Heart To Heart Orphans Education
Project updates
Archdiocese of Mbarara, Uganda
Wednesday 4, March 2009
Dear Board members and supporters of Heart to Heart Uganda Ministries
Project,
I bring you warm greetings from Uganda. As a person facilitating
Heart to Heart Orphans Education Project in the Archdiocese of
Mbarara, allow me to further share with you a few developments
and updates regarding the workings and progress of the Project.
Clarification/Terminology
Since the American system of Education different from that in
Uganda – the latter follows the British system of education;
here are some clarifications and terminology used.
High School Education takes 6 years to complete.
High School is called Senior Secondary School. It is divided into
Ordinary Level (aka O’ Level) takes 4 years: Senior 1 to
4; plus Advanced Level (aka A’ Level or Higher School Certificate
– HSC): Senior 5 to 6.
After completing A’ Level candidates who pass
their exam and qualify can join Colleges or University or join
other lower level Vocational Institutes. Some vocational training
institutes can accept students who have completed only O’
Level.
In Uganda High Schools follow the ‘term system’
(three terms) not semester system: only universities and special
private institutions like Seminaries do follow the semester system.
From Tears to Joy!
On a cloudy afternoon February this year Juliet Nashaba, a girl
of about 16 years but who looks like she is only 13, walked in
my office. Exhausted, hungry, haggard, and with a sad look on
her face, Juliet was almost at the point of passing out. She seemed
one who had walked a long distance: her bare feet were dusty.
Olivia, our receptionist, mentioned that when she first received
Juliet she had to give her some water and some cookies left over
from our break tea, before she allowed Juliet into my office.
Juliet had just completed Primary Seven (Elementary
School), had passed relatively well and wanted to join a Secondary
School - Senior One (First Year of High School). “How may
I help you, Juliet?” I asked her. Before she could answer,
tears were already rolling down her cheeks. “Father, my
story is long and a sad one: I have been struggling to get school
fees to go to school. For the last 4 years, my mom has been trying
to make ends meet in order to raise school fees for me…Now
that I want to go to a secondary school, my mother told me that
she can no longer afford to raise money for my education…I
am desperate; I have no one else to help me out, please help me…”(more
tears!!!). Juliet’s dad passed away in 2007, after a long
sickness. He left a widow, also sickly, with four children. Juliet
is the oldest of the children. The family does not have sufficient
resources to support them, let alone to raise enough money for
the children’s education. We registered Juliet and promised
to help out with school fees.
Juliet is not the only case our office has received.
There are many like Juliet who come to us with more heartbreaking
stories than the one of Juliet. They come in big numbers - in
tens, twenties, fifties, seeking financial assistance to enable
them go to school. Our hearts are ripped open by the their sad
stories, their tears, and hopelessness. Because of the help our
office receives from Heart to Heart Project, our office was able
to raise school fees for Juliet. She has now joined Senior One
at St. Andrew’s Senior Secondary School, located in a parish
to the north of Mbarara town. Juliet has a more promising future.
With more resources, we have the potential of assisting more young
people, to afford them the opportunity of going to schools, and
other institutions of learning. Heart to Heart has the goal of
turning tears of hopelessness into joys of success!
Brief History
As a Project, one might say that Heart to Heart started, when
Archbishop Paul K. Bakyenga visited San Diego in the summer of
2004, when he was given a check of over 30,000 US dollars out
of the generosity of some parishioners from San Rafael Parish.
But the earliest beginnings are much earlier. Like Holy Innocents
Children’s Hospital presently being constructed in the Archdiocese
of Mbarara, Orphans Project was born out of Archbishop Paul Bakyenga’s
caring heart for children and youngsters. Even as a priest, he
always had a soft heart for children and the youth, concerned
about the plight of the children falling sick and often dying
young; and also wanting youngsters, (especially girls) to acquire
education. It is stories like the one of Juliet that touched him
and moved him to do something, so much so that when he became
Bishop, he used money from the ordination gifts and started paying
school fees for young girls and boys. Even from the meager resources,
Archbishop maintained the practice of helping some pupils/students
out of his own pocket. His visit to San Diego, and the donation
that ensued was a big boost! With the help of Gwen Thompson and
Patricia Divijak, plus other willing parishioners, Fr. Bonaventure
Turyomumazima only helped out in coordinating and putting into
the system, what we have today as Heart to Heart Orphans Education
Project. The Project is still growing to further heights…
Candidates/Students in the Program:
I am glad to report that in the last 5 years since this project
was officially established, there has been visible success. Thanks
the support of Msgr. Dennis Mikulanis and San Rafael parishioners,
presently the Project has a total of 105 students who have benefited
from the Project, an increase of 16 students since last year’s
report. They are distributed as follows:
Girls: 73
Boys: 32
------------
Total: 105
Here below is a list of students who were sponsored
through Heart to Heart Project and we are certain have completed
their studies, including their field of specialization. All of
them have some kind of employment.
1. Clare Natukunda
Bachelor in Development Studies
2. Grace Nyirahabimana
Fashion and Design
3. Abaho Goretti
Degree in Education
4. Kansiime Felicity
Accountant
5. Kyokusiima Judith
Secretarial Work
6. Atuhaire Sarah
Midwife
7. Tumwine Gilbert
Medicine
8. Arinaitwe Sophia
Secretarial work
9. Tukundane Ameria
Grade 3 Teacher
10. Kyosiimire Shilla
Diploma in Marketing
11. Nakajigo Vivian
Degree in Secretarial Studies
12. Nuwagaba Caroline
Diploma in Counseling
13. Sharon Penelop
Nursery Teacher
New Developments from Recommendations:
With the go-ahead from Heart to Heart Board in San Diego, and
clearance from competent diocesan authority, the Program is in
the process of including candidates from elementary school. So
far we have six (6) pupils on the elementary school level, and
increase of 5 since last year. The program was mainly started
to assist young adults get through high school, go into vocational
training, acquire skills, get a job, get salary and be able to
assist younger ones in their families. Now some relatives and
friends to some of the orphans and from poor families come asking
whether the program would not extend opportunities to candidates
at elementary level. That is why we now have some from elementary
school.
Another recommendation/suggestion that we received
from well wishers touches the process of enrolment. It has been
suggested that recruitment of candidate be fairly distributed
in the diocese. Since the program started, the major criterion
to recruiting candidates into the program for financial assistance
has been inability to pay school fees, because they are orphans
or from impoverished families that cannot afford to pay school
dues. The office would receive candidates no matter where they
came from. But it has happened that those who are mostly on our
list are from nearby parishes that have easier access to the Archbishop’s
office. Some people have approached the Archbishop’s office
requesting that we receive candidates from all the 40 parishes/Centers
of the Archdiocese of Mbarara, for fairer distribution of educational
training. Even if we have not yet achieved this, henceforth our
target is to take 2 candidates (1 boy and 1 girl) from each of
those parishes where we do not yet have candidates on our list.
We trust this suggestion has the blessing of both the Board of
Directors in San Diego and from local diocesan authority.
Financial Situation
So far the budget for each student per year has been estimated
at $350 for High School (aka Secondary) Students. This amount
is for school fees only. The candidates are aware that the Archbishop’s
Office coordinating Heart to Heart Project can only offer school
fees. Students are supposed to try and get money for additional
needs from other sources. Otherwise the required amount to cover
all the expenses would be much higher than $350. And since individual
needs vary from one student to another, it would be hard to come
up with a fixed amount that would be ‘enough’ for
each student.
Also, due to limited financial resources, the program
has mostly targeted helping students up to completion of High
School Education, sometimes up to College, and rarely to University
level.
About twice a year, Heart to Heart Board in San
Diego is provided with financial statement of the various transactions
during the academic year. The next financial statement will be
provided shortly, after all the school fees for the First term
have been paid.
Appreciation
Once again, we do acknowledge that in the last five years since
the Heart to Heart Orphans Educational program started, a lot
of good has been achieved. A good number of youngsters who have
completed their studies and are in the field working, are able
to at least earn a living for themselves. Those who are still
in school have a better chance of seeing a brighter tomorrow.
This is possible because of the many generous hearts and hands,
mainly from San Rafael Parish. One other recent highlight of this
Project is the launching of the website at the www.hearttoheartugandaministries.org.
Thank you to all those who has worked hard to open up this website,
thanks everyone on the Board of Heart to Heart, thank you to all
our sponsors and supporters, for the work you have done to educate
students in Mbarara, Uganda and give them a brighter future. God
bless you.
- Fr. Bonaventure Turyomumazima
Coordinator Heart to Heart Orphans Education
Project - Mbarara
