Care and Share Bread Basket

Written by Lori Acton, Fount of Mercy's International Development Director

Over the past few months Fount of Mercy has been working to develop a relationship with and organization called Care and Share. One program within this organization is a women’s group, which involves about 100 women in total. These women have been working on such an interesting project in recent months called the Bread Basket. The women make small cakes and scones with the small wood-burning stove they have and sell their products to surrounding markets and schools. Almost entirely on their own initiative, this women’s group has organized and implemented a successful business, and it is now benefiting numerous people in their community – directly and indirectly. Right now we are working with Care and Share to develop this specific program, and hopefully see the impact of this program spread even further.

ORM Sweaters

Written by Lori Acton, Fount of Mercy's International Development Director
Orphan Rescue Ministry has started on a new project – they are making a variety of products with yarn! They have been making so many things, including sweaters, skirts, bags, and blankets. Even though this is Uganda, East Africa, and those that aren’t familiar with this part of the world expects it to very hot, there is a market for items like sweaters here. Sweaters and other items have already sold. For several reasons this is such an exciting project to me, partially because it is relatively unique when it comes to vocational training/ income generating projects and also because it has such potential for growth.

TAOST Library

Written by Lori Acton, Fount of Mercy's International Development Director

Last Tuesday I visited TAOST JR, Academy. Over the past few months, this school has worked very hard to create a proposal to develop a library for their school. Most Recently they put together a space for their library.

This includes converting two small rooms into one larger room and getting shelves, tables, and chairs. The nest step for this project will be buying the books.
The TAOST Organization leaders say that they want this library so they can encourage their Students to have a culture of reading. The headmaster of this school, Francis, is so excited about the library, he is already planning how the teachers can make use of it and creating reading challenges for the children.

NGO status

I turned in our paper work for NGO status again today and most likely we will be approved next Friday! I'm pretty happy about it.- Lori, Feb 5

Adventures in researching health care

I attempted a visit in the childrens wing at Jinja Hospital and ended up being the pharmacist an hour and a half later. - Vanessa, Community Health Initiative Director

"Did he just hit on me"?

Random guy outside the Department of Health in Jinja, "You are looking very good! What have you been feeding on?" ahahaaha! I give him 2 points for originality. - Vanessa

Rain

The rain visits Jinja in sporadic torrents, at times as briefly as the flash of lightning that streaks across the skies. Feverish, this parched earth waits, beckoning the dust settling, life giving showers, "please, you are most welcome."- Rini