GIFTS
The beginning of December marks the run up to Christmas. A time when we give thanks for what we have and offer gifts to others. We have so much to be thankful for, despite the bitterly hard year of 2021.
The donors to HUGS have been generous and caring. They have helped continue to transform the lives of people who are less fortunate, in Uganda. This year we have completed a new school for children with hearing loss, continues to sponsor our university students, provide clean water to families in the Kosovo Slum and organise a home tuition service to the children who attend the HUGS sponsored schools. Each one of these is a gift, made by people in one part of the world, to people in another, who are largely unknown to our supporters. This makes me reflect that the greatest gift our donors bestow on HUGS is Trust. You trust us to make wise decisions, to ensure we make your donations count and that we take care to support projects which help people from the neediest communities. For this gift of trust, we thank you.
This month we gave the go ahead to start constructing the staff accommodation at St Francis de Sales School. This is an important step to ensuring sustainability. Teachers become part of a school community, and if they live on school grounds, stay in post for longer, enjoy a better quality of life and interact with children who board in wonderfully positive and unexpected ways. Building sports teams, stimulating an interest in literature and firing-up enquiring minds. A teacher’s life in Uganda is tough. Wages are low, and hours are long, and teachers not only teach, but also act as social workers, care givers and important role models of the value of education. It is a privilege to have the oppo
rtunity to help a teacher.
If you are looking for a Christmas gift for someone you love, please look at our HUGS Christmas auction at https://www.jumblebee.co.uk/HUGSChristmasauction2021. We have received many donations of gifts which we hope you will find of interest. Last year our Christmas auction paid for school equipment, desks and chairs at St Francis de sales School. This year we are raising money for water connections in the Kosovo slum, to improve children’s health and access to education. The children in the slum are from the poorest families we have helped. Our video tells you more.
Or you can donate directly HERE to this project and sponsor your own water connection, to help vulnerable families
I hope you have a peaceful and loving Christmas.
Thank you for your support.
Richard Bircher
Chair Helping Uganda Schools