" Uganda Projects "

HEART
Society of the Sacred Heart
Uganda-Kenya Project
Helping Education in Africa - Reaching together

• Spring 2005 Update
• How to send donations
• December 2004
•November 2004 Newsletter
• March 2004

Sister Irene Cullen, rscj,represents the Uganda-Kenya Province as their Development Director. Sister Cullen can be reached by email:icullen@rscj.org

MOO - Mission Outreach Opportunity

Some of the cows bought with contributions from Sacré Coeur Alumnae. The School is also building the paddocks with the money received to have an organised farm. Isn't that wonderful! Here are some pictures sent by Sister Maria.

Claudia Taylor-East
AMASC Board Member reports on Uganda

AMASC Aims to:
'Cooperate actively and effectively with the Society of the Sacred Heart in its different tasks and options'
Collaboration for a Transformed World

For the sake of one child I would have founded the Society'

1.0 TARGET NEED:
The Religious of the Sacred Heart have many projects connected with the new SHPS as well as others in the Uganda-Kenya Province.
For 2004-05 Alumni are invited to choose as their focus that of helping with the building of the RSCJ school staff residence. This is one of the more difficult projects to fund because it is so personal in a sense.
Most Foundations will not consider residential housing, especially for a religious group. The sisters have about 8% of the funds needed to date.
For the second school building (kitchen, food processing, eating, multipurpose unit) they have about 60 % raised.

The RSCJ and staff presently are using several classrooms in the main school building. The school population is growing, as it should so the Sisters will need to move out by 2006 at the latest.

This leaves 2005 for construction. There are no dwellings nearby to rent. So building their own residence is essential. It will provide space for Sisters and staff and others who might work in that rural area in the future.

Once the Sisters move out of the main building that space will be freed up for the students. Also the sisters are thinking that some small renovation may be able to create a living area for future volunteers. They receive requests regularly and know that in the future this will be a wonderful opportunity but for the present living space is not available.

The proposed staff residence would house about 10 RSCJ staff and visitors. The cost continues to go up which is typical of most places. Cement is made in the country but sold on the world market so they have to pay world market prices.
The cost is around $250,000, which includes architect fees, land preparation, construction materials, labor salaries, electrical, etc.

2.0 AMASC ACTIVITY of which I am aware:
2.1 Gestures of solidarity: I believe that any effort of prayer, interest and financial support by our Alumni is a wonderful witness of our Cor Unum and bolsters the spirit of our RSCJ in Uganda-Kenya Province.
2.2I am happy to report that as a result of Olga's communication to AMASC Associations and our efforts in Europe, the following groups have responded with donations, prayers, outreach, and words of support.
--- Malta, Ireland, Netherlands,USA, Uruguay, England
---Mexico has informed Sister Cullen that they are going to post her recent update letter on their web site so that individuals may send donations as they wish.
---Japan has informed Sister Cullen that they have communicated with their groups and will be having some activities.
---Argentina informed Sister Cullen that they will be sharing the update letter she sent out and they requested pictures, which she has sent them.
--- Brazil has been in contact
---Canada has recently informed Sister Cullen that they have collected some donations, which are being held in the Society Canadian account.
---There may be others that I am not aware of. I encourage all Associations to let Sister Cullen know if they choose to participate in this effort so that they can be thanked and included in her capital campaign budget planning

---In summary almost $9,000 has been reported to Sister Cullen from SH Association Presidents out of USA area. $8,000 from self- identified USA Alumnae (including $1,000 AASH in USA) has been sent to sister's San Diego office and another $7,000 has come from other USA contacts.
--- Netherlands also solicited 5,000 Euros using materials Sister Cullen sent them on request from an international Foundation.

2.3 INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUNDING; Ways You can help.
-I have sent Sister Cullen several leads that she has investigated.
-The Netherlands made a fruitful contact with DCI through a personal friend she had told about the school project. After several e-mail communications Sister was able to submit information on the project that interested them. They have decided to send a contribution.

3.0 AMASC ASSISTANCE:
3.1 Foundations- Sister Cullen has 2 excellent resource books with many leads. Getting in the door is the challenge because there are so many grant applications for limited funds.
---If an Alumna has a possible Foundation lead in her country that has a demonstrated interest in the education of girls this would be helpful information for Sister Cullen
---She is very interested in Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland, & USA.
---In the USA there are many Family Charitable Trusts that may have interests in education of African girls. We have received funds from several over the past few years.
---Foundations interests- SHPS target project for 2004-05: Formal education: school construction, staff residence construction, educational materials & equipment; agricultural- tools, crops/husbandry, worker wages; religious books; teacher training. Other Province projects: orphan assistance
3.2 Corporations:
-Businesses in European, Asian countries that have offices in Uganda or Kenya: often they have community outreach desks and welcome viable projects with honest partners. Examples: Banks: Stanbic, Citibank, Barclay; British Petrolium; Coca Cola and Pepsi.
Story illustration: For their official opening July 2003 they needed help with refreshments to keep their costs down. Working with a contact in the USA who had contacts with Pepsi they eventually received not only drinks for hundreds of people but also chairs and awnings were loaned for the day.
Airlines: British Air- they are looking for a way to bring into Uganda on a regular basis a box/suitcase of selected donated materials. An airline official contact would be a very helpful contact to have.
3.3. Government organizations with a record of commitment to East Africa.
3.4 NGO's working in East Africa
3.5 Grant Writing: When a Foundation is selected Sister would be pleased to contact the AMASC representative in that country to inquire if any Alumnae have helpful information for them. An AMASC representative could be an effective advocate for RSCJ projects on these occasions, as the National President of the Netherlands was.

4.0 DONATIONS: Last year Sister was asked by AMASC leadership to determine how this would be done. Keeping track of the worldwide Association donations is a challenge. The goal is to keep the bank transfer fees to a minimum and for her to have clear records of what funds have come in. Suggested methods are attached.
Also I think a couple of Associations might be used to sending their donation monies to RSCJ Province Bursars. If this is done it is important to note the designation and to let Sister Cullen know this has happened. In this way she can consolidate the information and keep Uganda-Kenya leadership well informed. They will not plan to break ground for the needed Sister's residence until there are sufficient funds available.

5.0 FUTURE UGANDA-KENYA PROJECTS
Sister Cullen is working with the UGK Sisters now on what will be the priorities after the SHPS second building and Sister's residence are completed and the farm is up and running. While Sister was there last summer they worked on several wonderful projects. The RSCJ leadership in Uganda-Kenya will decide which will be the public priorities. You will be the first to know.
We will be seeking Foundations who's interests are in: formal education programs; informal and vocational education for girls; women's promotion, training, capacity building; community development in rural areas; formation of church personnel; food production and eco-farming; education and vocational training of physically challenged; orphan assistance for school fees and living expenses; solar energy;
Methods of sending donations to theReligious of the Sacred Heart for their Uganda school project.

I thank you all for your support and collaboration.

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