Once known as the Pearl of Africa Uganda is beginning to recover her sparkle. In a country of over 30 million people it is inevitable that the sheer magnitude of numbers of needy people makes it difficult for SVP in Donegal to provide a full service with limited resources.
Upon arrival at Entebbe airport in Kampala on March 26th, Kevin Cooley and Mary McGeoghegan, North West Region of Saint Vincent de Paul representatives, were welcomed by Joseph Mary Kyaterakera Director of Precious College School and some of its students.
Mary and Kevin visited Uganda in 2007 and were aware then of how the National Council of SVP in Uganda strives to serve the poor, the mentally and physically handicapped, prisoners, victims’ of AIDS, orphans and street people. Their visit in March confirmed that their Ugandan counterparts continue in their efforts to serve the poor.
Street People
The visitors’ first visit on this occasion was to Christ the King Church where Ugandan SVP members gather every Saturday morning. “It is always a lasting memory to witness rows of disabled, blind, orphaned destitute await their weekly rations from SVP members” said Mary McGeoghegan. “Just a flicker of hope for a day in the life of the ‘down and out’.”
Precious College School
“Visiting Precious College Secondary School in the East of Kampala is always an uplifting experience” commented Kevin Cooley. Half of it’s 400 students are dependent on the school for their food, uniforms and educational needs. Despite their difficulties they love to sing and the school has a wonderful music group called ‘Precious Echoes’ whose patron is Kevin and some of whom visited Donegal last July.
Their hunger for education despite their difficulties is very encouraging for they know it is what will free them from the poverty trap they find themselves and their families in. Seven past pupils of Precious College School are currently attending university and are being supported by SVP in Donegal.
The main purpose of the visit however was to explore the possibility of building a canteen for the school. After Kevin and Mary’s visit in 2007 they were made aware of the need for a purpose built canteen for the school. For all but Christmas Day, 300 of the 400 pupils receive their only meal of the day there at Precious College and the structure for preparing the food is not adequate for their needs.
“We met with Joseph Mary last July when they visited us in Donegal and discussed the priority needs of the school. He told us that the good name the school has within the community has made it a victim of it’s own success as they do not have the structures to accommodate all the pupils they have on their books now” said Kevin. “Joseph Mary made a request for an Assembly Hall and a Canteen. Our visit in March has both affirmed our intentions to improve the school’s accommodation and to decide how SVP in Donegal can best do this.” The cost of the project will be €40,000 and when completed will change the quality of education that Precious College School can provide for its growing population of pupils. It is envisaged that to fundraise the total required amount for the project will take up to a year and various activities will are already being planned.
Before Kevin and Mary’s departure from the school it was a fitting tribute to Donegal to witness 15 of the students step out in the Green & Gold strip that was generously donated by Donegal GAA. SVP would like to thank Grace Boyle Treasurer and Frankie Doherty Assistant Treasurer of the County GAA Board and Elizabeth Doherty of Carndonagh GAA Board.
National Project
While SVP in Donegal fund a range of projects in Uganda St. Vincent de Paul on a national level support a Micro Finance initiative that was started in 2008. Initially it was intended to run the finance project that mirrors the Credit Union philosophy here in Ireland with only 5 parishes within the country’s capital city Kampala but it now has roots in 12 parishes with expansion to a further 3 by the end of this year. The initiative has enabled 51 individuals and families to obtain finance and business training to fund their own enterprises to generate an income to feed, educate and cloth their families.
“It is awesome to witness the tremendous work being done with limited resources throughout Uganda. SVP in Uganda has a spirit which is unique and the North West Region of SVP is privileged to be part of the bond which exists between us through our Twinning arrangement” commented Mary McGeoghegan, Twinning Officer for the North West Region.