Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Sylvia's Children News Update

This is a quick update on what is happening in the Mbiriizi Advanced Primary School in Mbiriizi, Uganda, Africa.

First, the difficult news. One of our children was hit by a car and is in the hospital. It is a student in P-3 ... Asher Ssemakula ... and we are very concerned for her. Please keep her in your prayers. We are so lucky to have Brigitte, a nurse and dear friend, who works at the hospital and she can check on her. As you know we have the money for our clinic but need $29,300 so we can install solar energy. We need it 24/7, not every third day like the current electric service.

The medical trip was cancelled. I did not realize how much I missed the school and the country until I realized I won't be going until May to plan the June trip. I have been in tears. We currently have Doug Brown, Michele Costa, Becca Brandt, Joanne Howe, Vernoy Paolini and me going on the June trip which is June 14-26. Want to join us? We can only take six more and if there are any medical people who want to come it would be a Godsend. We have 250+ NEW students who need physicals and those of us going can help if we just have a leader.

St. John Vianney High School continues to be highly supportive (they are in Holmdel, NJ) and have sold $172 worth of Sylvia's Children wrist bracelets that Michele had made up. They are also doing a clothing drive (for which we get 15¢ a pound)  And, we start back with Starbucks in 10 stores ...  Manalapan, East Brunswick, New Brunswick, South Brunswick, Westfield, Edison, Piscataway ... for the clothing drive April 9 to June 11. Go through your closets, do your spring cleaning, bring to these stores... they are wonderful to help us.

And, lastly, we always need sponsors for our children. We now have 40 of our orphans attending Secondary School, with three of them in S-4 meaning they will graduate this year and be eligible to continue on to S-5 and 6. They are the future of the country. If you want to sponsor a child just go to our website .... www.sylviaschildren.org and click on the donate-now button. We have made it easy for you!

The New York Times Travel Show is at Javits Center this weekend and I will be there from 10 am to 2 pm in the APTA (Association for the Promotion of Tourism booth). Please come on by ... say hello ... maybe sign up for a trip.

On Saturday, March 24, we will have our third annual Band Aid for Uganda performance from 12 noon to 2 pm. This is a fundraiser but also an opportunity for Holmdel High School talent ot show their best. Tickets are $10.00 and thanks to Beth Ruda and her son Stephen we expect it to be another success!

I have been nominated for the busiest woman for a Hormel award. The link isn't working so I don't have any information but ... stay tuned. It's a GREAT national PR opportunity.

In the meantime we still need sponsors for the children. They are our prime focus and we need to keep getting them educated. As you know only 20% of boys go beyond P-7 and only 17% of girls. At the moment ALL of our children go on. Thanks for caring about these children and their lives
  

Sylvia Allen


732-946-2711