Michele, Becca Brandt and Missy Pine repaired over 100 uniforms and taught some of the children how to sew. The sewing room is officially called Namata Michele's Sewing Room. The children learn quickly and Michele is a wonderful teacher.
Tony, Melissa Kinsella and I did all the orphan "inventory". Melissa was the gift lady and did a GREAT job at providing gifts to each child whose picture was taken.
We still have some medical issues but it is looking very promising that we could have our clinic by end of 4th quarter this year or 1st quarter next year. Once we do that we will want to have an American doctor and an American nurse (or nurse practitioner) in the clinic. Lydia will continue as the nurse but she needs supervision.
Thanks to Becca and others we have enough file folders that there is now a file on each child for medical purposes. Lydia has two file cabinets and is required to keep the files up to date. Since the files are in Geofrey's office we have better control over the reporting process.
Joan Nakidde, our young lady with the degenerative left hip, now has a birth certificate and passport. We have a new X-ray and have started communicating with the local medical folks who are willing to do the work here in the United States. Once I can meet with them and get a "medical emergency" letter, it will be easier to get her a Visa. I will be going back October 12 and hope to get that process started so we can bring her back with us after the Christmas trip (November 17-24).
By the way, who else would like to join Michele and me for this trip? Cara Vitale and Pru Frechette have already stated they wish to go. Would love to have more ... it is a very heart warming trip and helps you realize the true meaning of Christmas. Let me know by September 1 if you wish to go. By the way, Geofrey is thrilled with his new office. He has a beautiful desk, credenza and all the accoutrements of a headmaster.
Thursday, we gave each child a hard boiled egg. The chickens are producing approximately 300 eggs a day so it looks like one week we we can sell eggs; one week we can give each child an egg. We really need another chicken coop and 400 more chickens so that each child gets an egg a week and we can sell eggs every week.
Some of the upcoming projects:
Raising money to buy a school bus;
Raising money to build another chicken coop and buy chickens;
Buying a copy machine (need it for report cards, school records, medical records);
Installing gutters for rain catchment;
Installing solar panels for power;
Continuing with the dental work (all the orphans are now up-to-date on their dental work);
Building a building and installing computers;
Building a small house on campus for visiting medical personnel;
Installing lightening rods.
In other words, we just keep moving forward!
And, our Starbucks fundraising in 11 stores starts back up September 6. Thanks to Marilyn Halter and her folks they have committed to helping us long term by having collection boxes in their stores for two eight week periods each year. Since April 2010 we have collected 37.5 tons of clothing/shoes/purses/belts/shoes which has generated $11,250. LOVE my Starbucks!
Heads up on the next three trips
WINTER 2011
Dates: November 17-24, 2011
This is our holiday trip where we put on a Christmas party for the children ... gifts, cake, fireworks, you name it $2,500 all inclusive (same as above without a safari!)
SPRING 2012
Dates: March 15-27, 2012
This is the annual medical trip to continue improving the health care of our children at the Mbiriizi Advanced Primary and Day Care School as well as the village of Mbiriizi. $3,500 all inclusive (airfare from a Newark, all airport transfers, hotel, food, guide and transportation
for the entire trip, water, safari .. the works). The only extra money you need is for souvenirs!
SUMMER 2012*
Dates: June 14-June 26, 2012
The summer trip is a work trip ending with a trek with the gorillas.
$4,000 all inclusive (airfare from Newark, all airport transfers, hotel, food, guide and transportation the entire trip, water, trek ... the works) The only extra money you need is for souvenirs and tips!
*We can only take 8 people on this trip because that is the limit for trekking with the gorillas. So far it is Michele and Tony Costa, Doug Brown, Vernoy Paolini and her niece, Amy, and me (that's 6). Let me know if you are planning on this trip.
In closing ... as always ... we have a need for sponsors for the orphans. For $1 a day you can provide a child with food, lodging, clothing, education and health care ... will you help? Just go to www.sylviaschildren.org and click on the top right hand corner ... donate now ... and fill out the form. Your help is so greatly appreciated.
Thanks for caring about Sylvia's Children!
No comments:
Post a Comment