By victoria kritzell | director of fundraising,
Since we posted this project in June, much progress has been made toward self-sustainability. Our farm is flourishing. We currently have three board members visiting at Hope Center, and they report that nearly all vegetables consumed daily by the children are being grown right there on our farm. The children love learning about growing their own food. They are assigned age-appropriate chores, from weeding, watering, and harvesting. They are also learning to care for our animals. Just in August, a new female calf was born, along with 2 baby goats. We also have 30 new rabbits!
Our team was thrilled to learn that in less than one year, the primary school has recieved an "A" rating, with the highest test scores of any school in the area. The children are so excited that they run to class, and often study before and long after classes are dismissed. We are gratified to see the results of our decision to hire all new teachers who are more qualified, as we know that the best assurance of success for our children is a good education, and our greatest investment. The high school students are also doing very well, although each term is a struggle to find the funding we are managing. The donations we have received via this project have been used for text books and other educational materials for both primary and high school students.
Our board members are accompanied by two others who are bringing their talents to help with some necessary repairs. On their list of projects are: repainting the interiors of both dormitories and the dining hall; repairing windows, building new benches for the bath houses; constructing more housing for the increasing rabbit population; and adding shelving to offices and classrooms. Many of the cement floors need to be replaced, but there are no funds available at this time. We also need to build a new barn for our goats and cows, add fencing, irrigation, and construct a new pre-primary building. Those are projects for the future, goals for our 1 year, 5 year, and 10 year plan!
The group will be moving on the Uganda soon, and will visit our children at Maranatha and determine needs at that home, as well as our free clinic located in the slums.
Items donatied filled 15 containers. 150 quilts handmade (one for each child), hoes, garden hoses, hand tools, computers, shoes, clothing, personal care items, and many other needful things given by so many wonderful sponsors.
We need so many things to keep these homes in good repair so they will stand the test of time. Like all homes, if we expect them to last to continue to serve the thousands of children that are in need, we must take care of them. For that, we need your help.
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