Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Handmade for Orphans


Handmade for Orphans
My friend Moya has just been to Uganda with an organisation called Orphfund, building a children's village for orphans. the situation they found there was desperate and heartbreaking. Desperately poor children completely uncared for, sleeping in deserted buildings, foraging for food, 11 year old children caring for their 3 year old siblings.
This email was sent from Steve Argent of Orphund from Uganda a couple of weeks ago, along with the photo above.


"Right now we are working on our latest project for orphans in Western Uganda.
Over the past 2 weeks we have been deep in the remote hillside villages near the border of the Democratic Republic of Congo, interviewing hundreds of orphaned and abandoned children.
Sadly the circumstances we find the children in are far worse than we expected with HIV, conflict, and disease leaving children to grow up completely neglected and unsupported.
Since Orphfund began i have spoken to nearly a thousand orphans but over the past few days have heard some of the most saddening stories yet. We have found children as young as 11 who are carers for their younger siblings living with absolutely nothing.
No family, no home, no adult support, they just roam, searching for empty buildings to sleep in, rubbish tips to find food in, and all they own are scraps of filthy clothing on their bodies.
In other cases 13 year old girls are becoming prostitutes to get money to help feed themselves and their younger brothers and sisters; and with each $2 they make they risk becoming infected by HIV. (attached are a couple of pictures from one of our registration outings.)

Our goal was to help 35 children, but sadly the need is just too great. We have identified 60 children suffering in conditions we cannot and do not want to ignore. Most of our team are close to tears when we have seen and heard how they have been living.
Right now WE have a chance to change things and do something that can improve the fortunes of many kids who are suffering severely.

A new sponsor will literally pull an additional child out of such hardship.
Please....anyone reading this who feels they can spare $22 (£12 a month) let us know now if you can help, so we can welcome 1 more child into our project.
1 extra life will change with every extra donor we get!!!
Its hard to stress the impact we can have and also to describe how these children live, but i can guarantee if you could be here right now you wouldn't hesitate to help.

Help us give them the chance to live again.

100% will go to feeding, providing health care, care, clothing, and education.

For Australian online donations https://www.givenow.com.au/orphfund/regulardonation?execution=e2s1
For Australian bank transfers (preferred method) our details are Commonwealth Bank, Account No 10272571, BSB 063104, Account name Orphfund"


My marvellous friend Anna and I were moved to hold some handmade stall at Ceres over the Spring to raise some money for this project. The plan is to have the first one this coming Saturday if the weather isn't terrible. Below are samples of what will be for sale, thansk to some crafty souls.

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