Newsletter 2009-2010
“Do your little bit of good where you are: it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world” - Desmond Tutu
Recent Uganda Visit In July 2009 John and Betsy Keating went to Uganda to see the Orphan projects. Our Charity has expanded in the United Kingdom with many more generous sponsors coming forward as well as some great initiatives by young people.
Football Kit Donations Eli and Luca R, aged 7, collected £250 from their birthday savings. With the guidance of Ron Wood, the boys were able to buy 36 Manchester United football shirts and two footballs. St Gabriel's RC High School donated a strip of their blue and yellow shirts. These went to Rock High School in Tororo, which many of our orphans attend. The joy this brought to the school was extraordinary. The event was also published in the National Newspaper, “The New Vision” 13th Aug 09.
Rachel House A lovely house has been built in Uganda that will benefit many orphaned children. Rachel House, a gift from her family, was built in memory of the late Rachel Davies who lived in Bury Lancashire. She died tragically in December 2008.
Masquerade event in Manchester 26th September 2009 £3385 was raised on the night and Barclays Bank contributed a further £2250, making a final total of £5635. Kenworthy Chambers hosted this exciting event of masked guests with superb 'Phantom of the Opera' singers Lucie Baines and Sean Boys, plus magicians, croupiers, a string quartet and Flare barmen from the 'Living Room'. Auction prizes such as a holiday in Turkey, a night at the Lowry Hotel, Piano and Salsa lessons were very popular.
Other Donations
- St Gabriel's RC High School Coffee Morning £2000
- Bike Ride - Rob H £300
- All Saints RC High School Rawtenstall £400
- St Peter's RC Primary Newchurch pupils, Jacob & Joshua W and William P, arranged a raffle £30
- Tottington and Bury West Rotary club £250
- St James-the-Less Rawtenstall Parish gave 200 headscarves
EDUCATION OF ORPHANS Daisy, aged 10, who lost both parents seven years ago, is flourishing. She is living happily with her guardian and five other orphans. She was chosen to be her class monitor. She loves learning and is an excellent reader.
John was able to visit many schools and see the great difference it made sending the BECOT (Benedictine Orphaned Children of Tororo) children to good schools with smaller classes of 30-40. We are delighted that Joseph Owor, the son of the King of Tororo, has come to coordinate the project. He travels great distances to visit all the children and sends us regular reports.
School children We now have 72 children in our scheme. Fortunately, the extended family members of some of the children have eased the burden of high Secondary School fees by paying half the bill. There are also some enterprising guardians making crafts that can bring some extra income to help feed the children.
Health Training The Aids Support Organization (TASO) provides support and medicines to many of our children and their carers. Betsy gave training in Reflexology and Healthcare. The therapists in TASO Tororo were thrilled to receive awards for their dedicated service and skills.
Success Story Leo Okongo, one of our orphans, recently won the State Scholarship for Bachelor of Urban Planning at Makerere University.
He said “I owe my success to Bury African Outreach because without their help I wouldn't have had the opportunity to step into Secondary School owing to my impoverished background”.
We are very grateful for all our sponsors who have given such loyal support.
[ Page last updated June 2010 by Bury African Outreach (South) in Hindhead, Surrey ]