 It's a JOY to help these kids!Ever wonder how you could directly change lives in Africa? Do you have to be a Jimmy Carter in order to
make a huge difference in the life of a village? Of course not. You can change someone's future from despair to hope and joy and you can do it today.
The familiar question is: How can you know that your donations are directly reaching the people who need help? Well, now YOU HAVE A WAY.We are the essence of DIRECT GRASSROOTS ACTION. It's simple and it works!
How? We travel personally to Hope Home in Uganda and EVERY DOLLAR we receive for the children goes directly to the the needs of the orphanage or to the village community. I see that every penny is used for food, clothing or education. You can even tell me how you would like your gift used, and I will bring back photos of the families who have benefited from it. When we are not traveling, we have a safe way to get your funds to Uganda and you will receive PHOTOS of what your donation has accomplished. You may also choose which project you would like to support. We thrive on DIRECT ACTION. With us, if you buy a cow, you get a picture of that cow two weeks later, and receipts, if you need them. OUR 2012 TRIP TO UGANDA - The HUGkids Project Our HUGkids team of five will leave for Uganda on a two week journey of compassion. Our team consists of Kristi, Mary, Courtney, Melody and Judi in the following roles. Judi is the founder of Help Uganda Kids and has fund-raised for support for our kids at Hope Home for the past two years. Her efforts have resulted in a well for clean water for the orphanage and farm land for self-sustainability. Currently she is raising funding for a new school on the property. She was given the "Good Samaritan of the Year" award by the Children's Hunger Relief Fund in 2010. (To view, go to: chrf.org and look for Judi's page.) Kristi's interest lies in supporting the efforts of Hope Home Orphanage and School to become self-sustaining. She will assess the feasibility of the Chicken Project, which will bring eggs for protein to the children and will help them learn agricultural practices. She will also be instrumental in our gardening projects there in which the orphanage is starting to raise its own food. Mary, is a registered nurse on sabbatical and we are so fortunate to have her on our team. She will establish a first aid clinic at Hope Home and will assess the possibility of growing this into a full scale medical clinic which will serve the surrounding community and will be staffed by doctors and nurses in rotation. Courtney, daughter of Kristi, is a graduate of Yale and will use her certifications and training in the areas of counseling, health practices, and sexual education in the areas of birth control and rape survival. She will teach the art of good self esteem and empowerment to our older girls at the school and will be available to the women in the community for sharing communication and encouragement. Melody is our communications/social net wizard and a fine artist who will help the children to do some amazing community art projects. The children love art and can't wait for the enthusiasm (and the lovely art supplies!) that Mel will bring. Together, we will be bringing not just our concern, supplies and expertise to the community but lots of hugs and love to the kids. Many items of clothing, school and art and medical supplies are being collected by the Team and we will each be hand-carrying two huge suitcases of supplies and gifts for the children. We can't wait for June! And we'll be sending videos of our experiences in Uganda. The photos and videos will be available after our return (as there is no electricity nor are there any tech services where we will be staying.) We welcome any sponsorship or donations for our journey! Just use the donate button on this site, or send a check made out to "Quantum" to P.O.Box 5491, Berkeley, CA 94705 SPONSORING A CHILD
You might want to talk with us about sponsoring a child who has been rescued from life on the streets, or perhaps sponsoring one of our dedicated senior students who has declared their hopes of going to University and after graduation, returning to help their community. We have several who are ready, just awaiting a sponsor. Last year (2010) we completed our project to bring clean water to Hope Home! Hope Home owns its own beautiful 10 acre parcel of land where the children live and study. When the children lost their access to the community well, we swung into action. Three months later, Hope Home had their own well! This was accomplished with the help of people like YOU!.. and with a matching gift from the Children's Hunger Relief Fund. (You can even come to Uganda to visit, if you like, and see the completion of the well. Check our volunteering page.) There are two million children in Uganda who have lost their parents due to AIDS or civil war. Many of these kids have known starvation and abuse in the streets of the villages in the still-volatile regions of Uganda. Message of Hope Home and School shelters thirty-five children and reaches out to 100 more in the surrounding villages. I've seen how much these children want to learn! They just soak up the education given to them here, and will eventually take their exams and go on to higher education. (Quite obviously, this is a very different future than they would have had in a dangerous life on the street!) Many want to return to help their communities. These children are a vital part of Uganda's future. EDUCATION IS NOT FREE IN UGANDA! (These orphans have no way to go to school unless they have school fees, or can find a place in a Home and school such as ours.) Want to help us make a real difference... and change lives? What amazed me about these children is how joyful and resilient they are. Most
of these kids have watched both their parents die. They have known hunger...
and so much sorrow. But given
a little food, clothing, friends and a chance to go to school, they bloom like
thirsty flowers. Hope Home rings with their laughter and play. When we
go there to volunteer, they surround us so much joy and affection that we
come home with full hearts... and the feeling that we've gotten back so much
more than we gave.
(Want to go on our next trip?) The joy of being a savior in these kid's lives also extends to those who only go there with me in spirit. For them, they find it exhilarating to participate in an African armchair travel adventure! I take your letters and donations, and deliver 100% of them directly to the children. The kids will write letters back to you. Join us... and soak up a little joy! Judi's note from: March 2010: JUST AFTER RETURNING FROM UGANDA from that first trip. Taking your contributions personally to Message of Hope Home and School, you and I have just accomplished a lot of little miracles. The important thing is that we have ACTUALLY MADE A DIRECT DIFFERENCE IN SOME VERY DESPERATE SITUATIONS. None of your donations went to office rent or to salaries of "non-profit" organizations. 100% of your donations reached the children! We've harnessed the power of personal concern and grassroots action! And together, you and I have directly changed lives. Some of the things we accomplished this trip:
Let's do it now!
You may contribute any amount you like. Use PayPal, Visa, Mastercard or write a check to "Quantum" and send to: Judi Gentry, P.O. box 5491, Berkeley, CA 94705 If you would like to have a receipt for a non-profit tax deduction, please make your check to "CHRF" and send it to Judi Gentry at the above P.O. Box. If you would like to make a regular monthly donation, call Judi and she will tell you how to set it up. (Call Judi at (415) 339-1295. Leave a message. She will return your call right away.) Every little bit brings the orphanage closer to its goal of self-sustainability! DONATE HERE NOW!  |
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