Visit to Rukiga

Mike and Mim were visiting six youngsters in Rukiga who are sponsored by Hillingdon borough residents. In addition, their task was to assess the progress of water projects which Click Rukiga is funding as well as seeing further needs within the area. Mike who famously took Princess Diana to Angola in 1997 during the landmine campaign admitted that although a hardened aid worker, seeing how hard it is for the people to make a living and survive, brought tears to his eyes. Mike reported that he was pleased with progress being made. He was encouraged to see the locals  working hard and acquiring skills for the bettermeant of their communities.

During the winter of 2008/2009, Mike and Mim together with Annette from World Vision, revisited Rukiga. One of the best things during this visit was to make contact with some of the children being sponsored by our local people. In one house they visited, probably typical of many, these children live in houses with mud floors with chairs set around a small low table. With just one small window with shutters but no glass, they are dark inside. Mud walls are covered in places by newspapers, some English. Probably the likelihood is just one bedroom and a small kitchen which is a charcoal fire outside to the rear of the house. For some, clean safe water is collected from taps nearby, brought about by the early stages of the water projects we have been funding. Some are still waiting for our help.

The children visited were each left a present, photos and letters. These items were very much appreciated, as was the fact that people from so far away were interested in their lives and wanted to help. Our group too were given a small gift from these families. The group saw firsthand the huge difference that sponsorship can make. If you feel you could offer support in this way, please look on this website for the sponsorship page.

Visit 2010

In April 2010 three of our steering group were  due to visit Uganda. Because of the volcanic ash in Iceland, the trip was not able to take place and has been postponed to September.

We have been able to do this because of a very generous donation of air miles from an Ickenham resident. We are to visit project sites and several of our sponsored children as well as spending time fostering links.