The Africa Fund

We had an excellent time, covering many miles along rough, sometimes very potholed, roads!

We visited friends and church communities in two main areas, Arua and the adjacent town of Imbokolo (DRC) in the north-west and Soroti / Kumi / Mbale in the east. We are grateful that we kept healthy and safe, made new friends and strengthened existing relationships!

In D R Congo Simon Hodge and Graeme Kemsley had opportunity to tour around some of the Honey Project sites, seeing the apiaries and hive production. A joint meeting of the Development Boards from Arua and Imbokolo was convened, which was really useful in getting up to date.

The 4th Africa Fund Forum in Soroti - this was a real highlight, gathering together people we know from all over East Africa. 3 people from Tanzania, 3 from Kenya, 3 from Arua, 1 from Congo and half a dozen from the Soroti / Kumi districts.

We sat together under the shade of a huge tree, sharing experience, inputting fresh vision, teaching some skills and praying together.

A great encouragement was to hear one of the village ‘animators’ report that in Kituba Village they had received over 160 goats from the original 32 they had been given in 2007.  9 families had been able to ‘trade up’ their goats for cows!

We’ll produce a full report soon and send it to you - as well as putting up a gallery some of the best snaps on the website.

Stay tuned!

David Hewitt
and all those who were on the trip

A team of 8 people led by David Hewitt will be traveling out to Uganda on 3rd September to continue the link with friends and churches we know there, and visit Africa Fund projects.

Initially we will fly to Arua in the North West, and cross over into DR Congo for a few days. This is where the Honey Project has been established; while there we hope to talk to some of the farmers who have benefited and meet with the new Development Board.

Following that, it’s off by road down to Soroti in the East, calling at some local village projects en route. Here the Carpentry Project received a grant of £12,000 in March, so we will have opportunity to see how this has been spent. Finally, the team will go to Mbale and spend a couple of days at the CRO street children’s project and the JOY Hospice.

While in Soroti, we will be holding a forum for our contacts and friends from the Africa Fund (on Friday 11th September, extending over to Sunday 13th). This will be the fourth year we have held such a forum, which we have found to be invaluable to maintaining the strong relational links that have characterized the Africa Fund’s approach. At this time, there is opportunity to hear from the various areas, and also to give some skills training in management and project development.

Taking part in this weekend will be George Mcomwanda from Kisumu and his younger brother Peter, who is based in Nairobi. Both theses Kenyans are pastors, and we had the pleasure of hosting them in Edinburgh during May this year. It was good to develop the benefit of two-way traffic in the relationship.

The team will be taking out suitable in-date medicines and also un-locked mobile phones, if anyone would like to give them. We will also be taking our annual offering at CCE on Sunday 30th Aug, to provide funds for donations to the churches and individuals we meet while there, according to need. If you would be able to contribute to this, please either donate online or on the day.