Education & Safety for Rural Girls Matale Uganda

Dear Friends and Supporters of Matale,

We hope this update finds you and yours happy and healthy and that your summer has been rejuvenating.   We are happy to update you that we have continued to work in collaboration with our partners at St. Andrews Matale S.S.S, led by the school administration and the Board of Directors in Uganda to kick-off the girls’ dormitory construction in 2016.  As previously reported, we had anticipated a May start, however, the team on the ground has been working hard to obtain all the local permits prior to commencement as they take time. 

As of August 2016, the work in-flight included the following:

a)      Obtaining town council building permits that are required prior to commencement of construction; 

b)      Securing local funding towards the project, which was recently completed in August 2016.  In all Harambee Centre’s projects with Matale S.S.S, we have required a local contribution.  This is intended to ensure that the community has a vested interest in both the success of the project, as well as subsequent ownership, pride and maintenance of the facility;      

c)       Competitive bidding of a general contractor who will be responsible for the project from beginning to end. 

We are mindful though that while it may take a bit of time, we are taking the right steps to do everything right.  Through this process and other projects that the Harambee Centre has engaged in with Matale over the years, we have learned the following:

a)      It is important to take the time to create a strong partnership based on trust and accountability;

b)      It is important to take the time to plan and do the project right as opposed to meeting a timeline for the sake;

a)      It is important to build and ensure local ownership and pride in the projects.  This ensures that the community has a vested interest in both the success of the project, as well as subsequent ownership, pride and maintenance of the facility.      

 We do look forward to sharing the construction progress with you, once it commences.  Since local funding has been secured, we anticipate this will begin before the fourth quarter of calendar year 2016.

 For continued updates from the students themselves on the ground at St. Andrews, please check out their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/www.matale.co.ug/?fref=ts

 As you continue through what we hope is a peaceful, joy and health-filled 2016, we kindly request that you continue to include the Girls’ Dorm Project in your 2016 giving; together we continue to change lives and make an impact that will last for generations!  Donate Today by clicking on the Give Now Button below!

 Alternatively, please help us spread the word to your community; we know there is power in numbers and power in personal connections.  As always, we are appreciative for your support and generosity,

We continue to wish you and your loved ones the very best this Fall 2016,

ZoomUganda and Harambee Centre teams.