Saturday 24 July 2010

Money from celebrities and schoolchildren

After our soggy and disappointing Open Garden (though a friend did point out that we had raised a million Ugandan shillings, which sounds better!) we were encouraged by various gifts coming in over the next few days. There was £350 from a celebrity composer's charitable fund; £120 from old friends; and various smaller gifts, including some from Tebay Primary School near us in Cumbria.
This school has adopted Kasese Street Kids as their charity (the children's decision), and has sent money from a Bring and Buy, and there is more to come from other fundraising events at the school.
We were able to send £1000 to the Kasese bank account this week; and Emmanuel International UK, our umbrella organization, has just sent out the Gift Aid tax reclaimed from an earlier £5,000 donation, and other smaller gifts.
That should all enable the roof to be completed, and the Launch Event on 1st August (with some 200 leading citizens of Kasese invited) to be paid for.
Great encouragement after a weekend of despondency!
Don't forget - for offers of help email kskjenkin@hotmail.co.uk.

Monday 12 July 2010

Roof progress

Here is progress on the Hostel roof, pictured on July 5th. You can see the verandah along the front of the building.
You can also see Charles the builder!

Sunday 11 July 2010

Roof Beams being fitted

On July 10th the roof beams for the Hostel were being put up.

Here is a picture taken a month earlier, on June 11th:

The wooden scaffolding in common use in Africa is a sign that work is in progress.

This picture was taken by an American lady living in Kasese, Mimi Burbank, who is now part of the planning team.

She writes:-

"There will be room for 60 youth - 30 girls and 30 boys. We have visited the street kids at Nyakasanga and asked if they would be willing to go out there and slash the drive into the site - and we will pay them to do this. They said Yes! Since there is much still to be done with this project before it is actually livable, we hope to involve the youth in part of the construction and finishing of the hostel. They can do beginning carpentry, and learn how to make the bunk beds, under supervision by a master carpenter.

This is the sort of things I have been praying for - and God has provided and made this a reality. Now it is up to the rest of us to see it through to completion."

Open Garden in the rain!

It was perhaps a pity that the day we planned to open our Cumbria garden to the public, to raise funds for the Kasese Street Kids, proved to be the wettest day so far this year! While southern England sweltered in a heatwave, we had constant rain - not heavy, but unremitting.
Amazingly people did come in, wearing foul weather clothing, and wandered round the garden, dripping, and came into the conservatory to buy raffle tickets and craft items; but for some odd reason they did not want to sit on the garden seats eating ice creams.
We did raise £390, which (as my brother said) is better than a poke in the eye with a muddy stick - but two years ago a similar event in dry weather raised £850!
But thanks to all who did come and contribute.

Thursday 8 July 2010

6-seater Loo constructed

A six-stall Pit Latrine is being constructed at the site of the new building, ready for the Publicity Event scheduled for August 1st, when some 200 local leading and influential citizens of Kasese are being invited to learn about SKILL - Street Kids Information and Learning for Life.
The latrine is costing three million Ugandan shillings - about £910.
The builder has also been paid 13 million shillings - about £4,300 - to complete the roof.
However a balance of over £6,000 is still needed to pay for shutters and doors, plumbing and electrical wiring.
If you would like to help, email kskjenkin@hotmail.co.uk.