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Peninsula supports Ugandan orphans

Peninsula residents and the Kincumber-based Bouddi Voice Choir have provided "most of the funding" to support 456 orphans in Uganda, according to Integrated Community Development Foundation publicity officer Ms Sue McCarthy of Umina.

And now the organisation is seeking further support.

The Foundation in Uganda is a voluntary, non-denominational, community development group, working with HIV/AIDS.

"The main works is supporting 456 orphans in the rural and isolated communities of Kayunga and Nakasongola, places where well-established International Aid organisations rarely attend," Ms McCarthy said.

But the organisation also provided HIV/AIDS prevention education and other health information, using dance, song and drama.

Ms McCarthy said local residents had visited the organisation's executive director Mr Sam Bukenya in Uganda to witness and support the work there.

"We are fundraising now, and are looking to local businesses for donations of goods to hold a monster fundraising activity in February," said Mr Bukenya, who is currently visiting the Peninsula.

"Besides donation of funds and sponsorship of children, we need laptop computers, and a double cabin pickup is needed to transport children to hospital, and for transporting equipment and materials when attending schools and communities for HIV/AIDS education."

Ms McCarthy said that local fundraising over the last two years meant that some of the orphans had been assisted with their schooling, assisted with bikes to get to school, and to make some money from a taxi-bike business.

"Others are being set up in making hand crafts for sale."

Ms McCarthy said: "Many of the orphans are living with elderly grandparents, in child-headed families, with un-related guardians, and when these living arrangements break down, or there is abuse and neglect occurring, the children are placed into boarding schools, if donated funds are available.

"About 45 of these orphans are HIV positive, and funds are not available for treatment."

She said that, because of the way the foundation was established, almost 100 per cent of funds donated was spent directly on the orphans and establishing support for their care.

"Administration expenses are kept to a bare minimum, with many of the services and costs donated by well-wishers and volunteers."

The organisation had been able to establish the "Central Coast Internet Café" in Bwayise, Kampala, in Uganda, a land-locked country.

"The computers were donated by a Kampala well-wisher.

"However, the cash needed came from the Central Coast fundraising," Ms McCarthy said.

Ms McCarthy said that the volunteer-run café would help to fund the organisation's activities.

The café has 10 computers, a scanner and a photocopier, and provides secretarial and copying services, she said.

"This café also can provide an opportunity for the orphans to volunteer there to learn about computers and secretarial services, have access to the worldwide web of information and to learn about business practices," Ms McCarthy said.

Continuous power supply was a problem in Uganda, and the café needed a diesel generator for the periods when power was off, she said.

"Funding is required to purchase a diesel generator and to rewire the premises and make some changes to the computers.

"So far, $511 of the $3700 needed has been raised."

Ms McCarthy said money raised from the Central Coast was also used to secure 70 acres of land, donated by a Ugandan Good Samaritan, which is located in Baale county.

Plans for the site include developing agriculture and training, but also an orphanage, peer support housing, schools and vocational college.

In addition, the site will be used to establish businesses that will, besides providing skills training for the orphans, provide income, leading to self-reliance for the organisation, and independence for the orphans.

For more information, telephone Mr Bukenya on 4344 3044 or incodefo@yahoo.com.

Press release, 8 Jan 2007 Sue McCarthy, INCODEFO