Hello there,
We hope you’re keeping well and warm given the recent random showers of rain here and there.
Its hard to believe we’ve made it this far into the year! Where did the days go? Can you remember what you were doing in January?
You’ve learnt so much and grown so much since then. Round of applause for you!
Not to brag, but we have been up to so much good the past couple of months here at Uganda Unites. Check it out;
42-DAY LOCKDOWN RELIEF
Following the 42-day lockdown instituted by the government to curb the spread of the Delta variant of COVID-19, Uganda Unites ran a relief drive, where we requested Ugandans to donate towards supporting families of teachers and daily wage earners in the country who live hand-to-mouth.
To this end, we collected UGX 2,415,000 from your donations towards this cause. This was used to support more than 80 households in the urban slums of Kampala.
In partnership with the Robert Katende Initiative, Uganda Unites donated 30% of the funds raised towards supporting the Health Workers’ Fund whose purpose is to raise funds to support the families of health workers at the frontline of fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.
PEACE CLUBS
In the month of July, an online peace club dubbed “United Peace Club” saw ten (10) of its youth raise UGX 290,000 which was used to support thirty (30) families in their communities.
Let’s hear it for teamwork and how it makes the dream work!
MANDELA WASHINGTON FELLOWSHIP
Join us in celebrating our National Director, Amos Kiyingi, who completed his Mandela Washington Fellowship at Indiana University – Bloomington. At the end of June, he joined twenty four (24) other emerging civic engagement leaders for the leadership institute, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State.
The Mandela Washington Fellowship, the flagship program of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), empowers young African leaders through academic coursework, leadership training, mentoring, networking, professional opportunities and local community engagement.
The Young African Leaders Initiative was created in 2010 and supports young Africans as they spur economic growth and prosperity, strengthen democratic governance, and enhance peace and security across the African continent.
We cannot wait to experience firsthand what the National Director picked up from his training. His highlight from the fellowship was meeting a network of young African leaders focused on solving issues affecting their communities and being able to share their experiences. “I have been able to unlearn and redesign some of the aspects of the Uganda Unites’ program to be more inclusive and effective,” he said. We urge you to stay along for the ride.
Seems like a fun one
PLATFORM NEXT GEN
Heard of Platform Next Gen?
It is an international oratory competition that gives youth within the age group of 18 – 22 an opportunity to speak into the challenges that they are facing in the pandemic under four topics.
This year’s topics were;
- Importance of equal access to COVID-19 vaccines for developing countries
- A pandemic within a pandemic addressing the escalations of domestic violence during the pandemic
- The grave impact of the pandemic on education and mental health of children
- The paralyzed informal sector the challenge of preserving the health of citizens and their source of income
The competition ran for two months and ended on the 5th of September.
Uganda had nine (9) participants in the competition who stand a chance to win part of the $2000 grant that is up for grabs.
They are;
Rachel Faithful Tumusiime, Susan Ninsiima, Maxwell Akandwanaho, Elizabeth Kisaaka, Angelica Galabuzi,
Abdul Malik Kateregga, Martha Kisakye, Lillian Carol Namutebi and Angela Area
Lets hear it for the competitors. It takes a lot of willpower to put yourself out there and compete.
May the odds be in your favor.
PARTNER UPDATE
ON MENTAL WELLNESS – the Phoenix Project
Uganda Unites partnered with the Phoenix project, a project that advocates for mindfulness and mental wellness through the use of calendars and journals.
The Phoenix project provided 26 journals to the youth that make up the Gospel Operations Africa (GOA) peace club. The club comprises youth from the Namuwongo Slum.
The idea behind the distribution of these journals is to allow these youth to be more mindful about their choices; to help them reflect and rethink their options given the pandemic and lockdown. Seeing as an idle mind is the devil’s workshop, it is easy for school-going youth, unemployed youth whose dreams have been put on hold owing to the
pandemic to get sucked into radicalization, petty crime, lawlessness and generally, giving up on themselves and their dreams.
Esther Kalenzi, founder of the Phoenix project led these youth through a training on how to use these journals to reimagine their future given the pandemic. The training encouraged the youth to be more mindful,
and more mentally aware through journaling and adopting gratuity through the use gratitude lists.
Last but not least,
GLOBAL GIVING ACCELERATOR
Join us as we participate in the Global Giving Accelerator.
It is an opportunity for the organization to build skills, access tools, and grow our base of supporters.
To get on the Global Giving platform and access these opportunities, we will need to raise $5,000 over a period
of 17 days (13th– 30th September 2021) from 40 unique donors.
You can make your donation here using a debit/ credit card.
No contribution is too small.
COMMITMENTS TO UGANDA UNITES
Are you interested in becoming part of the Uganda Unites family? Reach out to us on any of our social media platforms for more information
LOOKING TO DONATE?
You can make a contribution via Mobile Money 0753 256 256/ 0777 193 617 or via Flutterwave on the “Donate now” link
Love, light and blessings this September!!