CURRENT NEWS & EVENTS
ASA SOCIAL FUND COMPLETES MICRO LOAN TRAINING PROGRAM – JANUARY 2020
On January 11, 2020, ASA Social Fund for Hidden Peoples and Bright Kids Uganda successfully completed the Micro Loan ‘Training of Trainers’ workshop and presented certificates to 14 of the recipients.
ASA Social Fund sponsored this training in order to meet the requirements for a loan granted by the Warren, Ohio, Rotary Club in October 2019.
The loan will directly help Ugandan acid attack victims and at-risk albinos. On January 4, more than 20 of these Hidden Peoples came together in a small room to be trained on how to manage their new micro loans.
Dr. Louis Picard conducted the workshop then turned it over to the participants as they worked in groups to prepare reports.
GULU MICRO LOAN UPDATE
ASA Social Fund provided the first paybacks and the second of the micro loans to the first six participants of the Gulu micro loan program. Thanks to Victoria Nalongo Namusisi for oganizing the successful completion of these loans. Many in the group are Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) war survivors and are now becoming empowered to improve their economic status and provide for the basic needs of their families.
DOCUMENTARY TO TELL THE STORIES OF GULU'S LRA WAR SURVIVORS
ASA Social Fund director Pauline Greenlick traveled to Gulu to began work on a documentary about the survivors of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) war that devastated parts of Uganda starting in 1991.
The LRA war ended 14 years ago, but for the women and men who suffered emotional and physical trauma, the war has never ended for them. Pauline recorded their stories for a video which will ensure their voices are heard. ASA, with support from Victoria Nalongo Namusisi, is helping these hidden and forgotten survivors to receive micro loans so they can provide for themselves and their children.
UPDATE ON EDDY; FUNDS NEEDED FOR RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY
Eddy, a Ugandan teen suffering severe deformity of his legs, was the subject of a documentary produced by Pauline Greenlick in 2019 (click here to view). Pauline has kept in touch with Eddy since their initial encounter, and during her latest trip to Uganda she took him to the Corsu Rehabilitation Hospital for a medical evaluation. This visit was made possible by ASA Social Fund’s donors.
Pauline is happy to report that Eddy is healthy and strong and hopes to become a DJ one day! He now has two wheelchairs, is an official Bright Kids Uganda teen, and plans to attend an inclusive boarding school for able and disabled students. But unfortunately, the surgery Eddy needs to reconstruct his legs is not possible in Uganda. ASA is now looking for supporters to help disabled children like Eddy attend boarding schools to get a good education. The cost is only $450 to help a Hidden Child.
UPDATE ON TRENCHES AT KINGS & QUEENS CHILDREN'S CENTER
During ASA Director Pauline Greenlick’s visit to Uganda, she visited Medi Bugembe, Director of Great Kings and Queens Children’s Centre. The photos below show the trenches that were constructed near the Centre, thanks to grant money from the ASA Social Fund.
During Pauline’s visit a fierce torrential storm sent torrents of water down the mud roads. Thanks to the new trenches the school has not been flooded. In the past, the rains would flow into the school and flood the school yard. Last June rains and floods undermined the hill in the school yard and collapsed the latrines. Last year ASA Social Fund also constructed new latrines after the old ones collapsed, and also helped construct walls to the new school offices. Many thanks to Medi for managing these construction projects.
