Newsletter

Dear Mwenya Uganda supporters,

First of all I’d just like to thank you for supporting our work in Uganda. As a new organisation it really means so much to have people’s moral support. Our thanks don’t just come from the UK volunteers, but also from the Ugandan volunteers, from those at the heart of Mwenya Uganda.

Well, this is a ‘newsletter’, so here’s our ‘news’!

Equipment

We have had many fantastic equipment donations from generous supporters for our team in Uganda, including 5 laptops and 512 tubes of Toothpaste from Thaxted Dental Centre and 4 personalised running vests for sponsorship events from AW Supplies. We have started sourcing trusty travellers on the Lonely Planet Forum to transport equipment to Uganda for us for free. We’ve had a great response and have created a page on Kate Humble’s great website ‘Stuff Your Rucksack’ to help.  

Our office in Uganda has had a very colourful and artistic lick of paint and we’re waiting for our second office inspection from the Ugandan NGO authorities. Last time we were very proud to receive this feedback:

“ I have come to know your country director Sempa Yahaya (Jhon) as a principled, transparent, determined  

 person and so willing to learn, seeks and takes advises, since the organization started he has come to my

office and to me in person several times for advise and he had told me about you, and the team in the UK ,

the work and all the support your giving the organization. On behalf of the NGO board of Uganda we are

so impressed with the work your doingand the progress of the organization.”

  

Fundraising

We are making our way towards being registered with Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, once we’ve got Queen Lizzie’s support we’ll be able to claim Giftaid on any donations we receive and we’ll also be able to start applying for larger scale grants. Thanks to lots of help from the lovely lawyer Richard Armitage, who helped us with the HMRC application, we’re hoping to hear back from HMRC very soon.

We’ve had a great month with money coming in from St Mary’s School Cambridge, from their home clothes day (£500) and Jane Farrington running The Great South Run for us (£245, of course donations are still hugely welcome click here and write ‘Jane’ in the purpose box!). Come Dine With Me’s have been taking off in Exeter again as the university students continue last year’s legacy. With a netball and hockey fundraising events planned at Warwick University by “This Is Africa” society  and the Hockey club, we’re so happy to see lots of students jumping on the Mwenya Uganda smiling bandwagon. The well known photographer, Michael Bailie, has produced a beautiful Christmas Card of Thaxted in Essex. He has kindly decided to donate a percentage of the money raised from the sale of these cards to Mwenya Uganda. These cards are available in most shops in Thaxted, Essex.  

I’ve have spent many a late night finding great ways for you to financially support Mwenya Uganda for free – yes, it is possible! The organisation, Easy Fundraising allows online shoppers to find great deals on all their online purchases and a percentage of whatever you spend goes straight to Mwenya Uganda. There’s no catch, Easy Fundraising sources customers for online shops and as a ‘thank you’, the online shops donate a percentage of what was spent to the charity of your choice. From plane tickets to ASDA home delivery shopping, from children’s toys, to printer ink cartridges – whatever you’re buying, you can earn money for Mwenya Uganda for free.  We would really appreciate it if you sign up for free here: Easy Fundraising for Mwenya Uganda

If you all do all your Christmas shopping through that link, just think how much money you’d save and raise for Mwenya Uganda. Don’t hesitate, it’s safe, no personal details needed, free to sign up and saves you money...the difference it will make to our projects is huge!

In Uganda

In Uganda, the team have been working extremely hard as ever, recruiting volunteers to make up our teams on the ground, painting and repairing our office building, meeting volunteers to collect equipment as well as planning all our projects. We now have volunteering teams of: dentists, doctors, nurses, teachers and construction workers. We’re also about to start our research project. This project will run in local schools in the town of Mpigi, the dental team will examine pupils to see what the main issues are in Mpigi. Once we gain a better understanding of the oral hygiene situation we can then target our treatment and preventative education more efficiently. This is some of the first dental research that has ever taken place in Uganda.

For the next 8 months we are working extremely hard to spread the word and fundraise in the UK. Then, after our launch in Uganda next July, we will be able to run more sustainably with more funds and supporters behind us. 

We are in desperate need of certain items in Uganda which will hugely help our work in Uganda. If you think you or anyone you know has any of the

following items lying around your house, or at work, please do get in touch:

• ·         Laptops
• ·         Printers
• ·         Digital video cameras (for recording educational hygiene videos)
• ·         Digital projector
• ·         Dental equipment
• ·         Speakers
• ·         Microphones
• ·         Any solar powered/wind up gadgets for our Outreach beneficiaries.  
• ·         Anything listed on this page

We always welcome any feedback, positive or constructive! Keep an eye out for an email about our range of Mwenya Christmas presents that will be available that will be sent DIRECTLY to our Outreach beneficiaries, so you can really change lives in Uganda this Christmas.

Our website is now also accessible through this link www.HelpingUgandaSmile.org so please spread the word! If you haven’t had a look recently, why not have a browse, we’ve added lots of information.

We all hope you have a week full of ‘Mwenya’s (smiles),

Best wishes,

From the Mwenya Uganda team

FREE donations for dummies.

It's been a while Mwenya Uganda readers! My apologies for the lack of blogging over the past few months, but the blog is now 100% back in action.

I have compiled ways for you to financially support Mwenya Uganda WITHOUT spending a penny of your own money.

The internet is amazing, and some other good hearted people have been tapping into this amazingness and they have worked out very clever ways for you, the general public, to donate to Mwenya Uganda, without spending a penny of your own money.

This, my friends, is Free Donations For Dummies!

Social Networking and Internet Shopping, combined!
Who?
www.ark.com
Ark is a US based organisation which stands for Acts of Random Kindness.

How does it work?
Online shops registered with Ark pay Ark a commission for sourcing customers.
Every time you shop with an Ark registered shop (through ark.com) that shop will pay Ark 5% of whatever you spend, as a thank you!
Ark then allocate this 5% donation to the charity of your choice.
Mwenya receives quarterly payments from Ark.com of the funds that you have raised.

For example, if you buy a Camera from Amazon that costs $100, $5 will be credited to your Ark account, which you then can donate to the 'cause' of your choice.

All you have to do is register with Ark.com, using your email address, or you facebook account.
Then you just need to 'Join Mwenya Uganda's cause' here: http://ark.com/cause/mwenya_uganda/69901
Hit 'shop' at the top right, choose from a huge list of shops such as amazon, miss selfridge, itunes, living social.
Just be careful you're on the UK sites, and not the US ones.

Any bonuses?
They give you 10cents to donate to us straight away!
_____________________________________________________________________

Internet Shopping & deals (UK)
Who? 
Easyfundraising.org.uk
Same principal as Ark but a UK based site AND you get to benefit from loads of discount deals!

Shops available?
Pretty much every shop out there!
Tesco, ebay, Amazon, Apple, Flybe, Groupon, Boots, Boden, Joe Browns, JJB Sports, John Lewis, Lastminute.com, La Redoute, M&S, Lovefilm, Millets, National Lottery, New Look, Urban Outfitters, Vodafone, Vistaprint, WHSsmith.....etc etc etc.
Full list of shops: http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/retailers/


What do you have to do?
Register as a supporter of Mwenya Uganda for free here: www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/mwenyauganda/?u=1ZN31B&urp=1ZN31B
Shop through the links on the easyfundraising site! (see above for retailers list)
Done! You'll receive an email telling you how much you've raised, it's automatically donated to Mwenya's cause.
We receive monthly cheques of what you've raised.

Any bonuses?
They have a huge range of deals and discounts with nearly every shop.
Under "Deals", you can 'Raise funds for FREE', without even buying anything online!
________________________________________________________________________


Searching with Yahoo

We have created our own Yahoo search page link. All you have to do is save this link as a tab on your internet page, register for free 'as a supporter of Mwenya Uganda', and do all your searching through our page.
http://sites.affilyon.co.uk/MwenyaUganda

Mwenya Uganda's First Mobile Clinic

Dr. Davis carrying out HIV tests

After a 12 hour bus ride from Nairobi, two of the Mwenya Uganda UK Directors, Elizabeth Bailie and Laura Cuddon-Large, were met by Dr. Elvis in Kampala, Uganda. Dr. Elvis is the programmes co-ordinator and deputy to the Country Director, Jhon. This was the beginning of endless 'mwenya-ing' (smiling!). The two directors couldn't believe the reception that welcomed them in Uganda with so many handshakes, hugs, smiles and 'you are so very welcome to Uganda's. From the moment of getting off that bus Elizabeth and Laura knew that Mwenya Uganda's UK team couldn't have been working with a better Ugandan team. 

The Ugandan team have been working extremely hard for a long time to raise awareness of Mwenya Uganda to the people of Uganda. With permission from the Chief of Bussi Island, the Police and the Headmistress of the school that was to be used as a clinic, a handful of Mwenya Uganda volunteers drove round the island a week before the clinic, with a PA system to tell people when, where and what to expect from Mwenya Uganda's services on the 5th June 2011.

Saturday evening, some of the 40 Ugandan volunteers made their way to Bussi, the beautiful island situated on Lake Victoria. Here, they slept in the school and were ready to set up for the clinic early in the morning. Sunday morning saw the rest of the 40 odd staff pack into a 'taxi' (bashed out old minibus) to reach the Lake's edge. Here they crossed the river on a wooden canoe and reached the beautiful island where there are absolutely no medical services and residents have never seen a mobile clinic come to their island. One of the most powerful elements of the Mwenya Uganda clinics is that people native to the community volunteer to help with the running of the services. Some 20 extra students from the school in Bussi volunteered to record the details of every patient.

By 9:30 in the morning 100 people were queuing for Mwenya Uganda's mobile clinic: HIV testing, deworming, dental treatment and consultation service. It wasn't even due to open until 12! With a PA system blaring out Ugandan music to keep everyone in good spirits and directing people to the different services, the sun shined on the green area outside the 3 school buildings being used as clinics. The chief of Bussi expressed such gratitude from Mwenya Uganda's services and said that many people have to travel 26km by boat to Entebbe to find such services. The price of the travel and the treatment make it almost impossible for people who live on Bussi to access such services, as the majority live on under $1 a day.

Jamal, one of the founders of the Ugandan team, explains
to a mother that she can call a Mwenya Uganda dentist
if she has any dental problems in the future.

The most popular treatment was the dental service, with over 400 patients being treated throughout the day. Every patient was given Paracetamol and antibiotics in an envelope, with written dosages and Dentists' phone numbers on the outside. Local volunteers from the school explained to their fellow community members and dental patients that they can ring the dentist's personal number any time, if they experience any further problems; another example of the sheer dedication of the professional Ugandan dentists and doctors to help others in their country. 

Overall the very first Mwenya Uganda clinic was a HUGE success.

We treated 642 people in one day.

This figure shows that so many people needed medical attention. This was one community, and showed the Mwenya Uganda team that they're on the right track with their services. Ugandans helping Ugandans, communities helping themselves, unpaid and dedicated, the Ugandan team's unbelievable commitment and passion for helping people in their own country is so inspiring.

Thank you so much for all your support already, this could not have happened without you. Please continue supporting us so we can run more mobile clinics and reach more communities. The website donation will be up and running very soon at www.mwenya-uganda.org

Mwenya's Outreach Projects

Mary with Dr. Elvis and Jhon. 

Well, it's been quite a while since anything has been written on here but that certainly doesn't mean that nothing has happened! The Mwenya Uganda team have been very busy. The main news is we are now officially registered as a Non-Governemental Organisation (NGO) which is great! Thanks to everybody's fundraising efforts in the UK, we raised the fees needed to register with the Ugandan authority, so for any of you who held a 'Come Dine With Me', that's where your money went, thank you so much. Mwenya Uganda now has its own UK bank account and the website is looking great - it won't be long before we launch it, so keep an eye out!

Mary with her new table and the Mwenya Uganda volunteers

The next main news is that we have now completed two Outreach Projects with two lovely ladies called Mary and Mariam (see below). The Uganda team of volunteers had two labour-filled days digging latrines, cutting bushes, repairing roofs, digging rubbish pits, building tables as plate wracks, cooking, cleaning, washing clothes, collecting firewood and collecting water.

Jhon also spoke to Mary and Mariam about the benefits of boiling water before drinking it, and other easy ways to help prevent illness and disease.


My words will not sum up what this work meant to these women, this is what Mary said:

All hands on deck to dig the rubbish pit.

“I wish you people stay with me for at least more 2 days Oh thanks to God who brought you.” Holding her rosary in her neck, she recited, ”Mother Mary the mother of Jesus, bless this group, let every one live long like me, they have washed away the tears of my lost children”.


Nassolo was so happy though she had nothing to give us but two eggs and she gave them to us as the only thing she had to offer. She got annoyed when we had refused the eggs saying, “Why are you refusing my offer? I know I can’t pay you but please I beg you take the eggs!!” (Jhon's report of the outreach visit)

We have two other elderly people waiting to receive help from the Mwenya Uganda team, each outreach project costs approximately just £40. Although, at this stage, work is quite basic - it's lifechanging.

If you would like to help, please get in touch, 100% of your donation will go to the outreach project we feel is most urgently needed at the time. We will give you a full report of the project with pictures so you can see exactly where your money has been spent. 

Mariam stands in her doorway with 3 of the Mwenya Uganda volunteers.

3 of the Mwenya Uganda volunteers come back from the well with  3 jerry cans of water for Mariam!

Ooooo, nice table!

Please see our facebook page for full photo albums of the two outreach projects. http://www.facebook.com/mwenya.uganda

Meet Mariam

Mwenya Uganda's team on the ground has started on their outreach projects. Jhon, our Ugandan Director, has been out to Nyomerwa village in the Mpigi district of central Uganda to try and assess where help is needed most.


On his trip he met a 77 year old woman called Mariam. Mariam has had 10 children, tragically 9 of those 10 children have since died. Jhon reported that Mariam is HIV positive, however she is not on any medication to treat the virus. Since she is very weak, she is unable to cook food and collect water as the well is too far from her house.

These are some of the photos that were taken during the trip

Mariam's bed area, this is all she has to sleep on.

Mariam in her house, Mariam told Jhon that the house leaks when it rains.

Jhon and Mariam.

This is just one case. Of thousands.

There are so many people like Mariam across Uganda.

And Mariam is a lucky one, because the Mwenya Uganda team found her.

By working on the ground and engaging in discussion with the people that need help, Mwenya Uganda is working at a community level to build relationships with people. With an extremely dedicated team of dentists and doctors who are volunteering their time, we can make a real difference to people just like Mariam. The team will return to see Mariam later in the week and discuss ways that we can help her and others.

To be registered as a non-governmental organisation in Uganda, we have to prove that Mwenya Uganda is active in the community. Although this is a case of just one person, these are the little steps we are taking so that we can become an NGO and Mwenya Uganda can work to help more and more people in the future on a larger scale.

Please show your support for Mwenya Uganda by liking our facebook page here:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mwenya-Uganda/212472142102064

We will be launching the website very soon, with a donate page so that you can help us help Mariam and so many others like her. 

David Tennant, malaria and how Mwenya Uganda will be helping

Comic relief are doing a brilliant job raising awareness (and a huge amount of funds!) for some very well deserved causes in Africa and in the UK. Uganda has been featured a huge amount, for those of you who've seen it I'm sure you'll agree that some of the footage and statistics have been horrific.

Look at this link for David Tennant's video about malaria
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlwU-l3GxQI

Mwenya Uganda will be working to help people exactly like this, through a mobile dental and medical health clinic service, so we can reach those people who may not even be able to afford to get to a crowded clinic like the one on the video.





If you hold a Come Dine With Me dinner party, invite 10 guests who all bring a fiver - £50 donated to Mwenya Uganda will buy 25 insecticide treated mosquito nets.







YOU can halve at least 25 people's chances of getting malaria, all from having a party, cooking some good grub and inspiring your guests to do the same thing. You'll have a great time along the way and make lots of people 'mwenya' (Lugandan for smile).




Get in touch with any of the Mwenya UK team on facebook, or email Laura on l_cuddon-large@hotmail.co.uk for ready made invites for your guests and recipe ideas.

Do you need a better excuse to have a party?

Come Dine With Me!

DIY pizza, home baked bread and vanilla rum cocktails were the name of the game last week in Exeter's very own Come Dine With Me. All the guests at the party left full of delicious, home cooked food...and inspiration to go and cook their hearts out to raise more money for Mwenya Uganda. 

It was a fantastic night, every guest brought a £5 donation to Mwenya Uganda and agreed to host their own dinner party in the same format. Wherever you are in the world, get cooking, entertaining and talking about Mwenya Uganda, it's great fun and all for a brilliant cause. All you have to do is provide some food and drink and every guest brings at least a £5 donation to Mwenya Uganda.

Just email Laura for some ready made invitations (l_cuddon-large@hotmail.co.uk). In the mean time I'll leave you with some inspiration; these are some of the recipes I used for my party:

Starter: home-made Ciabatta bread with baked Camembert
http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/ciabatta_85453

Main: DIY pizzas & salad
http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/pizza-recipes/pizza-dough
Toppings included: caramelized onions, olives, sundried tomatoes, chicken, feta, mozzarella

Dessert: Choc chip muffins, brownies and ice cream
http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/triplechocolatebrown_7685

Hope that gives you some ideas! Happy cooking!

The Mwenya Uganda Blog

Obubaka obwaniriza...or...Hello!

Welcome to the Mwenya Uganda Blog!

Please follow our blog for information, news and pictures from both the team of dentists, doctors and teachers in Uganda and the student team in the UK. 

See 'Who Are We?' on the right hand side of the page for a summary of what we're all about.

We'll have lots of exciting news to share with you all. If you like what we do, please tell any friends or family you think might be interested too. As soon as the website goes live, we'll let you know and you can have snoop around. 


For now though, any help is extremely appreciated. All the members of the UK team are holding 'Come Dine With Me's left, right and center; the idea being ...provide your friends with an evening of food, drinks, possibly a bit of entertainment and everyone has a good time. All guests bring a donation to Mwenya, £5, £10, £15, depending on how rich your friends are! Each of your guests at your party then has to promise to hold their own 'Come Dine With Me' that follows exactly the same format. It's a great way to catch up with friends, have some good food and donate some money to a fantastic cause. If you're interested in throwing a bash, it can be as casual or posh as you make it, give our Administrative Director a quick email at l_cuddon-large@hotmail.co.uk, she'll give you some tips, some ready made invitations and let you know how to donate the money raised.

If you're not a culinary genius but want to give us a hand, do not fret. We'll be posting lots more information about how you can get involved (including volunteering in Uganda) in the near future, so check back for regular updates. 

But for now, for the first time, of what will be many I'm sure, 

Over and out from the Mwenya Uganda team