Dear Friends
The need is great in Uganda. During the last few years, much has been lost. Whenever a family reaches the end of its possibilities, vicious circles of poverty are created. But sustainable aid can set a course – can also turn a vicious circle into a success story. This requires holistic planning and implementation. Some of our success stories show how this can be done. They move mountains, no lives. It’s worth it. Every time. But the last few years have also caused our savings to melt away. That, too, is part of openness. We need you. More than ever. Thank you very much. You change the world! Read and see for yourself.
Reasons to celebrate
As we know, “well-intentioned” is not the same as “well-done”. To help in a sustainable way, we try to strengthen individuals as well as families and society. It’s about the glue that holds things together.
And: it takes a lot of good management. Planning, implementation and control always belong together. Because only what is carefully planned, introduced and checked will succeed well.
It is with great pleasure that I welcome our new director, Esben Budolfsen. Esben, the son of our long-time directors Tage and Dorte Budolfsen, has recently joined our experienced leadership team consisting of Finance Director Daniel Ssettuba and Village Director Semmy Atim. Esben is a winning personality. A worldly teacher, triathlete and entrepreneur whose sporting enthusiasm is infectious. No wonder, our protégés also grow from it. And their success is also contagious. So their profits are doubled. Let me tell you a little about it.
Von links nach rechts: Ahmed Suleyman Mwesigi – Warden, Semmy Atim – Village Director, Daniel Ssettubba – Head of Finance, Gabriel – Warden, Esben Budolfsen – Member of the National Steering Committee
I could write about many – always stories of strengthening self-confidence and pushing personal boundaries. This is how we grow. As a person, as a family as a society. Here is a recent article about Paul Sserwadda, a promising Ugandan sprinter – and one of our long-time protégés.
Paul’s life story is exemplary. In the beginning, he had a bad start. As an orphan, he was always dependent on the care of others. Fortunately, the social services assigned him to Kids of Africa at a young age. There he developed his amazing talents. Empathy, social skills, curiosity and learning skills. He was always at the top of his class in mathematics and English. His sporting talent came later. But in the meantime, he is already sprinting at national competitions over 100 and 200 metres. Even more: he has already been invited to an international athletics competition in Brazil. Will he bring home a medal? Who knows.
But the best thing is: in the meantime, more than 40 young people are training with Kids of Africa to do the same with Paul. Success is contagious!
One more thing: success is no coincidence. I am happy to attach a printout of the weekly schedule that the experienced teacher Esben prepares for our protégés during the school holidays. Because as we all know, to stand still is to quickly fall behind. And good teachers often work with well-meaning rigour. One that challenges and encourages, that is tough but warm.
Every person counts – we congratulate 1000 scholarship holders
Since last year, we have awarded approximately 1,000 full-time scholarships to talented young students. It is a huge undertaking for Kids of Africa. It complements the work of our Children’s Village, where about a hundred children have grown up over the last twenty years. This presents us with great challenges.
We work with a total of 61 schools. Some would have closed without our school scholarships. But especially for our scholarship holders, the economic hardship of their families would mean a year without school. Especially for those who cannot read, write and calculate, this would be fatal. Illiteracy is a burden on one’s whole life. Avoiding it also means changing a life. Because every human being counts.
To ensure that our scholarship programme bears fruit in the long term, we monitor progress very closely. We are pleased to report that more than 84 percent of our scholarship holders were able to transfer to the next trimester with very good grades just last week. Congratulations!
Wir unterstützen vulnerable Kinder, die zu Ugandas Ärmsten der Armen zählen, auf eigenen Beinen stehen können. Darum dreht sich bei uns alles. Alles. Wir stützen sie, damit sie zu verantwortungsbewussten, aktiven ugandischen Bürgern/innen werden. Damit sie ihre Talente entwickeln und mit anderen teilen können. So kann dauerhaft Gutes entstehen. Aber das geht nur, wenn Herz, Hand und Verstand von derselben Kraft der Liebe gelenkt sind.
Because every centime goes to the cause – thank you!
Your help moves mountains – no, lives. Every centime. I personally vouch for this. Everything arrives directly on site. You give young people, their families and their environment a better start in life. Sustainable. Professionally. Effective. For twenty years.
A few moving pictures may say more than a thousand words. Thank you!
You changed the world!
I greet you very warmly, also on behalf of our protégés.
Yours sincerely
Burkhard Varnholt