TESS v2

Returning to Teso - a visit in March 2009
by Rev Helen Newman

Having first visited Teso three years ago with Margaret Stevens and Mary Jones, I was excited about the opportunity of returning for a week en route to Tanzania, where my husband David and I had been invited to lead a parish week-end.

It was a joy to stay with Bishop Charles and Margaret Obaikol in their home in Soroti; to spend time with Rev Sam Ediau, his wife Olivia and their two delightful girls, Blessing and Margaret; and to meet Harriet Amoding (Sam’s assistant) - together, they run the sponsorship programme.

Although there is still enormous suffering in this impoverished area of Uganda, I was really encouraged by re-visiting a number of the sponsored girls who had just been taken on by sponsors when I last visited. They were clearly growing in confidence and spoke of the benefits they had received through the opportunities they have been given.

The annual retreats which Margaret and others have led have obviously been of great benefit. The girl we sponsor – Anumo Immaculate – spoke of the help she had found through the talks on living as a Christian, peace building and conflict resolution. She was also enthusiastic about the small business (selling packed simsim – sesame seeds) she was planning in her village, with the help of the small loan she had been given on the Retreat.

We visited a lovely girl who is sponsored by a member of our Church in Loughborough - she is now at Kumi University on a social work course, and another in her first months of nursing training at Ngora Hospital. They were both so positive about the opportunities they had been given.

Visiting Obalanga camp in Amuria was both harrowing and heartening: harrowing to visit the mass graves of some of the thousands of people killed by the LRA rebels in June 2003; yet heartening to see the new Church built during a time when people were living on hand outs and yet still giving from that. The local priest told us about an elderly lady who had given her portion of millet to the Church. Such love and faith is quite extraordinary.

We met Betty – a girl who had been abducted by the LRA, raped and shot in the leg – and yet was now re-building her life. With the help of a sewing machine given to her last year after training on a project run by Sam and funded by TDT, she had just bought her first goat from the proceeds. Although 41,000 people had been living in the camp at the height of the troubles, there were now few remaining, many people having returned to their villages.

At Bethany School, we met with the 8 girls sponsored by some of our Church members. I was delighted to see Amajo Agnes who had appeared at the guest house where I was staying 3 years ago, then aged 13. She had walked 18km and arrived wearing torn clothes, rubber sandals and carrying a small case with her only possessions - a sheet and a Bible.
She was delighted to see me again. Although she still carries much heartache, she said she was so glad to have the opportunity of being at school and wants to make the most of the opportunity she has been given.

On Sunday, we were asked to preach at Soroti Cathedral and were amazed to find 1200 people at the 6.30am service (many of them young people too). The English speaking service at 11.30am was much smaller (only 250!). I think it was the first time many of them had come across a pair of married clergy and preaching a joint sermon!

We were treated to sodas in the vestry after the service and I was delighted to meet David, a member of the Cathedral staff, who had been training for the ministry at Buwalasi College when Margaret Stevens and I had led a week's teaching on pastoral care 3 years ago. He spoke very appreciatively of our input.

On our remaining days, we visited Teso College, Ngora Girls, Ngora High, Jeressar and Halcyon Schools and met with 20 of the students sponsored by members of the Loughborough churches. We were driven around by Sam Ocen, the delightful driver of the new TESS minibus. He clearly enjoys his new job and takes great pride in keeping the vehicle clean and tidy and well maintained.

While in Soroti, we were asked to open and commission the newly built Bishop's Guest House, known locally as ‘the White House’. This was a building which had foundations but nothing else when I visited 3 years ago.

It provides a lovely facility for visitors to stay and we hope will encourage many other sponsors and TDT supporters to visit Teso.

We left with bags laden with Teso honey and sesame seeds, Ugandan tea and coffee – symbols of the love and
generosity shown to us in many ways.

Being part of TESS is an enormous privilege and enables us to keep our lives here in a more healthy perspective. Although our visit was brief, we are so grateful for the opportunity to meet some of the sponsored children, spend time with those who work and minister in Teso and to recognise our inter-dependency in the work of the Kingdom of God.

Extracts from letters from students

Asio Margaret: When I lost my Dad I thought it was the end of the world, because of the pressure and tension from both ends of my father's relatives. They hated us, threatening to kill us and particularly Mummy and me, and yet we had not done any harm to them. We lost our home and hope and peace - everything that a person needs to move on with life. But one day, God answered our prayers. He brought you, from far overseas, to restore the hope in us, and me as an orphan whose destiny was ruptured but later on was mended by your gift. Do you know the meaning of our name "Margaret" [her sponsor's name is also Margaret] - it means Pearl. You are the Pearl of my heart….. It's my dream that one day I will write a book of my own, the story of my life and how I embarked on that journey till God blessed me with the only gift that he had for me and it will be titled "Pearl of my Heart".

Akido Jesca: Teso has been hot and dry for the past two months (the dry season was much longer than usual and the rains, when they started, were interrupted by more dry weather). This made farmers to delay planting both food and cash crops. There is famine in Teso, especially Amuria, Katakwi and parts of Soroti districts. A woman died of famine. Animals have been dying. The rains have now come back…. Rain killed a person in Amuria. It was strong rain with hailstones. Some of our school structures were also destroyed by rain and up to now, some of them are still down.

Achen Faith: This term, our school (Halcyon) has stopped holiday tuition because they want us to go home to help our families do some work since they are also tired. (The Government is actually trying to stop the custom of holiday tuition which all schools were making compulsory, so adding to the cost of fees and the pressure on children.) As it's raining, I will help my family plant some crops like maize, millet, sorghum, groundnuts and many others so that when I come back to school, I will have simplified the work - their work will be only weeding….. I would like to give thanks and appreciate you because of the Retreat last December. We were taught how to make bread and given some money to start a business. I started the business of making bread and selling it. I was helped by an aunt whereby I got some little money which I used for my transport back to school, buying pens and books and some money I used for buying food.

Acuo Martha: Here is what we normally do at school: in the morning at 4.00, we get up and bath, at 5.00 we go for porridge, at 5.30 we go for morning preps (homework, private study) up to 8.00, then lessons begin. At 10.55 we have break time, at 12.45 we go for lunch, at 1.30 afternoon lessons begin and at 5.30 we go back to our dormitories, bath and by 6.00pm we have our supper. At 7.00, we start the evening where most of the time we have lessons up to 9.30pm. After preps at 9.30, I extend up to 10.00, then I go back to dormitory, carry out some washing and polish my shoes, then I go to bed.

Badasha Julius: There's a challenge of students deliberately breaking their fellow students' property. My jerrycan and basin went missing. No matter how this hurts a lot, that is how life is and reminds me what someone said: "Never get annoyed with what you can't control".

Alamu Emmanuel at Ngora High School: There was a serious storm that came with strong winds destroying 6 staff members' houses but people inside those houses survived through God's mercy. The classrooms were also disorganised by blowing off their roofs together with a dormitory. In the whole of Kumi district, it was the most affected school. And again, in this school, we could run short of water - for 2-3 weeks we went without water and this made us move long distances in search of water but they told us they are going to put it right next term….. During the holidays, my grandmum got sick seriously and …. was taken to hospital. So I was left at home alone, as the eldest, to control the younger children. I could not sleep at night thinking of what I am going to give these children to eat. I had to move up and down to see that they have eaten either lunch or supper. If they eat lunch, they should forget supper because there is nothing for supper ….. Since I went back to school, I didn't go back home so I don't know how those children's life is now.

Atim Scovia: I would like to thank you for the Retreat …. it was very exciting. I learnt so many things which benefited me a lot. I have sewed table cloths which gave me money which I used for buying my school requirements like soap, shoes and books.

Appreciation of letters received from sponsors
Below are two extracts which express just how important it is to the students to receive letters from their sponsors. If you have not written recently, may these comments encourage you to write - please! It is also much harder for the children to write interesting letters every term when they never hear from their own sponsors as it becomes a one-sided "conversation".

Akol Judith Patricia: I appreciate your concern for me by sending me letters both from yourself and from your daughter. It has made me feel accepted and loved.

Aliano Scovia: I received your letter and I was so glad. I become happy and encouraged when I receive any letter from you because it will signify to me that you love me.

New sponsors still desperately needed

We have had only 15 new sponsors so far this year compared with 40 in 2008. Do you have any ideas about how we can recruit more sponsors? If we are to take on any new children next year, then we need at least another 30 sponsors this year to meet the needs of students in higher education.

"Teachers face axe over caning"
Many of you, who are concerned about the excessive use of caning in all the schools our students attend, will be pleased to read this article which appeared in The New Vision, a Ugandan newspaper, in November 2008.
"The Government will sack head teachers and teachers who use corporal punishment to discipline students, the Higher Education State Minister has said. Addressing journalists in Kampala recently, Gabriel Opio said caning has been linked to the high drop out rate in schools.

"The just-concluded education sector review conference resolved to end corporal punishment in schools. The education ministry also launched a handbook on alternatives to corporal punishment. Corporal punishment was abolished in schools in 2006 but the practice has continued …."

My Retirement Concert raised over £1000 for TESS
by Mary Jones
It has been a real privilege to work as a GP for 26 years, alongside some extraordinarily fine people, many of whom share my Christian faith. My patients have shared much from difficult times in their lives and over the years have become valued friends. To celebrate and say ‘Good-bye’, we joined together at St. Jude’s Church in Nottingham on 4 April for some splendid music.
Four of the five GPs in the practice played, together with other friends. We had a Loeillet sonata on recorders, violins, cello and keyboard, works by Bach on the organ and harpsichord/clavinova interspersed with some magnificent singing by my friend’s daughter Rosie and her sister Maddie which ranged from ‘Pie Jesu’ by Fauré to ‘Summertime’ by George Gershwin and ‘In Dreams’, familiar from the film of Lord of the Rings.

After the music, I showed a few photos of my visit to Teso in 2006 and the rubber tyre sandals which Agnes wore to walk the 18 km to the Diocesan Education Office. She has my sandals and I have hers as a memento of her keenness in walking so far to gain an education.
There was an opportunity for people to find out more about TESS and buy various items. Our vicar’s husband made a huge cake in the shape of Africa with all the countries marked out in icing.

The concert exceeded my expectations and with generous donations from colleagues, friends and family, over £1000 was raised whilst informing people about the work of TESS and promoting the idea of sponsorship.

Heidi Klinner's Photographic Exhibition is available for showing in England

Heidi has produced a wonderful exhibition of about 130 stunning photographs which she took in Teso in July 2008 and which have been exhibited in Germany.

Some are mounted individually (50cm x 70cm), most are mounted in groups of three to six photos in frames measuring either 60cm x 80cm or 70cm x 100cm. Heidi will lend us the exhibition for showing in England if we can find some venues.

Do you know of any galleries, churches, cathedrals, Town Halls, hospitals or other suitable places which might be interested? I have made a book with very small (and very poor) copies of the photographs which you could borrow if you find somewhere which might be interested. You could perhaps combine the Exhibition with publicity and/or some fund raising event for TESS.

St Neots Methodist Church project in Teso
A group of 12, led by Rev Chris Giles and her husband Derek, are leaving on 11 July to go to St Thomas's Girls School in Kaberamaido (where we have 12 sponsored girls) to help build the first dormitory block. This will enable the girls to move out of the two classrooms they have been sleeping in, which will then release the labs to be completed and equipped, ready for use as labs. They have raised an amazing £20,000 for the building and will be in Teso for about three weeks. Besides the building work, they will get involved with all the girls after classes, running various activities. On one weekend, they will divide into smaller groups and stay in villages where they will run some special activities and participate in Sunday worship. One of the group is a dentist who will provide dental treatment in a nearby health centre.

Would you like to plan a group visit? Are there any other churches or schools who would like to send a group to Teso to experience life there and work alongside local people on some project? Let Margaret Stevens know if you are interested. If one small church can do it, so can others! Schools in Holland also sometimes send groups of children to Teso - why not schools elsewhere?

Margaret's next visit to Teso
I shall be away from 25 June until 3 August. I am going early to share in the wedding celebrations in western Uganda of a friend from our Loughborough church. Then I shall be joined on 1 July by Ben Blackledge and Catherine Titley, both of whose parents sponsor girls and both are planning to do dissertations based in Teso for their Masters degrees. Catherine is going to explore the problems of pregnancy and the effects on girls' education and what can be done to help vulnerable girls who often have few choices. Ben is a young architect who hopes, for his project, to develop plans for a radically different school in Teso which is the vision of some of our friends there. Jim Sampson (the Chairman of TDT) and his wife Janet are also arriving on 1 July.

Heidi Klinner and her husbandJörg are arriving on 11 July. We shall all probably spend a few days with the St Neots group in Kaberamaido, but will also do other things independently. Heidi and Jörg will particularly be following up various projects, children and families helped by German funds. We shall also visit Rukurarwe in Bushenyi (SW Uganda) to develop the three-way links and learn more about making and building with compressed earth bricks.

Micro-loans given to students on the Retreat
Sam has written: 127 students took £5 each - so far 87 have paid up. After Term 1, 11 took loans and 9 have paid back. Those who take loans come back smiling, pay back the loan, say thank you and go to school. This is very different from those who don't take loans - if they come from very poor families, they come crying and telling you how their guardians can't buy school items or give them pocket money. Most who take the loans choose wisely and have made profits although this varies according to the activities done. The loans have reduced dependency on TESS and have increased the level of seriousness and being responsible by students. Olinga Wilson and Apuno Angella have managed to make enough money to buy some of the requirements for their nursing course. Euchu Michael says he does not have to ask anyone for money now because he is able to earn it with the camera. We used to provide him with everything!

Future of TESS and a replacement for Margaret

After the last Newsletter, you may be expecting to hear who is going to take over from me. Unfortunately, the selection process which TDT set up for us came to nothing as 3 out of the four candidates short listed for interview withdrew. However, this has enabled us to re-think the future of TESS.

At a joint TDT and TESS meeting in May, the decision was made that TESS should apply for registration as an independent charity. We have also decided that we must offer a proper salary of £15,000 for an Administrator to work 30 hours a week. Since we need a secure source of money for this, which cannot be raised from sponsors, we shall need to apply to trusts for grants, which we can't do until we are registered. But as this may take a long time, someone has generously given £10,000 so that we can advertise as soon as we are registered.

This is a huge and scary step in the life of TESS for which we need all the prayer support, help and advice we can get. But we believe TESS is still part of God's plan for Teso and that he will guide us and not let it fail until this part of his work at least is complete. I am hoping that someone will be in post in time to come to Teso with us at the end of November and take over from me by the end of the year.

News about Rev Sam and Olivia Ediau
Olivia is expecting their third child in September by which time Blessing and Margaret will be nearly 3 and 2 years old.

Hoard a Coin 2 Help a Child (HAC) collecting boxes
How are you getting on with collecting coins for TESS? Have you got enough yet to pay them in at a bank and send a cheque (better than sending coins through the post!)?

Financial situation
The really good news is that the exchange rate is better now than it has ever been! This means that our money will go much further - if it remains high.

In the year from April 1 2008 to March 31 2009 (the TDT financial year), our total income was £115,000 whilst the total expenditure was £108,775. However, TESS works with the calendar year as it fits with the school year in Uganda.

Our projected income by 31 Dec 2009 is £92,960 and our projected expenditure is £81,500, leaving a projected balance of £11,460. However, this is not as good as it appears as we shall need to send about £45,000 for Term 1 fees and essentials such as medical treatment, admin costs and salaries in January 2010. The grant for Sam's salary also runs out at the end of February 2010. As a comparison and indication of our precarious financial situation, at the end of 2008, there was a balance of £44,000 which was used for Term 1 fees in 2009 (and a balance of £41,000 at the end of 2007).

We are so grateful to you all for supporting TESS so generously and faithfully since it started in March 2004. We hope this Newsletter gives you a glimpse of how your money is used and what enormous benefits it brings to some of the poorest families in the world. We can still guarantee that all the money you give (unless you state it is specifically for administration) goes directly to the children.

Updates on serious medical conditions

Aceko Harriet has still not had the pituitary tumour removed from her brain - this may happen in July.

Apili Scovia was sponsored by a Korean company in Kampala to have open heart surgery to close a hole in her heart, done by a visiting team of cardiac surgeons. She has made an excellent recovery and is back at school feeling much better already.

Otucho Josephine, who has TB of the spine, is responding well to the TB drugs and is now in much less pain and is able to walk again although she is having a year off school. We don't yet know if she will need an operation.

Malaria is still a problem although I don't know if it is less since we started giving them prophylactic treatment for 2 months each term. It now costs £55 if it is severe enough to admit them and put them on a drip. Quite a few are also suffering from typhoid and, much more seriously, brucellosis. The dentist whom we bought some equipment and materials for is now treating the students with the worst problems.