September 2016
Meet Sharifa
Sharifa is the sweetest little soul you will ever meet. She takes her role as big sister very seriously and often, she is the only person her younger sister Sanyu wants. Anytime Sanyu calls, Sharifa is right there to save to day.
Sharifa says that when she grows up, she wants to become a nurse. She loves the color yellow and her favorite food is chicken and chips. Her favorite thing to do is to play bottle tops and dodgeball and to study hard at school. We are so honored to play a part in Sharifa’s life.
Sharifa’s Story:
Before joining the PFP family, Sharifa was living with her mother, who is HIV positive and very ill. Sharifa’s father died of AIDS when she was eight months old. She lived in the slums with her sick mother and two sisters. The local chairperson (LC) of the village in which Sharifa lives reports that the mother does not have a job, but that she receives money from men who “visit her”. Since her mother has not been able to find employment to care for her family, she has turned to selling her body for money and has taught her eldest daughter to do the same. The mother and three children all lived in a one room mud hut, and the community has been concerned for the well being of Sharifa and her sisters because of the men that visit the house, and because of the physical abuse they endure at the hands of her mother.
The responsibility of caring for the household and children had fallen in the hands of Sharifa and her eldest sister, since the mother is unable and often unwilling to do so herself. Unfortunately, the family does not have enough money to meet even their most basic needs. The children have not been able to attend school for lack of school fees, and they often go without food and other basics.
Sharifa is now safe and happy with her sister, Sanyu, in Peace for Paul. She enjoys studying at boarding school and loves playing games with her new Peace for Paul sisters.
PFP Junior Program
The Peace for Paul Junior Program continues to grow. With the help of sponsors, more and more children have had the opportunity to start school…which is so EXCITING!!! There are now 20 children in the program happily attending school— many for the first time. For only $35 per month, you could sponsor a child through the PFP Junior Program and help someone fulfill their dreams.
Click HERE to sign up to sponsor a PFP Junior child or Contact us at hope@peaceforpaulfoundation.org if you have any questions regarding this opportunity.
Meet our newest PFP Junior Children!
What is the PFP Junior Program?
The PFP Junior Program allows us to help a larger number of needy Ugandan children obtain an education. The children who benefit from our PFP Junior Program live in our neighborhood and their parents or guardians are unable to afford the full amount of school fees, uniforms and school supplies. Because they have families to look after them, these children will not be living in our home. Rather, these children will live with their families and be sponsored through PFP for education healthcare costs only. This program is designed to be a helping hand to parents who can provide but need some support to contribute to their child’s education and future. The parents pay a small portion of school fees only to keep them involved and empowered to educate their children instead of depending solely on handouts. This program allows an education to be attainable for so many children and their families. In addition, we can help save for the much higher costs of Secondary School.
“All kids need is a little help, a little hope and someone who believes in them.”
Click HERE to sign up to sponsor a PFP Junior child or Contact us at hope@peaceforpaulfoundation.org if you have any questions regarding this opportunity.
Community Outreach
This is a photo of “Jaja,” translated to grandmother locally. She is the sole provider for her two grandchildren, Elvis and Josephine, who are also in the PFP Juniors program. She is kind, appreciative and hard working, even in her old age. However her health is failing and she is not able to provide all that is needed for herself or her grandchildren. PFP Director Brandi and Member Will, did a small fundraiser to help some local families in need. They raised enough funds to provide Jaja and her grandkids with blankets, bed sheets, mosquito nets and other necessities. Up next is the installation of a unit which will provide them with tapped water at their home. This is a luxury for many in the village and with this, she can sell water to others and earn an income for her family. She jumped, dance and sang when she heard this life-changing news 🙂
The 7th Annual PFP Auction is Gearing Up!
In preparation for our annual auction, we are reaching out to YOU–our amazing supporters for item donations! If you’d like to take part this year please just send us a personal message (you can email hope@peaceforpaulfoundation.org). Your item donation (think gift cards, vacation homes, services, jewelry, plane tickets, etc) will help PFP provide support to more children who truly deserve a chance.
We hope you’ll join us this year!
.
Staff Training
It is the mandate of our Staff Training Committee to ensure that our staff have access to continuous training modules in order to keep their skills fresh and their minds bright. This month, they learned CPR/First Aid and medication management. Go team!
Studying Hard, Playing Hard
The PFP Children have just come home for the holiday. Lots of fun and education planned for this holiday. More to come on this in next month’s blog! For now, we hope you enjoy these photos of their homecoming. 🙂
The Peace for Paul Shop
Check out the shop on our website. Choose from a selection of beautiful, handcrafted items and other gifts we have in our store. These great items were purchased directly from women’s ‘craft circles’ in order to assist them in supporting themselves and their families. The funds from your purchase will go where it makes the greatest impact.
Click HERE to visit the PFP shop.
.
.
.
.
Visitor from the States
Board member Julie visited the children this month. She spent a few days at Peace Home and also visited three schools and our students at Mwiri, Iganga SS and Victoria Junior. She sat in on classes at Victoria and did pen pal letter writing with the kids. She spent time getting to know the children and has provided us with many suggestions and tools to help the children with mental health needs. In addition, she has counseled the older students on their studies and future careers. Julie– we are so grateful for your help!
New Members Needed
We are continually looking to expand our Peace for Paul team and need people with skills and time to share with this great cause!
Here is a short description of what a PFP Member is:
Peace for Paul is managed by its Board of Directors. There is also a Member pool, which is where people like you–who show an interest, can get their feet wet and see if becoming a Director is something you would like to pursue. We look for people who have a love for the PFP mission and its children and for people who have knowledge and skills to offer which would help PFP grow. As a member, you are invited to (though not required to) attend our monthly Director meetings (via Skype). You are asked to help with our two annual fundraisers (by selling tickets for the raffle, or helping to collect items for the auction). You are also offered the chance to join our various committees if you have an interest in any of them and have a skill that could contribute to its growth. Our current committees are: Sustainability, Education, Social Mission and Fundraising. It is also ideal, if as a member, you take on a specific project. The idea being that you really can dig in and get involved. You could come up with your own project–something you think PFP could benefit from. We would leave that with you!
Please contact us at: hope@peaceforpaulfoundation.org if you would like to join our team!
Family Sponsorship Opportunities
We are looking for general sponsors to help cover all of the extra costs associated with keeping this organization operating smoothly and the children happy and healthy. Essentially, as a general family sponsor, you are the sponsor of ALL of the children. We have opportunities for medical family sponsor, dental family sponsor as well as mental health family sponsor. A Family sponsor commitment can be – $25/$50/$100 per month.
.
.
Just click HERE to sign up to become a family sponsor!
Please contact us if you have any questions regarding this opportunity. hope@peaceforpaulfoundation.org
FOLLOW USSHARE THIS