Eight years walking

From the humble beginnings of 2004 these kids are now the teens below

Welcome back to school Kids!!

When asked why in a hurry, one of the students responded, "We are going back to our books".

In less than a month at home, these kids have been pestering their parents to go back to school. They  know and love the school that cares and in return make surprises to everyone. They simply love to go and their movement fills the air with their awesome smiles.

With the discovery of how many kids in the households do not eat adequate  food or sleep on empty stomachs, Rubanda Solidarity school is making an incredible difference.

Eight years later 2011  these teens are able to sit for their National examination in 2012

We struggle to provide three meals a day, something that has created a big smile on our children's faces and hearts.
Its just a dream for many kids who were never sure whether the next meal would be possible or when it would be served back in their family.

This could be one of the many reasons why these kids enjoy beginning their busy day with a thanksgiving and praising prayer to God each morning they rise up. They know quite well that all they have is from God's providence. He therefore deserves recognition.

In the 2011 picture above, these children are celebrating their "Thanksgiving Mass". They are thanking God for ending and returning well from their vacation. 

In those big baskets that you see on their heads are some of their scholastic assorted items  and hand written small letters expressing each ones special intention to God for the new academic term. They thank, praise and invoke God's blessing.  "Oh God thank you for enabling us to be in a good school which many kids like us are unable to have...", once one of the kids was heard praying. They are cute.

Just as kids know that eating is essential to life, students at Rubanda Solidarity have discovered how God is another essential  ingredient to quality education and successful future. With this discovery, they do amazing things.

They wake up early in the morning to praise God just like morning birds do. They thank God for accompanying them through the tense darkness of the night with no candle nor burning charcoal  for light but with God as their only hope, and guide and light. Lastly then, they also pray to God for their new long day's blessing.

As they clean up their faces they greet each other with that gentle and soft Rukiga word , "Oreiregye" which is synonymous to saying, "Did you sleep well" in English. They have made it one of their new morning culture.

When the day scholars arrive, together they join for breakfast, always with God. At that moment, they always remember that there are other thousands of kids in the community  and around the world who are less fortunate and unable to have even a mug of porridge each morning. And when all is done, they move to their shades put up for their classrooms and open their books.  They are normally well composed and attentive listeners because their stomachs are warm and they are cute. 

However, once in a while there are some abstractions as there are some fall offs from congested benches due to limited furniture. Most kids sit shoulder to shoulder squeezed on small benches a struggle that may also serve as a solution for the  scramble over the few text books available, if any.

Its incredible to see these kids go through this limitless list of poverty and yet still have the stamina to make it to the end. And Rubanda Solidarity has discovered their real needs of which we are committed with a slow but sure  process due to limited resources.

Its therefore not surprising to see kids falling in love with Rubanda Solidarity School  when its mission is all to the kids interests providing child healthy development  and quality education care. This is all what kids need. They just need someone to lean  to and provide for security. And with combined efforts Rubanda community through Rubanda Solidarity initiatives is creating a new culture for child care, protection and provision for  quality education and better life.

We have many positive signs already: increasing community participation, expanding school enrollment, reduced school resentment and dropouts, increasing community volunteers, better security for kids and increased community financial contribution and sustainability of the project by the community..

Lastly, Children are a gift from God to a family and community. They have a right to healthy and good life that requires collective responsibility. And this is why Rubanda Solidarity is doing all it can afford, in its meager resources, to attain its goal. All in the interest of children.

Please, if you feel moved to join us on our journey to our mission just post to us your desire and request in the comment box provided below this article and we will reach you soon.

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Landslides burry people in Uganda

Calamity after calamity hit Uganda this year.

Just one month with Ugandans still recovering from the July Thunderstorms that claimed over 18 lives; school  children including their teachers died while many others  were left hospitalized in this months landslides.

After a heavy down power, early this week, mudslides came down the hills uprooting trees, bulldozing soaked grounds and burying many households and properties deep.

Its believed that about 27 people; "16 in Sisiyi and 11 in Buluganya sub-counties", have died and many others have been made homeless or displaced. Look at these horrifying pictures of a helpless mother.

She is being consoled by the relatives as she learns of the death of her family members still trapped  in the mud with no hope to find them soon and alive.

Calamities are surprises but technology has saved many lives in the combat of unpredictable weather concerns like in the current hurricane Irene hitting the East cost of the USA. Technology helped to forecast its strength and an alert system developed. Many who listened to the warning, their lives have been saved. Even if one was caught up and suffered the effect, it didn't appear a surprise. There was an early warning system that populations trust.

Its so sad when it comes to developing countries like Uganda where everything is a strangle and a day's concern. Its so saddening to find oneself in a situation of such disaster where technology is a myth. No spade, no excavator, ambulance, no    helicopter for airlifting and so on. Even where one thing is possible to find, the other becomes an obstacle until lives are no more. Such situations remind one how poverty is a real sting and in human society. However, our failures could be an opportunity for the better. They can always facilitate our minds, motivation  and hope to do things better and differently, if we are able to learn from them..

Today, with natural world disasters at the increase, one would say why not develop a global weather focus center that would assist in saving lives and reduce disaster emergencies?  More efforts could be invested in developing or expanding available modern technologies for a better early warning system even for poor nations and populations. More than a relief charity, we could think of donating an early warning system technology to a country. Perhaps this could save many lives, more monies and be more timely and sustainable. We should work contrary to the story of that guy who was never concerned of the needs of  his sick neighbor's  healthy  in the hospital but more so on his funeral. It seems funny.

Give your comment.

Meet the African Missionaries in USA

Dear Parishioners, special greetings from my fellow priests of the order of the Apostles of Jesus at our Annual Assembly in Easton, USA.

Apostles of Jesus pause for a group pic. after celebration

As you recall, I left here July 24^th and was able to arrive in Philadelphia on time. I know most of you have been praying for me. I have enjoyed the fruits of your prayers and just two days ago returned to St. Ann’s sound and safe. Thank you.

My journey out of Grants Pass to Medford was less nervous for I was in the company of Biagini, Ray and Janet and their two friends to the Air port. It was fun being with them and given a ride to the airport.

From Medford my journey was fantastic though I regretted running short of the information that they do not offer meals in internal flights. Any way, it was all fine.

In Philadelphia, Easton, I was able to meet fifty five of our sixty confreres working in different states of America. It was a special brotherly and gracious moment to share, pray and learn from each other in the spirit of the Apostles of the Lord.

AJs enjoy healthy discussion during the assembly

The Apostles of Jesus is my Order of a religious and missionary character. What’s unique about this Order is that it’s the first ever religious and missionary congregation of the Catholic Church founded on the African soil in Uganda in 1968 and already supplying religious missionaries to all continents of the world with Asia coming next.

 Apostles of Jesus were founded during the famous episodes of 1960s of the then Sudanese government with the North Islam and South Christianity. During that period the government in Khartoum expelled most missionaries from the south Sudan.

On their run, missionaries of the religious order of St. Daniel Combon, Bishop Sixtus Mazzoldi and Fr. John Marengon both of great memory, went through northern Uganda and took refugee in Moroto Diocese from where they got an inspiration to start a congregation of African religious and missionaries that would keep their evangelization work moving forward with no risk of repatriation or expulsion from their own continent and countries.

Superior General (middle) enjoys classmates photo

Indeed the church and the world have started enjoying the fruits of the vision of these two great men with  the current ability of this Order supplying over 399 missionaries around the world within a period of forty years since its birth in 1968.

To the amazement of all priests present at the assembly was the reflection on the newest country of the world, the South Sudan that just received its independence. The Superior General reminded all of us present that our congregation was conceived in the Sudan, born in Uganda and now working in the world of which the united sates of America is privileged to have over sixty members serving the church and the nation in various professions and fields.  It’s always amazing to see how bitter beginnings procure lots of blessings and graces for one who has faith and God as the anchor of life.

One of the first members in the USA reminded all present of the universality of the church when he said, “We, the Apostles of Jesus have a noble mission here in the United States of America. We have the mission to serve the church here but also the mission to assist the poor in Africa”, he added.

It was an energizing moment of laughter when different representatives narrated the work being done in different missions including Grants Pass, St. Ann’s. Our superior General sent his blessing and greetings to all Bishops, pastors and Christians with whom we work and I am honored to deliver the one of Grants Pass, St. Ann’s parish.

God bless you

Fr. Dominic Tumusiime,AJ..

Kids of Darkiness plead for light

These kids smile in the day but walk by the heart at night

 Think of yourself walking in your house just for one week without light at all. For generations, people in Rubanda community have done so and their kids are keeping suit. Actually once asked of how they managed to live in darkness, one of them sarcastically said, “We have become immune to darkness”.

Seemingly normal, in 2002 Fr. Dominic Tumusiime initiated a community based organization (CBO) known as Rubanda Solidarity Development Association (RSDA), a non profit making organization with an intention to assist vulnerable mothers, children and school drop out youths. In 2005 this association was approved and registered with the government of Uganda with a registration number 160.

To the children, in 2004 the association initiated child study program with the intention of finding out why many kids resented going to school in many families. The tool was to provide just a cup of corn porridge to each kid every morning as they arrived at the school under a designated tree serving
their classroom for a period of one year.

See the density of darkness kids endure each night

The findings were very successful and in 2005 Rubanda Solidarity Nursery/Primary School was started with a Day and Boarding school program. The interest and number of kids to this school has since increased overwhelmingly that financial constraints are our only limitation. In a period of seven years the number of kids has moved from 90 to 260 just concentrating on the neediest kids.

With this huge number of needy kids one would imagine how a non income generating organization can manage to push from one year to another. It’s through lots of sacrifices and tough methods of coping with situations. The community makes lots of sacrifices and the administration does a good job to bring to the attention of our friends and people of good will, the situation of Rubanda community and our kids. It’s working and things are certainly getting better for our kids.

Kids have many needs; they need to sleep, eat and drink, dress, shower, see, write, play and pray, read, study trips, treatment but above all, "light to see". Follow this link to see lights wonders before these children's song: http://www.murphylightworks.com/winterland/

“Light, Light, we need light TO our toilets, Light, Light we need light IN our toilets”, was one of their songs at their school’s 7^th anniversary last year. They certainly need light not only to and in the toilets but also  to the whole compound. It’s an amazing reality to see how much these kids suffer when it comes to nights. They wake up to go to a toilet which is 500 miters away in total darkness, on a steep hill, in torrential rains. Just look keenly through the darkness on the photo above, you will be amazed of little kids tossing darkness to find their way to the toilet.

Do you feel moved and concerned about the situation of these kids? Would you like to contribute in improving  to their safe environment and security by providing a solar energy light?

Education & Poverty Eradication through Life Skills @ Rubanda Solidarity School

Piggery farm, source of skills education & food security to our kids

Home economics teachers instructs kids on bread baking

Developing a rural community demands sustainable programs and projects. Rubanda community has had many government and non governmental development project initiatives but barely have they offered expected impact on existing poverty.

One visitor may be inquisitive to know the reason. History has it that most of the programs initiated in this community are either  always too big a project or peoples' involvement and participation has always not been considered a priority. This is very crucial for rural community development to be real.

While programs and projects designers and implementers ought to incorporate full community involvement and participation, the contrary alienates the project of its basic ingredients of , project security, human resource and change of attitude and breeds indifference and unsustainable projects and dependence. And so a failure.

Coaching school kids in their cultural dance

 On the other hand, young generations in rural communities like Rubanda, need quality education. Education that equips them with academics but also with life skills. This is the principle of Rubanda Solidarity. Our kids learn to read and write but also learn how cook, dance and make  their uniforms.

They are mentored how to repair their torn dresses, feed their pigs to make sure that nothing of their food left overs is wasted.

They also prepare some vegetable beds and whenever they get a visitor in the compound in the car, they are excited, curious and beg to look at the engine and know and know what makes it possible to move. Our kids are sharp, curious and cute but handicapped.

Kids love cars and are curious to learn every thing

Do you feel interested in supporting one of these skills  by contributing to its sustainability and quality education?
Let us know by positing your comment and wish in the window provided below this blogger article. You will be attended efficiently. You can make things different.

Terry and Cristina for Summer mission @ Rubanda Solidarity school

Rubanda Solidarity nursery/Primary school kids surround their friends Terry &Cristina 6-8-2011

 Hello friends,

This year our community is blessed with visitors and friends. Just a month after Dr. Bruce's visit from USA to our community and school kids, we are once again with Terry and Cristina from Europe, Italy. Its always fantastic to host our friends. 

This summer is unique at Rubanda Solidarity. For the whole country going through hard moments with of food crisis and high  inflation rising everyday,many boarding school have already closed earlier than planned due to lack of finances and food but Rubanda Solidarity kids have thrived through to the last date of the term because of our friends financial backup. 

"As we go for our summer vacation, we wish you Terry and Cristina a safe trip back to your home land in Europe and a quick return to find us where you are leaving us", one of the kids representing the others jubilantly said.

The community of Rubanda is highly appreciative of your support and lives to remember all the generosity and love you are putting in to provide quality education for our kids. Our kids are our future hope. Once they receive quality education, they will have sustainable knowledge, good employment, better services, equivalent salary, good deity and better sleep and things will never be the same.

Our kids are very creative, cute and are receiving their in academic and life skills. They are determined to  change  the environmental, think of how to create alternative energy serving stoves and water harvesting in for their poverty stricken mothers and homes. They are also inquisitive of how Rubanda Solidarity administration straggles to to find financial support to the vulnerable children through children education support program and are getting more enthusiastic of making its future a successful continuity.

 The Rubanda Solidarity administration is always proud of hosting visitors because the needs our kids are so huge that only with combined efforts are we able to absorb them. Our kids too need to learn from friends within and out of the community.

Once again, we welcome Terry and Cristina and wish you a wonderful stay and safe return to Italy to return next year 2012

"Let the children off the cross"

A dedicated religious nun feeds vulnerable kids at school

 Providing quality education is providing all a kid needs for good development: Food, shelter, clothing, good sanitation, safe and drinking water, security and protection, healthy services, school education, religious formation, care and love is all they need.

Like in all communities, children in Rubanda community are commonly refered to as the beauty of a family or a community while actually they are the most vulnerable, voiceless and worst victims of today's social, political and religious breakdown.

Its a amazing when you closely look at what children go through in Rubanda community and indeed every where on the global map. In Rubanda community, most kids go to bed with empty or half  full stomachs. Early morning they wake up to go to school  with little or no time to wait for a delayed or non existent breakfast because the school is far away.

Kids recreate as they build their muscles at  their new school

With a chronic poverty environment,everyday is a struggle for survival,  each day has its own cross to carry. Where there is no firewood there may be no water, when there is water there may be no food to put in the pot or even no match box to start a fire. All this needs time and the kid hasn't time for the teacher on duty may have no time to listen to the litany of each household each kid carries along.

What's the lesser evil? The kid decides to trek the long distance to the school with empty stomach. He arrives at the school, panting, more hungry, late and punishable. Whichever punishment is given to him does not make sense to him because it does not convince him to be wrong neither does it encourage him to narrate his story. He then silently submits and goes on and on until he can't bear it any more. He drops out of school or even runs away and joins the street community.

A sports teacher carefully develops kids skills 

Look, in the class, he can hardly concentrate, he is hungry. He starts yawning, dozing, skin scratching, head aching, going and out. And during break, normally there are some school games  and other inter school competitions as well of which it may happen that this same kid is good at.
He likes athletics, for example and is good at it because he does run each morning to and from  the school that is kilometers away from home. And regardless of that and his empty stomach, he is always picked number one by the sports teacher to run in the school competition. He really boosts the name of the school and everyone at the school is proud of him.

However, as time for lunch approaches, this tired and empty stomach kid starts imagining what to do next. Go home, what's there? Spend lunch hour at school, how will be my afternoon hot classes? He can't find a better answer than time dictates it.

On certain days, he risks and decides to go home for lunch thinking some food has bee prepared but to find none at home and the little house closed. And for the orphan kids, its much more frustrating because it all depends on how the  extended family relates to the kid. Its a different story and a different cross to mention later.

Other times, this same kid hesitates to go home because he knows that the available little food, prepared in the middle of the day is not even enough for the young brothers and sisters who are not yet the age of school and are at home. So he makes the lesser time wastage choice,to remain at school until the school classes close in the late afternoon.  That's it.

It was amazing that unpublished research by a team of three students from the Roma Tre University, Rome-Italy, conducted in 2005-2006 in Rubanda, revealed that lack of sufficient food in households was the major cause and factor for kids resenting or dropping out of nursery and primary school.

All kids are the same in beauty but life treats differently

Its common to find kids in Rubanda enthusiastic for school but only for a short while or none. Its a common phenomenon that just after this little experience for this kid going to school, one starts noticing strange changes in the kid's behavior. The kid starts resenting school, fabricating stories and lies, creating excuses for absent-ism and complaining of all sorts of things at times even escaping from school.

Lastly, when the kid can't fight or cheat any more and is culturally afraid of saying it all, that he is always hungry, then he creates a kind of self implication mechanism like, "my head is dull, I can't grasp anything in class, I do not want to be the last in class always, I have no books, ...", and so on. Some parents try to help and understand their kids when they start noticing some change in the kid's behaviors but unfortunately a big percentage keep pressure on these kids that eventually does more harm than good into the child's pscho-socio development and in the society as a whole.

Many kids, finding themselves in such an environment, they  start to think and curve ways of escape to find better environments and better understanding people. Others run or want to run away to find freedom and better space from the daily noise at home or with neighbours.With many other reasons, these could be some of the reasons why we are have the community of the street kids is rapidly growing.

Kids faced with all sorts of social- economic-political and religious crisis, they thing out there may be better. They run away from their biological  family and friends to find a new world of friends and homes on the streets. It has been noticed that rehabilitating a street kid requires much energy, simply because this kid has no one he trusts when a deal is made to re-unite him with his family and friends.


Instead these kids turn to things like, drugs, alcohol, hooliganism and  the a like because they sought of to be the ideals of the new world, new friends and new life, unlike the previous noise, stress, enslavement and all staff they have gathered from their homes.They go out on streets to find a family, a society that more a parent, a teacher and a friend to them which unfortunately makes matters worse.

Its from this deep concern that Fr. Dominic Tumusiime wanted to contribute to the well being of children in Rubanda community and initiating a Day and Boarding nursery/primary school program that above all else, will struggles to establish and offer a "school feeding program" which would provides to both kids with a three meals a day,(Breakfast-Lunch and Supper).

Fr. Dominic then initiated a study class in 2004 and in 2005 a school was born as Rubanda Solidarity Nursery/Primaryschool for both girls and boys with current enrollment standing at 260 kids.

With this school, things have become different for Rubanda Kids and the community. Some kids come every morning and join the boarders for breakfast, lunch.Its amazing to hear the testimonies of some of the parents who used to have hardest time with kids refusing to wake up to go to school.  When asked by their parents why they were going very early to school, little kids respond,"We do not what to find breakfast over".

Since our school started we have not registered a kid who has dropped out of our school program because of food or hunger.
 
A healthy child has a true life investment; better growth, better services, less health spending and graceful aging.
And in  jointly creating a good, safer and healthy child development environment we shall have succeeded in enhancing life, human resource, development and peace at both family, community, national and global   communities.

Lets all do all we can in the interest of our kids and our future generations

Please for more information and contact, just post your request in the comment box provided below, click enter and wait for a while and we will meet you.