she has to search for firewood to cook food and walk some distance to carry water for washing and cooking. She and her sister have to prepare meals from the garden, which is sometimes very little. As well they have to wash clothes, dig in the garden and do all the other duties that would be done by a mother. In spite of that, Rose is doing well in school even though she is without reading lights to study at night and has so many household duties and work to be done. We would love to be able to send Rose to a good boarding school where she could have plenty of food to eat, a bed of her own to sleep in and lights for night studies, but the problem would be the care of the small kids left by the aunt. Rose hopes to be either a school teacher or a nurse in the future.

Rose

Rose's Aunt and a cousin

The 4 year old girl was not around when David took these photos and the other girl in the photo is a close cousin who is more like a sister. The older girls are very bright in school and if they could possibly go to a boarding school for senior 3 and 4 they could have a chance to do something with their lives. Staying alone in the bush and going to a local school leaves them very vulnerable.

It would be so good if we could help these girls who have wonderful attitudes and behave very well.

New photos from recent adoptions

Carol wanted to share this photo of Bagum with his new siblings!

As well, these are photos of Dorcas making the transition from the hot climate of Uganda into some cooler temperatures and even snow!

At the airport

 

Fresh snow on the ground.

Experiencing snow!!

Carol says “these kids now have a chance for an unimagined life after coming from
the severe poverty of their homes. They both now have families and joy
beyond measure. God is so great and I thank Him so so much!!!”