In 2021 the River Nyamwamba which runs through Kasese in Uganda, burst its banks totally destroying over 200 homes. The families affected were given land by the Council on which they had to build their own temporary huts on the basis they were promised more permanent accomodation at some time in the future. They are still waiting, nearly five years on.
Winchester Rotary and in particular the teams that have gone out each year have done much to assist them to make life as comfortable and productive as possible. We have built and equipped two class rooms so the 176 children there can be taught by the mothers of some of them. We are also helping them to lease some adjacent fertile land with its own drainage so they can sow some crops and become self sufficient.
However one very important thing at this time of year is to lift their spirits and give them hope. So last year we started a small project where we provided Christmas dinner for all children aged 14 and under from the proceeds of a raffle held at the Winchester Rotary Christmas Dinner.
This year we continued it and from the raffle only last week kindly conducted by Deborah and Thomas we collected £310 which was immediately sent over and on Sunday 21 December a dinner was provided with the assistance of Rotary Club of Kasese Snow Peaks to 176 children comprising beef, chicken and rice with a bottle of soft drinks for each child. The meat was a particularly special treat for them as this is probably the only time in the year they are able to have it.
The attached photos and video hopefully show the joy and appreciation in these children’s faces and are a fitting way for us to share some good fortune of being able to enjoy a delicious Christmas Meal at our annual Christmas gathering.
A video can be seen here.
Photos here.
