In September, 2014 we made arrangements to purchase a house as a permanent residence for the girls living in the House of Jjajja Don under the supervision of the Board of Directors of the Diakonos Don Foundation (DIDOFO) in Uganda. A purchase price of $61,244 was negotiated with a down payment of $28,532 with the balance of $32,712 to be paid over a three year period.

In November, we sent the funds for the down payment on the house. When the DIDOFO representatives approached the seller, he changed the terms of the agreement so no purchase agreement was signed. In the meantime, another house was located that would meet our needs. The owner wanted $57,170 for the house and property. He was willing to accept a down payment of $28,532 with the balance to be paid in six months. The lower purchase price saved us $4,074. The DIDOFO Board accepted these terms and a purchase agreement was signed on December 2, 2014 for the house. Now the girls will be able to move into a new permanent home in January, 2015. It is a three year dream that is finally coming true!

Funds had been supplied to pay rent for the entire year on the current location. The DIDOFO Board notified the owner the rental agreement would be terminated on December 31, 2014. The balance of the rental funds will be used to make improvements on the new house.

So many of you have been instrumental in keeping the house open and functioning along with helping make the permanent house possible. Thanks to all of you and the support you have offered.

The entire endeavor has been a learning experience for me and the DIDOFO Board members in Uganda. We look forward to being able to build a long term residence and training school for these young women rescued from the commercial sex industry. The Board is working to develop a working plan for the house and a reasonable budget to implement the plan.

The challenge for me and the Board members of Bridging International Communities is to raise another $28,532 in the next six months to finalize the purchase of the new house. We currently have $7,044 towards that goal. We look forward to the challenge of finding the balance of $21,490 and will keep you all up-to-date on our success in assisting the House of Jjajja Don and its residents!

Peace and all good, Deacon Don Leach

A New House for the Girls--any way you think you can help out?

Dear Don,

I tried on Friday, 07th February 2014 to raise you on phone, immediately after meeting the owner of the new proposed DIDIFO Home, of the forwarded pictures. It was not easy, any way!

We came up with the following:

1. The home is enclosed (perimeter wall)

2. The premises have 3 structures:

               a) A big house with 3 bedrooms

               b) A guest house

               c) A boys quarter

3. After negotiations, the selling price: Ug. Shs. 180,000,000 an equivalent of Us $ 75,000 (when 1 Us $ is equivalent to Ug. Sh. 2,400/=).

Terms of payment:

70% i.e. Us $ 52,500 (Ug. Shs. 126,000,000/=) on date of signing the agreement with his Lawyers.

30% i.e. Us. $ 22,500 (Ug. Shs. 54,000,000/=) after a grace period of two months (2 months), after signing the agreement.

N.B.:

The house will of course need some renovations, and there are still some tenants, who are still occupying it.

Among a number of premises visited, this has come out to be the most spacious, and reasonable. Others are too small and yet more expensive for the cause.

No one around here is ready to accept payments after a long period of time, as we had thought before i.e. paying in 3 installments for a period of 3 years, while paying Us $ 20,000 for example, please!

I don't know now what to do, as wait to hear from you! There are a number of some other interested buyers around, I have been informed!

God bless!

Financial and Informational Update on the House of Jjajja Don

Dear Don,

Heartfelt greetings from Rehabilitation Home! Below are some financial updates

Balance as par 15^th January 2014:                         Ug. Shs. 22,726,303/=

24^th Jan. 2014: Instructors’ salaries:

 1. Flavia (Sewing): Ug. Shs.300,000/=

 2. Maria (Spinning)             300,000/=

 3. Hadhijah (Baby spinning)300,000/=

School Supplies:

 1) Eve Namuli                           150,000/=

 2) Regina Nantabadde            150,000/=

               Shoes                           30,000/=

 3) Juliet Nakku                           150,000/=

Spinning machines repairs                                   120,000/=

Sewing machines: lubricants                                 10,000/=

Spinning threads (EMMACO School order)      480,000/=

Transport to Kyebando VCT                                   42,000/=

Sanitary pads                                                                52,000/=

House supplies                                                         367,800/=

Facilitation: Ms. Dorothy Kateregga                   30,000/=

                 Gerald (Fuel)                                       70,000/=

                 Gerald                                                    50,000/=

                 Diana                                                      20,000/=

Facilitation: New Premises search: Ms Dorothy 30,000/=

                  Gerald (Gas) 70,000/=

                  Gerald                          50,000/=

                New premises photos                             30,000/=

Total Expenditure:                          Ug. Shs.     2,801,800/=

Balance as par 25^th January 2014:              Ug. Shs. 19,924,503/=

N.B.:

1. Emmanuel College (EMMACO), where Clare had her Ordinary level education in Kazo, placed in their order for 50 school sweaters before the beginning of 1^st Term academic year 2014. Some girls are busy knitting them, which is very much encouraging.

2. The learners will report for their 1^st Term academic year 2014 on 2^nd February 2014.

3. We are busy searching for new premises as the present land lord (Hadghi Ahammad Ntambara) seems reluctant to sell off his estates. We have visited a number of houses around Kawempe (St Kizito Bwayiise) in the company of Brokers. The bargaining price is around Ug. Shs. 200,000,000/= (Us $ 83,500 when 1 Us $ is equivalent to Ug. Shs. 2,400/=).

4. Allow me to forward to you some pictures of one of the houses that has consumed our interest for the cause. We have not yet met the owner of these premises though.

Thanks for all your efforts to support the needy future generation of our nation!

God bless!  

Gerald.

(January 29^th, 2014)                                         

Diakonos Don Foundation

I want to let you know as much as I know about what is happening in Uganda with the CSWs who live in the house I have been supporting.

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

Financial Update

Heartfelt greetings from Kampala – Uganda!

Below are some financial updates:

Balance as par 07^th November 2013:                                                                                        Ug. Shs. 33,508,283/=

15^th Nov.:  Electricity bill:                             Ug. Shs. 50,000/=

                     Water bill:                                                     25,000/=

                     Bank charges                                                                  2,500/=

                     Spinning threads                                        37,500/=

                     Elastic piece (tailoring)                            8,000/=

                     Leather works: 26 Soles                        104,000/=

                                                   5 leather sheets          313,750/=

                                                   Other requirements   158,500/=

                   Robinah: Handcraft requirements        15,000/=

                   Fiona: Gardening (Irish potatoes)         10,000/=

                   House supplies                                           414,000/=

                   Instructors’ pay: Flavia (Fashion &..)   300,000/=

                                                    Maria (Spinning…)     300,000/=

                   Gerald’s Fuel (gas)                                      60,000/=

                   Facilitation (Gerald)                                    40,000/=

Total Expenditure:                                                   1,838,250/=                                                                33,508,283/=

Balance as par 18^th November 2013: Ug. Shs. 31,670,033/=

N.B.:

1.       After some reluctance in the house, followed with some discussions,  Juliet Nakafeero  resumed making shoes. On Friday, 15^th Nov. we bought some more requirements in her company.

2.       We are  in contact with the sister organization (KVTC) at Kamwokya Parish, to see whether we can fix the girls in their institute, to acquire some skills in shoe making, in the meantime, as they closed for Christmas holidays at the end of the year. Clare completed her Senior Four Exams (Ordinary level) recently, she reported in the house, awaiting her results. She is among those who are ready to acquire the skills!

God bless!

Gerald.

Updated Information

Allow me to bring to your attention some new financial updates:

Balance as par 16^th October 2013:                            Ug. Shs. 6,009,853/=

18^th Oct. 2013: Electricity bill                         Ug. Shs. 50,000/=

                             Water bill                                         25,000/=

                            Bank charges                                      2,500/=

            House Supplies                                  305,800/=                              

            Salaries: Ms. Flavia Nabukalu           300,000/=

                                Ms. Maria Auma            300,000/=

            Learners: Uni tuition: Phalaine           800,000/=

                                 Uni requirements “      595,500/=

                                Medical  Bill: Eve            20,000/=

                                                         Regina   10,000/=

                                                         Juliet      10,000/=

                                                         Clare      20,000/=

Total                                                            2,438,800/=                                                6,009,853/=

Balance as par 21^st October  2013:            Ug. Shs. 3,571,053/=

               

N.B.:

1. Cissy has taken some time upcountry, in the village, while taking care of her ailing baby.

2. The girls are in the know of your communication (16^th Oct. 2013) about developing skills to be self-sustain, which I read to them in their meeting on Friday, 18^th  Oct. 2013.

3. I last saw and talked to Jackie Nabbumba in the house, on 04^th July 2013. Her housemates told me later, she appeared as if she was taking her baby for treatment the day she disappeared. She has never come back. Traces of her whereabouts are still futile!

Gerald.

Update Financial Report 30

Dear Don,

Thanks for all your efforts towards supporting the Girls for a difference!

Below are some financial updates:

Balance as par 16^th October 2013:                                                                             Ug. Shs. 6,009,853/=

18^th Oct: Electricity Bill                  Ug. Shs. 50,000/=

                 Water bill                                           25,000/=

                 Bank charges                                      2,500/=

House supplies                              311,500/=

Instructors: Ms Flavia                  300,000/=

                       Ms. Maria                  300,000/=

Learners: Eve (transport)             20,000/=

                    Regina (upkeep)          10,000/=

                    Juliet    (upkeep)          10,000/=

                    Clare                 (medical assist.) 20,000/=

                   Felane (University..)1,395,500/=

31^st Oct: Wired money from St Aloysious:      -                                                     Ug. Shs. 30,604,430/=

01^st Nov.: Electricity bill:                                              50,000/=

    Water bill                                        25,000/=

     Bank charges                                                   2,500/=

    House supplies                          384,000/=

    Spinning rolls                                                37,500/=

    Spinning machine parts            30,000/=

    Robinah’s mat supplies              2,500/=

    Buttons (tailoring)                      30,000/=

    Electric iron repair                      15,000/=   

House telephone repair                               25,000/=

Gerald’s fuel (gas)                           60,000/=

Total:                                                             3,106,000/=                                                                36,614,283/=

Balance as par 07 November 2013:           Ug. Shs. 33,508,283/=

God bless!

Gerald.