HUNGER: AN UNWANTED GUEST FOR MOTHERS

Light will shine in the dark.

Dear GlobalGiving supporters,

Thank you for standing with us as lights for families facing hunger in rural communities striked with poverty. 

PROJECT ACTIVITIES THIS QUARTER
This quarter our team focused on 3 core activities:
A. Emergency Food Distribution: We conducted monthly relief drives in rural villages. Each family received a pack containing maize flour, beans, and cooking oil designed to cover basic nutrition for 2-3 weeks. Distributions were organized in partnership with local council leaders to ensure fair beneficiary selection based on vulnerability criteria.
B. Spiritual & Emotional Support: True to our mission, every food distribution began with prayer and a short devotional. Staff shared messages of hope and prayed with families. We believe people must be fed physically and spiritually. Many beneficiaries shared that this prayer time reduced fear and gave them strength beyond the meal.
C. Data Management & Transparency: We maintained detailed registration forms for every beneficiary. All data was entered into Excel sheets including family size, village, and items received. This helps us track impact and remain accountable to donors like you. Staff also completed safety briefings before each field visit to protect our team working in remote areas.

QUARTERLY IMPACT & NUMBERS
A. Beneficiaries Reached: 29 families, representing approximately 61 individuals, received food support this quarter.
B. Communities Served: Distributions were held in [List 3-4 villages, e.g. Abilang, Atutur, Ongino, Kapir] across Kumi District.
C. Volunteer & Staff Hours: 2 staff and community volunteers mobilized to pack, transport, and distribute food safely.
D. Prayer Sessions: Every distribution included group prayer. Over 4 prayer/counseling moments were shared with beneficiaries.

3. STORY FROM THE FIELD
Matilda, a widow and mother of 4 from one of the village we reached out, shared: "Before the food came, my children cried from hunger at night. When your team prayed with us, I felt God had not forgotten us. The food filled their stomachs, but the prayer filled my heart with hope." Stories like [Name]'s remind us why this project exists - to show love through action and prayer.

CHALLENGES & LESSONS LEARNED
A. Challenge: Rising food prices in Uganda reduced the quantity we could provide per family compared to last quarter.
B. Response: We prioritized the most vulnerable households including widows, elderly, and families with malnourished children. We also reduced pack size slightly but maintained monthly frequency.
C. Lesson: Combining food aid with prayer and counseling increases community trust. Beneficiaries are more open to share real needs, helping us target support better.

LOOKING AHEAD - OCTOBER TO DECEMBER 2026
For next quarter we plan to:
1. Continue monthly food distributions and expand to 1-2 new villages if resources allow.
2. Train 10 community volunteers on accurate data collection and reporting to improve our records.
3. Strengthen staff safety protocols for rainy season field work.
4. Document more beneficiary stories and photos to share with you for transparency.

CLOSING
We are grateful for every person praying and supporting Cico Uganda. You help us be a fortress of hope against hunger and danger. Please continue to pray with us as we call forth more partners to make a difference. May light continue to shine in the darkness through this work.

With gratitude,
Cico Uganda Team