By Jamie Stuart & Ella Simmons | Co-Founders
Dearest Donors,
It’s been 10 months since we first started fundraising to build the House of Hope, and we’re so excited to announce that classes have finally begun in the new center!
We have been reaching hundreds of local beneficiaries through our programs in the new facility. The center is in use 7 days a week, housing our programs in English literacy (70 kids), computer science (30 teens), female empowerment (300 single mothers), and menstrual/reproductive health(150 young women). The centre’s wifi-equipped office space allows our Program Director, Head Teacher, two Program Coordinators and two Gulu University interns to work in comfortable, modern environment from which they can send emails, update curriculums, reports, and spreadsheets, and continue developing our programs towards our ultimate goal: sustainable, growing education and community empowerment.
Moving forward, we ask that you direct any future donations to our Uplift program. Uplift currently reaches 300 women who are heads of their households with small loans which they use to grow their businesses and support their families. The average household size in Uganda is 7 people, so this means we are currently supporting 2100 people with this program.
Economic empowerment at a household level is a key factor in ensuring parents have enough money to continue sending their children to school, and don’t withdraw them to do field work. We are so excited about the huge impact we are having on the Gulu community through this program. So far, we have had a 100% payback rate on the loans, and the interest garnered each quarter allows us to reach a continuously growing number of people. Whatever you donate to this program will be exponentially increased over time as the loans your donation provides are paid back with interest, creating an excellent model for sustainable development! If you'd like to learn more or donate, please visit https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/economic-empowerment-for-ugandan-families/
We want to take this opportunity to thank the interns who have volunteered their time with us in order to make our growth possible. They equipped the centre with computers, books, and decorations; they gave our beneficiaries attention and education; and they gave our organisation’s leaders inspiration and motivation. To Allison Daniels, Saelar Ventars, Mia Hodges, Franny Lail, Laura Dooley, Addie Lynch, Sophie Goddard, Harry Marshall, Max Davy, Vanessa Schoning, Jacob Henkels: Thank you! HCU’s programs developed exponentially this summer thanks to your involvement. For any people interested in volunteering for us, whether in Gulu or abroad, please contact hopecentergulu@gmail.com any time!
Thank you all for your support on this journey, we are so excited to see how much more we will grow together!
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By Jamie Stuart | Project Leader
By Jamie Stuart | Co-founder
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