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It is not always easy to get information out of Uganda. Surface mail can take a long time. Air mail is expensive. The daily grind of feeding, clothing, housing, and vocationally training children such as those in the photo pushes Internet communication to a lower priority than in other countries. However, we will try to keep a flow of recent information through this page.

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Kampala Street Kids
Street children in Kampala

Click the picture to find our
Guest Speaker Presentation

 November/December 2008

    Remember RYDA at Christmas

We all like to think that Christmas is a time for miracles. Now you can act to create a small one yourself. Please investigate our Christmas Gift Certificates. Each one you give or receive is a small miracle. Linking lots of small miracles will make a great wonder.

Thanks For Support
Our regular readers will know that October News was all about our response to the crisis at RYDA. They simply didn't have the funds to allow students to sit their final exam. With God's help this was problem was fixed. In this response from Geoffrey Steven Kyeyune, Executive Director, he looks back at some of the critical events of the year.
Dear Doug,
I can't help myself to get on this organisation's computer to write to you to extend my appreciation to yourself, Ina and the St. Margaret's Uniting Church congregation for the timely support you have extended to me and the entire organisation this year, without which I would have managed to do what I have done this year.

I will always remember Ina's support during the Heart Operation of my daughter Doreen and the replacement of the cow for my family. (Editor's Note: Geoffrey had to sell the family cow to help pay for the operation.) Am glad to report that yesterday the cow gave birth to the female cafe and I hope the milk will be back to the dining table for all of us to enjoy especially my two little daughters. THANK you very much.

This Friday we will be concluding our Final Examination for the 57 students which you supported to achieve this final step of life. I had this morning a chat with the children to evaluate their feelings after the examination. You could see in their faces the promising desire to have performed well. Thanks to the Almighty GOD that this was made possible.

Through you I want you to extend our sincere appreciation to all those people who have supported our organisation this year. You have made our work better.

Hope For 2009
2008 has been very difficult for RYDA. They have not been able to find donors to support their programs - programs that have, in previous years, brought life and vocational skill training to over 300 of the most vulnerable youths in Uganda each year. Programs that need only $US150,000 to be sustained.

Instead the organisation has run on a shoestring budget and struggled to provide education, food, clothing and housing for 57 final year students.

RYDA cannot continue as beggars through 2009. Begging daily for help from the first world to sustain proven programs. The strain on staff is too great. Of course there will always be a need for individuals and groups to donate and donate regularly, but what St. Margaret's and other friends have been able to do is only the icing on the cake. The problem in 2008 has been that the cake has not been available.

RYDA's Board of Directors have begun reviewing their approach for 2009. They are trying to find new ways to use the resources they own - land, buildings, some machinery and tools, expertise and experience - to fund their core mission, which is to support the most vulnerable youths to build their own positive future. They do not yet know where to go. Please pray for inspiration for these leaders.

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