Recently the board of HopeOfiriha met and finalized a decision that has been ten months in deliberation.
Immediately we will cease to implement, fundraise, and remove "send 100 Deportee children to school in Uganda project" from our projects portfolio. The project will also be deactivated or marked as funded from GlobalGiving website effective from December 20 2013.
This has been a difficult decision but one that has been considered after exploring several other options over the last ten months. In the paragraph below I'd like to share my support for this decision as the executive director.
When we began this project, we had a unique reason to give a helping hand to deportee families from Israel to South Sudan. Our target was to operate a child sponsorhip and microloan projects so children and their mothers benefits while adopting to new lives in their newly independence country. Outside our expectation, Lea requested to do fundraising from Israel as a volunteer, and a kind individual, not as an organization. When we began deportation was in its infancy in South Sudan, and Lea's second intention was not known to us as an organization.
In 2013, we find a different environment, one where our work is made difficult by her. We have found ourselves increasingly frustrated and stranded. To continue to accept your donations and pay school fees for children whom we don't know will no longer be accepted by the board. Also, we cannot operate a scholarship project whose benefits only go to favoured families, where children from the majority of deportee families are not benefiting. This is not in line with our policy of non-discrimination.
We detained the school fees to promote fairness as we felt some children were discriminated, and to make sure a child from each family gets a scholarship through a lottery system, and also we want to collect information of children who are awarded a scholarship by Lea without notice of HopeOfiriha as an implementer of this cause in Uganda.
The board agreed to pay $2563 school fees to Trinity Primary School bank account before Christmas by Alice Amwony - now without conditions. When this is done, a payment receipt will be shared by all parties concern. The final payment will be made January 30th 2014. Aslo receipts from last two payments will be shared as well.
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I got back from Trinity Primary School on July 30th, and I wanted to share an exceptional story from Trinity with you.
Everything was going as planned when we arrived - the children were singing and dancing in the playground during their break time. A good number of children had gathered, greeted us, and while others were enjoying their well-rehearsed physical exercise led by a teacher.
Then, all of a sudden, Veronica made her way in the office of a head teacher and asked if she could help identify the new children admitted into the program. I want to see these children practically, and Hope Ofiriha cannot pay school fees for children they don't know, a rule must be followed strictly - and now I am here to clarify on these issues - William said.
The payment of school fees were delayed partly because of this, and the Board decided not to provide the money until the identity of the new children are established, then pay school fees for all children at once. Now these fees are paid!
She was like a master of 35 children studying at Trinity School because of your support! I wish you could have been in person to hear how well Veronica speaks English. " These children are happy at their new environment. Thank you" to people like you!
Fruits of your support - 35 children at Trinity primary School!
Thanks for your recent generous gift to Send 100 Deportee Children In School in Uganda project. Your commitment to help the deportee children get an education is really appreciated by our trustees and those who will benefit most: the children!
In next few days, children will return to school after a first team holiday in Uganda. Whenever I visited Trinity Primary School, I got to see the fruits of your support, every child in a program called me Aunty! Aunty I need a bread! Aunty I need peanut butter! These children are so sweet and kind! It was a scene of happiness because they have quickly adapted to the harsh living conditions in Uganda.
You are making such a big difference for these children. It is thanks to you that 35 children can study well, and sleep well, knowing they will be safe from malaria-carrying mosquitoes at night, and healthy for a school in the morning.
These children are very eager to see that this project is progressing, and we need your ongoing support to keep them at school. Our program coordinator sent this report from kampala.
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Britt Lake, GlobalGiving's Director of Programs and I had the pleasure of visiting Hope Ofiriha's project, "Send 100 Deportee Children In School In Uganda" last week.
What an amazing experience! When we first arrived to the school we were greeted by the head master. He showed us around the school. It was great seeing the school and dormitories. The facilities were very impressive! Check out one of the play areas in the photo below.
Britt and I were so blown away by the Sudanese students in the program! It is truly incredible how resilient they are and not to mention how many languages they speak.
When asked if they missed Sudan or Israel more, most of them said Israel. They had set up a life there and are now beginning a new phase in Uganda. Like many of us know change is hard and being away from the familiar often times makes change more difficult, it was truly an inspiration to witness their resilience.
The students have an ally in Alice, one of Hope Ofiriha's team members. Alice works with the students to make sure they feel comfortable and safe in their new surroundings.
The students also have an ally in you, thank you for your support!
We wish you a happy new year 2013!
Thanks for your recent generous gift to Send 100 Deportee children to school in Uganda project. Your committed to help the needy to get out of poverty is really appreciated by our trustees and those will benefit most – the children!
HO visited Kings Way School on January 4th 2013 to submit the forms children had already filled in Juba, and to process their admission. They found the school was busy registering, interviewing, and admitting students for new academic year due to start soon. Mr. William and Nataline were happy with the meeting chaired by Kings Way School Administrator.
The School insisted to meet the children to determine their age, sex, and set a test to determine the level of education so they are admitted in the right classes. In addition, the School released forms that each child has to fill and the parent have to sign. The school set January 14 - a date to interview the deportee children in Kampala. According to Alice, Nataline rang Juba and informed the families about the forthcoming coming interview. Also, Mr. William will call Mach – who is based in Juba to circulate the news within the deportee communities in about the meeting in Kampala.
HO has granted scholarship two promising girls, and more children will be added in the program as funds become available. The project goal is to sponsor 100 children - Lea and her team in Israel are working hard to reach the objective.
The families in Juba are eager to see this project progressing. They need your help to send their children to study in Kings Way School, Uganda.
While our communities had just started to adjust from the shocks and devastation of prolonged civil war, they were yet met by airstrikes and ground assaults launched against South Sudan in the bordering states by Sudan armed forces and militant allies. This brought more unnecessary displacement, vulnerability, anguish and human suffering.
Life in the South Sudan – Sudan bordering states became unbearable as cost of living steadily skyrocketed. While two nations have signed a deal to promote peaceful coexistence, the impact of recent conflict include Abyei has caused humanitarian needs to the affected people.
We therefore, request our partners to continue their support to Hope Ofiriha and more importantly to the needy and vulnerable groups in the communities. We look forward to working with all of you in 2013.
May I take this opportunity to wish our donors and partners a very happy, peaceful and prosperous New Year 2013!
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