It’s that time of year again. My girls in Uganda have just
begun their second year of Secondary School, and as you’ll read below, they are
happy and grateful for this opportunity in their lives. I too am grateful for
what they have done for me, and am constantly in awe of their selfless
compassion. All these girls were abducted at a very young age by Joseph
Kony’s “Lord’s Resistance Army,”
and all of them escaped. They have
little to no living family members, and are still the sweetest, most
kind-hearted individuals I’ve ever met. The chance for them to go to school
gives them hope for a better future, since the only alternative is to be
married off in their villages. With school being so expensive, (Boarding school
is roughly $1,000 a year!) it is rare that an average family living in poverty
sends their girls to school, since the opportunity-if there is one, is usually
only given to the boys. The reason I
chose to send them to boarding school
is because for the first time in their lives, all they have to do there is
focus on themselves, their studies, and their own well-being. Additionally,
since they are all at school together, they have built a support system within
each other; a community, a family. Since
I believe in being open and raw, I’m going to tell you that each semester we
struggle to find the funding to meet their needs. In a world where you can’t
trust so many charities and NGOs, I am telling you that you can trust us. I am
the only middle woman, and 100% of the money we raise goes directly to the
girl’s and their needs. I am in the process of creating a board, and
registering as an NGO (let me know if you would like to be involved in any
way), but until then, I’m calling on those of you who are willing and able to
contribute any small donation. A little goes a long way, and anything-I mean
anything would be deeply appreciated. Of course, if you decide you’d like to
sponsor one girl’s education-that would be okay too. ;) It’s hard to ask for
assistance, but I truly believe that if we all unite in whatever way we can, it
is possible to move mountains… one girl at a time.
Thank you so much. Apwoyo Matek.
Love, Jenna
…
Below are the letters I just recently received from the girls. There are only four letters because at the time they were
written, Melissa was in the hospital with pneumonia, and Joyce was sick with
influenza.
...
Hi Aunt,
This is just to inform you and give
thanks to you, and I want to tell you the school has begun well and its still
going on well.
Secondly I would like to remind you
that I am not felling so well and I want to give thanks for all what you have
done in my life.
Now you have made my life easy to look like other people’s children, thank be to you and your family and the
donors thirdly. I would like to tell you that my relative are proud seeing me
at school. Thank you for putting me in school.
I want to tell you that I am
missing you so much.
I don't have much to say only thank
you to you my dear lovely aunt.
Greeting to family and others who
have helped.
From APIYO SCOVIA TRACY
…
Oh my Aunti Hi
I such
a great blessing to me to have this opportunity to say the word of Hello to
you. And Aunti I believe that you are find and the family at large.
Now, I
want also you to know that schooling is going on well and am so grateful
because you have made me to look ahead that am so important and have a future.
Aunti, you have made my
grand mama very very happy and the family and Aunti you are now maber (good) to
me because the love you have shown to me and my friends no one can tell.
I now
praise God to have a good control of you and your family.
May God
Bless you too. (LOVE BRENDA)
Atimango
Brenda Ruth
…
Letter to Jenna
Sarah says
Auni I
want to thank you for your work you have done for us at the beging of 2013
Aunti
we also miss you and also we are going to pray for you and your dad also we are
going to pray for him so that he can also get quick recover and your family
member. So we are very happy for your work done congratulations
May God
bless you and your family and the people helping us.
From
your lovely daughter SARAH AKII
…
Dear unti
I am so happy to share with you with you in this piece of
paper. This just to greet you unty. How are you over there? Hope is okey. From
my side is okey. Everything is going well. But unty we are missing you unty
that is the only thing we are worry about unty. Bless you ad all your family
and I too. Lastly be bless by God. By Grace Okema
From left to right: Olympia Joyce, Akii Sarah, Me, Apiyo Scovia, Limpe Grace, and in front: Atimango Brenda. Achiro Melissa not pictured.
Donations can be made via PayPal: dishywes@hotmail.com. Thank you for taking the time to read this, and for considering helping in whatever way you can. One Love. -J
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