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Uganda Project is no longer part of The Principle Foundation,
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The Uganda
Project (Spring 2004 Update)
"Webale
nyo nyo" (Luganda for Thank you so much!)
In The
Christian Science Journal of January, 2004, is an article
about Lamech Katamba and a woman from his village who walked 44
miles to buy from him a copy of Science and Health. On
the right is a photo taken in that village which shows Lamech
(upper row, far left) with his extended family. In the center/front
is Nancy Dorsey, who founded Uganda Project (UP) in 2001.
In addition
to helping UP applicants and distributing funds, Lamech runs a
student center which includes a small CS Reading Room. He also
travels around East Africa for The Mother Church, promoting Science
and Health. Last fall, he went to Kenya for two weeks and
sold 83 copies at a book fair and 84 copies at a trade fair!
Over the
last few years, UP has helped many young Christian Scientists
in Uganda. Currently, UP is funding 8 college students, 11 secondary,
and several primary school children, in addition to 1 student
in graphic arts and 1 in the German language. UP recipients are
demonstrating the Christian Science way of life in a developing
country where the political, economic and social challenges are
difficult for us to imagine.
There are four new applicants receiving assistance right now -
all women: Milly, 22 years old, completed secondary school but
had no more funds. Her brother paid for a 1-year cosmetology course
which she completed, and then she volunteered in a friend's beauty
salon. With funding from UP she has now established her own salon
and hopes to train and hire others. Janice comes from a polygamous
family of 6 mothers and 24 children! She worked hard to save money,
and with additional support from UP is now studying at Makerere
University for a Bachelor of Commerce degree.
Elizabeth, 20 years old, is the 8th child in a family of 10. She
lives with her widowed mother and is now pursuing a degree in
Social Sciences at Makerere with help from UP. She is majoring
in Gender, Sociology and Social Administration so she can teach
women in her community about their roles in the economic development
of Uganda.
Olivia, 22
years old, is the oldest of five children and takes care of her
younger siblings since her parents are deceased. A few years ago,
when Nancy Dorsey lived in Uganda and bought vegetables from her,
they talked about Christian Science. Olivia began to study it
on her own and is now the assistant First Reader in the Kampala
church. With help from UP, she is studying at Makerere, working
for a Bachelor's degree in Urban Planning so she can promote health
and development.
The expenses
for college students vary, according to the institutions and the
courses. Costs include tuition, books and supplies as well as
room and board. At the university level these costs average about
$2,000 per student, per year.
The Uganda
Project bank account constantly fluctuates as new contributions
are deposited and grants are approved. Money is wired at irregular
intervals throughout the year as enough accumulates to meet ongoing
commitments. These US dollars are converted into Ugandan shillings
and distributed by Lamech, according to instructions from the
UP committee.
NOTES OF
GRATITUDE
Letter from James: "I would like to thank you on behalf
of all those who have benefited from Uganda Project. I am here
to thank you for your love, support, and more so to let you know
how we appreciate your involvement in our lives."
Letter from
Andrew: (graduated and no longer receiving UP assistance)
"I have been in Luwero where I had my industrial training.
I am most times in the field supervising construction works. The
sites are simple but there is much to learn: administrative procedures,
how to deal with people under different situations, the practicability
of the knowledge I have gained from school, how to use local materials,
appropriate technology, and so forth. As a voluntary worker, meeting
my basic welfare with an average of about US$3 per week has not
been easy. The fact that "God is supply" has kept me
going. All I have kept on doing is loving unconditionally and
with continuous prayers. Moreover, I never stop thinking of what
kind of Andrew I want to be. This gives me the courage to go through
any hardships that come along. I know they are all meant for Good.
It's like tilling the ground today for tomorrow's food.
I
consider myself blessed. Many students have tried to find places
just to gain an experience and have completely failed to get the
opportunity, but I have got it. I am trying all the best to see
that I use it. I find the condition of accepting UP's requirement
that recipients give something back to their communities as now
part of me. It's just out of the love that is growing inside of
me."
CHRISTIAN
SCIENCE LECTURES
In the past, Marjorie Scherer, CSB, has given several lectures
in Uganda. She has relocated to Kenya and is now the Board of
Lectureship Representative for Africa, as well as an active teacher
and practitioner.
She has been
traveling with the lecturer Chris O'Riordan-Adjah and has seen
great receptivity and lots of healing. Lamech Katamba has arranged
for Chris to give a lecture in his small village. Most of the
people shown with him in the photograph will attend. He has also
arranged for a CS lecture at Makerere University, and in the nearby
town of Jinja. All of these arrangements are made with very few
of the world's resources, great love for mankind, and lots of
effective prayers. At times, UP gives some financial assistance
if needed.
HOW YOU CAN
HELP
Some of our donors make a regular monthly or quarterly contribution,
so the UP committee can count on definite, regular amounts. However,
any donation at any time, small or large, greatly benefits these
deserving fellow Christian Scientists in Uganda. The effects multiply
in family and community life as the recipients learn and share
new skills and knowledge. Mary Baker Eddy's words are especially
appropriate to this work:
"Philanthropy is loving, ameliorative, revolutionary; it
wakens lofty desires, new possibilities, achievements, and energies
...Love for mankind is the elevator of the human race..."
(My p. 287)
If you would
like to participate in this outreach, send a tax-deductible contribution
payable to: TPF/Uganda Project.
Mail to:
Jennifer Zobelein, Treasurer,
2130 Ravoli Drive, Oxnard, CA 93035-2924.
(805) 984-0464 jenzobe@verizon.net
Questions?
Nancy Dorsey, Administrator (208) 755-4389
Email: nrdorsey@aol.com
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CONTACTS:
If you feel
moved to respond, checks should be made payable to: Uganda
Project
Jim Dorsey,
Treasurer
1122 Sunny Hill Drive
Columbus, OH 43221-2337
Phone:
(614) 459-6561
You may also contact Nancy Dorsey, Administrator
(614) 459-6561 nrdorsey@aol.com
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