tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69787819835561350872024-03-05T16:53:44.082-08:00Fount of MercyUpdates On Our Work In UgandaFount of Mercyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09713262649691017872noreply@blogger.comBlogger177125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6978781983556135087.post-90380218718796824582014-08-22T12:15:00.000-07:002014-10-29T12:17:15.497-07:00Literacy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhH43R-pGyJ-s82Y7KZR8pXVDGC13q1HsfrH210V4LHYMdn2FpQid55hbrOVIyxhq_ogIcn-HAM93qQa-lGV24Mqrje54sDaUPyaZLzPZPTu93S_gfi-2Qj2SvMcMwh05rmX2WcvJ-MQA/s1600/IMG_3355.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhH43R-pGyJ-s82Y7KZR8pXVDGC13q1HsfrH210V4LHYMdn2FpQid55hbrOVIyxhq_ogIcn-HAM93qQa-lGV24Mqrje54sDaUPyaZLzPZPTu93S_gfi-2Qj2SvMcMwh05rmX2WcvJ-MQA/s1600/IMG_3355.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="userContent">This summer was a huge success for our
education program! With the help of several stateside volunteers, Fount
of Mercy hosted two literacy trainings. We were thrilled to have over 22
teachers and parents participating in our phonics training. More
trainings to come this Fall.</span>Fount of Mercyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09713262649691017872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6978781983556135087.post-41747857237057823112014-08-19T12:17:00.000-07:002014-10-29T12:18:12.001-07:00Dignified Births<span class="userContent">Fount of Mercy is working towards helping Ugandan mothers have safer, more dignified births. This article outlines why. <br /> <br /> <a href="http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/5676086?ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000054" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank">http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/5676086?ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000054</a></span>Fount of Mercyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09713262649691017872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6978781983556135087.post-19729232511579791752014-08-15T12:18:00.000-07:002014-10-29T12:18:53.000-07:00Taxes: Check!<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">990
submitted! Woohoo! (Nonprofit annual taxes) Riveting news, I know, but
such a relief to have them done. Back to the exciting work. Have a
lovely weekend everyone.</span>Fount of Mercyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09713262649691017872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6978781983556135087.post-87885583205940857312014-08-14T12:19:00.000-07:002014-10-29T12:19:38.306-07:00New Village Bank<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">We
have a new village bank in Bukaya, Uganda! The village bank has 30
participants- both men and women. The group meets once a week and is
quickly becoming a tight knit community who cares for each other. We are
so eager to watch this group grow.</span>Fount of Mercyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09713262649691017872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6978781983556135087.post-25548254491571525892014-07-21T12:20:00.000-07:002014-10-29T12:20:29.946-07:00Breaking the Cycle<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">This
month our community health program associate has been visiting past
HIV/AIDS workshop attendees to survey their students. The hope is that
teachers have been passing along the life saving information they
learned in our workshops to their students. We want to break the cycle
of misinformation and believe well informed teachers are vital to this
cause.</span>Fount of Mercyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09713262649691017872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6978781983556135087.post-72640154568097564052014-07-18T12:20:00.000-07:002014-10-29T12:20:55.018-07:00<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">Our
vocational development program had a great month. We taught 3 business
class, started a new advanced business class, and now have a second
successful village bank moving forward.</span>Fount of Mercyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09713262649691017872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6978781983556135087.post-86451693228046109592014-07-01T12:22:00.000-07:002014-10-29T12:22:32.702-07:00One Year Anniversary<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYJhV3ua9bthtytI3QPE1UfcUt3MvghcHBKl_yT4UWgp8mkgrAsc5DckbunrZzQ9dfLzP2kkwtVT9u1UJc3Ujy9zEvJumHi5BZuyvlyVYqHD1EtC3xeDpZJMDUjvjZLrV1KXR2Q91YPW8/s1600/close+up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYJhV3ua9bthtytI3QPE1UfcUt3MvghcHBKl_yT4UWgp8mkgrAsc5DckbunrZzQ9dfLzP2kkwtVT9u1UJc3Ujy9zEvJumHi5BZuyvlyVYqHD1EtC3xeDpZJMDUjvjZLrV1KXR2Q91YPW8/s1600/close+up.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="userContent">Recently we celebrated our one year
anniversary of employing 12 Ugandans in our scarf making workshop. So
far we have made over 4300 scarves for the GO Exchange and are currently
working on an exciting line for the Fall.</span>Fount of Mercyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09713262649691017872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6978781983556135087.post-91075023748142618022014-06-24T12:23:00.000-07:002014-10-29T12:24:26.538-07:00New Car<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcNMUQjeb40NWM1fSTMmC4-RiAjYVrJ5WSZybxUOqc7GXvYZQ_vomfYFRd5g5m7Lv8ms8QpeJc1OX-0OYNgFh2acmAVZysyE_GTUQr5HKAmwh8o2X7J0XEbo5TDrmH4wlDR-ZehSpmyFA/s1600/10458117_733716870001012_7413238513337186066_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcNMUQjeb40NWM1fSTMmC4-RiAjYVrJ5WSZybxUOqc7GXvYZQ_vomfYFRd5g5m7Lv8ms8QpeJc1OX-0OYNgFh2acmAVZysyE_GTUQr5HKAmwh8o2X7J0XEbo5TDrmH4wlDR-ZehSpmyFA/s1600/10458117_733716870001012_7413238513337186066_n.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span class="userContent">Great news! Through some very generous
donations, Fount of Mercy now has access to a vehicle in Uganda via our
Community Health Director! Having a vehicle will help keep Fount's staff
safe on the often dangerous roads of Uganda.</span>Fount of Mercyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09713262649691017872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6978781983556135087.post-6184785719231934722014-06-06T11:31:00.000-07:002014-10-29T12:14:10.030-07:00How Do You Walk Away?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaThxTadEiLcTLDMiuZfCR4NzJbdF-NJS23ju4KAkjMXr2w1p8k7xhRHOkg3cGWpsV9mDd1KVwD3rUeccQ_3VDknmYPPxaSC7GhBCHgVPA7po8fi57XtOxpDBJa0r15QbtboY1trCbidM/s1600/vanessa+at+makindye.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaThxTadEiLcTLDMiuZfCR4NzJbdF-NJS23ju4KAkjMXr2w1p8k7xhRHOkg3cGWpsV9mDd1KVwD3rUeccQ_3VDknmYPPxaSC7GhBCHgVPA7po8fi57XtOxpDBJa0r15QbtboY1trCbidM/s1600/vanessa+at+makindye.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Overwhelmed. That's the best word I can find to describe the last several weeks of my life. I recently began my 8 week internship at Jinja Main. The internship is part of the requirements I must go through to become registered as an RN with the nursing council of Uganda. Registration is necessary for me to do what I do here legally and for my work visa. I have wanted to write this update everyday since I started this process, but I'm so exhausted at the end of every day I just couldn't do it. So this is just going to be a brief update to let you know what is going on.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br />Jinja Main is a government hospital and is the main referral hospital in Jinja. It serves well over half a million people and has a 500 bed capacity. It frequently surpasses that number. I'm not even sure how to describe in words what this place is like. Sure, you may be able to imagine what a third world hospital must be like, but to experience it in person...not just as a spectator, but as a nurse doing patient care, it's....overwhelming.<br /><br />For the first two weeks I was on Ward 4, a men's medical/TB ward. The incredible suffering of the patients there and the lack of resources is crippling. Even when we know what to do for the patients, the resources to address the problem are often times simply not there. This hospital can't even take your vital signs unless a nursing student has brought her equipment...blood pressure cuff, stethoscope, thermometer. If you are in the hospital as a patient, you better hope you have family or friends who are willing to come and care for you, 24 hours a day. They must provide everything for your care: bedsheets, food, gloves for the nurses, medications, IV cannulas, tape, gauze, everything. Otherwise, you lay there, unattended, hungry, dirty and worsening in condition each day.<br /><br />I watched as Ben, a man in his early 40s, lay there in a dirty bed, on a torn foam mattress, naked...day after day. He was a living skeleton. Ben was suffering from full blown stage 4 AIDS. Rose, a nursing student, and I tried to keep him covered, to preserve dignity, but he wouldn't allow anything to cover him. He was cold, like a corpse. He was depressed and wanted to die and would try to throw himself on the floor to kill himself several times a day. Rose and I would go and pick him up, put him back on the bed and pray for him. His twin brother tried to care for him but there wasn't much that he could do. One week after I met Ben and began caring for him, he died. 8 others died that same week. Many of them from preventable causes. What do you do when you know what needs to be done, but have none of the necessary resources? Overwhelmed.<br /><br />Last week I began my rotation in Ward 9. Everyone who knows anything about this hospital knows that Ward 9 is the worst of the worst. It's a surgical/orthopedic/burn unit. It's dark. It's dank. It's dirty. So dirty. There are exposed bones, bones in archaic traction devices, people with burns on over 50% of their body, severely malnourished children with gaping wounds. During dressing changes and treatment time, there is literally screaming and gnashing of teeth. Hell on Earth. And it's completely overwhelming.<br /><br />But as overwhelming as all of that is, I have also been overwhelmed by God's goodness. He has given me favor with the nurses and doctors that I have met so far (this is a huge blessing as Ugandan doctors are notoriously mean and defensive toward outsiders...anyone really). He has shown me the kindness of certain nurses who, though they haven't been paid in over 6 months, continue to care for and buy food for indigent patients. He has shown me that even in the pain and suffering and severe lack of resources, there are glimmers of hope. I see it in the resilience of some of my patients. I see it in Sister (nurse) Molly's concern for the patients even after dealing with such horrible conditions for so many years, day after day. In some strange way, I'm actually 'happy' to be there. I find satisfaction in teaching the nursing students and Medical Officer students (like physician's assistants). I have quickly grown to love certain patients and am very attached to them. At first, I thought I wouldn't be able to wait until this 8 week internship was over. Now I can't imagine how I'm going to stop going there. I need to know that Francis will heal from his burns, and I need to see little Ryan (2 years old) gain weight and come back from severe malnutrition and heal the huge abscess on the lower half of his body. How do you just walk away from people like this after you've met them and loved them? You don't. I won't. And I'm not even half way through.<br /><br />And just in case you were wondering...yes, I do in fact have to wear a uniform which is an antiquated white dress. It's stunning.<br /><br /><br />Vanessa Crowley<br />Community Health Initiative Director<br />Fount of Mercy<br /><br /><br /></span>Fount of Mercyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09713262649691017872noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6978781983556135087.post-27224773229007694042014-01-02T07:38:00.001-08:002014-01-02T07:38:58.569-08:00Manuela....our newest staff member<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6DW3mvYLA-_kDTRHSLQZMyghGrn6pj4fDP96ifr83lV-Z2wZXpitVs14ghVwpIgpDtwlyYb3KCH8yGVcADVo_1jACIHzksC2jJEBLH7pT6_tN_tPs8_ESfJ75NdqxdEPpuTkp2sN9GeM/s1600/Manuela+Pic.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6DW3mvYLA-_kDTRHSLQZMyghGrn6pj4fDP96ifr83lV-Z2wZXpitVs14ghVwpIgpDtwlyYb3KCH8yGVcADVo_1jACIHzksC2jJEBLH7pT6_tN_tPs8_ESfJ75NdqxdEPpuTkp2sN9GeM/s400/Manuela+Pic.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">This is Manuela.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">She is Fount of Mercy's Community Health
Initiative Program Associate.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">She also was one of our beautiful scarf models this year!</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6wSJ1hg-8XW-iZUdz2npFODUMUwqqJaFcprsUSMOYauTd7X8qrAzJHQVkNTeM5cc65iuNAkgtxJyG9No5gV8g9kmpI8tc81r4NhluU5SBkcn_uAxHNK2D6i5j9rc5KWo9upJQwjI9DEY/s1600/IMG_7093.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6wSJ1hg-8XW-iZUdz2npFODUMUwqqJaFcprsUSMOYauTd7X8qrAzJHQVkNTeM5cc65iuNAkgtxJyG9No5gV8g9kmpI8tc81r4NhluU5SBkcn_uAxHNK2D6i5j9rc5KWo9upJQwjI9DEY/s400/IMG_7093.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Manuela
is the newest member of Fount of Mercy’s (FOM) local staff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She completed her diploma in Social Work and
Social Development in January 2012, and came on staff part-time later that year. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">We are happy to announce that, thanks to a grant we received this year, Manuela became full-time this year! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">This work<span style="color: red;"> </span>is
truly her passion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In her own words,
Manuela states, “I love my job so much, as part of my job is to develop people
in my community.”</span><br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">So,
what does Manuela do with FOM?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, why
is it so important?</span><br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">In
Uganda, women and young girls are often marginalized.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Culturally and historically, women have been
treated as possessions; being valued as commodities for their fertility and
their usefulness in the home and garden.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As teenagers, they are often given for marriage to older men because the
family, who struggles in poverty, will receive a bride-price in return.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As older women, they can be a part of a plural
marriage, in which a man takes many wives. However, he cannot provide for them
all, let alone all the children he creates with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They suffer as much from poor self-esteem as
they do from physical need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a result
of these [and many other] problems, a cycle is created.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">A
family’s poverty leads to giving of teenaged wives, who have not finished high
school and don’t know basic information about their own menstruation,
reproduction, birth control, and/or disease such as HIV/AIDS.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Combine this with the fact that, culturally,
it is inappropriate for a girl to talk to her own mother about these
topics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would be ideal if a girl
confided in an aunt or teacher.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Unfortunately, more often than not, a girl will turn to her peers whose
knowledge base is equally lacking. Many will enter either a formal marriage or
an informal sexual relationship without the knowledge they need to protect
themselves and prevent situations that will escalate the hardships in their
lives. These include unplanned pregnancies, plural
marriages, abandonment, disease, abuse, etc. As a result, a cycle is created in
which misinformed young girls grow up into misinformed women who give birth to a new generation of women who lack that same information. </span><br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Manuela
combats this problem by hosting what FOM refers to as “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Girls Camps”</b> for groups of adolescent girls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She goes into a community and mobilizes the
local female youth by using the local schools and community leaders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, they meet with Manuela and she gives
them life-saving information. The curriculum used in FOM Girls Camps is
designed to combat the dangerous cycle of misinformation concerning women's
bodies in Uganda.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These myths can lead
to unplanned pregnancies and HIV infection. The goals of the classes are to
replace myths with facts, and to create a generation of women who educate and
empower each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Manuela has also developed a Boys Camp to be taught alongside the Girls Camps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We hope to implement this course in 2014. Women’s quality of life in Uganda is often dependent
on how the men in their lives treat them. If boys are taught to respect and value
the girls in their life, then later they will become men who value and respect
the women in their lives.</span><br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">In
order to affect more and more girls and boys, Manuela also teaches what FOM
calls a “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Life Skills Course”</b> to
adults who work with youth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> The adults can then teach the course in their own communities. </span>The
curriculum she uses is based on seven principles of behavior change developed
by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences (NAS).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The belief is that once individual motivation is in place, then skills
can be implemented and information given to create a positive life change in
youth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These positive life changes
include effective communication, decision-making, thinking, managing emotions,
assertiveness, self-esteem building, resisting peer pressure, and relationship
skills.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This course goes hand-in-hand
with the Girls Camps, as once a youth possesses these life skills, they can
take the information from the Girls Camps and have the confidence and tools to
apply it in their own lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The hope is
that women who understand their bodies, their health, their relationships and
their lives as a whole will be able to make decisions for themselves that are
healthy and positive. </span><br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Manuela
is the perfect liaison for this work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She not only has the educational background, but the heart and the
understanding of what it is like to be a youth and a woman in Uganda.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She has also overcome the hardship of growing
up without her parents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As many Ugandan
children do, Manuela lived with relatives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This can often be a hard situation, as many times these “extra” children
are last on the extremely long list of priorities, so they don’t receive school
fees, adequate medical care, clothing, or even food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Manuela has worked hard to earn her diploma and
hopes that her job with FOM can last for a long time and she can pursue
more schooling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">We hope so too! </span></span></div>
Fount of Mercyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09713262649691017872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6978781983556135087.post-77032652451509873102013-12-20T07:09:00.001-08:002013-12-20T07:09:29.870-08:00Just in time for Christmas....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj56Nvqd0OZiA6Qgu1oRgejRfZz6fMd6kjE76zw1E651QuGv5JSwZPud21hyhVoCxB1uZgYKvnawbeaJO6qXry_Gx1MFUCnZJHRuCjNv9Z5hNT5gb6Slrhb1x0W6go1ypjNdFuCrkyMFtk/s1600/Sarah+Lentz+concert+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj56Nvqd0OZiA6Qgu1oRgejRfZz6fMd6kjE76zw1E651QuGv5JSwZPud21hyhVoCxB1uZgYKvnawbeaJO6qXry_Gx1MFUCnZJHRuCjNv9Z5hNT5gb6Slrhb1x0W6go1ypjNdFuCrkyMFtk/s400/Sarah+Lentz+concert+pic.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div _mce_style="text-align: center;" align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<span _mce_style="font-size: 14pt;" class="ccFontUpdated" style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Just in time for Christmas....</strong></span><br /></div>
We are very happy to announce the debut of a new Christmas CD by Sarah Lentz! <br /><br /> <a href="http://sarahlentz.bandcamp.com/album/o-joyful-night-with-love-from-brooklyn-to-uganda" target="_blank">"O Joyful Night with love, from: Brooklyn to: Uganda"</a><span _mce_style="color: #990000;" style="color: #990000;"><b> </b></span><br /><br />
In Sarah's words..."In lieu of my annual Christmas benefit concert this
year, a slew of artist friends and I have put our Christmas
arrangements together to make a benefit CD for <a _mce_href="http://www.fountofmercy.com" _mce_style="color: #990000; text-decoration: underline;" href="http://www.fountofmercy.com/" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0) ! important; text-decoration: underline ! important;" target="_blank">Fount of Mercy</a>.
With 15 songs ranging from folk, pop, instrumental, gospel and
bluegrass, it is a BEAUTIFUL collection of carols and original songs.
And almost all of these songs can only be found here! The CD is being
offered for download by donation only <strong>with all proceeds going to Fount of Mercy</strong>.
I am suggesting that a dollar a song or $15 for the project (or more?
;) ) would be a wonderful way to support this amazing organization and
be a great thank you to all of the artists for sharing their gifts.
Your generosity is so appreciated. I hope you enjoy what you hear!"<br /><br />Sarah
has been a strong supporter of Fount, and a great friend to our staff
for many, many years. I interviewed her about her new Christmas CD on
our blog. Here are her heart-felt words....<br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>When did you start having a yearly Christmas
concert?</b> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I can't find a definite record of the year we began but it was
I believe 2003. First year was in the manse of the church and we packed
it out, one other artist and I, even though it was a large room, with people
sitting down the stairs even. That's when the priest offered his
sanctuary for the following year. I hadn't even thought about making it
an annual thing until then, and when I saw the sanctuary I thought I would
never be able to fill that space. That's when I got the idea of inviting
more artists to join in. And it grew in attendance every year. It
became a special tradition for me and many of the artists and attenders.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>What prompted you to have the concert?</b> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
often played in churches and enjoyed rearranging carols for a special Christmas
service. I had a good collection of them and thought it would be nice to
play them all in one concert. A friend was doing a fundraiser for
sponsoring a child in need at the time and that seemed like a great reason to
do a concert as well. So the first two years I did it for that sponsoring
a child, and then following that is when I met Michelle and Lori and decided to start doing the concert for Fount...since 2005 or 2006?</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>Why did you start donating
your Christmas concert proceeds to Fount of Mercy?</b> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ever since I met them I knew I wanted to support them. I have
always had a draw to ministries in Africa. I have always dreamed of
visiting or helping children there in some way. I always have dreamed of
adopting a child, and that may or may not happen, but in the meantime I really
wanted to help in any way I could. For now, that's through the concerts
and the CD. I love that with Fount, all the money goes straight into the good
work they are doing. They have people in the US volunteering their time
and then person or two on the ground in Uganda using the funds exactly where
they are needed, going straight to helping these widows and their children.
</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
<b><br />
What inspires your music, and this Christmas cd specifically?</b> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">For my music in general, emotion inspires and matching an emotion to a lyric to
a chord really is what excites me. In the hopes that when I play it,
others will either resonate with that emotion within themselves, or will bring
out something that they haven't felt or thought of before. My first Christmas CD was inspired again from having this collection of songs that I
only ever got to sing once or twice because of the church setting and holiday
focus. This second CD came out of writing for the annual concerts and having a
new set of songs that only got sung once a year. The same went for a lot
of the other artists, they either arranged something for that night or had
things that there were few chances to perform. This CD was a great way to
document all of those songs and to capture a bit of what those concert nights
were like.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>How do you celebrate Christmas personally?</b> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I used to always say that the concert night was my
real Christmas, my most special night of the year. But I also of course
celebrate with my family when I can relax after the concert....and for this year,
now that the CD is finished! I have two little boys and we enjoy time with
their grandparents and enjoy doing special things in New York City like seeing
the Rockefeller tree and all the lights on Fifth Avenue. </span></div>
<b></b><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
Is there anything else you would like fellow Fount-supporters to know
about you, or this cd?</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This CD is
a beautiful document and tribute to the first 10 years of concerts we've
done. I thank so much everyone that helped bring it together, especially
Paul Kim who recorded my songs and helped organize all of the artists
work. I had a dream for several years of doing this and feel so blessed
by all the musicians and songwriters who offered their time and talents to this
project. Most of the songs you cannot find anywhere else, not on the
artists' CDs or on iTunes or Spotify so this is a really special compilation
that I hope everyone will enjoy!</span></div>
<br />
From Tara: If you want some beautiful music for your own Christmas celebrations, and want to support Fount's work at the same time, please download her CD in part, or in full, by clicking the
link below. We think it will be a great addition to your Christmas
celebrations! <br /><br />
<br />
<div _mce_style="text-align: center;" align="center" style="text-align: center;">
Merry Christmas!<br /></div>
<br />
here is the link: <a _mce_href="http://here is the link again: http://sarahlentz.bandcamp.com/album/o-joyful-night-with-love-from-brooklyn-to-uganda" _mce_style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;" href="http://sarahlentz.bandcamp.com/album/o-joyful-night-with-love-from-brooklyn-to-uganda" style="color: blue ! important; text-decoration: underline ! important;" target="_blank">http://sarahlentz.bandcamp.com/album/o-joyful-night-with-love-from-brooklyn-to-uganda</a><br /><br />Sarah's website: <a href="http://www.sarahlentz.com/">www.sarahlentz.com</a>Fount of Mercyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09713262649691017872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6978781983556135087.post-61606649221900407652013-12-16T08:11:00.000-08:002013-12-16T08:11:01.150-08:00Why give to Fount this season?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixbiNLpLtCBlKxyO7Lqd98DcGjq1qMOulgSGpM2XwSGRctFHg0vO93VqUWIa0foJ4T_HcOPovXsQzPnalHxRr7EHHP_h8zLLnyNkPa9yOFVVoySz-k8moG3Rqwc7nVIgNaiwQuQEdm0LA/s1600/Michelle+Johnston+waving+kids.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixbiNLpLtCBlKxyO7Lqd98DcGjq1qMOulgSGpM2XwSGRctFHg0vO93VqUWIa0foJ4T_HcOPovXsQzPnalHxRr7EHHP_h8zLLnyNkPa9yOFVVoySz-k8moG3Rqwc7nVIgNaiwQuQEdm0LA/s640/Michelle+Johnston+waving+kids.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
WHY FOUNT?</div>
<br />
<h5 style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;">
<div style="background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0); display: inline;">
This
season I'm sure that many nonprofits have asked you to donate to their
cause. Why, then, should you consider donating to Fount of Mercy?<br />
<br />1) We invest in local, pre-existing community organizations. We are focused on their <b>long-term</b> success and sustainability.<br /><br />2) We are responding to the orphan crisis holistically by addressing the needs of the <b>entire family</b>.<span style="display: inline;"><br />
<br />3) We <b>empower women</b> to earn a living wage, provide for their
dependents, and become change agents and leaders in their communities.</span><div style="background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0); display: inline; font-size: 15px;">
<span style="display: inline;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
</h5>
<h5 style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;">
<div style="background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0); display: inline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0);">When
you give to Fount, your donation goes a long way towards building
capacity. For example, thanks to three generous donations, we will be
able to increase our Ugandan Educational Development Program Associate's work from part-time to full-time!</span><span style="display: inline;"><br />
</span></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0);"><br />This
means more professional development for community school teachers, who are teaching orphans and vulnerable children in outlying villages. This also means more capacity to complete our new phonics curriculum,
allowing us to begin training educators around teaching literacy. </span></h5>
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0);"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<h5 style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;">
<div style="display: inline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0); display: inline;">Please consider donating to Fount of Mercy this season. Together we can encourage lasting, sustainable change in Ugandan communities. </span></div>
</h5>
</div>
<h5 style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0);"><br /></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0);"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fountofmercy.org%2Fdonate%2Fdonate-.html&h=IAQFy4RU3AQEjfJYYE1jRTSkyf8zIT6FOwHrnBTsZG8wQug&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.fountofmercy.org/<span style="display: inline-block;"></span>do<wbr></wbr>nate/donate-.html</a></span></h5>
Fount of Mercyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09713262649691017872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6978781983556135087.post-82912540220091281062013-12-01T16:16:00.001-08:002013-12-01T16:16:32.341-08:00So much to be thankful for...<div _mce_style="font-family: Times-New-Roman; color: black; text-align: center; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-top: 0px; font-size: 14pt; margin-bottom: 0px;" align="center" style="color: black; font-family: Times-New-Roman; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<b>So much to be thankful for...</b></div>
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<br /></div>
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This
year has been full for Fount of Mercy, and although we always have so
many goals and so much more we’d like to do to help Ugandan communities,
we know that it is good to stop and think about what we’ve accomplished
this year, and what we have to be thankful for.</div>
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Our
upcoming end-of-year posts will remind you of this past year's
accomplishments, so for now, I just want to share with you what some of
our new Ugandan staff said when asked what they are grateful for...</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Thank YOU for helping us accomplish so much in 2013! </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Please remember us in your end-of-year giving. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.fountofmercy.org/">www.fountofmercy.org</a></div>
Fount of Mercyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09713262649691017872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6978781983556135087.post-24968829907217470292013-11-21T09:07:00.000-08:002013-11-21T09:07:40.764-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicz70Dnq3hl1EiDbQNfamFVrPsSKCLHDBfKXfiAIJOQeB42tUOpkcr4oGj8THshfKlmLhs8zx6rleou1b4IuLs9RwEz_WVWYknOWU8la6T_91GuXtuuD6k3XBEtjdQ7YdtkhN_mZn_5YU/s1600/Interns+for+CC.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="483" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicz70Dnq3hl1EiDbQNfamFVrPsSKCLHDBfKXfiAIJOQeB42tUOpkcr4oGj8THshfKlmLhs8zx6rleou1b4IuLs9RwEz_WVWYknOWU8la6T_91GuXtuuD6k3XBEtjdQ7YdtkhN_mZn_5YU/s640/Interns+for+CC.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Calling all Interns!!!</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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In our almost 8 years of existence, we have been <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>fortunate to have many volunteers come our
way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 2009, we had our first interns
begin working with us, and since then, we have almost always had at least 1
intern working in Uganda with us…sometimes 3 at one time!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These amazing, hard-working, smart women have
had an integral part of developing our work on the ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no coffee-making, envelope-stuffing
for our interns!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They write curriculum,
do hands-on research, teach and train, and set up systems for our work in
Uganda.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In short, they are VITAL. </div>
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<br /></div>
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This is the beauty of being a small organization…we can
offer experiences that large ones cannot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Our interns learn, alongside our staff, and gain knowledge that is
invaluable for their future, whether it is as a small business owner, a
non-profit staffer, a development worker, a mother, or just a compassionate
person.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are so proud that we have had
2 interns return for a second 6 months with us…even though they are paying
their own way to be there!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This tells
us that we are doing something right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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We are suddenly finding ourselves in need of interns.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is ironic that for the first time, we are
actively seeking interns rather than them finding us, but our work is currently
at its peak as far as the quality and quantity of projects we have happening in
Uganda.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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So, we are putting it out there to our network, and hope
that you will pass this along to anyone who may want/need an internship for
school credit, or just for life experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our biggest needs currently are an administration intern and
a vocational development intern. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Administration Intern (1 needed at a time):<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Will assist our International Director in the
management of the entire organization in Uganda, including training/assisting
Ugandan staff, helping with financial organization, researching sources and
best-practices, social media, documentation, research, and curriculum writing.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Vocational Intern (1-2 needed at a time):<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Will help oversee inventory, quality
control, new designs, and general production systems of our scarf project.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Will also continue to oversee the beginning
sewing classes, and begin writing an intermediate sewing class.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Social media and documentation will be
expected also.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This person may have a
fashion or sewing background, entrepreneur or small business experience, and/or strong organizational, production knowledge. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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Interns could arrive as soon as January 2014, and need to
commit to at least 3-6 months in-country…up to a year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All costs are currently the responsibility of
the intern, though housing could potentially be offered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Interns need to be initiative takers, able to
work independently, and have self-motivation. Ample time and discussion with
occur during the application process to be sure a candidate will be a good fit
for our work, and us for their skills and interests.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Estimated Costs:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plane Ticket=$1500-2000.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Monthly Expenses Average:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>$550/month</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Please contact Tara H Nyanga for more information and/or to
apply for an internship in 2014. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="mailto:taralhawks@gmail.com">taralhawks@gmail.com</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
Fount of Mercyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09713262649691017872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6978781983556135087.post-71694971042219644402013-11-13T17:00:00.000-08:002013-11-08T10:40:09.362-08:00Who are our scarf models?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Who are our models?</b></div>
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<b> </b> </div>
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Sometimes when you see pictures online, whether they are in
a publication, from an article, or on a website, it is easy to forget that the
people in the photos are real, actual people…or maybe that is just me. Ha!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know I sometimes feel this way when I see
nameless photos from other organizations….and assume that the child or woman in
the shot is unknown. </div>
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If you relate to these thoughts, then I’d love to share with
you exactly who the beautiful women in our scarf photos are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can attest that we, here at Fount, know
each of them VERY well. </div>
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First, on the far left, is our Community Health Director,
Vanessa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Vanessa has been with Fount
since the beginning in 2006, when she took her first trip to Uganda, and became
hooked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She started as a volunteer, and
now is on staff, splitting her time between Texas (4 months per year) and Jinja
(the remaining 8 months).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being a
practicing labor and delivery nurse, she is passionate about women and
adolescent health, reproductive education, and dignity during the birth
process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her dream, and goal, is to set
up a dignified, safe, high-quality maternity center in Jinja.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Second from the left, is Manuela.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Manuela has been with Fount for almost 2
years, working as Vanessa’s associate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She has helped write and develop health education curriculum for
educators and community leaders to teach to the adolescents in their
communities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her sweet, calm demeanor
and radiant smile are an asset, as she is able to connect easily and quickly
with her students.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thanks to a grant Fount
received earlier this year, she is now a full-time employee of ours, and has a
computer to aid her work. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Third from the left is a woman who I am proud to call my
“sister”, Olivia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Olivia is married to
my husband’s brother, Robert…another community leader whom Fount has partnered
with for about 4 years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, it is
through this initial contact with Robert that Grace (my husband) and I met!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although Olivia does not work officially for
Fount, she is a valuable aid and advisor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We trust her opinion greatly, and she never hesitates to help when
needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Olivia sprung to mind
immediately as a model for our scarves because of her contagious, continual
laughter and amazing smile…not to mention that she LOVES us and will help us
whenever needed!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Olivia is currently
preparing for her traditional introduction ceremony, which will officially and
publicly recognize her marriage to Robert...no wonder she is so happy! </div>
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And finally, on the far right, is our amazing intern,
Katie!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although Katie just recently left
Uganda, this was her second time working for Fount in Jinja.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had such a good experience in 2011, she
decided to go back this past June!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Katie
was the guiding force behind our basic business curriculum…not only writing it,
but also testing it with a group of village women, and editing it to be even
more effective.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This curriculum is now a
successful mainstay of our vocational work in Uganda!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During her second trip, she worked with
another intern, Sarah, to test and edit our Beginning Sewing class curriculum,
as well as overseeing quality control and inventory practices in our new scarf
project.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Katie is super-fun, and always
eager to jump in wherever needed…in this case, to be our beautiful scarf model!</div>
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Every time I post/see these photos, it really brings to home
the fact that these scarves are not made by nameless/faceless workers “somewhere
in Africa”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are each made, by hand,
and with love by people whom we love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://my.goproject.org/project/fount-of-mercys-go-shop/">Get yours today…[think Christmas gifts]…here!</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">--Written by Tara Nyanga, on behalf of FOM. </span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
Fount of Mercyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09713262649691017872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6978781983556135087.post-44726335302734589952013-11-06T17:00:00.000-08:002013-11-08T10:42:18.146-08:00I think I can....I think I can....<img border="0" height="390" hspace="5" name="ACCOUNT.IMAGE.201" src="https://origin.ih.constantcontact.com/fs164/1102009631644/img/201.jpg" vspace="5" width="586" />
<br />
Some
days Fount of Mercy feels like the children story book "The Little
Engine That Could". Do you remember that story? In the tale, a long
train must be pulled over a high mountain. Larger engines, are asked to
pull the train; for various reasons they refuse. The request is sent
to a small engine, who agrees to try. The engine succeeds in pulling
the train over the mountain while repeating its motto: "I-think-I-can,
I-think-I-can".<br />
<br />
As I spend my time working on grant applications
for each of our four programs, I am constantly amazed at the huge task
ahead of us. Sure it would be so much simpler if we just focused on
one thing but instead we have committed to responding to the orphan
crisis as holistically and sustainability as possible: supporting
orphan caregivers with supplemental care and vocational training;
investing in pre-existing local organizations/community schools; and
equipping the younger generation with life skills and sex education.<br />
<br />
It
sound like a lot because it is. "I-think-I-can, I-think-I-can". The
good news is that we're not alone in our huge task. We've got your
encouragement and financial support. We have incredible peers on the
field that challenge us. Most importantly we have the amazing Ugandan
men and women on the ground level who inspire us with their dedication
to their communities most vulnerable.<br />
<br />
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<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://my.goproject.org/project/fount-of-mercys-go-shop/"><b>Buy a scarf, thus supporting our work, here!</b></a></div>
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<br /></div>
~Written by Michelle, for the Fount of Mercy staff.
Fount of Mercyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09713262649691017872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6978781983556135087.post-72919779053906555582013-11-01T10:58:00.001-07:002013-11-01T10:58:18.139-07:00Motherhood<img border="0" height="439" hspace="5" name="ACCOUNT.IMAGE.200" src="https://origin.ih.constantcontact.com/fs164/1102009631644/img/200.jpg" vspace="5" width="586" />
This week, I wanted to get a little personal with you, our most consistent base of supporters. <br /><br />About
a year and a half ago, most of you will remember that my family moved
from Uganda to the US, and a few weeks later, I had a baby....Hannah.
As anyone who's had a baby knows, the mere existence of a baby changes
EVERYTHING. The way you feel, sleep, go anywhere, eat, move...live.
period. Time, space, stuff...they all change when you go from, like me,
having responsibilities and even older children to care for, to having
your entire life be controlled by another life. I think I knew enough
to expect this. <br /><br />But, what I didn't expect was to have my work
for Fount change so profoundly. Yes, I knew once maternity leave was
over, there would be a tough transition. I knew it would be hard to
squeeze work in around naps and feedings and demands. <br /><br />But, I
didn't know that I suddenly would relate more deeply to the women I had
been teaching for 6 years. I didn't know that I suddenly would feel the
same tug of war between wanting to simply be with and play with my
baby, but needing to find work and money to do so. I didn't know that I
would view their living conditions through a new lense...of dirt,
germs, discomfort, sleep needs, and safety that previously was not quite
so unsettling. <br /><br />I took Hannah to Uganda this past summer, when
she was just a year old. And, we received some of the warmest greetings
ever. Not only was I able to relate more to the women of Uganda, but I
think some of them were able to relate more to me. They wanted to
touch her and hold her and yell in excitement when they met her. They
thanked me for the hard work of birthing her. And, they must have known
deep-down that I now felt some of the passionate protective feelings
and the need to provide that they have for their babies too. <br /><br />As
hard as it was to take a one year old on an international, 30 hour
trip, it was well worth it to share their "daughter" with my Ugandan
sisters. Hannah has given me a renewed purpose and focus in my work for
Fount. <br />
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<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://my.goproject.org/project/fount-of-mercys-go-shop/"><strong>Buy a scarf, thus supporting our work, here!</strong></a></div>
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<br /></div>
~Written by Tara, for the Fount of Mercy staff.Fount of Mercyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09713262649691017872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6978781983556135087.post-44224613689124590722013-03-01T10:49:00.000-08:002013-03-01T10:49:00.134-08:00Julius and our Vocational work, part 2.<div class="Standard" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Last time, we told you more about Julius Wamimbi, our Vocational Development Associate, and the story of how he came to work for Fount of Mercy. We also promised to share more about the work he does for us in our Vocational program. Enjoy, as we go into more detail about how we work...</span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-VZBkRycbsRol1A3kxTHYzuMTiwxkcE9R_0f7ytwlD02nNF5mjjBCaDBqgEEMOuIUMH5SnTHsH9w_YcJeBx8iinpRShSC8CJek3J0y9eaTcbqVVeeSHq_-tvgmIgq4sjrmyVRGvuYRBs/s1600/rebecca+cippola+grandmother+with+family.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-VZBkRycbsRol1A3kxTHYzuMTiwxkcE9R_0f7ytwlD02nNF5mjjBCaDBqgEEMOuIUMH5SnTHsH9w_YcJeBx8iinpRShSC8CJek3J0y9eaTcbqVVeeSHq_-tvgmIgq4sjrmyVRGvuYRBs/s640/rebecca+cippola+grandmother+with+family.jpg" width="458" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Typical" orphan situations often involve the loss of parents, so children move in with their grandmother (as in this case), another relative, or neighbor. Photo by Rebecca Cippola</td></tr>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span> </div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Julius’ work with FOM begins with women's groups who are already meeting to socialize, pray, do small projects, looking to make money, or learning a new skill. Often these women are widowed, abandoned, or single mothers taking care of their own children, grandmothers who have taken in their grandchildren, or married women who are helping the children in their community. Whatever the purpose that brought them together, it is soon obvious that there are overwhelming needs in the group, so ideas start circulating on how they can work together. When these caregivers wish to learn valuable skills which can be used to start their own small businesses and make money, Fount can step in and begin helping.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jullius starts in a group by teaching a required “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Basic Business Class</b>” with curriculum that FOM wrote.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> The group </span>comes together and learns topics such as bookkeeping, finding a market, investing in growth, and good planning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Julius’s degree in Business Management is invaluable to helping communicate these topics and also providing the credibility that they need to trust him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After the Basic Business Class ends, he offers what we call a “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Practice Project”</b>to the group.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This Practice Project is organized and started with the group’s own capital being matched by FOM.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The women take the initiative to make all the decisions of the business, while Julius visits weekly to oversee their books, anticipate problems, and guide the group in making good decisions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He acts as a consultant or guide, but not as the group leader.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is vital for the group to take ownership of every decision and action.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This entire process usually takes about six months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the end of this six month time period, the group has put their knowledge from the business class into practice and is able to run their business on their own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As of fall 2012, Julius has taught five business classes and led three group practice projects.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Recently, one group approached Julius with the desire to create a village bank.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He created a system, began teaching them how to run it, helped identify leaders, and encouraged them each step of the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, this group of 25 women has given over 3 million shillings ($1250.00) in loans for their members to grow their small businesses, and has saved over 4 million shillings ($1666.70) in their group savings. These are remarkable amounts of money for village women!</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Once a group has finished the Basic Business Class and group Practice Project, the women and their leaders are given the option to take one of our “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Vocational Skills Training Courses</b>.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We offer classes in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">sewing, baking, and agriculture</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These are taught by local teachers whom FOM has either trained with our own curriculum or has contracted to teach for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Julius is in charge of organizing and overseeing these classes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He keeps track of the expenditures, sets the timetables, facilitates the contracts, keeps accountability, solves problems, and generally oversees the entire process of providing skills training courses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Finally, if a group has exhibited the ability to stay organized and successful over a certain amount of time, they are eligible to apply for a business-growth grant to take their business to the next level. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When you talk to Julius about his job, you can immediately tell he is driven by his heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He believes that the way to developing and improving his country is through the combination of education and thriving business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Working with women who have an average education level of a second grader, who have faced many hardships, and who otherwise would not have the opportunity for making an income, has become his lifework.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Fount of Mercyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09713262649691017872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6978781983556135087.post-68562822732920808112013-02-22T10:35:00.000-08:002013-02-22T10:35:00.645-08:00Julius and our Vocation work, part 1<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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Last week, Julius wrote about a piggery being set up as an income-generating project in one of our partner communities. This week, we thought we'd share with you a little more of Julius's story, and the work he does as our Vocational Associate. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg4N_VdYUXTLhRDpAwQwgs2hq9NVNipa-TdVK-6pZCMw0njcgBK5xPI0-3ZzAFbSgzWtfF_NsR9_Lb-LhuNDg6vTwYSW7AbCHpzk5s6CplQT2XpTiHXX7gaxh0eOdBQHcidNC_KjatutY/s1600/julius+picture.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg4N_VdYUXTLhRDpAwQwgs2hq9NVNipa-TdVK-6pZCMw0njcgBK5xPI0-3ZzAFbSgzWtfF_NsR9_Lb-LhuNDg6vTwYSW7AbCHpzk5s6CplQT2XpTiHXX7gaxh0eOdBQHcidNC_KjatutY/s640/julius+picture.png" width="614" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Julius teaching a business class. </td></tr>
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<br />
<br />
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Being from
Uganda, and a recipient of FOM’s work when he was younger, Julius believes that
helping children starts by helping those who care for them; their parents,
grandparents, neighbors, and/or guardians.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When the caretaker is empowered, the results show in his/her family.</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In Uganda, as
well as most African nations, there is a significant problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Statistically speaking, 51% of children in
Uganda are considered a vulnerable child or an orphan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This accounts for over 10 million
children!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A vulnerable child is defined
as a child who is living in a situation that is exposing him/her to significant
physical, mental, or emotional harm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An
orphan is defined as a child who has lost one or both parents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Life for
vulnerable children and orphans is hard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They have all dealt with loss of some kind, whether due to illness,
death, abandonment, or another traumatic event.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When a child in Africa loses a caretaker, the cultural expectation is that
their extended family or neighbors take them in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, in a place where most families are
struggling significantly, taking in another child means less resources and care
for the entire household.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In families
without both parents, the stress on the family can be unbearable.</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Julius knows
about this stress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Julius was
twelve years old his mom died of HIV/AIDS. Since his father had passed the year
before, he was left with the responsibility of taking care of his younger
sister and brother.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Within a short time,
hardship forced them into eating from trash bins, sleeping on the streets, and
doing hard labor in order to make enough money to survive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Julius struggled to get money, not only for
food, but for school fees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was hard,
and he missed many classes and exams.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>While on the streets, he ran into an uncle who took them to his
place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This seemingly good fortune
tragically turned unfortunate, as his uncle sold their property, treated them
like house slaves and left them with nothing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Soon, they went back on the streets to escape this unhealthy
situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Begging does not
suit a boy of fourteen, so Julius got a job as a houseboy/groundskeeper for two
years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During this time, he used his
salary to pay for his siblings’ school fees while he worked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Life seemed decent until one fateful night
when the compound was attacked by robbers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sadly, Julius’ boss was killed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This turn of events forced Julius and his siblings back on the street.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He no longer had a salary that would cover
his school fees and his former boss’s widow had threatened him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those days were so difficult that his younger
brother nearly died from the harsh weather and hunger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Difficult days
continued until the day Julius ran into one of his dad’s old friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He told this man of their situation and this
man invited them to his modest home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
was running an organization, treated them like his own kids and provided all
their needs on a very small income.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Julius says of this time, “This is where I experienced God’s love and
care.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because of their respect and
obedience to him, they won a special place in this man’s heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">FOM came to know
Julius in 2006, when we began to work with a local organization called The AIDS
Orphans Support Trust (TAOST). TAOST was helping Julius and his siblings with
some of their basic needs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Julius spoke
with Michelle (FOM’s Executive Director) during a visit to the community
school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He told her his story and
Michelle was touched.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She began helping
Julius and his siblings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Julius says,
“Since then, Michelle and her family have created a big transformation in my
life through supporting our education until I finished my Business
Administration Course (Accounting Major) at University.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In 2011, FOM
hired Julius to work with women and men who want a better life for themselves
and their children. This is something Julius' own parents would have wanted as
well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Julius has gone from a boy
struggling on the streets to a man with a passion for business and one who
wants to help his own community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Julius
is someone who understands what it means to overcome obstacles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He understands the value of education and has
an incredible gift for teaching.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Julius
connects easily and readily with others and is someone we trust to run our
Vocational Development program.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, what does Julius’s
work look like?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How does he help FOM
help his community?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Next week, we will go into detail about Julius's role with Fount of Mercy...so come back for Part 2!</span></span></span></div>
Fount of Mercyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09713262649691017872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6978781983556135087.post-67974514875104536412013-02-15T09:36:00.000-08:002013-02-15T09:36:00.353-08:00Field Report...Progress on Proposed Piggery<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIuydo7T0ipnRsKWCdCXYLxYLLCL5a8O7bVVwl4HyycVMBNtT3JDdqgAUGUnNJ6r4bhr35wkHkJ2LQG3BALG_vnuLpa8LlSDhESd4xQzsTqB2gldVdPm3oaauEVIHwiYQv489Gp3ILJ_E/s1600/baby+pigs.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIuydo7T0ipnRsKWCdCXYLxYLLCL5a8O7bVVwl4HyycVMBNtT3JDdqgAUGUnNJ6r4bhr35wkHkJ2LQG3BALG_vnuLpa8LlSDhESd4xQzsTqB2gldVdPm3oaauEVIHwiYQv489Gp3ILJ_E/s640/baby+pigs.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at all those pigs!!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span id="internal-source-marker_0.5162404877622806" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Fount has been working with the village, Lwanda, to set up a piggery in their community. The proposal is that its income would support their community school, as well as the individuals who invest their time and energy into the business. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">On December 16, Fount of Mercy, in partnership with Care and Share ministries, organized a piggery workshop in Lwanda village. Ibirye, a local veterinarian, was hired to conduct the 3 hour training. There was a large turn out for this event.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The purpose of the workshop was to equip the people with knowledge and basic skills for raising pigs for commercial purposes. The facilitator delivered the information to everyone who attended, and they appreciated the skills implanted in them very much.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The following topics were discussed:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Piggery Management Systems: How pigs on a small or large scale are raised from birth until they are sold.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Selection of good pig breeds for commercial business and all the different kinds of good breeds.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Medication and feeding</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Layout of the piggery house and all the necessary needs to build a pig pen.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Diseases and their symptoms, plus their control measures.</span></li>
</ul>
<br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">After such a successful workshop, and thanks to a generous donor, Care and Share Ministries will establish a piggery farm as a side project to support their Nursery school. The project will bring a big development and transformation in the lives of the people involved, as well as the school. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The project will bring in large profits, thus more money will come in from selling the piglets. These profits will go to support the school, and help guarantee its sustainability, overseen by a committee.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">A BIG THANK YOU</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> to Fount of Mercy, and our generous donors, for their sincere generosity and great work towards empowering the communities with basic skills that is causing a great transformation in the lives of Ugandan people.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">---written by Julius Wamimbi, Fount's Vocational Associate</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
</span><br />Fount of Mercyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09713262649691017872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6978781983556135087.post-79164622987377344032013-02-08T10:16:00.000-08:002013-02-08T10:16:00.047-08:00Francis and Community Schools...our Education work, Part 2. In our last post, we introduced you to Francis, our Education program director. We started by explaining the need for Community Schools in Uganda, as well as the limitations Community Schools have. We'd like to go further in explaining how our Education program works specifically within these community schools, and Francis' part in that. <br />
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDhwnUGApzbIuE8vliRsERpP0f_0Bo2kMQqe4I4LEu_Fg9QLRObRmvJMExKmfcR73lOlXIJKLeCp5K7okCvbQYWnZCt09ZsYvEo9EbnSe4w6LzeTQQP9NHq-IYhZrxKxvrTQlWEPdnfgc/s1600/Michelle+Johnston+recess.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDhwnUGApzbIuE8vliRsERpP0f_0Bo2kMQqe4I4LEu_Fg9QLRObRmvJMExKmfcR73lOlXIJKLeCp5K7okCvbQYWnZCt09ZsYvEo9EbnSe4w6LzeTQQP9NHq-IYhZrxKxvrTQlWEPdnfgc/s640/Michelle+Johnston+recess.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Students during recess. Photo by Michelle Johnston.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When Francis begins working with a Community School, he starts by inviting school leadership members to attend a “<b>Creating a School Management Committee” Seminar</b>. Together, they learn how to establish, motivate and encourage community participation in the school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Getting the community to “own” their children’s school is vital if the school is going to last.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When community members are not invested in the success of their Community School, the burden of its growth and stability falls on the shoulders of the CBO/NGO leader.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This pressure is too much for one person, and they often give up or fail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Simply put, involving the community in the management of the school always leads to greater stability and sustainability for that school. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Once a workshop has finished, Francis then collaborates with the community school’s leadership to actually <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">establish a<b> School Management Committee</b></span>. Once formed, this committee will help make all of the decisions and will work towards the growth and long-lasting stability of the school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Workshop participants are also invited to continue meeting as peer mentors, and to compete for a small <b>School Management Committee grant</b>. This grant can be used to make improvements or start projects, which will benefit the school.</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span> </div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Francis also brings together the educators of these schools to participate in <b>Learning Achievement Projects</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During these projects, whose themes are <b>curriculum, literacy, and health education</b>, Francis works with teachers to incorporate the government’s standard curriculum, literacy, and health education into their own school’s learning framework.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Francis teaches workshops, arranges peer mentorship’s, and does site visits to evaluate and help guide a school’s work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He also arranges professional development opportunities for teachers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His passion for literacy is evident in his interactions with teachers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>”I hope to create a culture for reading which does not currently exist,” says Francis.</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Francis was working in a Community School from 2008 till he began with FOM in 2011.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He will attest, as a former headmaster who could not depend on his salary from month to month, that the primary reason these schools fail is financial instability.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being in the poorest communities, and depending on the parents for everything from the teachers’ salaries to basic supplies like books and chalk, it goes without saying that these schools have a difficult time paying for even the most basic needs. When written materials are lacking, teachers rely on the rote method of teaching where children verbally memorize information.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This allows classrooms with limited resources to continue, but does not ensure that actual learning is taking place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This, combined with teachers who lack qualifications or financial motivation, means that the children’s education is sub-par. </span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Francis still sees firsthand the limitations these schools have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His son, Ceasar, attends a community high school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“These schools generally teach children to memorize rather than internalize knowledge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The children are [also] not encouraged to practice literacy, so the children mostly read the subjects to pass the exams, and nothing else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, to me, the benefits are that they have a Christian foundation, and they are cheaper.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In order to encourage financial stability, schools can also be offered the chance to apply for a small <b>Learning Achievement Grant</b>. These grants can be used to fund one-time assets for the school's learning achievement such as curriculum, teaching resources, or supplies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or, they can be used to create income-generating projects, such as a piggery or a small shop, which will then go towards improving the school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Francis works closely with the community groups to decide on these projects, plan them, implement them, and then follow up with them throughout the duration of the project.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Despite the challenge of limited resources, Community Schools are successful and very much needed to fill a gap in the present education system. But, they need help from people like Francis…people who have a passion for education and have worked and struggled to use that passion in their community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By ensuring these Community Schools receive community support, quality training, and some small grants, Francis is helping them become long lasting, and continue to benefit the most marginalized and needy children in Uganda.</span></span></div>
Fount of Mercyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09713262649691017872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6978781983556135087.post-52024722294053339512013-02-01T10:06:00.000-08:002013-02-01T10:06:00.753-08:00Francis and our Education work, part 1.Last week, we shared with you a field report, written by Francis Emolu, one of our amazing Ugandan program associates. We thought that this week we'd share with you a little more about him...and his work for Fount of Mercy. This is part 1 of what our Education program does in Uganda. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA2hzxTsgke5Yx4W9-GDqweXPHRootyX59GDhxZ4ns-ZMawMNfG-x3TSG7JsnEvyjoBlc47z8wHyGPvWEv_w5ESq8EcV8Y96TwIpRgybYqBkSKTUWP9fVhNA65hh2BYNPuvlqJFPnT5eo/s1600/Rebecca+cippola+education.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA2hzxTsgke5Yx4W9-GDqweXPHRootyX59GDhxZ4ns-ZMawMNfG-x3TSG7JsnEvyjoBlc47z8wHyGPvWEv_w5ESq8EcV8Y96TwIpRgybYqBkSKTUWP9fVhNA65hh2BYNPuvlqJFPnT5eo/s640/Rebecca+cippola+education.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ugandan student working hard. Photo by Rebecca Cippola<br />
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Francis knows what it is like to struggle
to get an education, as well as for his very life…sometimes those struggles
happened simultaneously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Coming from a
village called Olumai, Francis started at a teacher’s college in 1984, during a
time of great upheaval in Uganda.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
1985, Museveni, Uganda’s current president, overtook power with his army. The
ensuing violence reached the college, forcing Francis to run to safety.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lacking transportation, he had to walk 70 km
(46 miles) to his home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He switched to a
new teacher’s college in 1986, but again, civil war broke out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were many raids and violent attacks,
leading to several people at the college being killed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Francis remembers jumping over dead bodies to
reach his classes!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Knowing that pursuing
education would open up possibilities in his life, Francis refused to give
up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He persevered and completed his
courses in 1987.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Francis is not alone in his belief that
education is the way out of poverty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Just like every other parent in Uganda, not to mention around the world,
Francis and his wife want the best for their three children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Learning from his own struggle to get an
education, Francis would like to see his kids attend University and study
science.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I want to see [them] grow into
good, morally upright Christians who live healthy, peaceful, successful
lives.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He knows that completing an
education is the first<s>, </s>vital step to their success.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Unfortunately, in Uganda, the poorest and
most marginalized families struggle immensely to get a basic education for
their children.</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Francis taught in Ugandan government
schools for ten years. He knows more than anyone that even though the Ugandan
government provides “universal” education for elementary aged children, in
reality, schools are far from free.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Parents must provide uniforms, shoes, books, and other supplies for
their children to enroll in school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
is unattainable for many families, leaving them to make difficult choices about
which of their children to send to school…if any.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Can you imagine making that decision?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Choosing which child you will offer a better
future for, and which you will not?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For this reason, often a local Community
Based Organization or Non-Governmental Organization (CBO/NGO) will create a
small Community School.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are
several benefits to creating a Community School.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The school is close to the children’s homes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Community Schools can also provide schooling
without the prohibitive costs of required uniforms, shoes, and high fees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, the disadvantages are numerous
also.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They often end up with unqualified
and untrained teachers, lack basic supplies such as books and chalk, and don’t
receive Uganda’s Ministry of Education’s new curriculum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This curriculum is student-centered,
discourages corporal punishment and places a heavy emphasis on bilingual
education and literacy across core subjects.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In 2011, Francis was hired by FOM, after completing a
diploma course in Education. It was clear that he possessed a passion for
education....read more about our Education program in our next post.</span></span></div>
<br />Fount of Mercyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09713262649691017872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6978781983556135087.post-92047889384683474892013-01-25T09:10:00.000-08:002013-01-25T09:10:46.080-08:00Field Report…education development program.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii2vY73j7tQzhPJrfGfuHkZJEj3HdzCVauMcIJzGKyTLs7ZpBD4HkBpVcJBdnLPMf2pR1D6Tb2aKSyc7_Ty-8z85IU5cnIj5xYm_0xv0OXMBDdFGXlvFKGkhn5Kf73q7PvAD6GZpvgUjs/s1600/francis.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii2vY73j7tQzhPJrfGfuHkZJEj3HdzCVauMcIJzGKyTLs7ZpBD4HkBpVcJBdnLPMf2pR1D6Tb2aKSyc7_Ty-8z85IU5cnIj5xYm_0xv0OXMBDdFGXlvFKGkhn5Kf73q7PvAD6GZpvgUjs/s640/francis.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Unlike US schools, which go from August to May, Ugandan
schools are in session from beginning of February till the end of November.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">One of the community schools in Fount of Mercy’s Education
Development Cohort, named “Gospel Home”, held their end of year class promotion
/graduation party celebrations recently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This school has enjoyed and benefitted from Fount of Mercy Educational
Developmental<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and training programs,
including:</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">a)</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Early Childhood teacher curriculum trainings
held in July 2012.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">b)</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Positive<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>discipline
in a Nursery classroom conducted <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>November 2012</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Among those invited to the celebrations were parents /guardians,
community leaders, and representative from Fount of Mercy, Francis Emolu.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“The Director of the school and his teachers who attended
the workshops expressed gratitude to Fount of Mercy for the knowledge and skills
that the teachers learned and acquired from their training/workshops, [which]
in turn, benefitted their learners so much.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Francis Omulu. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">School Curriculum practices like scheming and lesson
planning are basic teaching tools, along with safe school environments for our
children, and child-centered teaching.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The director humbly requested Fount of Mercy to include their
school in future teacher training programs during 2013.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Fount of Mercy, on the other hand, was grateful for the invitation
and the service their school is rendering to the community around their
area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fount looks forward to working
with them more in 2013. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">--written by Francis Emolu, Educational Development
Associate <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Fount of Mercyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09713262649691017872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6978781983556135087.post-14428684465436581112013-01-18T15:04:00.000-08:002013-01-18T15:04:15.313-08:00We are smart women...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhCYfhK8tNQKuA9bHtdc4rz-7lFEto-R-XBfEgxXev_tPXEyhSP-6hpzNHJgMdk_CJSgnLckhWEHKM2155Swje8yvdjwuRnRJaQBz7ZSa4ppx0V902vNoex4cSr5Sd9sh6Ti16hEjTRuU/s1600/Kathleen+lindemann+jewelry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhCYfhK8tNQKuA9bHtdc4rz-7lFEto-R-XBfEgxXev_tPXEyhSP-6hpzNHJgMdk_CJSgnLckhWEHKM2155Swje8yvdjwuRnRJaQBz7ZSa4ppx0V902vNoex4cSr5Sd9sh6Ti16hEjTRuU/s200/Kathleen+lindemann+jewelry.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
This week’s update is more personal than usual, and come from Lori Acton, our International Director, who lives full-time in Jinja, Uganda. <br />
<br />
“Lately, I have been giving a lot of thought though about what it is that I am so thankful for this year. This past month and a half I have had one specific lesson revisit me several times. This lesson [involves] the treatment of women in Uganda. I am so grateful to have grown up in a country and a family… that does not see my being female as a hindrance or a weakness. I have taken it for granted that I know I have value, and I am loved. These past weeks I have had countless opportunities to communicate this message, and that no one has the ability to take that away from you. The most rewarding part of this has not only seeing women receive this idea, but then pass it along the women around them who are in need of hearing it.
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
This last Tuesday Fount of Mercy staff attended a celebration for the end of a village bank cycle. Twenty-nine women worked very hard for six months and were [finally] collecting their savings and earnings. One representative of the group said over and over –
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<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>‘We are not beggars anymore. We are smart women.’”
</b></div>
<br />
This is why we do our work: to hear statements like the one above. Smart women can take care of their families, creating communities with less vulnerability and fewer orphans. That is our goal.
Fount of Mercyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09713262649691017872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6978781983556135087.post-48130626727577837852012-12-18T12:30:00.000-08:002012-12-18T12:31:41.914-08:00Will you give to Fount of Mercy? <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Q84HTjuz1aqIpbY1Q686FqQ7eKPTxCWysZjDAUfTpDMBrtCE1EnfLfv44dYjRPNT3iDn1SDmH6jjTZ4gNWrDj1cek4Uv6rXeNNPwSllrTdqi6-wOyxvVt3lXJhU_jw2kVBNqdljaSiE/s1600/189.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="134" width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Q84HTjuz1aqIpbY1Q686FqQ7eKPTxCWysZjDAUfTpDMBrtCE1EnfLfv44dYjRPNT3iDn1SDmH6jjTZ4gNWrDj1cek4Uv6rXeNNPwSllrTdqi6-wOyxvVt3lXJhU_jw2kVBNqdljaSiE/s200/189.jpg" /></a></div>
In our last post we highlighted the impact Fount of Mercy had in Uganda in 2012. For those of you who supported our work, thank you! We can't do this work without the support of our donors.
As we look to 2013 and all that we expect to accomplish, our hope is that, if you haven't already, you will consider joining our growing network of financial supporters.
There are two main ways to give to Fount of Mercy:
You can sign up to give monthly (the easiest way to give steady support). Monthly support provides Fount with the assurance that Lori and our three Ugandan program associates in Jinja will be able to keep working at the same level. Any amount helps: $10, $25, $50, $100! As a monthly supporter you'll receive a thank you gift and monthly updates from Lori on the field. You can set up a monthly donation through <a href="https://www.networkforgood.org/donation/ExpressDonation.aspx?ORGID2=208182596&vlrStratCode=MYBx1UqysGiLgT2I59O%2bWEFhPaDhnONVZXCKjOJBKIRkL39LJ%2fMhkxSythXrVymP">Network for Good</a>.
You can give a one time end of year gift via <a href="https://www.networkforgood.org/donation/ExpressDonation.aspx?ORGID2=208182596&vlrStratCode=MYBx1UqysGiLgT2I59O%2bWEFhPaDhnONVZXCKjOJBKIRkL39LJ%2fMhkxSythXrVymP">Network for Good</a>, <a href="https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_flow&SESSION=Q39p5IHtM73sUgphfCmBHDJVRhoKx6nCSgpPS8uJzDO_It3t6UMABAF6mYW&dispatch=5885d80a13c0db1f8e263663d3faee8d0b7e678a25d883d0fa72c947f193f8fd">Paypal</a> or through our <a href="https://fundrazr.com/campaigns/7J6Gb">paper bead necklace</a> or <a href="https://fundrazr.com/campaigns/4Nu9a">charcoal sketch</a> thank you gift campaigns.
Thank you for being a part of Fount of Mercy's work in Uganda!
www.fountofmercy.orgFount of Mercyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09713262649691017872noreply@blogger.com0