HODASSU

I met today with Eustace, who runs HODASSU, Help Orphans and Disabled Adults Stand a Skill Uganda. I was connected to him last year through a mutual friend, and met with him briefly in August. I was so impressed by him and what he is doing that I recommended that we spend this year considering whether to take them on as another organization. Eustace has been working with Rini, Fount’s longterm intern since the fall, with information gathering and strategic planning. If everything continues successfully, we will be able to work with them this summer. I am especially excited about this because HODASSU is almost entirely vocational-based. They do some education initiatives as well, but giving vocational skills to the disabled is their primary focus. We sat down today and went through all the different programs and initiatives they have operating and it was inspiring. They work in very small numbers so each beneficiary receives a lot of one-on-one training. And, since they are working side-by-side with professionals in their place of business, it is 2-fold. The professional is not taken away from their work, and the student gets to learn first-hand about what goes into the work. Eustace has a quiet presence about him. I think his success so far can be attributed to his quiet patience and persistence. I look forward to traveling with him next Thursday to visit all of his locations personally.

Written by Tara Hawks, Fount of Mercy's Vocational Development Director