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