Project Report
| Feb 18, 2016
Help us rebuild our base operations in Kabale
![Stanley was slain and left outside MCF offices]()
Stanley was slain and left outside MCF offices
Dear Friends,
Happy New Year!
MCF ended the year 2015 with a tragedy. Stanley Rugirehe (63), MCF's night-watchman was brutally murdered by thieves outside MCF offices on the night of Dec 4, 2015. The burglars used a brick to hit him repeatedly in the face, stomped on his back severing his spine and left him lying face down, outside the offices.
What were the burglars after? Computers and laptops. And they got them.
MCF has worked hard throughout the years to realize a strategy that the Board mandated in 2011 that required us to focus on activities that would generate income in-country in order to reduce reliance on donations for operational funding. By 2013, we had succeeded. The slaying of our night-watchman was a great loss to MCF of a decent, hardworking man that died while on duty and it also robbed us of our critical funding that we are now seeking to rebuild.
Today for us is critical.
Why is today critical? Because our income-generating capacity built over 5 years has been curtailed by the theft that headlines this letter.
In 2008, when I started this foundation, I never thought that I would be writing a new year letter that is bleak with gory pictures all tainted by the stress that comes with this 'commander-in-chief-like' horrible feeling that grips your heart and wrestles with it as you go through the motions of feeling directly responsible for someone's death - on your watch, at your 'doorstep'. The normal course of year-end or new year messaging is to find that perfect picture of a smiling beneficiary, list accomplishments, add in the challenges, share hopes and ask that we do more. This 'abnormal' letter is one that sadly falls in sync with all the great suffering around us - Syria, San Bernadino, Paris, etc., forcing a new beginning and in search of a new perspective.
The theft has left us without the ability to generate income.
Stanley's warm blood dripped out of his body and made it's way to the front doors of MCF; right to the place where they forced the metal grille open and entered to access the machines in our internet cafe, our women's sewing enterprise, public library, computer training school and staff offices that our building houses.
What they took in just moments, was years of hard work and a life leaving MCF back to 2011 when we relied on donations to operate.
A ray of hope and a gift for MCF from Stanley's widow
Even in the face of adversity, MCF has always done the right thing. In addressing this tragedy, MCF staff attended the funeral and while there learned that Stanley's widow, Beatrice, was a basket weaver. She is a very talented woman who we have decided to help in addition to my personal pledge to pay Stanley's salary for one year to support her family (7 children and 13 grandchildren). Beatrice gave MCF baskets as a gift MCF as a token of her appreciation for the 6 years that he worked for us and we paid him a salary that supported them. She told us how she often thanked God that he had a decent job that paid him every month. A monthly payment is not be taken for granted in Uganda. Many go 3 months without pay and are perpetually in salary arreas.
MCF is now working with Beatrice to help her establish a basket business; some of those baskets will be coming to the US where we will sell them to support her at the National Cathedral.
MCF has already replaced 3 laptops thanks to the donation made by our partners and friends - WMI (Women's Microfinance Initiative) and a few donations. We intended to tell Stanley's story, save 7 MCF jobs, keep the only public library in town open, persevere with our mission of spreading literacy (both digital and books) and improving schools. I feel strongly that that is right thing to do and a better day will be here with your help.
That better day will be here if we can galvanize enough support to help us rebuild our capacity to generate income. We are downsizing our programs and we do have 2 Peace Corps Volunteers arriving at the end of February in Kabale.
The need
Our request is for donations to help us replace our computers, laptops and other computer hardware that supported our computer training school. We also are seeking to install good outdoor lighting to ensure staff safety since most of them work till after dark.
The future
Together with you, my hope is that we can restore what was MCF's ability to lift the community in the many ways we have over the past 7 years. Will you help us today?
On behalf of the Board, we wish you a Happy New Year and may peace be on earth!
In gratitude,
Anita
Anita M. Cox - President
MCF Board
Dr Jim Rotholz - Vice President
Dr Bruce Cox - Board Member
Mr. Dan O'Brien - Board Member
![The opening the thieves used to enter MCF offices]()
The opening the thieves used to enter MCF offices
![MCF staff all attend Stanley's funeral]()
MCF staff all attend Stanley's funeral
![Stanley's widow (on the left) is a basket weaver]()
Stanley's widow (on the left) is a basket weaver
![A basket gifted to MCF - handwoven by Beatrice]()
A basket gifted to MCF - handwoven by Beatrice
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