Dear friends
While lockdowns are being relaxed elsewhere, Uganda’s government is extending curfews. But despite only 139 people across the country being Covid-infected, the economic slump and torrential rains are hitting the country’s 40 million population hard. In the children’s village, we do everything to ensure a balanced daily routine, make arrangements with the weather – and celebrate an unexpected offspring. Read about it yourself.
Covid in Uganda
According to official counts, 139 people in Uganda are now infected with the virus. That is a small number compared to the population of over 40 million citizens. Uganda, like many African countries, has a younger population than Europe. More than half of the population is under 15 years of age, only 2 percent is over 65 – in Europe 20 percent of the population is over 65. This explains why the country – thank God – has so far been less affected by the actual pandemic than Europe.
But more drastic for Uganda than Covid infections is the effect of the lockdowns. Very few have reserves. Our village is now in its ninth week of isolation. In addition, torrential rains are coming. More than 1.5 million people are affected – their houses are under water. As a result, Uganda is experiencing an increase in bilharzia, cholera and diarrhoea. But many people do not seek treatment because they lack money or fear prevents them from seeing a doctor.
Fortunately our houses are still dry and we can feed our protégés almost self-sufficiently. Outside of our village, the help that our staff can provide is more important today than ever before.
Daily work
Every day, when the rain stops, all our kids have to help: on the farm, in the garden, in the household and with the homework of the little ones – an important school of life.
Giant cassava!
Uganda is fertile. But the abundant rains bring us fruits of undreamt of magnitude. See Aisha with a cassava about 10 times larger than normal. And see a basket of ripe avocados that have fallen from the tree.
Milk!
Dancing Lessons
Welcome our new arrivals!
And here our youngest offsprings. Our protégés have already taken the little ones firmly into their hearts. And we see why agriculture and sustainability are so closely linked.
Thank you very much for your support and for participating in our last zoom phone call. The two children were not always easy to understand, but they were mighty proud! Thanks – your participation means an incredible amount to them!
Happy Friday and best wishes
Yours ever,
Burkhard Varnholt