After living and volunteering in Nyeihanga for over a month now, Erin and I have really become a part of the community. Whenever we’re walking down the street, regardless of where we are going, we are constantly stopping and chatting with townspeople of all ages. These people have done so much for us during our stay, from bringing food for us to eat to giving us directions when we’re lost to just giving us someone to talk to or hang out with. We really feel like we’re part of the community. Because the people of Nyeihanga have done so much for us, we really want to give something back.
What’s “Kili for a Kause”?
We are starting the “Kili for a Kause” (see what I did there?) campaign in which we will climb to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro (19,341 ft) in Tanzania in the hopes of raising $1,000 in funds for Light of the Lord Global Missions (LOLGM) and the people of Nyeihanga. LOGM is really a focal point in the community in Nyeihanga. In addition to the church, they provide a school for orphans and vulnerable children, free adult literacy and basic education classes, and a partnership with Opportunity Uganda which provides business loans to beneficiaries thus empowering individuals and the entire community.
How can I help?
All donations can be made on our ChipIn page.
Once there, click on the ChipIn! button on the right. All funds raised though the Kili for a Kause campaign will be used to benefit four distinct programs Erin and I have identified. These four programs have been the closest to our hearts during our time here, and we have invested the largest amount of our time in contributing to these areas. The four areas where your fund will help are as follows:
- Startup capital for Sustainable Businesses – Currently, LOLGM – Nyeihanga relies on outside support to continue operations. One thing we’ve been working on while we’ve been here is identifying business models which can support LOLGM and all of its programs. Erin and I are finalizing plans for a mushroom growing business, a chicken rearing business, and a handicrafts business. To put these efforts into motion, however, will require some initial startup capital. In the long term, these efforts will allow LOLGM-Nyeihanga to be completely self-sustaining.
- Adult Education Supplies – These classes teach adults English, local language (Runyankore) literacy, basic arithmetic, and household economics. Funds will be used to supply the students with pens, paper, and workbooks, and the teacher with teaching aids.
- LOLGM School Sports Equipment – While interacting with the students of the LOLGM school, we found that LOLGM has nothing for the children to use during recess, breaks, or after school activities. Funds will be used to purchase footballs (soccer balls), pennies, cones, jump ropes, etc.
- LOLGM Choir Uniforms – The LOLGM Choir is a group of singers who independently organized themselves in an effort to make Church services and social events more fun and interactive. Although they’ve only been together for a few months, they’ve already been booked to sing at a wedding (where they were awesome!). In typical Ugandan fashion, the current uniform the members wear is a red shirt and black pants (basically whatever the member already had), but with the funds raised, we hope to outfit them in a proper uniforms, so they look as professional as they sound.
A little bit goes a long way here in Uganda, so please help out in any way you can! Every little bit counts. The way I look at it is $1.00 is equivalent to over 2,380 Ugandan Shillings, so by generously donating five bucks you will help out Ugandan villagers and be able to brag to your friends that you donated nearly 12,000 Ugandan Shillings to our cause! Please let Erin or I know if you have any questions.
Thank you all and wish us luck in our journey to the top of Africa!
“The IRS has recognized the exempt status of Light of the Lord Global Missions (LOLGM) under 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. All donations to LOLGM are tax deductible.”
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