Friday, 1 October 2010

New connections

This week has been a good one for behind the scenes work here in Uganda as we’ve been networking and making good connections with organizations that work in a similar manner to S.A.L.V.E. Recently a new member of Jinja Network, a network of NGOs, civil society and government organizations that advocate for children’s rights, we attended our first meeting on Monday. We hope that being a member of this network will mean that we can collaborate with other organizations that work outside the remit of S.A.L.V.E. so we can reach and help more young people together.

Today the S.A.L.V.E. team also went on a peaceful demonstration march with the Jinja Network in aid of raising awareness about child sacrifice, a practice that is devastatingly common here within witchcraft practice. Many children came along holding banners as we marched through the streets of Jinja with a brass band. A really good but baking hot day!

We’ve also been researching a new proposal for a community education project in carpentry, the aim of which is to provide people with skills they can lift themselves out of poverty with, so that younger generations may benefit and less children feel the need to take to the streets. We visited Mafubira, the village this will hopefully take place in, and the proposal is almost finished, so the team here will be waiting in earnest for the necessary funding.

Hassan has been at home this week, as he has come down with malaria but he’s on the mend and has been very chatty. He’s a really bright boy and a keen singer - we hope to be able to share some videos of his talents with you soon. And Junior is enjoying school and making good progress with his reading.

Next week, we have secured a venue in which to hold our street clinics. We are hoping to have a regular venue in which to meet the children so we can provide consistency and work at rehabilitation efforts through structured sessions. We’ll update you with more about this at the end of next week.

So a good week here and things are moving forward for the charity.

It’s really hotting up here so a swim in the Nile is in order this weekend.

Much love from sunny Uganda,

Emma and Imogen xx

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