Please help the Women of Kireka!
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Sep. 16th, 2008 | 12:59 pm
After some back to school hassle, I have finally "launched" the Women of Kireka blog.
The blog was inspired by my first foray into Citizen Journalism while working for Women of Uganda Network. I figured blogs could also be used for raising money, or at least, awareness about different issues.
I met Beatrice a few months ago in the WOUGNET offices. She told me about the women working at the stone quarry in Kireka, just outside Kampala. She said they had fled the war in Northern Uganda. When they arrived in Kampala, destitute and with many children to care for, they took the first jobs offered: crushing rocks for less than $1 a day and / or prostitution.
I visited the quarry not long after this chance encounter with Beatrice. The women were wonderful: gracious, kind, beautiful women working so hard for the basic human right to feed and care for their wonderful daughters and sons. During quick interviews with each woman, I kept thinking back on how many people I knew in Canada who would be touched by their story and want to help. Hence, the launch of the Women of Kireka blog.
The blog will keep everyone updated on the women's lives and the situation in Northern Uganda + Uganda in general. After spending several weeks deliberating with the women, they decided they wanted to start a collective tailoring business. Beatrice, who graduated with a Business degree from Makerere University, is handling all finances and the program itself. Please check our "Funding Goals" for more information.
We've had to work around the fact that it's hard to get donations to Uganda in a traditional fashion. We're using a combination of internet technology and wire transfers: PayPal and Western Union. Please view "How To Donate" for more information.
Well, to whoever reads this post, remember, any and every amount makes a difference. $7 is enough to give someone three hearty meals a day in Uganda. If you save up coffee for a month with a few friends, $150 is enough for one sewing machine; $50 is enough to get another woman to the hospital and cover Gloria's medication.
If you're interested in supporting the Women of Kireka through a funding initative or by sending materials like pencils and school supplies (for their many children), blankets, needles, cloth, thread, please let me know at siena.anstis@gmail.com
The blog was inspired by my first foray into Citizen Journalism while working for Women of Uganda Network. I figured blogs could also be used for raising money, or at least, awareness about different issues.
I met Beatrice a few months ago in the WOUGNET offices. She told me about the women working at the stone quarry in Kireka, just outside Kampala. She said they had fled the war in Northern Uganda. When they arrived in Kampala, destitute and with many children to care for, they took the first jobs offered: crushing rocks for less than $1 a day and / or prostitution.
I visited the quarry not long after this chance encounter with Beatrice. The women were wonderful: gracious, kind, beautiful women working so hard for the basic human right to feed and care for their wonderful daughters and sons. During quick interviews with each woman, I kept thinking back on how many people I knew in Canada who would be touched by their story and want to help. Hence, the launch of the Women of Kireka blog.
The blog will keep everyone updated on the women's lives and the situation in Northern Uganda + Uganda in general. After spending several weeks deliberating with the women, they decided they wanted to start a collective tailoring business. Beatrice, who graduated with a Business degree from Makerere University, is handling all finances and the program itself. Please check our "Funding Goals" for more information.
We've had to work around the fact that it's hard to get donations to Uganda in a traditional fashion. We're using a combination of internet technology and wire transfers: PayPal and Western Union. Please view "How To Donate" for more information.
Well, to whoever reads this post, remember, any and every amount makes a difference. $7 is enough to give someone three hearty meals a day in Uganda. If you save up coffee for a month with a few friends, $150 is enough for one sewing machine; $50 is enough to get another woman to the hospital and cover Gloria's medication.
If you're interested in supporting the Women of Kireka through a funding initative or by sending materials like pencils and school supplies (for their many children), blankets, needles, cloth, thread, please let me know at siena.anstis@gmail.com