Monday, April 8, 2013

Sylvia's March 2013 Newsletter

Update on what is happening at the school!

Trip Alert
The summer trip is rapidly approaching ... it will be a 10th anniversary celebration!  Yes, we have worked over there for ten years.  Hard to believe!  So far, here are the people going:  Michele and Tony Costa, Ruby and Vanessa Stanfield, Beth Almerini and me.  Who else wants to join us? 

I will need to know by April 15 so airline reservations can be made.  The rates just keep going up!  The dates are June 13th to the 25th with departure being from either Newark or JFK, depending on the fares.  The total for the trip is still only $3,500 which covers transportation and guide in Uganda, hotel, food, airfare, and safari.  Please let me know if you will be joining us as it will be a very special, and memorable, event.

Chobani
solar on clinic, courtesy Chobani
Hurray!  The solar is in ... this picture shows the panels on the roof.  Now that this is installed we can finish the clinic.  And, this is a call for help.  Because of the wetlands issue (where we built the clinic) and the 25% inflation rate in Uganda we need to raise another $31,666 to complete it.  Would anyone be willing to hold a fundraiser? 

Playground
And, thanks to Emily Hamilton, Tom Bridges and Eastern Africa Playgrounds the children now have a wonderful playground.  This is only one of about a dozen playing areas that including climbing bars, sand box, obstacles courses, tires in different arrays, teeter totters, slides ... you can see from the happy faces that this is a wonderful addition to the school.
new playground 2013
Thanks Tom and Emily!


Hope for the City
Hope for the City, a non-profit under the able guidance of Megan Doyle, is providing all the medical and dental equipment for the clinic.  This is thanks to Jason Davis from KSTP-TV who taped a segment of the school while in Uganda and he introduced us to her.  In addition, they are providing computers, reception area furniture and helping us furnish the two bedroom apartment!!!!!  Talk about a wonderful gift.

Starbucks
Sad to say, there is a new district manager for our 10 Starbucks stores and she has decided to do something for Hurricane Sandy relief efforts.  Therefore, we still have the pod and still have the collection boxes.  Any ideas where we can put them?  Let me know ... this is still a good fundraiser and whoever hosts the boxes has increased business!  I get e-mails all the time asking when the boxes are going up at Starbucks!

Child sponsorship
We now have 250 orphans at the school in grades baby class, top class and P-1 to P-7 and 68 who are in secondary school (S-1 to S-6).  I hope you can find it in your heart to sponsor a child ... in the primary school it is only $1.00 a day and in secondary school it is $1.50 a day.  Please help us make a difference in these children's lives by taking them out of poverty.

Ugandapallooza
Michele has come up with a fun idea for celebrating our 10th anniversary ...Ugandapallooza!  On Wednesday and Thursday, having the younger children on day one and the older ones on day two, for two to three hours we would have fun!  This would be playing duck duck, goose goose; three legged races potato sack races, relay races, egg toss (plastic ones!), etc.  And, we would have fun prizes ... Mardi Gras beads, candy (need early Halloween candy for this!), stickers (LOTS of stickers), etc. Michele always has great ideas.

Gift donations
Several people and organizations have given generously over the last three months ... Macy's, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Ken Schneck are just a few that have gone out of their way to help.  Thank you so much.

Chocolate parties
Rachel MacAuley, a Dove chocolate representative, is willing to put on chocolate parties to help Sylvia's Children.  Please let me know if you would like to do one ... they are fun and you are helping Sylvia's Children.  Ruby did one last week and had 30 people ... way to go Ruby!


LET ME KNOW IF YOU ARE COMING ON THE SUMMER TRIP!
THIS TRIP WILL BE SPECIAL AND MEMORABLE.


Thank you ALL for your wonderful support of Sylvia's Children.
With your help we are making a difference!

     
Sylvia's Children

89 Middletown Road, Holmdel, NJ 07733


732-946-2711/Sylvia's cell 732-241-1144