| News Update August 2008 |
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Dear Friends of S O S: Since our last newsletter we have completed phase one of Project ER –“Education Rwanda”. Our goal was to supply L’Ecole Premiere Nyanza with 105 new desks for students and they have been delivered. See pictures in body of this Newsletter. FINANCIAL STATMENT:For the period from April 2008 to July 2008 Total donation from supporters: $ 210.00 Total donation from SOS directors $ 100.00 Project ER costs for 60 school desks $2053.52 Contribution to Kyenjojo Society $ 100.00 *100% of supporters’ donation will be put towards projects. Administrative costs are borne by SOS directors. 
COLLABORATION & PARTNERSHIPS
1. NEW Kyenjojo Society for AIDS Orphans On April 18, 2008 SOS invited donors and interested parties to come to a celebration to acknowledge the completion of phase I of Project ER with the purchase and delivery of 105 student desks to L’Ecole Primaire Nyanza. Our meeting was a happy occasion where we not only celebrated what we had accomplished but consulted with those present on what future projects to undertake. One presentation made at this gathering was by Darcy Rautenberg, director of Kyenjojo Society for AIDS Orphans. In this project Darcy oversees working with 30 orphaned boys in Uganda and undertakes projects with them such as building brick houses for shelter, agricultural projects for food security, as well as a rain catchment system for water and solar systems for electricity. In response to his presentation, SOS made a donation to further his project work. SOS’s hope is to be able to establish and fund a similar project for orphaned girls in Uganda. We will keep you posted on our progress.
2. L'Ecole Technique Officielle (ETO) SOS has continued its collaboration with ETO, also known as NCT (Nyanza College of Technology), the technical school which built the desks for the primary school in Gatenga. (See new projects section of this newsletter for SOS’s latest collaboration with ETO)
FUNDRAISING EVENTSAs we said in our April Newsletter, the people and communities we work with are really the poorest of the poor, and sometimes it is like starting from scratch- the need is so great. That is why we chose education, community health, and food security as our areas of focus- always with an emphasis on sustainability, and equity. The needs are many and obvious. However we lack the funding needed to be efficient and many projects sit waiting while we agonize over how to raise the needed funding. We are also looking for innovative ways in which the funds we raise can be stretched the farthest, and spent very carefully. Consequently SOS’s Board of Directors absorbs all the administrative fees associated with operating our organization. All monies donated go directly and totally to the project. If you can help us with a venue for a presentation or ideas for fundraising, please let us know. Below is a current/recent summary of our fund raising activities. 1. Three small children’s classes have taken on SOS as a service project and as a result of busking on the Victoria inner harbor, making and selling cookies, donating hard earned allowances, going without toys or other wants, have, considering their limited earning capacity, contributed a considerable amount – close to $400 in total! 2. SOS has planned a Chinese Cooking Class fund raiser for August 22nd. See invitation at the end of this newsletter. 3. There will be future cooking classes Mexican and Indian dates TBA. 4. SOS welcomes you to host a fund raiser and we will do the lion’s share of the work! We have created a short program about an hour in length that outlines the concept of socio-economic work, an overview of our current project including a power point with pictures. We include some fun activities related to the project. & a small display of art work. We provide refreshments. In other words, we are prepared to organize the entire event! All we need from you is the venue, beverages, cutlery, cups, serviettes and plates for people to put their snacks and most important, we need your invited friends and neighbours. Contact by email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or phone @ 250-478-6369. PROJECT ER UPDATE:
Assembling the desks in Gatenga The final order of desks has been built and delivered. You can see in the pictures, that the desks were delivered in pieces and assembled on site at the primary school in Gatenga. This is because these two schools are two hours driving time apart and delivering and assembling “Ikea style” made for the cheapest and most efficient mode of transporting the desks to their final destination. 
NEW PROJECT IDEAS:
1. L’Ecole Primaire Nyanza – Primary School in Gatenga –PHASE II 20 Chairs and 18 Cabinets When we asked him, Jackson Mukiza, the principal of L’Ecole Primaire Nyanza (the primary school in Gatenga), informed us of the need for chairs for the teachers to sit on and cabinets for locking and storing of supplies. Cost of this project is $4,000 US - $60 US per chair and $160 US per cabinet. See the proposed style for each in the accompanying pictures. This is a big project and we are currently seeking funding. Perhaps there is a school that might like to take on this project to assist these children. Children in Canada, as part of their French classes could correspond as pen pals and practice their French! Jackson is eager to set up a pen pal program. If you have some ideas, we welcome your input.
2. ETO Gitarama (NCT)Projects
Currently we are working with ETO on two small projects related to their “ETO Project MAD” – make a difference campaign. The focus of this project is to provide practical work experience for the graduates while, at the same time, improving the school’s
facilities. The predominant focus of this project is on the vulnerable and underprivileged people within the local community. See the outlined project and related needs at the end of this newsletter. Total budget is $29,380 US which is a huge undertaking! At this time SOS is only able to assist with a small portion of the financial requirement, see below: Project I Classroom Machinery Repair Repair of ETO Gitarama workshop machines of two pedestal drilling machines and electronic hacksaw. Cost: $400 US Project II - Dispensary construction The village of Butansinda, where ETO is located, has a large population with three secondary schools (including ETO Gitarama), but no medical facility. The closest facility is 5 km. Not far when you have transport, but no one does. The majority of the population has to walk if they want to go anywhere, even to receive medical attention. If a person is so sick they cannot walk, then they are carried in what would be described as a stretcher. The intention is to operate the dispensary as "not for profit" for the whole community. SOS is in the process of raising funds to complete the building of this dispensary. Cost $1350 US
3. Uganda Projects SOS is currently exploring the costs and what would be involved in
HOW YOU CAN HELP:
349 Chapel Heights Drive, Victoria, BC, V9C 4A6 or via paypal on our website at www.step1services.org
As you can see, the needs are great and we welcome your financial support for these most deserving projects. When we update you with our next newsletter we are hopeful that you will be dazzled by our accomplishments which would mean we were equally dazzled by the financial support we received that enabled us to make our ideas become reality. Look for our next Newsletter in October/November 08
Until then keep in mind that, “The betterment of the world can be accomplished through pure and goodly deeds, through commendable and seemly conduct.” ~Baha’u’llah |
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