Dear Friends,
Welcome to this Special Edition of Pearls of Hope. We are back from our annual trip to the Village of Kaihura, and as you’ll see below, it was a highly productive three weeks. Let’s get right to it!
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A couple of happy young recipients of clothing donations and supplies from BHTFUSA donors like Jersey Mike’s Subs.
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Our work in Uganda is personal and relational. We sit with people to learn about their stories, we listen to their struggles, admire their resiliency, and help them with their goals. We work together to connect each person with their basic needs, medical situations, education requirements, and spiritual development. Here are the program highlights from our trip:
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Building Women, Men, and Leaders
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On the left, BHTFUSA volunteer Laine Wagenseller enjoys time mentoring his NHVI-Building Men students. On the right, BHTFUSA founder Christine Deschaine poses with her 100 Building Women students who learned life skills for a productive and successful future.
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New Hope Vocational Technical Institute, a program supported by BHTFUSA, has been mentoring leaders for years. In the beginning, NHVI had only six students, but the program has now grown to serve over 150 students. The two-year program provides instruction on self-sustaining skills in tailoring, hairdressing, millwork, bricklaying, and agricultural training. These entrepreneurial students someday will have the opportunity to become business owners. Our three-day retreat with the NHVI students included topics on how to create a business, self-care, family planning and goal setting.
Additionally this year, 100 girls received new beds, mattresses, and sheets for their dorm rooms. Did you know that most of these students have never traveled by car or had any modern plumbing?
Also, we are proud to announce that, for the first time, the Building Leaders Program has been implemented for the more mature men in the Village of Kaihura who are seeking ways to be great leaders in the community and to become role models within their families. DONATE >>
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Watch volunteer Laine Wagenseller share his heartfelt appreciation of BHTF founder Dr. Faith Kunihira to inspire his students
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NHVI women receive much-needed basics
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Building Women program participants show off their new backpacks generously provided by our friends at Knight Commercial.
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BHTFUSA donors came together and provided new beds, mattresses, sheets, and backpacks filled with basic daily essentials for 100 of our New Hope Vocational School women. A special thank you to Knight Commercial for providing bedsheets and backpacks for the students. DONATE >>
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Watch the joyful NHVI women as they receive their new mattresses.
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BHTF founder Dr. Faith Kunihira celebrates a new water well with Prossy Babone, BHTF administrator, and residents of Nyabirongo Village
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The community of 1,000 people in Nyabirongo Village gained a water well! The benefits that they will reap from the new water source are priceless. Built in just five days from start to finish, this new water well will eliminate deadly bacteria that causes dysentery and other serious diseases. Safe water restores health, provides dignity, and gives life! Thank you to Pasty Ma, BHTFUSA Advisory Board Member, for making this possible and overseeing the project. DONATE >>
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Watch as a community celebrates long-awaited access to fresh water
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Dr. Faith Kunihira with the Duke Engage team
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Duke University program Duke Engage sent 25 students to BHTF to help construct a new and much needed building. Those 25 students spent two months working alongside BHTF and the Executive Team. Over the years, Duke Engage has completed several projects and created so much value for the community in the Village of Kaihura. The BHTFUSA team enjoyed their time with these hard-working students. Stay tuned for an update with the completion of the project. DONATE >>
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Reaching the most vulnerable
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Christine Deschaine with Gorret Nansamba, Prossy Babone, and Solimia who is raising her 14-year-old grandson with help from the BHTF community.
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Meet Solimia, a widow who has been alone for several years and is now looking after her 14-year-old grandson. This woman has no access to resources. The BHTFUSA team had spontaneously visited her to help clean up her garden, and we quickly realized that she had no roof, bed, or food. In less than 24 hours, the team purchased mattresses, sheets, blankets, and food for Solimia. A new roof is scheduled to be constructed as well. DONATE >>
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Appreciation and gratitude
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Of course, we could not achieve and connect with the people we support without our BHTFUSA local Los Angeles-based volunteers, our partners in Uganda, and YOU! All come together to donate time, resources and support of our important mission. Everyone has done an incredible job of expanding our ability to help break the cycle of poverty.
We have once again been able to increase the value of programs delivered directly to the people that need them most and are grateful to those who have helped us so far, especially those providing recurring monthly donations. You, too, can be a part of our monthly donor community…start by clicking here.
As always, I’m filled with wonder and pride seeing the positive transformation of our BHTFUSA team members who travel to Uganda, and to our BHTF Uganda partners and community members that we serve all year long. It motivates me to press onward. We are excited to move ahead with our goals for 2023 and to bring all of YOU along for that journey!
Sincerely,
Christine
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