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Newsletter November 2009 |
The Pearl of Africa Children's Choir supporting the Molly and Paul Childcare Foundation of Uganda |
Welcome to our newsletter! If you know of someone who does not have web access and would like to receive news, please help keep our costs to an absolute minimum and print this page and give them a copy! Please scroll down to the article you wish to read. Report from the Trustees News from Wheeling School News from Kamuzinda School Lion House - Reflections from a Supporter UK Tour 2010 Volunteers Beware of Scams Give us your feedback! |
Report from the Trustees The Trustees of the Pearl of Africa Children's Choir congratulate supporter Jim Briscoe in his initiative in preparing much of this newsletter and getting it 'off the ground'. He has done a fantastic job and we hope that it will inspire all readers to renew their commitment to the Molly and Paul Childcare Foundation (M&PCCF) through the Pearl of Africa Children's Choir Ltd (PoACC). What we primarily want to do in this newsletter is to explain a little about how the money generously donated during the 2008 choir tour (and since) is being managed and spent in Uganda. It currently remains our proud boast that all money received by us as a result of the choir tour is sent out to M&PCCF after deducting only the costs of the bank transfers as well as those associated with the tour. The net proceeds of the 2008 tour were approximately £83,000. All the money that we send out, unless donated for a specific purpose, is put to the vital use of keeping the Foundation running day to day. That basically means food, healthcare and education for the children, paying the teacher's salaries and maintaining the fabric and infrastructure of the organisation. In full consultation and agreement with M&PCCF, we have engaged the services of a Ugandan firm of accountants and management consultants to help M&PCCF prepare accounts for each 'Unit' (that is the schools, dormitory homes, farms school, clinic and administration unit). Staff in these units have been trained to an acceptable standard by Pete Chalk, Gillian Goodman and the local organisation to produce accounts that are realistically accurate. These accounts are prepared on a monthly basis, verified in the UK, and queries resolved. We then transfer funds to each of the Units against an agreed payment schedule, in accordance with monthly budgets that they themselves have produced and which we have examined and agreed. Our Ugandan colleagues in the schools have responded positively to the challenge of enhancing their booking-keeping and accountancy skills. They have subscribed to the 'TAP' principles - Transparency, Accountability and Participation. We thank them greatly for their understanding of issues involved and for their willingness to introduce new standards in these skills. This procedure has entailed a huge amount of work for our acting Hon Treasurer, and the system is running increasingly smoothly to the advantage of the children in Uganda. It is unglamorous, hard work, but we are now achieving good standards of accountability to ensure that the money is spent according to an agreed detailed budget for each Unit and according to your, the donors', wishes. Accordingly, in September, the sum of £13,992 was transferred to M&PCCF. The sum transferred is similar each month. The monthly sums contributed by you - for example to sponsor a place at school - are included in that schedule of payments. We calculate that with current income we should be able to maintain a similar level of support to the M&PCCF for around 6 months more. For financial support beyond this, we are hopeful that further funding may be attracted from corporate sponsors or other charitable grant-making bodies. In order to co-operate with these organisations, it is essential to have audited accounts, clear budgets, and transparent accounting procedures. That is one reason why we have invested so much time and effort in this area of the organisation over the last 18 months. If we fail to secure this external funding, the consequences could be very serious for the future of M&PCCF. In the meantime, we are endeavouring to produce reports and project plans to present to major potential donors. These have to be individually tailored to dovetail into their donation policies and supported by accurate and verified financial information coming from M&PCCF. We remain hopeful of a positive outcome and that funding will be secured in due course. With regard to all our efforts, the money raised by the choir tour and other fundraising activities is never enough. There are always more mouths to feed, children to educate and teachers to be paid. So please, please, please - don't lose heart. Your continuing efforts really are desperately needed. Regrettably PoACC had to stop planning a UK choir tour this year for reasons we considered insurmountable, but the good news is that planning is already under way for a tour in Autumn 2010. The people of M&PCCF in Uganda deserve our full support. They're a wonderful people, going through hardship. The next part of this newsletter is about them, and we hope will give you a flavour of their everyday life and show you how money raised in the UK helps make that life to be just a little bit better. All sent with love from the people of the UK like you and me. Chris Paxman On behalf of the Trustees of the Pearl of Africa Children's Choir Ltd Chair of the 2010 Tour Committee |
News from Wheeling School An update from Catherine, the Head Teacher In my school many developments have taken place this year. This is a result of donations from our sponsors from UK. Thank you so much. Let me thank all the volunteers who leave their nice homes and come to live and work with us in such poor conditions. They also go back and spread the news which encourages more people to sponsor our charity. Achievements: 1. Steel door and windows for P6 classroom. No Glass. This money was from the little fees we collect from some parents. 2. Staff salaries have been improved upon. 3. P4 classroom was cemented thanks to Catherine and Hannah Jones. We are so grateful. 4. Six classrooms plastered and painted, our sincere thanks go to the people from Morpeth who contributed highly. We thank Debbie, Collin and their daughters Olivia and Georgia, Kim and her husband Andrew. We also thank the two girls Nicola and Jennifer. 5. People from Morpeth also brought scholastic materials for all our schools. All children and staff are excited, thank you very much. 6. Our P7 pupils exchanged letters with those of Crow Orchard School in Skelmersdale. Thanks to Jim Briscoe who brought Easter cards to the pupils of Wheeling from their counterparts in Skelmersdale. They can now write to each other and share experiences from the two different countries. 7. Our P3, P4, P5 and P6 children have also written letters to their counterparts in Stobhill Gate, Morpeth, where Georgia go to school. Thanks to Collin and Debbie, Georgia's parents who connected us to that school. 8. Our staff now has some knowledge on computer thanks to Gillian, a volunteer from Cornwall, who spent some time with us teaching them. She also donated a laptop to the staff. 9. Accounts section, let me thank Pete Chalk from Liverpool who trained us in bookkeeping. From this training, we even went ahead and had a one week seminar to become better financial managers. Thanks to everyone that has contributed towards this noble cause. May God Bless You - Catherine, Head Teacher, Wheeling School, Kampala |
Kamuzinda High School An update from Annet, the Principal Dear friend, we salute you in the name of Jesus Christ. How are you, your families and all that you do? Hope all is well. Here the students, teachers and all staff are fine and all grateful for all you do to keep us all going. Below are some of the happenings of last term. A) Teaching: We have got two new teachers, Uncle Bernard for History and Uncle Ronald for computer studies. There is still a gap in Geography since Uncle Fred has just left us. All in all, the welfare and mood of our teachers is so far good. Working on end of term II students academic reports has already began since teachers have to fill in the beginning and mid of term exam marks. That and marking end of term exams is keeping the teachers busy. I send photos of s.4 doing geography mock exam. [photo] B) Co-curriculum: On the 3rd July we had a music D&D competition with students grouped in Planets, i.e. Jupiter, Earth, Neptune and Venus. A bull was to be shared with half going to the 1st winner (Neptune), the first Limb to the 2nd (Jupiter - PHOTO), 3rd (Earth) got the fore limb, and the last (Venus) got the O. This Music composition was tight and students did their best. Competition was in items, set piece, original composition, Traditional folk song and dance, speech, karaoke, Barley,Miming and creative. C) Painting: We have really been blessed by Barclays Bank, Masaka Branch, after being considered under their community outreach, and painted the school block both inside and outside. This makes the atmosphere lighter. May God richly reward them. D) Resource Centre - after glass had been put in the centre at Easter by our friends from Liverpool, David Hill and Jude Powel gave us funds for the following:- 1.Plastering the walls of resource centre 2.The resource centre stage 3.The resource and godown are still under construction since the construction and student's exams are happening at the same time. Painting of the resource electrical installation in the next resource is in progress. 4. Brick making: The school dependant (boys) is making bricks and they have made about 10,000 bricks available. These are going to be used to make a school fence. Uncontrollable movement of students is one of our problems. This term has really been achieved thanks to all our friends that send funds, and all those who greatly and continually encourage us! May God richly reward you all - please send all our gratitude and love, Annet, Principal, High School |
Lion House - reflections from a supporter People we speak with always ask about the children; what are their homes like, what are the classrooms like, what do they eat? … what is their life like? Well, I'd like to tell you a little about LION HOUSE in Kamuzinda Children's Village. I've taken Lion House to my heart! I speak to the children at least once a fortnight and I love them all so much! Lion House itself consists of three bedrooms, a living room and an outside kitchen area. One of the bedrooms is used solely by the Mama; this not only acts as her bedroom, but as a storeroom for food, utensils, equipment etc., and since we introduced solar energy to the home, the bedroom also contains the solar equipment and switches, so Mama Sara can keep control of all the lights. The other two bedrooms are shared between the children with usually around 12 to a room, sleeping in three high bunk beds. In every home you will find a 'Work Roster' - that roster will show what job each child must do before he or she goes to school and what job after school. The jobs vary from cooking, to cleaning the home, mopping inside and outside the home, to getting water from the bore hole, collecting sticks for the fire to cook on - the list is endless. Do the kids moan? - hardly! They realise that to do these jobs makes their lives and the lives of their extended family so much better! When we arrived in Kamuzinda at Easter this year it was in the middle of 'Exam Fortnight' and the children where revising whenever and wherever possible. The education provided by the Molly and Paul Schools is something that these children thrive upon, they love to study, and they love to learn because they know that education is vital! But revision after school isn't easy because it goes dark around 7pm every night and the only light then is either candle or paraffin lamp - the security light outside the Volunteers Mission, that's of course if they have electricity, which isn't always the case! So the introduction of 'solar lighting' to the Lion Home at Easter has made such a big difference to the lives of the children. With love Jim |
UK Tour 2010 The choir will not tour the UK in 2009, but a POACC Tour Committee has already been established to manage all aspects of a 2010 PoACC tour. This Committee is made up of volunteers and is chaired by Chris Paxman, one of our trustees, who will act as the 'bridge' between the Committee and the trustees. The first meeting took place in Kidderminster on Saturday 26th September, with nine volunteers attending from as far afield as Morpeth in the North East, to Launceston in the South West and Lewes in the South East. We do need other volunteers to help, so if you are at all interested, please contact us at the usual e-mail address or telephone number. Our sole aim is to organise the biggest and best POACC tour to the UK - in the Autumn of 2010! Jim Briscoe 2010 Tour Committee, Tour Manager |
Volunteers There are several strands to the work of the Molly & Paul Childcare Foundation, a well- established not-for-profit organisation in Uganda, with roots in a small school started over 25 years old. These include its support of the schools in Kamuzinda and Kampala; the production and provision of food for destitute children; and the support of a clinic associated with the schools. The families of better-off children pay fees, helping to support those less fortunate. But this is not enough and the Foundation relies on generous donations from within Uganda and internationally. A significant portion of these donations are given as a result of the inspiring performances of the Pearl of Africa Children's Choir, which, as many readers will know, makes tours to the UK, among other international destinations. For a number of years, the Foundation also has run a volunteer programme, through which people from around the world have visited, contributing valuable time and skills and helping carry out important projects. For some recent examples, see the news items from schools, earlier in this letter. The Pearl of Africa Children's Choir Ltd (PoACC) was set up and registered as a UK charity in 2007, to help the disenfranchised people in Uganda. Our focus has been on the Molly and Paul Childcare Foundation, which we have supported in several ways: helping to organise choir tours; fund-raising in the UK; working with the Foundation to develop best practice around administration and planning; and encouraging specific projects e.g. agricultural projects, such as growing maize as a basic foodstuff. You have seen in the news reports from the two schools how appreciative they are for the contribution and support of volunteers visiting the Molly & Paul Foundation. Volunteers working on well-defined, priority projects can make a real difference. PoACC is not involved in the Molly and Paul Childcare Foundation's volunteer programme: if you are interested in volunteering in Uganda, please get in touch direct with the Molly & Paul Childcare Foundation. You will find on their website their Code of Conduct and Application Form. Among our supporters are those who have volunteered with the Foundation, or who may be interested in volunteering there. For this reason, we think it is important to make you aware that in the summer an allegation was made, involving a volunteer in Uganda and alleging a crime by a member of the Molly & Paul Childcare Foundation staff. In accordance with normal employment practice, the Foundation took the appropriate action in immediately suspending the staff member pending investigation of the allegations by the Ugandan police. Although the case is not yet officially closed, towards the end of 2009 the authorities recommended that the staff member should go back to work and resume his normal functions within the organisation. The staff member was therefore reinstated. The trustees are regularly reviewing the situation and are satisfied that the matter is being handled in a proper manner. Beware of Scams We wish to warn you about two separate 'scams' that have come to our notice. Scams originating from Africa are nothing new, but these concern the Molly & Paul Childcare Foundation specifically. Scam 1. The first is that one or two Ugandan individuals appear to be contacting various Molly & Paul supporters (schools and individuals) in the UK, pretending to be part of an official Choir Tour this autumn/winter. As we have confirmed, there is, this season, no authorised Molly & Paul Choir Tour or Pearl of Africa Children's Choir Tour, so please do not enter into any arrangements with any supposed PoACC in 2009, or carry out fund-raising on their behalf. They are not authorised by Molly & Paul Childcare Foundation, so donations to them are not likely to reach your intended destination, the Molly & Paul Childcare Foundation. Scam 2. This is an email scam, where - at first glance - the email address of the sender appears to be that of a well-known individual at the Molly & Paul Childcare Foundation; for example, Uncle Paul (Wasswa) himself, or employees at the Kamuzinda Farm School. The scam email might, for instance, describe hardship and suffering, and make a direct appeal for funds: on closer inspection, the email address has a small mis-spelling (e.g. a doubled letter, 'Paull') and is not authentic. Email accounts at Yahoo and Hotmail are easy to mimic. Always use (or reply to) only the official, central email addresses (see below) and if you do kindly make a donation again only use the official channels. In any doubt, please check first, through the official addresses you know. |
Give us your feedback! Our aim is to make this newsletter a regular occurrence - at least 4 times per year. This newsletter is all about letting people know what's going on, raising awareness about the charity, and also an attempt to ask each and everyone of us to continue to support and pray for those children being cared for by the Molly and Paul Childcare Foundation … because they are the Pearl of Africa! We will bring you regular news bulletins written by the different schools of M&PCCF, but would also love to hear from you, particularly to hear of your sponsored events, or other new things YOU are doing for this great cause. If possible, we need to know about it before it happens! If it needs a 'plug', I'm sure we can feature it on the website, Facebook or even on Twitter! If you feel you are able to contribute, please contact us or give us a ring and share with others those 'special events'. Lets make it OUR business to keep people in touch! |
Feeding programme at Wheeling, thanks to the Blyths |
Building of the resource centre |
"Net tour proceeds £83,000" |
..."TAP principles - Transparency,Accountability and Participation" |
"If we fail to secure external funding,the consequences could be very serious for the future" |
"So please, please, please - don't lose heart. Your continuing efforts really are desperately needed." |
The above shows Rachel, Marion, Catherine, and Marie from Lion House with 'Old Test Papers' studying under a 'star filled sky' using the outside light. It was about 9.30pm when this photo was taken and they'd been there since 7.30pm after they'd completed the jobs. Any offer of help is always wonderfully received - the difficulty is telling them it's bedtime around 1100pm when they just want to carry on! |
Lion House |
Mama Sara |
Celebrating Light |
Contact us if you would like to help with UK Tour 2010 |
Music, Dance and Drama competition |
In the science lab with Annet, Head Teacher |
There's only 1 M&PCCF Pearl of Africa Children's Choir - beware of imitations! |