Firstly, I’m sure you remember my friend Patrick who was one of the initial people I worked with when I first went to Uganda in 2002 and who, over the years, has become a valued friend of mine. In fact he manned his first child after me, Gerry Mukisa (Mukisa means Blessed. What an honour! It’s Gerry Mukisa’s 12th birthday today!

Patrick and his wife Kevin now run a workshop in Kampala, for women who for some reason or other were denied an education when they were younger. They teach their students basic reading, writing and accounts and also give them skills such as simple tailoring so they have a better chance of gaining employment.

Two years ago, as well as making the usual items of clothing, I had asked Patrick if the ladies could make reusable sanitary towels which I gave out to those in desperate need when I delivered the mosquito nets earlier this year. They were a great success and put smiles on lots of faces as managing without sanitary pads is a nightmare as you can well imagine! During the pandemic Patrick tells me he has, very sensibly, made the production of masks a priority and I’m sure will keep this up for as long as they are needed. Amazing work on behalf of the people in his community and beyond. I would like us to support him in this vital work if possible by giving him a donation towards the material for the masks.

We also support four students. Paul and his younger brother Emma at primary school, Alex at secondary school , and Nico who is profoundly deaf. News about these young men next.

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Busy making masks for the community

Dear Friends
It’s been a while since I wrote to you but things have still been moving on in Uganda, though in different directions to those planned before the outbreak of COVID.

As a country they are not reporting big numbers of people affected but
things aren’t always as they first appear and speaking to my friends out there who live in ‘the real world’ things are very different on the ground.

The young people we support have not been to school or uni since March as many of the institutions are being used to isolate those who have contracted COVID or been near someone with the virus. The patients are forced to stay in the isolation centres for fourteen days, quite rightly, and are supposed to be well cared for but if you don’t have money or family nearby to look out for you then you are left to go hungry! I can’t imagine how it would be if you got really sick and needing help such as ventilation as the majority of hospitals just do not have the facilities at the best of times.

The Ugandan government have been laying down rules and giving advice for staying safe and avoiding the spread of the disease but are completely ignoring them themselves as they encourage people to congregate in huge numbers at rallies to hear the politicians rallying for support for the country’s general election in January, and as with Trumps America nothing is more important!!

I’m just hoping and praying that the heat, often dry heat, of Uganda and the mainly outdoor life will keep the virus numbers low until a vaccination is available to all. The alternative is too frightening to contemplate!

News about my friends, the young people we support in Uganda, and my projects, to follow.

Dear Friends
I’ve been introduced to ‘easyfundraising’ by my good friend and neighbour Andy who told me how easy it is to raise funds for my projects in Uganda simply by signing up to this charity fund raising shopping site. He’s used it himself.

easyfundraising.org.uk turns your everyday online shopping into donations for your good cause, at no cost to you. How? Just visit your favourite retailers through the easyfundraising website and then shop as normal. Once you’ve made a purchase the retailer will then make a small donation to your cause to say “thank you”.
So I’ve registered Gerry’s Uganda Projects and already started earning money every time I or one of my supporters shop online at one of the many stores and businesses-Amazon, EBay, John Lewis, Sainsbury’s, Argos, Asda, Tesco, M & S, Trainline, Waitrose, Travellodge, Next, Boots, Curry’s/PC Workd, Vodafone, Expedia, First Choice, Booking.com, Tui, and many more!
So if you do shop online and would like to support Gerry’s Uganda Projects, please do it through easyfundraiser.

Simply go to the website easyfundraising.org.uk

Search for ‘Gerry’s Uganda Projects’

Click ‘Support this cause’ then it will ask you to ‘create an account’.

Add donation reminder (it’s a download) which I think makes it easier the second time you do it!

Next screen is Let’s Get Started and do your shop from there.

I hope I have explained it accurately!

Thank you in anticipation of your support once again.

Gerry

Dear Friends I hope you’re all keeping well and safe. I’m putting together an update which I hope I will complete soon but in the meantime I have been asked by my friend Marie to remind her of the fundraising site that donates to causes like mine every time you shop in one of the many many online outlets. As most of us have increased our online shopping enormously since March please would you consider signing up to have the companies donate to Gerry’s Uganda Projects? It’s really simple to do and at no risk or expense to yourself. I will forward the details I posted last time. Thanks to those who are already doing this, especially as I am unable to do other fund raising at the moment. With Black Friday approaching fast and Christmas just around the corner, this should raise good funds for my projects. Thank you so much. I’ll forward the info and be back again soon with my update. Love to you all.