Tuesday 24 August 2010

More from the 1st August Event in Kasese

I have written previously about Mimi Burbank, an American lady who has worked in Kasese for some years with an NGO, the Base Camp United Christian Foundation (http://www.basecampngo.org/). She has recently come on board the SKILL project with her characteristic enthusiasm, and in a recent newsletter to her supporters in USA she writes about the origins of SKILL:
"The project funding was begun by retired Rev. Chris Jenkin and his wife Mary, from Cumbria, UK. These two visited the area, and saw something and their hearts were touched – nay, bludgeoned – by the need seen, and decided to do something about it.
On Sunday [1st August], speakers ranged from one of the homeless boys, to the local chairperson, Rev. Canon Julius Kithaghenda, who vowed to look into government funding for the project. The young boy spoke of the reason he was homeless, and said he was grateful for the project and looked forward to living in a real building with a roof.

We received pledges from everyone there, some in cash, and donations of a door, 13 bags of cement, sheets and cooking utensils. There is still quite a long way to go though. There are still many things needed before the place can be lived in. We ask for prayer that funds will become available for these. It is amazing how small donations by many can add up to provide a huge blessing for others."


If you would like to help, contact us on kskjenkin@hotmail.co.uk.

Wednesday 11 August 2010

We get a week's radio broadcasts!

We were delighted when we got an email on kskjenkin@hotmail.co.uk a few days ago in response to this blog. It was from Steven Greaves of Radio Cumbria.
Today we both went up to Carlisle to record our five mini-talks, shared between the two of us (Mary and me), telling "the story so far" of our involvement with the street kids and the building of the SKILL Centre.
These will be broadcast on the BBC Radio Cumbria teatime show at 5.50 p.m., Monday to Friday, starting Monday 23rd August.
Steven also said he hoped to give us a longer exposure, with discussion, nearer to Christmas.
We are excited by this! Let's hope thousands hear it, and some respond.

Wednesday 4 August 2010

Three choirs celebrate SKILL


At the great Event for SKILL (Street Kids Information and Learning for Life) on August 1st, no less than three choirs entertained the guests. Here on the right is the Roman Catholic choir:







Another children's choir with beautiful costumes also sang.








200 guests had been invited and sixty came. The street children were bussed to the site in minibuses.

I had sent message to be read out, and Alan read it. It concluded with the words:-

"For all the on-going costs, we are trusting the good people of Kasese – you all who are here today - to contribute. We will do our very best to complete the structure of the building; but for the running costs, that is up to you! We appeal to you, from the bottom of our hearts, to support this work, in whatever ways you can. God will reward you and bless you! Jesus said, “As you have done it for the least of these my children, you have done it for Me.”

Maybe this message was echoed by one of the Street Boys who spoke (right).

Remember - if you would like to help, email kskjenkin@hotmail.com .

More pictures of local Event

The guests waited for the guest of honour, the chief local government officer, Rev. Canon Julius, in a gazebo.
The 60 street boys who had come all queued up to get a meal.

One street boy who now earns a living as a Boda Boda man - i.e. as a bicycle taxi, taking passengers around town on the rear carrier - spoke to the guests about his life, both as a street child and now.
Obviously his mates found this highly amusing!








Monday 2 August 2010

Leading Citizens of Kasese visit the new Centre

Sunday August 1st saw the long-awaited Event when leading local citizens of Kasese were invited to the new though unfinished SKILL Centre.

Alan, our contact in Kasese, has emailed:

"We had a great time yesterday with a good crowd there. They had brought about 60 street boys as well. There weren’t as many business men present as I would have liked but they can build on the contacts that they have made. The LC5 Rev. Canon Julius (head of local government for Kasese) said that he was very impressed with what he had seen and said that he would send someone today to meet Enos with a view to the Government taking some responsibility. He seemed to feel that there could be a Private/Public tie up. He said that he would be donating a door. The retired Bishop Masereka came and quite courageously said that when he was in office he had seen that there was a problem but had lacked the courage to tackle it so he commended Enos and the committee for their bravery. He pledged saucepans and bed sheets to the project."
More pictures in a day or two!
If you would like to help, email kskjenkin@hotmail.co.uk.