Autumn Newsletter 2022
‘On the mat’ at the office and in the field
Barely a day goes by where caregivers don't bring their children to the project office for assessment, counseling, review, diagnosis, play, therapy or something else. Children with particular diagnoses may be invited back for specialized therapy sessions or learning life skills clinics with Evas or Jones.
Evas in the small play area outside the office which was set up during the covid lockdown.
Divine is on a therapy and physio plan with the hopes of getting her much more mobile over the next 12 months. Her favorite thing to play with at the centre is anything musical that makes lots of noise!
Jones performing physical therapy at a recent learning life skills session.
A field assessment, review and therapy clinic in Kanungu, the neighboring district to Rukungiri. Rather than families who live in deep village areas having to look for transport facilitation to come to the project office in town, we go to them! We have a number of areas which we visit to hold ‘field clinics’, which are always well attended as you can see.
Better together!
We are so thankful for great relationships with hospitals near and far, enabling us to work together to provide the best support possible for our children. Here are some examples of how the partnerships are providing hope, healing and opportunity.
CURE Hospital, Mbale
In early autumn, one of the surgeons attached to CURE Children's Hospital in Mbale (eastern Uganda), Dr Jackson, came to the project office in Rukungiri to do a follow up of post operative neurological cases. Our Project Manager Evas said, “it was a great time of spiritual, social and medical teaching and a big encouragement to parents.”
Nyakibale Hospital, Rukungiri
Jones, our physio assistant, has a great relationship with the local hospital, and invites the orthopedic officer Kenneth to come to do tendon releases or give other support when necessary. Together, they are bringing hope and healing to more children of Rukungiri.
A visit from Tom and Gemma, physiotherapists based in Sheffield, UK
We are so thankful to Tom and Gemma, who have been volunteering in Uganda with CMS Ireland, and spent around 4 days in Rukungiri in early June. They saw and supported different aspects of the Project’s work including home visits, learning life skills clinics, meeting the children at Kitazgurukwa Special Needs Unit, and participating in field outreach clinics. We appreciate all the support, advice and enthusiasm that they gave during their time with the project.
Tom and Gemma at a field clinic in June
Dr Jackson on a recent visit with project children and caregivers
Orthopedic Officer Kenneth being supported by project staff Loyce, at a club foot clinic.
Chilli Harvest
In July and August, Martin, Victory and Zaire moved around three sub counties in Rukungiri and Kanungu districts, to buy chillies from farmers. They collected over 500kgs of chillies, which showed a great improvement from covid times of 2020/2021. Over 200 farmers were involved this season. Money received by farmers was especially appreciated this time, due to the increase of prices of most everyday essential items.
Blair's mother faithfully grows chillies to give her an extra
income to buy pampers and food supplements for him.
Aggrey is from Kanungu district, and the project supports him with school fees. Growing chilies helps him to buy other necessities.
Sacks of chilli from the recent harvest, ready to be loaded and transported, then prepared for export.
Quick facts (design like a fact file?!)
Project work providing hope, healing and opportunity in the past three months:
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Over 500kgs of chillies have been sold, and proceeds gone to families
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More than 10 children have received support for club foot
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Three field clinics seeing 50 children across two districts
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34 children have come for rehabilitation and learning life skills clinics at the Project Rehabilitation Centre
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35 children have been supported in education at 5 different special schools across western Uganda
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Over 40 children have received care + treatment at CORSU Hospital under the financial support of the Project
Get involved and support our work
Are you a member of a church or organisation that is searching for speakers?
Are you looking for a named charity for a future sporting or calendar event?
Are you an organisation or school looking for a charity to sponsor in 2023?
PLEASE GET IN TOUCH!
Are you interested in volunteering with us by giving your time and/or skills, just like Kat and Helen are doing?
Meet Kat…
Kat Harty began working with Chilli Children in May 2021 after answering the call for a social media creative. During this time, she has worked closely with Emily Braybrook, who is one of the Project Coordinators on the ground, to generate the details of the daily goings-on of the Project. Once these "stories" are in place, Kat fills out a calendar each month full of social media copy and images that describe all the ways Chilli Children has been able to bless the people of Rukungiri and neighbouring districts. In addition to stories about the children themselves, our social channels will also occasionally feature the amazing work that our fundraisers in the UK are doing. If you are one of these inspiring people raising money for our organisation, don't hesitate to reach out to Kat at kat@chillichildren.com for a feature.
Meet Helen…
Helen is a mother of three children, and has been working in education for over 20 years. She is currently the headteacher of a school in the Scottish Highlands. One of her passions is to help families feel included in their local community. When Helen discovered the work that Chilli Children does for many isolated children and families, she was very keen to get involved. Helen believes that we can all make a difference, and is delighted to be involved in helping children join their peers, learn, have fun and take a full and active part in their community. Helen is volunteering as a fundraiser with us.
Giving to Uganda
We are committed to sending more than £75,000 to the project in Uganda annually. Unfortunately,
we have fallen short of our fundraising needs in recent months. This means that our Project staff
may need to make hard choices about which activities they are able to continue to fund
in the next year. If you can, please consider helping us with a financial donation.
What does my donation mean?
• £30 can correct a minor deformity such as removing digits or club foot
• £200 treats osteomyelitis (bone infection) or post-injection paralysis
• £250 can treat a child with hydrocephalus or spina bifida
• £500 can fix genu varum (bow legs) and genu valgum (knock knees)
Give 2022
We are still looking for new supporters to commit to giving £22 a month to Chilli Children Trust in 2022 . If that could be you, please visit www.chillichildren.com/give-2022 for more information or you can write to us and we’ll send you a giving form.
Alternatively, you can use the giving form attached here to make a one off donation to the Trust.
First Name ........................................................................................Last Name ……………………………………………………………………………………
Address..............................................................................................................................................................................................................…………
Postcode :...............................
Email address: .............................................................................................................................................................................................................
Amount £.................................................... Date.....................................
Leave a Legacy
You may like to consider leaving a lasting legacy to the work of the Chilli Children
Project in your will. If we are one of your favourite charities, then would you consider
leaving a gift in your will? It would enable the work of the charity to continue and you
would be passing on something wonderful to future generations.
If you are making your will, or updating your will, we would be thrilled to be included
in your plans. Any gift, large or small makes a huge difference to the children and
families involved with the Chilli Children Project. If you would like to speak to someone in person about this, then please do get in touch
Amazon Smile
if you shop on Amazon, please do your shopping via smile.amazon.co.uk and choose ‘Chilli Children of Rukungiri (Uganda)’ as your chosen charity. Amazon will donate 0.5% of eligible purchases to us—no fees and at no extra cost to you!
Charity Gift Aid Declaration
Your address is needed to identify you as a current UK taxpayer. In order to Gift Aid your donation you must tick the box: I want to Gift Aid my donation of £______________ and any donations I make in the future or have made in the past 4 years to Chilli Children Trust / I am not eligible for Gift Aid.
I am a UK taxpayer and understand that if I pay less Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax than the amount of Gift Aid claimed on all my donations in that tax year it is my responsibility to pay any difference.
Title ____________________ First name or initial(s) ________________________________
Surname ____________________________________________________________________
Full Home address ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________
Postcode _______________
Date ______________ Signature__________________________
Please notify the charity if you want to cancel this declaration, change your name or home address, and no longer pay sufficient tax on your income and/or capital gains. If you pay Income Tax at the higher or additional rate and want to receive the additional tax relief due to you, you must include all your Gift Aid donations on your Self-Assessment tax return or ask HM Revenue and Customs to adjust your tax code.
Please make cheques payable to Chilli Children of Rukungiri Trust. Send to 37 Forest Road, Bingham, Nottinghamshire, NG13 8RL
