Annual report 2009
Below you can read our social report. On request our financial report is also available.
Annual report 2009
Introduction
The LindA Foundation (Light in dynamic Africa) is a Christian, non profit organisation with the vision to improve the living standards of the orphans and vulnerable children in Northern Uganda, Africa. Thousands of children have lost their parents there, due to war, HIV/AIDS and other circumstances.
The LindA Foundation works in Lira District.
The projects of 2009:
1. SOS Programme (Send an Orphan to School)
2. Children’s rehabilitation home House of Grace
3. Other activities.
We try to help as many children as possible, by providing them with (emergency) shelter, care and education. Whenever possible we reunite the children with their relatives, but sometimes this option isn’t there. In Northern Uganda there is often a big gap between generations, mostly because the parents died and the children are raised by the grandparents or other old relatives. Due to the circumstances these people are often faced with looking after many orphans, while also having to look after their own family. Money is just not there to look after everybody. This results in the orphan being neglected, having to work hard, no schooling, not enough food and no love to speak of.
1. SOS Programme (Send an Orphan to School)
This Programme runs since 2002 and supports a large group of Orphans and Vulnerable Children with education, from Primary to Secondary and Technical School.
The programme doesn’t just pay school fees, we monitor the children, guide and counsel them, pay them visits, give them the personal and scholastic requirements and medical care.
In 2009 the number of children were as follows:
Total number of children in SOS Programme: 85
- Of which in Primary: 40
- Of which in Secondary or Technical: 45
- Living in House of Grace: 33
- Handicapped: 6
- Having an individual sponsor: 39
In 2009 we again faced many challenges.
First of all because the director was diagnosed with cancer and had to go to The Netherlands for treatment. She left early February and returned just in time for Christmas. Thank God she is completely healed!
Ray from DED took over the financial affairs and Patrick Opio, a former student, took over the Project management together with the Chairman of the Foundation, John Ogwang Alele. All could continue as usual.
Secondly, prices keep on going up, there was a great drought in the area. So food became scarce. We had to struggle to pay all the bills.
In September we opened our own school, a temporary structure (Romney shed) in Gweng Abara. We are now in the process of getting the official licence from the ministry. We keep trying to acquire the necessary funds to build a permanent structure.
To have our own school isn’t only to reduce costs, it also assures the children of good quality education and there is breakfast and lunch available. It benefits not only our children, but also the children from the community. Presently 150 children are enrolled.
There are 8 teachers.
2. Children’s rehabilitation home House of Grace
In our Children’s rehabilitation home House of Grace children are accepted that have nowhere to go. They are either abandoned, abused or alone through other causes.
In 2009 33 children found a home there. Some only during vacations, since they are attending secondary boarding schools. Most of the children have suffered. Some lived in camps, or on the street. Some have seen their parents killed by rebels, were abused and left to fend for themselves. Our social workers try to rehabilitate these children. Since they are local people they know what these children have gone through. A stable and secure environment helps these kids to become a child again.
The House of Grace is in great need of renovation, we have therefore started a fundraising activity: Buy a brick! You can read more about this on our website. We have also submitted a proposal, but no positive response yet.
3. Other activities
We were able to acquire the small land on which the office building is standing, along Soroti Road. Now we have one complete and adjoining property for our activities.
We also concern ourselves with counselling and testing on HIV/AIDS, hygiene and the importance of safe and clean drinking water.
We were able to take the remaining 50 children to Murchisson Falls National Park in January. It showed again how important it is for the children to see their own wildlife, their own game park, the Nile, the falls. It instils in them a sense of pride in their country.
We sold the sewing machines that were in need of serious repair and the computers, sent to us in the container. The computers were obsolete, unfortunately. With the proceeds we bought 1 new computer for the office.
Our student days are as always successful . We use these days to debate about important issues, go over the school results, eat a hearty and healthy lunch and share events and problems that we have encountered. We counsel them on how to behave, to get good results, etc. We also then distribute their school-and personal requirements for the next term.
Realisation workplan 2009
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Description
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Realisation
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Finance S.O.S. programme
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Yes, paid Ush 73,101,035/€ 31,783
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Finance Orphans reh. home House of Grace
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Yes, paid Ush 39,290,550/€ 17,083
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Finance Office Lira
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Yes, paid Ush 16,763,000/€ 7,288
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Finance other costs
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Yes, see financial report
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Start of Primary School in Gweng Abara
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Operational in September. Costs 21,472,100/€ 9.336. Temporary structure
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Renovation and extension House of Grace
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Bought land at 6,500,000+ put stones at 450,000 (€ 3.022)
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Start of medical facility
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Not yet
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Excursion to Murchisson Falls national park
with the 50 children that didn’t go the other time
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Took place in January. Costs 4,052,600/€ 1.762
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Buying pick-up truck
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Not yet
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Building of a small church
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Not yet
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2009: 1 euro = 2300 Ush
Workplan 2010
- Finance S.O.S. programme: school fees of 100 children. Including
the children’s personal- and school requirements, medical costs, food, etc.
Budgeted: Ush 81,500,000/€ 33,958.00 - Finance House of Grace. Budgeted: Ush 61,500,000/€ 25.625
- Finance office Lira. Budgeted: Ush 19,160,000/€ 7.983
- Finance miscellaneous. Budgeted: Ush 29,000,000/€ 12.083
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Continuation of building a proper Primary School in Gweng Abara, Lira District.
Budgeted: Ush 170,000,000/€ 70.833. -
Raising funds for renovation/extension House of Grace orphans rehabilitation home. Budgeted: Ush 420,000,000/€ 175.000.
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Fencing the new grounds at House of Grace; renovation of buildings into offices +
activity hall for vocational training; finishing toilet buildings.Budgeted: Ush 12,000,000/€ 5.000. - Raising funds for the start of medical facility in Gweng Abara. For our children and the people in the community. Budgeted: Ush 129,000,000/€ 53.750.
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Raising funds for buying a pick-up truck. Budgeted: Ush 36,000,000/
€ 15.000. - Raising money for a church building. Budgeted: Ush 125,000,000/
€ 52.083.
2010: 1 euro = 2400 Ush
Concluding
On behalf of the children we would like to extend our greatest gratitude to everybody, people, organisations and businesses and churches, who appreciate what we are doing and support us with funds, time, and fundraising activities.