Students Perform Well
Our students performed well the 2nd term of 2008:
Six of our 44 non-candidate students ranked 1st in their class. Pinyoloya Patricia, Nantaayi Sarah, Nakasumba Victoria, Muwanguzi Joseph, Kayiranga John, and Namakula Afuat ranked 1st in his classes.
Three were 2nd in their class. One each placed 3rd, 4th, and 5th. Omoya Amos, Acan Martah, and Muwonge Fahad were 2nd in their class. Naluuwooza Maria was 3rd. Ntege Paul was 4th. Wetaka Brian was 5th.
Twenty — nearly half of our students — ranked in the top 10 of their classes. Thirty-one ranked in the top 20.
Five of our ten candidate class students received first grades.
A dozen of our students were elected to leadership positions at their schools:
Namakula Afuat, who is only in 8th grade, was elected Deputy Head Prefect (vice president) of her school.
Kasozi Hilda (11th grade), Kimbiwa Julius (10th), and Bayona Victoria (13th) were elected Deputy Head Prefects.
Kamoga Moses is Minister of Education and founder of the Debate Club.
Kibalama Joseph is Minister of Water & Power.
Forefront Church Visits Uganda
Four members of Forefront Church in New York City visited Uganda this past August. Member Jacob Lange writes:
Being 6’5″ and sitting in an economy class airline seat for 21 hours is not necessarily the best combination. But there are some things for which it is worth making sacrifices.
At the end of August, I made the trek with three close friends from Forefront Church. I have had it in my mind for the past two and a half years, since I met Steve Shames and learned about his vision for raising up a generation of leaders in Uganda. What we experienced was both horrify and inspiring. I cannot recap all the events of the 10 days we spent in Uganda, but I would like to highlight just one.
Mid way during our trip, we made the 7 hour drive from Kampala to Gulu in order to visit an IDP camp – little more that a collection of mud huts formed by displaced people forced to flee their homes when the war was raging. There are several students from the area, including a few that were “home” for the school break. It was there in Gulu that I met Freddy. He is 17 years old, with deep skin and a beaming smile. He wore a handsome polo shirt – the only nice clothes he owns I suspect. With a slight stutter, perhaps because we were speaking English, Freddy introduced himself and showed us his humble dwelling place – a typical hut about 10 feet in diameter with a thatched roof. Because he is a student in the program, he stuck around and spent the next several hours with us.
I still am not sure what happened, what inspired him to open up to me, but all of the sudden Freddy started pouring himself out to me. For the next three hours he told me his entire story, from start to finish, in full detail. I was not sure if should embrace him and tell him everything was going to be ok, or if I should weep with sorrow because of what the Rebel army turned him into. I did neither (at least not initially). I just listened in disbelief and anguish as he told me everything.
drawing of rebel soldiers ©2008, Mugeny Fred
I don’t think the details matter. And I am not sure if you too want to be haunted with the image of a child made to the most inhumane things imaginable, things that go against the most innate sense of good and evil found inside each of us. Beaten physically and psychologically, with death constantly looming overhead, you do what you are told – especially when you are a scared 14 year old.
After much reflection, and time for my own soul to recover, I felt a sense of joy that Freddy once again has hope. His life will not be easy, he will still be tormented by dreams and distant memories, but he has life once again. With confidence, this young man told me that he was going to become a doctor. Freddy has what it takes to be a future leader in his country, and LEAD Uganda is giving him the tools to make it possible.
Thank you for supporting LEAD Uganda. Because of your support, people who have had everything taken from them are finding hope once again. Together we can create a better world.
Sincere Thanks,
Jacob Lange
Two Exhibits Feature LEAD Uganda
Charlotte Southern
Opening Saturday October 11th
Bakehouse Art Complex
561 NW 32nd Street. Miami, Florida.
Charlotte Southern’s exhibit features the story of John, a Rwandan who escaped the genocide and is now in school thanks to LEAD Uganda. Charlotte also documented life in a village in Rakai where 70% of the children are orphans.
Photo ©2008, Charlotte Southern
Ms. Southern says, “Photographing John was a remarkable experience because we are a week apart in age and he was starting Primary Three just months after I had graduated from the University of Miami. Thanks to LEAD Uganda John has the opportunity to fulfill his dreams of getting an education and overcome the tragedies in his past.”.
All proceeds from the sale of prints at the exhibit benefit the children in LEAD Uganda. For more information visit: www.charlottesouthern.com/bakehouse.html
Errol Daniels
Opening Friday September 12
7 – 10 PM
El Museo Francisco Oiler y Diego Rivera
91 Allen Street, Buffalo, New York.
Errol Daniels’ photographs document children affected by the war in Pader IDP Camp in northern Uganda. Northen Uganda has one million children living in refugee camps as a result of the war. LEAD Uganda has put twenty students from the north into the best schools in Uganda.
The exhibit runs until October 18, 2008.
Errol, a board member of the Stephen Shames Foundation, celebrates his 65th birthday on September 11th. Happy birthday Errol. Photo ©2008, Errol Daniels
Proceeds from the sale of prints at the exhibit benefit the children in LEAD Uganda.
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.