Getting Involved!

There are many ways in which you can support the work of Alice and John in Uganda, through the Rukungiri Orphan Partnership and other initiatives. You might want to help financially, visit Rukungiri, or extend the support network into your local community.

 

Donate via Virgin Money Giving

Click here to donate

 

Donate via Paypal

 

Helping Financially

You can provide financial support through sponsoring a child, sponsoring a teacher, sponsoring a project, or through undirected donations. You could also buy gifts cards as a birthday or Christmas greeting to family or friends. As a registered charity, if you are a UK tax-payer then the Rukungiri Orphan Partnership can also reclaim basic rate tax on your gifts.

 

Sponsoring a child or teacher

To sponsor a child, then you will need to discuss with Judy Cave what kind of child(ren) or teacher you wish to sponsor, establish a standing order, and complete a gift aid declaration if appropriate.

There are 450 children 'in need of sponsorship' and of these 220 are currently sponsored. 380 of these children are 'double orphans', meaning they have neither parent.

Currently it costs £20 a month to sponsor a child (£40 if you continue to sponsor them at Secondary School), and £100 a month to sponsor a teacher.

Download the standing order and gift aid form from here.

You will also wish to write to the child enclosing photos and other small delights at the following address:
Rukungiri Modern Primary School
PO Box 116
Rukungiri
Uganda

 

Sponsoring a project

To sponsor a project, then you will need to let Judy Cave know which project you wish to sponsor, establish a standing order (or for a one-time payment, send a cheque payable to the 'Rukungiri Orphan and Vocational Project'), and complete a gift aid declaration if appropriate.

Download the standing order and gift aid form from here.

Judy's contact details can be found at the above link.

 

Buying a gift card

In September 2007, Marian Welham went to Uganda as a volunteer with Mission Direct. She was so impressed by all that she saw going on in the projects that they visited and worked with - and especially by the dedication of the project managers, teachers, and helpers - that she decided to set up a Gift Card scheme when she returned.

For each gift ordered, you will be sent a card of a professional quality, that inside describes the gift you have chosen. There is an appropriate photograph on the front and a description of the project on the back. You simply add who they are to and from before giving them. The entire amount donated for each gift goes to the project.

In addition to birthdays and Christmas, Gift Cards also make an interesting alternative as a 'thank you' for a meal, instead of wine or flowers.

To find out more, read the following Gift Card leaflet and order form

 

Visiting Rukungiri

You can visit Rukungiri, either as part of a vacation, part of a mission team or simply to spend time discovering first hand what happens at the schools and vocational training centre.

Your visit may be only a few days, or you could choose to spend several years working in Rukungiri, whatever the duration of your visit, whatever your age, there are many ways in which you will be able to get involved in activities of the children and staff.

In any case, you will meet people, develop lasting friendships, and be inspired by what you see and what you do. You will be blessed and leave behind a treasured blessing that people from afar really do care.

When organising a visit, we recommend that you consider the following:

• School term times (e.g. 2009 terms are February 2nd to 24th April; 25th May to 14th August; 7th September to 27th November)
• Visas - see the Ugandan Embassy Web Site
  
• Vaccinations - consult your local doctor
  
• Currency: There are local cash dispensers in Rukungiri, although reliability is low. Currency can only be bought and sold in Uganda. The best rates of exchange are obtained in Kampala for US Dollar and UK Pound notes; travellers cheques are also cashable but at less good rates. This is a cash economy so plan well what you need to take!
  
• Local arrangements. For local arrangements contact Simon-Peter Kansiime or phone on mobile number +256 712 195653. Simon-Peter runs the White Crest Guest House in Kampala and organises local transport, tourism and safari guides for visitors to Rukungiri.
  

There are many ways in which you can help including: managing building projects, teaching a craft in the vocational, teaching a musical instrument, helping supervise sports and games, baking buns, helping children write to their sponsors the list is endless! Whatever you bring can be used to benefit the children.

Anyone who might like to visit Rukungiri with a tem of volunteers to help in some practical way can contact Mission Direct via this link

www.missiondirect.org/countries/uganda/what-youll-be-doing

 

Developing a local support network

You can help extend the support network wherever you are. You might offer to organise local sponsorship, build a local support group, run an event, or raise funds through a sponsored activity. You could also contribute useful tools and toys that will help supply the schools, kitchens and vocational centre.

In all cases you should in the first place seek advice from Judy Cave

A small number of people hold the details of a group of unsponsored children, and work locally to recruit sponsors. This activity is new to ROP, and is coordinated by Judy Cave.

 

Local Support Group

In some areas a number of sponsors and supporters have got together to see how they as a group can be more effective in supporting the work of John and Alice. There is a local coordinator of these groups who receives and distributes sponsorship letters from their children.

Examples of work they have done include:

• A group in Woking, Surrey who ship one or two containers full of goods to Rukungiri each year.
• A group in Abergavenny, Wales who set up the UK Charity to organise and manage child sponsorship, and regularly run events.
  
• A group from South London who as a church raised funds then sent a team to the school to 'spend the money' on behalf of the children.
  
• A group from a church in Woking, Surrey who organised and sent their youth to Rukungiri for two weeks.
  

The possibilities are limited only by your imagination!

 

Running an Event

To do this you need imagination, a team, hard work and a big sense of fun! - and good marketing too!!

Here are some examples - what would you do?

• One visitor returned home, and persuaded her local school to have a 'mufti day' costing 1 per child. In 24 hours they raised over £1,000 for the school.
  
• One favourite is a home-made produce fete!
  
• One student group ran a darts and snooker competition to raise funds.
  

Start fundraising using a Virgin Money Giving web page

 

Sponsored Fund Raising

This can be done individually rather than as a group, and so no matter who you are or what your abilities, you could do something.

One disabled lady cycled 12 miles and raised over £100; another person has just decided to cycle from Land's End to John O'Groats to raise funds for the school.

But there again it need not be cycling - how about dancing the night away, sliming, mountain climbing, swimming or simply not watching TV for a month!!

The choice is yours!