Shannon Holmes, BKU Visitor 2012

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I am blessed to have a mother that provided for all my needs, and fulfilled most of my wants. The Bright Kids of Uganda are, in the same way, blessed. Their BKU mom, Ms. Victoria Nolongo, ensures they have meals, shelter, education, and medical needs; more importantly, though, Victoria provides warm hugs, prayer, and a place to call home. Like any loving mother, all of Victoria’s time is spent toward caring and providing for her children.

During my time at Bright Kids Uganda, I had the pleasure of meeting children who are alive because of Victoria and BKU. I met children who have education because of BKU. I was inspired by women and men who are gainfully employed and self-sufficient because of Victoria and BKU. As Victoria explained, BKU is not an orphanage; it is a home for children. In this home, love for each other, God, and their community is evident. While the full potential of BKU is not yet realized, every day, including the days I was there, steps are made in the direction of progress. New walls built; jewelry made and sold; cows brought home from the field; prayers and praises raised; meals prepared; baths taken; visits to the market; all of the seemingly mundane and everyday tasks of any home also take place at BKU. I cannot, or maybe I wish to not, imagine where Obama, Linnet, Sharon, Sheila, Arnold, or Vincent would be had it not been for BKU.

Victoria and BKU are held with high regard in their village, and throughout Uganda, and it is not surprise why.

Immunizations at BKU

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On May 12th, BKU held an immunization clinic for the children. Victoria arranged for Dr. Joyce Abalo and nurse Lydia Lunkuse, from Kitala Health Centre II, to spend the day at Bright Kids to administer government vaccinations and medicine to the kids of BKU. The children were also weighed and their medical records were updated. The children received polio, measles, and diphtheria/tetanus/hepetitis B vaccinations. They also received Vitamin A and de-worming medicine. The community was also invited to bring children for immunization. At the end of the day, 60 children benefited from the immunization clinic. Despite some tears and frightened faces, the immunization clinic was a success.

Goats for BKU

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BKU wishes to thank the friends of our University of Pittsburgh intern Simone Vecchio for their generous donations. Before she left for Uganda, Simone was able to collect $300 (along with a number of school supplies) in donations. The money has been used to purchase 3 goats for BKU. we just received two she-goats and one he-goat. The she-goats are both expecting kids any time now. The goats will produce milk for the children and will be a great income-generating source to sell as they continue to reproduce. Thank you to our generous supporters for allowing BKU the opportunity to raise goats.
 
 
 

CLINIC PROJECT-Update

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We are happy to report that since the arrival of the student group Global Peace Exchange from Florida State University, construction has begun on a health clinic to service the children of BKU and the surrounding community. Throughout the year preceding this summer, Global Peace Exchange (GPE) was in correspondence with BKU to plan for the construction and furnishing of the clinic and fundraise enough money to see to its full completion during their stay at BKU this summer. It is both GPE and BKU’s mission to ensure that the clinic become sustainable by hiring a full-time nurse on staff and charging fees for health services when the community members visit the clinic. These fees will then be funneled back into the up-keep of the clinic and the children’s subsequent needs. So far, the money that Global Peace Exchange has raised through both grant writing and fundraisers, has supplied all of the necessary building materials. Some of these include: bricks, multiple bags of cement, iron rods and wires, plaster, stones, labor for 6 days per week, and much more! We are all very excited about the potential benefit this health clinic may serve to all people in the area, but especially the Bright Kids! Please continue checking back for further updates on the clinic’s progress.

Keep track of GPE’s Clinic Project Progress and check out the latest pictures through their blog: http://monicakfleming.tumblr.com/

Meet the New Friends of BKU!

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Victoria and the children are happy to welcome five new volunteers and two new interns to BKU. The new friends of BKU arrived between May 8th and May 18th and have settled into their new homes for the summer.  We are excited to have a team from Florida State University who raised enough money to build a new clinic for the children and the community. The volunteers are all members of the Global Peace Exchange (GPE), a student-run international development organization that raises money throughout the school year to support international grass-roots development projects all over the world.
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\Meet the FSU team:
Monica Fleming is a Biology major who would like to pursue a career in International Public Health .
Lindsay Slautterback is an International Affairs and Environmental Studies major who hopes to continue on to law school and then work for an NGO.
Ruth Krug is co-director of GPE for the Uganda team and is an International Affairs major. She wants to work on grass-roots community empowerment projects.
Oliver Okoye is a graduate student in Public Health and wants to work for the World Health Organization.
Molly Pyle is also co-director of GPE and is an International Affairs and social Work major. She wants to work on women’s empowerment issues and education abroad.
 
We also welcome two graduate students from the University of Pittsburgh as interns at BKU. Maria Cruz is working on a Masters of International Development in Human Security and is looking forward to filming a short documentary about Victoria and the children of BKU. Simone Vecchio is obtaining a Masters of International Development Planning and Environmental Sustainability with a certificate in African Studies. She will be assisting Victoria and is eager to learn about running a grass-roots non profit organization and achieving non-profit sustainability.
We thank all of the volunteers and interns for choosing to spend their summer with BKU and know that they will have a rewarding experience.

Back to School

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It’s time, once again, for the children of BKU to return to school. The last few days have been filled with preparations to ensure that the children have all of their school supplies and uniforms. Thanks to their generous sponsors, the children began returning to to school on May 12, 2012. On Saturday, we saw the first group of children leave for Namugongo Samaritan Primary School. On Sunday, the second group of children left for Kennedy Secondary and Primary School and on Monday, the last group of children left for Charity Primary School and Entebbe Junior School. All of the children were eager and excited to go back to school and see their friends. We will miss all of the dear children while they are away at school and await their return in August. as of Wednesday, May 16th, all dayschool children started back dressed in their brightly colored uniforms and smiling faces. Victoria and the children of Bright Kids Uganda are grateful for the generous support of all of the sponsors who enable the kids to receive an education. BKU wishes to thank the Indian Community, coordinated by our volunteer doctor, for providing tuition assistance. We thank the BKU board in the USA for all of their efforts in supporting BKU’s work and mission. We extend our gratitude to the community of Florida State University, who generously contributed $150 to assist with purchasing school supplies for the children.
 

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A Message from Purposeful Penny!

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Dear friends,

 

We have wonderful news! On April 30, 2012, Purposeful Penny received a donation of $1,000 to go towards Bright Kids Uganda. At Purposeful Penny, we are extremely excited for the children of Bright Kids, who will benefit greatly from this donation! We are also tremendously grateful to the donor, who wishes to remain anonymous. The donation will be made to Bright Kids Uganda at the end of the calendar year.

Morgan Brown

President of Purposeful Penny