One of the major investments you can make for a project is to visit it. When you visit, you can see how the project is progressing, where the need is greatest and what they encounter on a daily basis. You also get to know the children well with their own characters and background. At the same time, you can encourage and help people running the project with the daily challenges.
With this in mind, a small team traveled to Uganda to visit the projects there. Both Foodstep and Iris Ministries Uganda were visited and the journey went even further north to Gulu, a place where we ran a campaign several years ago and kept in touch with the team there and after all this time we now have a visited.
Iris Ministries Uganda:
The center led by Carolyn Figlioli started in South Sudan. During the war many children became orphaned or fled from the dangerous situation during the war that caused them to lose their parents. At that time, the children were taken care of at the center of Iris Ministries South Sudan. They stayed there until the bullets actually flew around the building so that they had to flee. With more than 125 children they fled to a neighboring country Uganda. This was many years ago and they have been living in Uganda ever since. The youngest is now 6 years old and many of the older children are now at the boarding school. There, too, the major challenge is tuition. This has become much more expensive since Covid, but since the children were not allowed to go to school for 2 years because of the lockdown, they have fallen behind and the motivation is greater than ever! For the past two years, God has done a miracle and made it possible for them to now have their own center with new buildings, a piece of land where they can grow and keep goats and chickens themselves. That does not alter the fact that every day is a challenge to meet all costs.
During our visit we had loom straps (always nice), crayons, puzzles and balloons. The boys played soccer with the new ball and everyone could join where he/she liked it. Sunday was the church service and one of the participants shared a word about the father heart of God. That He is love and always wants the best for you. The service was well organized and the kids host it together. The worship, the speaker, the testimonies (which is an important part of the service) and the offering. All people and children from the area are welcome and it is a big party.
Thanks to a generous donor we were able to give a water container for the police station so that women and children who are not safe on the street have fresh water and can wash, drink, prepare food, etc. without running the risk of being arrested by those who it's after them. How beautiful is that! All in all beautiful blessed days but unfortunately it was over after two days. One of the participants did see his sponsor child on the way back from Gulu. Always a beautiful special moment.
