Happy New Year!

The past few months have seen a number of key developments for Esuubi, with some fantastic success stories from both our current Namacosi Orphanage and at the new Ekiwumulo village development. Following a recent trustee′s trip to Uganda, we are excited to report the following advances...

Orphanage School
One massive excitement is the recent success of the Namacosi Orphanage students in their end of year exams. For the first time ever the entire Primary 7 class has all achieved passes, with either a 2nd or 3rd grade! This exciting turning point for the school will provide the students with the tools to succeed at secondary school and is a testament to Esuubi’s work in providing training initiatives for the school’s teachers.

A further recent encouragement involves seeing the teachers implementing the new techniques they have learned during their training and introducing new areas into the taught curriculum, including a greater emphasis on art and craft, as well as development of extra-curricular activities.

Ekiwumulo Village
Ekiwumulo ("a place of freedom and restoration") Village is shooting up on the hillside just outside Mityana. The most recent additions include teachers’ accommodation, a community area, the foundations of a registration block and two new houses for orphans.

It is hoped that we will be able to open the site to some of the orphans we have had to send away on previous occasions within the near future. Additionally the site will be capable of supporting some of the orphans from Mityana’s streets.

Changing lives
As we beging to appoint staff to work in several roles at Ekiwumulo Village we are thrilled to see success stories of past students cropping up. Zaitune was a student at Namacosi Orphanage just a few years ago and has been sponsored through Secondary School by Esuubi. She will now be returning to teach at Ekiwumulo Primary School. Zaitune says she is "delighted to have the opportunity to help others the way she had been helped".

Esuubi has been further encouraged by a group of former Namacosi Orphanage students from all fields of work, including lab and IT technicians, trainee teachers and counselors, who have teamed up with us to give something back to a community that supported them and gave them the key to a better life. Esuubi hopes to work closely with these Ugandan volunteers, encouraging the children we are working with and demonstrating what they can achieve.

New Committee : Home and Away!
Following significant development and growth Esuubi has expanded their committee on both sides of the world, with both the UK and Ugandan teams now having 7 members. The expansion of these committees will support the expanding work of Esuubi Trust within Mityana and help to build the support base in the UK.

In Uganda we have sadly said goodbye to Charles Mussisi who has left to pursue work opportunities in South Africa, however, the team has now expanded to include, Margaret (a Mityana town councilor), Patrick (a builder), Bosco (a building design student), Balagadde (a teacher), and Solomi (also a teacher). Additionally we are pleased to welcome Sue Pasco, Nigel Campion-Smith and Ann Eyre to the UK Board of Trustees.

Summer trips
Esuubi has now confirmed two team trips to Mityana for the summer, one group of adult volunteers and another excited group of teenage girls from Cator Park School, Beckenham, for some of whom this will be the first time they have traveled abroad. The teams will be supporting the setting up of the Ekiwumulo site and will be involved in the painting of the school and houses for orphaned children. If you would like to know how you can best support these trips then please get in contact at info@esuubi.org.uk

Thank you
Esuubi would like to say a massive thank you to all of you who have helped raise funds over the last year. In 2008 we were incredibly pleased to raise more than ever before, enabling us to make a profound difference to the lives of even more of Uganda′s neediest children.

However, as the Credit Crunch bites worldwide, squeezing funds and increasing costs, we′re keen to keep pressing on. We still need further funds to complete our current projects, keep them running and meet the numerous other identified needs. If you can help in any way please do get in touch.

A few ideas of ways that you could help include:

• Making a one off donation or setting up a standing order
• Organising a sponsored event or fundraiser
• Spreading the word about Esuubi
• Using one of Esuubi′s internet portals to raise funds through your everyday tasks
  • www.esuubi.org.uk/gifts for our online shop
  • www.esuubi.org.uk/amazon for buying through Amazon
  • www.everyclick.com/esuubi for searching the web

Whilst you might feel that the things you can do don′t amount to much, it really is the case that every little helps. And remember, every penny you raise goes directly to those that need it most!

Many thanks for your continued support

Kate Campion-Smith
Director, Esuubi