Chairman's New Year Message 2021-2022
December 2021
"Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes. For you will spread out to the right and to the left. Isaiah 54 : 2,3"
This year, through the Grace of God and the hard work of the EVC team, has been another great success in meeting the needs of the children we serve in Uganda and seeing the work grow.
At the smaller of the two primary schools EVC supports, a boys’ dormitory was completed, as well as a 5 classroom block. The latter will provide vocational training facilities, an IT suite, and also a library. Water harvesting facilities were installed on three of the buildings and a new toilet block for the 5 classroom block was built. Our aim over the next couple of years will be to fully resource the library, to improve the standard of education, to recruit more highly qualified teachers and, ensure all children have the opportunity to reach their full potential.
This year, through the Charity’s Child Sponsorship Programme, 79 new children gained the life changing opportunity of education, 59 resulting from church appeals and 12 from other sources.
As schools have been closed for much of the year due to COVID restrictions, EVC put resources into a full Programme of Outreach Education, providing individual tuition to children where they are based. An Education Group was formed to monitor and oversee the work and provide advice and guidance. This Group will continue to have input and to monitor progress as schools reopen and children return to school in January.
Our key workers at the Project in Uganda, Gonzaga Naluyange and Prossy Nalule worked hard and effectively in their roles of Finance and Administration Manager and Project Manager. Their loyalty and dedication to their work has enabled EVC to effectively take forward our remit in challenging circumstances. There is regular and effective communication between them and the UK team.
This year, the new Bishop of Masaka in Uganda, Serverus Jjumba, who is very interested in and, committed to our work, became our Patron. The Diocese of Masaka is the area in which the Charity operates. Recently, Father Michael Kamulegeya, the RC Diocesan Education Secretary in Masaka, joined the EVC Board as a Trustee. He is a former teacher and will bring much needed valuable expertise to the Charity.
In October our first Donor Care Meeting was held in Leighton Buzzard, the aim of which was to update donors on our work and plans for the future. This was a very positive meeting with much enthusiasm for promoting and supporting EVC locally. During 2022, other such meetings are planned in various areas of the UK.
Our main income continues to come from church appeals with additional funds raised this year from Wilmslow Wells for Africa, Salisbury Catholics and The Eddies Charity. Financially, EVC is very sound and well managed.
I would like to place on record my thanks to all our donors, volunteers, Trustees and supporters. Guided by the Lord and, through their support and hard work, EVC has continued to grow and offer real hope for the future to the children. I look forward with great optimism to 2022 and beyond.
Yours in Christ
Ted Fawcett
Chairman
EVC Uganda 31 December 2021
Registered Charity Number 1158189