Slum nutrition boost with Christmas treat

NAMATALA SLUM, UGANDA: Covid put paid to the usual Christmas party for Child of Hope's slum pupils' families hosted at its school – with its special meal of meat, rice and vegetables – but this year about 600 families still enjoyed a celebratory meal at home.  

Supporters’ response to the UK charity's second Covid-19 appeal mans it can continue to provide families with food (traditional posh and beans) and other essentials to ensure they have food every day. 

https://www.childofhopeuganda.org/news/christmas-treat

New video: How our pupils live during Covid-19

In this new, short video, pupils from Child of Hope’s primary/nursery school in Uganda tell us what life is like in the Namatala slum during Covid-19. 

https://www.childofhopeuganda.org/news/video-during-covid

Overcoming disability for slum mum and her business

Namatala slum, Uganda: Jennifer – a single disabled mum who has been part of Child of Hope's income-generating scheme for over three years – is a resilient lady now able to sustain herself and her daughter with the help of her business. It has enabled her move to from a semi-permanent to a permanent house.

https://www.childofhopeuganda.org/news/overcoming-adversity

Kitchen move

At Child of Hope's slum primary school in Uganda, Rose transferred to kitchen work at the beginning of this year and is now one of four cooks at Child of Hope.

Her day can begin as early as 6am and continues until 5pm. Rose usually collects firewood from the store each morning and lights a fire over which the meals are prepared. She also helps fetch water from the well and washing kitchen utensils.

https://childofhopeuganda.org/news/kitchen

Groveley renews SC21 silver for eight years

Groveley’s SC21 Silver accreditation has been renewed for the eighth year running – with 100% delivery on time in full & 99.94% quality rating.

Supply Chains for the 21st Century (SC21) is an improvement programme designed to accelerate the competitiveness of the Aerospace and Defence industry by raising the performance of its supply chains.

The award recognises Groveley’s internal process excellence, quality and on-time delivery to all customers not just the aerospace and defence industries – all independently-ratified. Our current 100% delivery on time in full and quality rating offers a huge advantage for our customers.

Read more...

Child of Hope's solar-powered water

[NAMATALA SLUM, EASTERN UGANDA] Our nursery/primary school can now generate its own water, sufficient for all our needs, without depending on intermittent local water supply or manually drawing it from the well.  Water is now drawn from the well by a solar powered pump, thanks to the two local engineers responsible for the project and a generous grant from a UK trust.

https://www.childofhopeuganda.org/news/solar-powered-water

Child of Hope's slum schools: Serious study resumes as lockdown relaxes a little

EASTERN UGANDA: In the Namatala and Namabasa slums, exam classes are resuming serious study for their respective exams at both the primary and secondary schools.  The mood in both schools is positive as everyone is pleased to get back to teaching and learning. 

https://www.childofhopeuganda.org/news/serious-study-resumes

Child of Hope: Business advice… under the tree

In Namatala slum, Uganda, our Income Generating Activities social workers continue to support mothers with their businesses during this difficult time – which during Covid often means outdoors under a tree for shade...

https://www.childofhopeuganda.org/news/business-advice-under-tree

Groveley Precision Engineering: AS9100 renewed for second year

[CHRISTCHURCH, DORSET] Groveley renews global aerospace standard AS9100 Rev D / ISO 9001 2015 for the second year – with zero non-conformances...

https://www.groveley.co.uk/2020/10/12/as9100-renewed-for-second-year/

Child of Hope's partial return to school

NAMATALA SLUM, UGANDA: From October 15 the Ugandan Government is allowing pupils in candidate classes (Primary 7 and Secondary 4) to return to school. This is an emergency meeting our Primary headteacher held with her teachers to plan a safe learning environment for those children in Primary 7. 

https://www.childofhopeuganda.org/news/partial-return-school

Keith's marathon

HAMPSHIRE & DORSET, UK: Running his first full marathon to raise funds for Child of Hope – Keith Francis is joining in the Virgin Money London Marathon this Sunday, October 4!

https://www.childofhopeuganda.org/news/keiths-marathon-1

New secondary head teacher

NAMABASA, UGANDA: Bernard Wandera was selected as head teacher for Child of Hope's all-new Gill Sherlock Secondary School (free for slum kids) because of the quality of his leadership skills. 

He has a bachelor’s degree in secondary education, majoring in economics, and has teaching experience in various schools in and around Mbale. As well as good knowledge of the Ugandan education sector, his involvement in local politics gives him links to local government officials.  

Bernard, who lives close to our primary school in Namatala, has also been Chair of our school management committee. He is committed to providing effective and efficient service delivery in the secondary school to ensure good achievement of pupils. 

https://www.childofhopeuganda.org/news/introducing-our-secondary-head-teacher

Child of Hope: candidate classes reopening in October

NAMATALA SLUM, UGANDA: These girls from our Gill Sherlock Secondary School picked up their new green and orange uniforms from our tailors at the start of the year, but had only weeks to use them before schools were ordered to close in the general Coronavirus lockdown. Now they are keen to get back to their education. 

As with all schools in Uganda, our two schools closed early in Covid-19 - now we’ve heard that just the two candidate classes (Primary 7 and Secondary 4) will be allowed to re-open on Oct 15. We have purchased temperature guns, we are fitting foot-operated wash stations, we’ve made face masks… and our staff are ready. We’re not sure yet when the rest of our classes can return.

https://www.childofhopeuganda.org/news/candidate-classes-reopening-october

Wave x2

JED Art, Dorset: Two of my wave paintings – first one acrylic, second one in oil, both big 36″ by 36” – gone to London and Bridport, both new owners very happy. https://jedart.co.uk/galleries/abstract-paintings/

Keeping busy to feed the family

[NAMATALA SLUM, UGANDA]  Mario, father to one of THE Child of Hope pupils, has been making chicken cages like the one pictured here, as well as mouse traps and metallic chains. By selling these he has been able to secure a small income to help support his family.  

He recently secured a job as a night guard with Child of Hope, ensuring a monthly salary, and he continues making and selling wire products during the day to supplement his salary. 

Child of Hope: Water on (tip) tap

[NAMATALA SLUM, UGANDA] One of our secondary students demonstrates to members of the Namatala community how to use a tip tap water dispenser with soap for maximum benefit...

https://www.childofhopeuganda.org/news/water-tip-tap

Reuben's fostering success

CHILD OF HOPE, NAMATALA SLUM, UGANDA: Reuben lost his parents in a fatal accident as a small child and has been looked after since then by his grandmother. However, she recently became very ill and unable to care for him any longer. Our welfare team recognized the need for foster care to be arranged – and didn’t need to look far...

https://www.childofhopeuganda.org/news/fostering-success

Alcohol risk for hungry slum children

CHILD OF HOPE, NAMATALA SLUM UGANDA: The effects of covid-19 lockdown continue to bite hard for hungry families. While parents are away from the home trying to look for food, hungry children can be seen wandering around drinking outlets looking for anything to fill their hungry stomachs. They beg for any dregs of alcohol, sometimes spirits.

With a lack of food in Namatala, there has been increased incidence of alcohol dependency in both children and adults. Thankfully this is one of the dangers Child of Hope helps to keep its pupils safe from.

https://childofhopeuganda.org/news/risks-hungry-children

Child of Hope's approach to children’s health

NAMATALA SLUM, UGANDA: When she started her education at Child of Hope's slum school Rachael appeared healthy, but vigilance over routine health checks soon revealed she had sickle cell anaemia. The school nurse has continued to monitor and care for her.  

Rachael is nine years old in the Primary 2 class, loves dancing and acting, and hopes to become a nurse in the future. Currently Rachel is without a sponsor; perhaps you would consider sponsoring her continuing education, or another child’s? Just £15 per month, click here for details: https://www.childofhopeuganda.org/what-we-do/sponsorship/sponsor-child 

Green peppers for early harvest

CHILD OF HOPE: At the NGO'S farm in Uganda, green peppers to benefit slum mums have ripened for harvest sooner than expected. Each Friday in the last three weeks at least eighty kilos of peppers have been harvested and this is expected to continue until the end of the year. 

https://www.childofhopeuganda.org/news/early-harvest