Fr Gerald called and he has talked to the owner of the home. He offered him $80,000 USD for the house and the land. It would be a $20,000 payment upon signing and then three payments each year for three years to make up the balance. Gerald says the owner is still waiting to see how he feels about it. There is still a discrepancy over the title that has not been cleared up.
Time is quickly moving forward to the end of our current lease at the end of September 2014. I have asked Gerald to look for other properties which could be purchased for the same amount that would suffice for the girl's residence.
He is also making a legal entity under Ugandan Corporate law called the "Diakonos Don Foundation Rehabilitation Home." The Foundation is then planning to develop a "Vocational School" under Ugandan Directorate of Industrial Training and the Ugandan Association of Private Vocational Training Institutions requirements. It would create a residential and non-residential school for young people coming from the Kawempe slums. He is proposing a plan for 250 youth per year for the government application process.
It all seems remarkable to me but Gerald feels it can be accomplished with the people he has in line for the Board in Uganda. Of course, he would be looking to us for a lot of the funding for this program. I have currently covered the rent until September 2014. The school tuition for the girls in school is covered for 2014, and there has been an allocation made for each month for the next several months. I have $10,000 toward the initial payment and I am confident I can raise the remaining $10,000 for the initial land/house purchase in September. The goal for the purchase would be $20,000 per year for three years after that.
I hope to be able to give you more detailed information before our next Board meeting.
Peace, Don
