Feeding the Five Thousand

SOVCO Kids show off their new clothes!

When I was preparing to go to Uganda, I kept collecting stuff that people just gave to me: clothes and shoes either bought or leftover from garage sales for the kids and the volunteers, old magazines that the Women of Hope could make into paper beads, and books to start a library for the children. My grown-up daughter's room was overflowing with this bounty, which I organized into packets for each of the sponsored children. There was about five times more stuff than I could fit into the two suitcases allotted to me.  I had to leave many things behind... to read more, click here.

Uhuru: Independence Day Festivities

Pictures of the children's guardians picking up checks for Independence Day Festivities:



Tuesday October 9 was the 50th anniversary of Uganda's independence from the British, called "Uhuru," meaning "independent" (in which language, I am not sure...I would guess Swahili). Apparently this holiday is almost equal to Christmas in the degree of celebration. With independence coming fairly recently, they probably appreciate it even more!   To read more, click this here.

The one in green is Scovia's stepmother, and the one in blue flowers is Arach Eunice's auntie.  Both of them are Women of Hope beaders, too.

Brenda's Broom

Click here to read about this girl's gift to SOVCO!

Visits in the bush

As I rode out to the SOVCO office every morning, sidesaddle on the back of a motorcycle, I got to watch the whole parade of African life going on around me: women carrying babies tied to their backs or big pots balanced on their heads, groups of small grinning children , who when they would see me, would shout, "Mono, Bye!" (Mono is what white people are called), men washing a motorbike in a creek, children carrying jerrycans of water or herding goats...and beautiful lush green landscape by the side of the road. You don't see may houses, so you wonder where all these people are coming from.

• Drag

Meeting one of the children along the path near her house.

But when I went out to visit the children in their homes, I discovered...

 click here to read more.

Good News and Bad News

Good News and Bad News

(Concerning book bags and plastic chairs)

Ten New Kids for Sponsorship

Ten new children are available for sponsorship! To read more about them go to here and respond to me at forresterich@hotmail.com

Regina's Compound

The second week of my time in Uganda I was able to visit several of the children in their homes, so I will share some of the pictures with you in the next few emails. Most people live in small compounds of 3-5 small huts of related people. The one below is the compound of Franka and Godfrey, two orphans who are being cared for by a kindly old "jaja" (grandma) named Regina, who has taken in many orphans over the years. Click to read more about Kind-Hearted Regina

Farm Life in Uganda

 This is Hamis (pronounced Ah-MEES). He is eight years old, and is sponsored by a family from my church. We went to visit him one day, but he was still at school. He lives on the farm of Mr. Ojok Kisembo, the man who raised Tonny, and who is one of the Ugandan benefactors of SOVCO. So we had a look around the farm.

To read more about Hamis and the farm he lives on, go to  Farm Life

School Days

Last week I spent a lot of time going around to the childrens' schools with Tonny, meeting the head teachers, visiting our children, and learning about how school works in Uganda. When you pass by most  rural schools, you will see hundreds of children out playing on the school grounds. It seems like it's always recess time. Now I know why...

Click here to read more...

Queen for a Day

Saturday was one of the most interesting and exciting days of my life! After a long journey and a good rest, Joey and I bumped the seven miles or so out to the SOVCO office along red-dirt roads bordered with lush green vegetation and round thatch-roof huts. When we got there, I was greeted by Tonny and the children's guardians (who, amazingly, sat patiently waiting for hours!)

To read the rest of the entry, and see pictures from my trip to Uganda, go to :
Queen for a Day

SOVCO's Choice

Awhile back a family member of mine said he would like to support SOVCO with a gift of $1,000. Wow! Tonny and I are always writing back and forth about the things that SOVCO needs for its operations. Things like a motorbike to make visiting families easier, or maybe just another bike. Cupboards for the office. A rain suit for when volunteers have to visit families and it's raining. A little more pay for the mentors who have helped Tonny on a volunteer basis for so long. Materials or equipment for the Women of Hope. Starting a tutoring program for the children of the community. Upgrading the sponsored children to better schools. I could have spent that money many times over!

To see how that money was spent, click here

What's in a Name....

Opiyo Tonny handing school supplies to Kumakech Aron, our littlest guy.

I love studying languages, so I have been trying to study some Acholi before my trip to Uganda in late July. Acholi is the name of the ethnic group most of our sponsored children are part of. The language is officially called Luo, and it is spoken in parts of Kenya as well.

Many of you have asked about the names of your children. Our concept of a family name that is passed on from generation to generation is not the custom among the Acholi. Instead, each child is given an Acholi name and another, often more westernized name. The first one is the Acholi name, and it usually means something, and reflects the circumstances of the birth, often from the perspective of the mother. My son Joey's Acholi friend recently named his baby after Joey: Oceng Joseph Rich. Oceng means born in the afternoon.

I thought you might enjoy doing a little research to see what your child's name means, which you can do at
this website

Dear My Sponsor...

New uniforms!

Many of you will soon be getting letters from your children. These letters may have been written before you became your child's sponsor, in which case of course you will not get one. The letters show various levels of English ability and academic achievement. The ones from the younger children and those who have learning difficulties are full of crossed-off portions, and you can see how they were attempting to copy from an older child (mostly Franka and Richard, whose letters are quite legible). Some have decorated their letters with charming pictures. Tonny pointed out to me that the letters do demonstrate that the level of education in the rural schools is rather low. He would like to try to get more of the children into the town schools, and hopes to initiate a Saturday tutoring session for the weaker students. He himself has had experience in tutoring English, math, and social studies, and mentioned the possibility of recruiting some local teachers to help out as well.

To read the rest (with a great movie suggestion), click here

The Needlle, a fun video about going to the hospital in Uganda

 In the last post I mentioned that Richard and Gerald had been to the hospital. Tonny takes them to St. Mary's Hospital in Lacor, which he says is the best hospital in the area. I found this video, called The Needle,  which is a fun one to watch. The kids would really enjoy it, and it gives a picture of life in Uganda, and what it's like to go to the hospital there, from a child's perspective.

Last Call For Letters; Medical Treatments

 Today is the day I said your letters would be due, remember?  But I know how it goes, so if you still have not written to your child, you still have a chance. I need to collect a few from friends who don't have email, anyway. So just take a look at the picture below, which is of our kids writing to us, then pop over to your own email, and dash off a quick, simple letter about you and your family, what you like to do, and a note of encouragement to your child...presto, done!

Read more....

Letters, Medical Treatments

Letters, Moms and Bead-making

Happy Mothers Day to all of you women who are sponsoring SOVCO kids!  I just recently bought my ticket for Uganda; I will plan to carry all of your love to these precious children at the end of July (July 26-Aug. 11).  But for now, let's get together some letters for our kids. Please email or send me (100 Pleasant Way, North Manchester, IN 46962) a letter for your child before May 23, and I will put them all in the mail together. It doesn't have to be a big deal, just a nice note, maybe a photo or a picture your children have drawn. Something to let them know you are a real person who cares about them. Because that's a big part of the benefit of sponsorship for the kids, knowing someone cares....to read more, please click below:
Letters, Moms, and Bead-making

The Amazing Women of Hope!

Since Mothers Day is coming up, I was happy to receive today some pictures and profiles of a few of the children's guardians, who are working in the bead project....Please click the link below to read more about these amazing women:

The Amazing Women of Hope!

Bits and Pieces

Lots of bits and pieces this week:

Thursday was World Malaria Prevention Day so Saturday (just this morning) Mr. Opiyo gathered the children together for presentation of the gifts of the month, which included mosquito nets, lamp oil, soap, salt, and cooking oil. He also gave the children some tips about preventing malaria and a devotional. Then they were going to have refreshments of biscuits (cookies) and soda pop. I am hoping for some pictures, but I haven't got them yet.

The beads have come...

To continue reading about beads, kids who still need sponsors, and some future plans for SOVCO, please click on the link below:
Bits and Pieces

Close-ups of Three Vulnerable Boys

I've learned in parenting, that to see our children like God sees us, we need to see their vulnerable side once in awhile. Growing up with just a sister, I didn't know boys could be so vulnerable. On the outside, they seem so tough. But now that I have sons and nephews, I know their soft side is in there somewhere.
Here are three of the boys we are sponsoring: Regan, Francis and Richard. And these are their stories....

To continue reading, please click here:
Close-ups of Three Vulnerable Boys

Get Ready for Letters!

Originally Written April 7, 2012

Mr. Opiyo wanted to gather the children together the day before Easter to write letters to us. This is no small feat when families live in such remote locations, spread so far apart, without telephones. He wrote that "I really moved with a bicycle for over 80 kilometres to tell the parents and guardians of our children to bring them."

To read the full story and see a picture, please click here:
Get Ready for Letters!

Ready for School

This post is out of order; it was first written March 3, 2012.

Last Saturday, SOVCO had a gathering to give the sponsored children their school supplies and some soap and skin lotion, and talk to all of the guardians about the sponsorship.  Mr. Opiyo also encouraged them "...to study very hard if their future is to be a bright future and a sustainable future for them before their parents and guardians... I and my volunteers and the Area Chairman of the Local Council thanked the Almighty God for all these good and faithful opportunities that have been given to these needy children in this community of Ongako..."  It looks like the children dressed in their best for the occasion and posed together for a picture at the end.

To see more pictures of the gathering and individual children getting their packets, please click here:
Ready for School

Home Sweet Home Uganda

                                                                   Originally written April 2, 2012

Last night, just after going to bed, my cell phone rang, and it was our director in Uganda, calling to check on some details about the sending of April sponsorship money. After we were cut off, my husband and I were silent in wonder, thinking that we had just been speaking with a man in a grass hut in Africa. That got me thinking about the houses our children live in, and so I have collected a few pictures to share with you.

To read more and see pictures of rural Ugandan houses, please click here:
Home Sweet Home Uganda

More Children Needing Sponsors

                                                                              Originally written March 22, 2012

We have a whole new group of orphans, so if you have friends or family who may like to sponsor, please forward this email on. If they are interested, they can contact me at forresterich@hotmail.com.

In a recent letter, Mr. Opiyo told of interviewing one boy for the profiles below. The boy began to cry and said, "Uncle, I am so interested to study but no one can help me!" Later his teacher told Mr. Opiyo that the boy is very bright, and used to be a street child. She hoped that we could help him continue his studies.  I know that you are with us in our desire to help all of these children.

To see pictures of all the children, please click on this link:
Some More Orphans

Pregant Pig and Nodding Disease

                                   SOVCO director beside the cow shelter,
                                   and I think those are the green peppers
                                in the background. (is he scolding the cow?)                           

                                                                      Originally written March 16, 2012

Well, there were a few little problems this week for SOVCO in Uganda. For one thing the green pepper garden was invaded by a pregnant pig and a cow that ate up all the peppers that were supposed to be sold to pay for school fees for children in the community. It turned out the pig was one belonging to SOVCO, and the cow belonged to the chairman of SOVCO's Board of Directors, who is letting SOVCO use the land for free, so there was nothing that could be done, but get ready to plant more peppers...

To read more, please click on the link below:
 Pregnant Pig and Nodding Disease

Communicating with your Child

                                                                           Originally written March 3, 2012

One of the delights of working with SOVCO for me is sending emails back and forth to the director in Africa. I just love the Ugandan way of putting things. Here is an example:

"Well yesterday on Monday, the 27th February 2012, I went to visit our
orphans how they are doing and found out that, they are doing well.
Indeed my sister, I must tell you that, our orphans are so discipline
in such a sense that, the moment they saw me, all of them ran and came
to welcome me immediately saying "Uncle, you are most welcomed in our
school" and they asked me ''Uncle, how are you doing?" Then I told them,
 "I am fine."
 I gave them the incisors today so that the guardians can shape off
their hairs by this Friday, hence to be smarter than other pupils."

As for letter-writing with the children, I bet getting a letter from you would put a smile on their faces...

To read more, please click on this link:
Communicating With Your Child

The Women of Hope Arts and Crafts Project

                                                                            Originally written late Feb. 2012

It's been a busy week in our "hometown in Uganda." I think the green peppers are all harvested, but the SOVCO director and volunteers are busy with measuring the children for uniforms, and home visits to the second set of seven orphans, bringing soap, lamp oil, salt and whatever else is needed. Mr. Opiyo, the director, says he will be getting more children ready for sponsorship by sometime in March, so if you are waiting, hopefully it won't be much longer.

Also, the Women of Hope have begun making beads again...

To read more and see more images, please click on the link below:
WHAP

Pictures from Home Visits

                                                                           
                                                                                 Originally written  Feb. 18, 2012

Seventeen children sponsored so far!

 Mr. Opiyo and the SOVCO members are busy with the green pepper harvest, which they will take to restaurants in the nearby town of Gulu to sell to get money for operating expenses. And they are dealing with the challenge of getting around to all the children for pictures and home visits, and the death of the trainer for the bead project, who died of diabetes just last week.

But Mr. Opiyo sent me some new pictures from his recent home visits with several of the children, and I wanted to share them with you...

To continue reading and see more images, please click on the link below:
http://mim.io/af8552?toolbar=promotions%2Ftoolbar_view

Second group of Orphans

                                                                                 Originally written Feb. 11, 2012

When I get these orphan profiles and read their stories of loss, it breaks my heart. These kids have been through so much!

The first group of ten children all had sponsors within eight days and I have sent the money to pay their school fees, which were due last week. Besides that, with the money that we give, the director and volunteers at SOVCO (local people who have a special concern for these children) will be doing monthly home visits to determine the needs of each family, and bringing them such necessities as mosquito nets, high-protein food, and clean water. They will set aside some money each month to pay for medical needs of the children as they arise.

To continue reading this post and see more images, please click this link:
http://mim.io/4fda42?toolbar=promotions%2Ftoolbar_view

Welcome to SOVCO Sponsorship!

                                                                      
                                                                           Originally written  March 26, 2012

Thank you so much for your interest in sponsoring a child in Northern Uganda!  In this letter I want to introduce you to the program and tell you how you can make your payments. In another letter which will come soon, I will give you some suggestions of resources that will help enrich your sponsorship experience.

The children we're supporting have been through so much, with a recent civil war in which rebel forces abducted thousands of children as soldiers and sex slaves. Most of these children we are supporting were too young to be abducted, but many of their parents were brutally killed in the war, and others have had to see their parents waste away to HIV/Aids...

To read the rest of this letter and see images, please click on this link:

http://mim.io/271152?toolbar=promotions%2Ftoolbar_view

Dusty Shoes, Orphans, and Vulnerable Children

                                                                       Originally Written Jan. 27, 2012      

 I have never been to Africa.  Last summer after my son Joey came back from a summer in Uganda, one morning I picked up his shoes, which were covered with red dust. I stared at them for awhile, trying to imagine the places they had been. Then I pitched those shoes in the trash can.

A few months later, a letter came. It was from Mr. Opiyo, a man Joey had met in Uganda, who has started a small organization called SOVCO to help orphans and vulnerable children (OVC; it's a well-know acronym in a place where these children make up 45% of the population). He wanted our help in marketing handicrafts made by the women who care for the children. I was tempted to pitch that letter in the trash can, too.

I am so glad I didn't, because these past few months I have been blessed to do what I can to help my new "brother" Mr. Opiyo find ways to care for his orphans and the women who care for them.

To read the rest of the letter and see images, click on this link:

http://mim.io/3cb632?toolbar=promotions%2Ftoolbar_view