PARTNER: Forefront Church
Forefront Church, a 300 member church “for the rest of us”, is partnering with us. In addition to donating money, volunteers from Forefront helped us with our annual fund raising drive by collating and stuffing nearly one thousand envelopes a few Sundays ago. Four Forefront members visited LEAD Uganda last August.
LEAD Uganda staff member Stephen Magezi writes:
This summer we were blessed to get visitors from the Forefront church in New York. It is so soothing, when you find out that you share the same passion of showing love to the neglected, those that have been left to nurse their own wounds at early ages, those that have seen their communities torn down in a terrible conflict, and have witnessed it spurned outlawed and seemed to be isolated by the persons of this world. Photos by our children & Forefront Church
We are moved by a sense of joy and exhilaration when the grass turns green and flowers blossom, as we witness those that had lost hope turning into brilliant students and setting a mark of leadership in their schools.
We were able to acquire new decker beds for our children at the organization’s house by the help of the Forefront church crew. Thanks so much so much brethren.
It was also fun when our visitors played soccer and basket ball with the kids, and as they both sweated we couldn’t help to notice a triumph in the effort to planthope and love in the future of our young stars.
Nevertheless, we are hoping to find a permanent home for the children, most especially to do away with the rent fees, to narrow down to caring and providing education to our children, and also having an environment that is spacious and distant from noise of traffic during rush hours. We have found land outside Kampala, with an accommodative house in it. God willing we pray to acquire it.
As LEAD Uganda we know it well that none of us acting alone can achieve success. It’s because of everyone’s contribution that has led to this unique Foundation. God Bless you.
My Life
by Namakula Afuat
My name is Namakula Afuwat. I am in form one and I attend St. Charles Lwanga high school and in my school we do both arts and science subject but my interest is in science subjects because in future I would like to become a doctor to help patients
I am happy because in my school I was number one last term, and I have always been number one I am also the deputy head perfect of our school, which I love doing because students have a lot of trust in me, and I was also given an award for being the most disciplined student in the school. photo: ©2008, Stephen Magezi
My school, St Charles Lwanga High School, is located west of Kampala, the capital city of Uganda. It is 11/2 km off the main road to the airport. It’s a mixed day and boarding school of over 300 students. I am in the boarding section.
My family lives in Katwe a suburb of Kampala. I have one brother and one sister. I live with my mother as my father died some time back when I was still young.
My mother could not make ends meet, so during my free time I used to go to the streets of Kampala to dance for the people and earn some money to help our family. One day as I went dancing I met a woman called Margaret Ssewakambo who took me to her place for help, I lived with her for some time. Then later Steve Shames came and picked me up to join Lead Uganda which has helped me to keep my self forced to studies. because they have paid my fees from that time till now.
My hobbies are drawing, using computers and also reading novels .
I have hopes that I will become a powerful woman in my country when am done with my studies so that I help children and my government to make peace for all people.
Long Live Lead Uganda.
Photo: Azalea Donates Computer
Joseph uses a One Laptop Per Child computer donated by Azalea, the Seattle software company. Photo by LEAD Uganda student.
Student: Wasswa Charles
Some of our students achieve academically. Others, such as Wasswa, excel in the arts. Wasswa is enrolled in a media program where he learns television and radio job skills. Director Monica Nankoma sent me this email:
“Steve, I wish you could listen to Wasswa’s demo on Radio!!! He is doing so well. I am happy for him. He sounds marvelous. My being hard on him to go and study is yielding good results. 
He sounds a professonal! Monica”
Bronx Teacher Conducts Workshop
by Marsha Vernon
As a teacher at the A. Schomburg Academy in The Bronx, I strongly believe that education is the key to any door. That is the main reason I have been working with LEAD Uganda for over a year, helping them fundraise for the education of children in Uganda. I made it my mission to visit Uganda this past summer, where I conducted a writing workshop and saw for myself what my efforts were going towards. I can honestly say that this was one of the best decisions and experiences I have had in my life time.
Photo of Marsha by LEAD Uganda.
Though being in Uganda was an experience on it’s own: seeing the beautiful landscape, kind people, and different delicacies, my arrival to the LEAD Uganda house was the begining of a wonderful journey. I was happy to meet the staff and children. I was excited that I was about to begin conducting a writing workshop with the students.
The main highlights of this experience was meeting and spending time with my sponsored child Nokrach and also developing relationships with some of the other students in the program. Every child that I met in the program was well mannered and happy. I feel it is because they know that the program is giving them an opportunity to have a future and a family.
Nokrach, the boy I sponsor, is such a sweet and intelligent child you would never guess he has a past that would amaze anyone. You would never think that he was a former child soldier. It was an honor to laugh, get to know him and take a beautiful trip with him to Jinja. On our trip I not only got to see the source of the Nile river but I took joy in knowing that both Nokrach and I were experiencing this fantastic site together. At the end of the day and even upon my departure from Uganda we both knew that this was just the begining of our impact on each others lives.
Photo of Marsha and Nokrach at the source of the Nile River near Jinja. Photo: ©2008,Stephen Magezi
Though I was impressed with the inteligence and sophistication of all the students in the program one child stood out to me during my experience. Her name is Sanyu. She took care of two younger siblings inher rural village since she was eight due to the death of her parents. Now 13, Sanyu is doing well in school through the program.
After the first day of meeting her she basically not only became my teachers assistant but also good friend. I was amazed when I saw the young lady begin to help other students with what I was teaching them but also hear her stories about how she has organized study groups at school and other responsibilities she had. Even on the day I decided to organize a basket ball game and dance competion with the kids, Sanyu offered to help pick up supplies and recommended what and how much I should purchase. I had a good laugh when she stopped me from making un-wise or un-necessary purchases and made sure I was not over spending. My experience with her and the many other students gives me tremendous hope for the future of, not only her country, but also the world. Photo: Sanyu and Kibalama study.
My summer experience and continued work with LEAD Uganda has made me realize more and more that teaching students who really need teachers who care is something I love doing and it is so rewarding. I also knew that I would definitely miss them when I left Uganda. After coming back home and sharing my experiences with my students at A Schomburg who have helped in the fundraising efforts, I also saw how I was giving to them. Most of them felt they knew more about Uganda and now what to get more involved in social activism. These experiences made me even more sure that I need to continue doing the work that I started with LEAD Uganda.
I hope that reading about my personal experiences with these students will allow you to see the important significance of helping in any way that you can to support this program that helps support a better future for those who so desperately need it.
Donate
LEAD Uganda has two premium contribution levels: Sponsor and Patron.
Sponsors and Patrons receive a photo, letters from
their student, and progress reports from us.
Sponsors pay all costs for one child — $150 a month.
$150 a month — $5 a day pays for
everything a child needs to succeed: school fees, books, clothes, medical care, workshops in math, science, computers, and leadership, emotional support, counseling, and a family.
Sponsors are assigned a student. They receive monthly letters from their student, and progress reports from us. They may also receive photographs, drawings, and other materials.
Patrons donate $50 or $100 a month.
$100 a month – $3 a day - pays school fees (tuition), plus room, and board, books, and uniform at one of the best high schools in Uganda.
$50 a month – $1.50 a day – covers school fees for one scholar at a top school.
Patrons receive letters from students and progress reports from us. They are not assigned one student.
Please give what you can. Every donation helps.
$25 a month covers workshops in leadership, video, science, and writing, transportation home during school breaks, school visits, and staff support for one student.
$10 a month buys school supplies. clothes, shoes for one child.
$5 a month provides medical care and books for one student.
Please help a child achieve his or her dreams.
All contributions make a difference.
LEAD Uganda is a 501(c)3 non-profit.
Donations are tax deductible.
Photography except as noted © 2008, Stephen Shames / Polaris
Please feel free to distribute or forward this newsletter to friends, co-workers, and anyone else you think would like to know about the situation in Uganda and our program.
