Sponsorship and Birthdays

Geoff's birthday
With Josephine's family at her home

We have decided to turn over a new leaf and update our blog more often. We used to struggle due to poor internet connection, but now it is much better so we have no excuse. Also, it is good for us to keep a diary of what we are doing as we quickly forget (we blame the heat rather than our ages!). Speaking of which, Geoff has had a birthday since our last update! It was spent staying with volunteer friends in Fort Portal and going out for dinner in a posh hotel!
Since the last update we have had our final VSO training in Kampala and Geoff has now completed his in-country motor-cycle training. He now has a motor cycle licence and, all being well, should have a bike within the next couple of weeks.
On the 18th September, we had a very good day visiting a child called Josephine, who is sponsored by St. Andrews (our church at home). She is sponsored through an organisation called Compassion and, when we first came to Uganda, we had no idea that Josephine lived only 30miles from us in Kasese. When we discovered how near she was to us, we organised through Compassion to visit her to see for ourselves what ‘being sponsored’ actually means for her. She lives in the foothills of the Ruwenzori Mountains and we were very impressed with the project and the difference they make to children’s lives.
How does the project impact on Josephine? Well, we must admit to some scepticism before our visit but are now convinced it is working successfully. Why?

• Josephine is still in school when, without support, we are sure she would have left as she is ‘below average’ and struggles academically;
• She has the opportunity in the future to go on to either vocational training and secondary school, which would not be possible for her family without Compassion’s support;
• She has had regular medical check-ups and clinic visits when ill;
• Her parents have received guidance at weekend sessions on how to support Josephine educationally;
• This support has also helped the other children in the family to make the most of their educational opportunities;
• The family have received a goat and training so it can generate further income for them;

Although this is, of course, what every child should receive, the reality is that in Uganda, as in so many other developing countries, many children do not have these basic things.
As well as visiting the project, we were able to visit Josephine’s home, which involved a 1500 ft climb up a mountain! Had we realized how difficult the climb would be, we would not have attempted it, but 2 hours later and soaking wet, due to a thunderstorm, we reached her small mud and wattle hut with amazing views across the valley.
After meeting all the family plus neighbours and friends, it was time to go down so we could get home before dark. It took an hour of scrabbling down the now slippery paths before we got back to the valley floor and the project. We were amazed to look back at Josephine’s house and see how high it was. We were even more amazed to learn that she goes up in 45 minutes and comes down in 25 minutes!