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Christmas in Uganda by marjorie williams
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here are 24 orphans in Uganda eagerly awaiting a gift from their Aunties in Newfoundland. Six years ago, a very devoted supporter of H.O.P.E. (Helping Orphans Prosper through Education), Catherine Bailey, vowed to make sure these children had a gift to open on Christmas morning. Six years ago, when we started to support these children, food, water and clothing were our first priority. They were living in conditions that were hard to believe existed in a world where we have so much. We simply could not walk away from these beautiful children we came to love. Eventually we learned that education was the most important thing one needed in order to break the cycle of poverty they were engulfed in. H.O.P.E. currently has all 24 children enrolled in a full-time private boarding school which allows them to have constant and reliable access to food, water, shelter, healthcare, education, supervision and compassion. We were also very fortunate to hire a doctor to take care of their medical needs. So basically, we covered all the needs of the children, but the one thing they needed was to know how much they were loved. That small Christmas gift that they waited for, even prayed for, did just that. Every year Catherine calls upon her friends and family to donate. If you knew her, you would understand how persistent she is to raise as much money as possible. We purchase the gifts, and get together, along with our elves, to wrap the presents and write cards to the children, and off to Uganda it goes. Sometimes by Canada post, sometimes by courier, and albeit expensive, they always arrive on time. Women Rock Magazine | 36
