Friday, 07 January 2011 16:50
Written by Mary Kay Thomas
Now let's hear from our friends, Norberto and Anna Benitez who head up the MIMA Foundation Uganda Program.
MIMA has vowed to respond to the desperate needs in Uganda.
Uganda is a country of over 30 million people and half of the population is under the age of 15 years old. Life expectancy is 49 years of age. A typical village consists of sparsely located houses, up to 15 miles apart that share a common school and church. The village of Kayenje is located in the southwestern section of the country, almost two hours outside the capital of Kampala, one hour of that accessible by only one dirt road. Kayenje's school is located in a plush, steep mountainous area far from the end of power lines and beyond running water. It is found in Butambala County, a predominantly Muslim county and is the only Catholic School in the entire region. It has three buildings that house first through eighth grades, each grade having one classroom. The buildings were renovated entirely by the community members with $63,000 raised by private donations.
Three brand new school buildings for Kayenje's over 500 school age children were finished in July 2007. They have new desks, books, school supplies, soccer equipment and even a new drum set. In 2008 a kitchen facility was built and a hot lunch is provided for the students every day. MIMA has installed three 2500 gallon water tanks and two bore-hole wells to assure accessibility of clean water for the villagers.
Additionally, MIMA will build a home for the local order of The Immaculate Heart of Mary Sisters. The Archbishop of Kampala has personally pledged to place up to eight qualified teachers at the school if they are provided housing. This order, made up mostly of African sisters, is very active in Uganda and run numerous schools, hospitals and orphanages. The house will be built adjacent to the school buildings, on Diocesan land, therefore making the walk to school possible every school day despite weather or transportation issues.
We are continuing to provide work for the villagers with this new project. The contractor that we have hired, Willie Kiguli, is the contractor that priced and supervised the school buildings and church and has proven to be professional, trustworthy and fiscally responsible. As with the previous projects, we implemented a checks and balance system that included our parish priest, Father Lawrence, choosing the materials during his yearly visit to assure quality.
The facility is being constructed on school property which is owned by the diocese. Any major maintenance issues will be conducted under their directive. Upkeep will be done by the order. The construction material has been carefully selected by Father Lawrence to assure heavy grade iron for the roof and top quality cement for the foundation for lasting durability.
Historically, the presence of a religious order in a school, or any facility, has proven beneficial in many ways. Not only do the sisters take responsibility for the facilities and maintain them but also the consistency and reliability of the religious is irrefutable. The addition of the nuns will complete the improvements to the village of Kayenje and assure the quality will be upheld.
Please visit our website www.themimafoundation.org for more detailed information. If you are interested in traveling to Uganda with the MIMA team, please contact us via this website.
Monday, 06 September 2010 00:00
Written by Mary Kay Thomas
This is the first village that we starting working with 2 years ago, after finding a very organized, hard working community with good leadership. We established a vitamin program, whereby 600 school children received a vitamin each morning in school. We also started this out with an anti-parasite and de-worming program in order to have the most efficacy with the vitamins. All the children also received a healthy breakfast, since most never ate before school started. After two years, this programs reports great success. having weighed and measured each student at the beginning. They reported weight gains and improved concentration in school, which they directly relate to the vitamins and breakfast. We also contributed to their school program, providing a school package for each student which included two notebooks, pencils, markers, folders and erasers. It was felt that the students were more motivated after receiving their own supplies. Money was allocated for the library, and reference books were bought for the use of all the students. Additionally, soccer balls and other sporting supplies were bought for the children's use during recess.
Plans for the future in Tutimayu are underway. Their goal is to build a new school, and I know this is very much needed, as I have seen the dilapidated condition of the existing one...They are working hard for so many changes that will benefit the future generations and I am happy the MIMA is helping them reach their goals.
Sunday, 05 September 2010 00:00
Written by Mary Kay Thomas
Tutimayu does have a functioning medical post with a full time doctor and a dental chair and some supplies. Through another non-profit organization, a dentist was hired and she sees several students daily for routine dental care, instruction and check ups. Her goal is to reach all the children in that village. They also have a small jeep with a generator, and several times per month, Dr. Maribel can be found traveling to a more remove village with her supplies to attend to the needy patients there. She also conducts a symposium each year for the surrounding villages, and anticipates more than 1000 children to attend. We supplied the tooth brushes, paste and floss for this program, which was very successful last year, and promises to be even better this year.
Another friend that I met through Anna has an import business and she has invited me to fill up her container with MIMA donations. This will be the first time that I will attempt this, but if it is successful, it will be a wonderful way to get supplies down to Bolivia during the year. Since I can buy all the medications in Bolivia for a discounted price, I have concentrated on other supplies. I will be sending tooth brushes, paste, floss and medical supplies that can be used in the clinic. I also have yarn for the knitting co-op and other supplies that are needed in Tutimayu by the medical clinic there.