Last month four ROA students lost their father.
Mr. Godfrey Sooto has been a parent at the ROA since 2022, when he first brought his daughter Vida. He fell in love with the school and enrolled his remaining children, Victor P6. and this year Vania and Virtuous who are twins and in P1.
He was returning home from work on his bike, when he was struck by a vehicle that was speeding. He was taken to the nearest hospital but had severe head injuries and passed shortly after arriving.
The children's mother, Amber, was born disabled and is confined to a wheelchair. She has always cared for the children while her husband, Godfrey, provided an income for their family.
“I am sad. My father always woke us up and took and picked us from school always. He went and did all his daily work. He would often pick us in the evening after school to take us home." Victor who is in P6 told our sponsorship coordinator. "Of the fateful day he didn’t come to collect us, I told my siblings, Vida, Vania and Virtuous that we should walk home to which we did. That’s when I was told that he was knocked by a car when he was coming to pick us from school. Though he died, this doesn’t mean he is not here, he is in a good place and that place is Heaven. Thank you my teachers and the School for the support you have given.”
We ask that you will join us in lifting this family, Amber, Victor P6, Vida P3, Vania and Virtuous P1 in prayer as they work through this very difficult time. If you or anyone that you know may be interested in sponsoring these students, please reach out to our H4U Sponsorship coordinator, Tamera, at tamera@hands4uganda.org.
We are pleased to share these updates and stories directly from our ROA partners! Kenneth wears many hats at ROA, but one of his biggest jobs is helping us coordinate the sponsorship program and sharing term updates. We are so grateful for Kenneth and happy to pass along all of the exciting things happening at ROA!
On the second day of term 1 2025, the school staff was surprised when student Steven presented a cake to the Head Teacher, Madam Betty Wasswa. Though it may seem small, it brings unimaginable hope and happiness knowing that he treasures every opportunity he gets to be in school.
Little did Teacher Betty know that someone else was also on their way! Billgates, who just completed the secondary program, came with a cock (rooster) to further appreciate his teacher for the support given through his education. He has been under Rock of Ages care since Baby class. Thank you to everyone who has made this achievable. One step at a time! I believe Billgates will make a difference in his home area.
When you read the name, you may wonder, "how it is the greatest meal?".It’s very rare to find a school that can feed its students fresh fish and rice.
Special thanks to Alyson Wells with the Fly Fishing Collaborative, our dear friend Jerry Keely, and the entire team that enabled the construction of the aquaculture farm. From it we managed to feed the children with rice and fish upon their return for the first term of 2025.
The tales and stories of having fish at school are awesome! There are no great words to express the gratitude for making such a reality.
On Sunday, 9th March there was a nationwide marathon organized to raise sickle cell awareness in the country. ROA gladly participated in support of two learners who are suffering from sickle cell, Angel in P4 and Joram in P6. We went to the community to show that we stand with the sickle cell fraternity. Donned in red vests, these children went to the surrounding community, which many are from, to show that they are in support of the cause. Thanks to Tr. Betty and Abdu Wasswa who brought the vests.
On Thursday 6th March there was a meeting with all probation students in the secondary program and with their parents to discuss their way forward. Among those that were summoned are those who were non-compliant with the terms and conditions of the secondary scholarship such as not turning in their report cards or letters to sponsors reporting on their term We encouraged students and reminded parents to communicate with their children to perform harder and follow the standards set forth by the program to get off the probation list.
Tr. Betty was clear as we were addressing the issues at hand. To which they all accepted to take and do their part.
Also during the routine visits to check on the students who have reported to school, I (Kenneth) went to Lords Meade Vocational college and met with the students that are under the program and we discussed how best to improve their performance and the challenges that lead to such dismal performances in term 3 of 2024 as most of the students are on probation from this school.
After the various exploits in the Netball World in Uganda, Rock of Ages is becoming more famous and as a result, we have received various invites to participate in tournaments. Although we don’t honor most of them due to financial constraints, when we do, we always go and deliver our best! We are currently ranked 3 out of 15 teams in the U14 league this year.
Upon acquiring funds, we wish to participate in more sports challenges in support of our young athletes.
Every Thursday all Staff of Rock of Ages (teaching and non-teaching) meet and pray for the children and their families, Hands4Uganda, and the sponsors.
All share their goals and targets, challenges and victories. Dedicate their future endeavors and everything to the Lord.
Some Sponsored children get extra food every month to supplement their foodstuffs at home. This food is so important because it cuts down on the family expenses. This month, they received various portions for the families.
This year there’s a drop in the enrollment of continuing and new students and this has been attributed to the standard Gauge Railway. Though it has not yet been implemented on the school property, rumors circulated that ROA school was no more. It took convincing of various parents to let them know that we are still at the old premises and nothing much has been done to remove the school yet.
This is a program solely for the children in the boarding section. A program was started whereby they are taught making snacks like chapattis, cakes, buns, pancakes and even pizzas to some extent. Here we are skilling them and learning how to make their Sunday morning breakfast snack
Though it’s very early in the year, a lot is expected throughout the year and we are eagerly waiting to see how the Lord does get us through it.
Thank you for the enormous sacrifices you have all made to make the lives of these young ones worthy. We all press on and know that the best may not be reaped tomorrow but with the simple impacts, change will prevail in due course.
Thank you all and may the good Lord bless you.
First we would like to take a moment to recognize our long time Board Member, Mackenzie Gotham, as she steps away from her Director role with H4U to pursue other life passions. Mackenzie has been a part of the Hands4Uganda leadership since 2016. She has taken various trips to ROA through the years, most recently visiting in 2022. Mackenzie has a big heart for these students and we are so grateful for the time and talents she has dedicated to this team and organization! Thank you Mackenzie- you will be missed!
Throughout the year all grades participate in school gardening and farming projects that coincide with a particular academic focus for their level. Students helped tend to the on-site chickens, dairy cows, and the newly completed fish farm. They also aided in planting, tending to, and harvesting various on-site fruits and vegetables. At the end of each term (or season) the school as a whole would celebrate their hard work and dedication with special meals and snacks prepared with their harvest!
The ROA sports program gained recognition following their National Championship Netball win this summer! In December they received an invitation to a national tournament hosted by Africa’s Talent Project in Kampala and were able to participate! This event provided invaluable exposure for the ROA children! We look forward to further developing the ROA sports teams talents in the new year!
This year brought significant developments for the ROA campus:
As mentioned in our Christmas card the current ROA property is being taken, by imminent domain, for the Eastern Standard Gauge Railway. They will not be taking the entire school property, only the area where the new school currently stands. This means ROA has no other choice but to move to a new location. We do not have many details at this time, but have been notified that the estimated value of the land and any improvements will be reimbursed. Once that estimate is paid out to our ROA partners, we will have 2 years to rebuild and relocate. With this said, our ROA team has already begun the hunt for a new parcel of land to rebuild a new school building for the 350+ students ROA currently serves. While very difficult to process, as we have just completed the current building in 2020, we are choosing to look at this as an opportunity to improve the learning environment for our beloved students even further. The next school building will not only boast a full kitchen, but we pray that it will also provide space for a small, combined library and computer lab. We ask for your prayers and if possible, your financial help to make this new project a reality!
"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Jeremiah 29:11
In 2007, when Rock of Ages School was founded, it aimed to bring hope to the children in Mbikko, a community heavily affected by the high prevalence of HIV/AIDS. Little was known about how the lives of most of these children would unfold, especially for those who had never left the confines of their birth villages.
At the start of this year, we witnessed what was once a dream become a reality. What a year 2024 turned out to be! From the first children registered in 2007 joining university, to competing in national games, and even participating in the country’s premier netball championship, it was a year of remarkable achievements.
On December 30th, 2024, the Rock of Ages U14 Netball team traveled to Kampala to compete in their first-ever tournament recognizing the best netball teams in the country. It was the only school team present at the event. Currently, Uganda is ranked 6th in the World Netball Rankings. The national team stars were in attendance, and the children from Mbikko had the incredible opportunity to meet them.
The journey began at 5:00 AM, traveling to Kampala in the new van generously donated by Next Generation Ministries. By 8:00 AM, the team had arrived.
In the U14 category, there were 24 teams grouped into six pools. Rock of Ages was placed in Group A. They won two games and lost one, securing a spot in the knockout stages. The team triumphed over Railways in the next match and advanced to the quarterfinals, where they were eventually defeated by the champions, Hope for Uganda.
This experience was unforgettable for many of the children, as they cherished every moment and made lasting memories.
I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed to making this possible, both financially and emotionally. Invitations to more tournaments and other sports events continue to pour in, and we are being requested to participate in more opportunities.
Thank you, Hands4Uganda, for making this dream a reality.
At the beginning of this month, the Primary Seven students completed their National Examinations. Two students—Samuel (392) and Frank (292)—have continued to volunteer their time to assist with school activities:
We appreciate their dedication and hard work in contributing to the school’s agricultural activities.
The sports training program remains active, and our team’s commitment is beginning to gain external recognition. We have received an invitation from Africa’s Talent Project in Kampala to participate in the Netball Festival of the Year 2024 on 30th December 2024 at Watoto Bbira Children’s Village.
We are hopeful to secure funding to facilitate transportation, meals, and other expenses required for participation. This will be a great opportunity for the children to gain exposure and showcase their skills. Photos of the ongoing training sessions and the invitation letter have been attached for your reference.
As Nelson Mandela once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
Joseph Muhooli was among the first students to enroll at Rock of Ages Community School in 2007. Sponsored throughout his primary and secondary education, Joseph received a partial government scholarship to pursue medical laboratory training.
Recently, he began his hospital training, and it was a proud moment for us when he served at Butabika Hospital in Kampala. Coming from a humble background, Joseph’s success serves as a beacon of hope for his family and the community. Thank you all for your continued support in his inspiring journey.
In the week leading up to the Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE), the Primary Seven class had the honor of receiving a visit from Fridah Bilyeri, an alumna currently studying at Wanyange Girls School—one of the country’s top girls’ schools.
Accompanied by her school administrators and fellow students, Fridah visited to wish the candidates success in their exams. Her pride in her former school was evident and inspiring.
On 26th October, following the Primary Seven Party, a distressing incident occurred when one of our candidates, Namulindwa Shifura, was struck by a falling tree branch due to heavy winds. She was hospitalized, but her classmates rallied together, organizing a fundraising effort to support her with fruits, juice, and cash.
Accompanied by teachers, the students traveled to Shifura’s home to pray for and encourage her. This act of unity and compassion was truly remarkable. We are pleased to share that Shifura made a full recovery in time to sit for her exams.
Since the inception of Rock of Ages, one of the key advantages we have enjoyed on our property is access to fresh fruits. This term coincided with mango season, and the students were able to enjoy fresh mangoes from the school grounds.
This joyful moment serves as a reminder of the significance of moving to our new property. We extend our gratitude to everyone who made this possible and invite you to join us in celebrating “Fruits Day”, a testament to the school’s blessings and growth.
On 26th October, the Primary Seven learners celebrated their leavers’ party, an event organized by the school to honor their time and achievements. The day began with a morning swimming session, followed by a vibrant party where the learners enjoyed food, music, and dancing.
It was a memorable and beautiful occasion. We extend our appreciation to everyone who contributed to making this celebration a success.
Thank you all for your continued support and dedication throughout this term.
Best regards,
Rock of Ages Sponsorship Team
Sponsors and Donors,
I am pleased to present to you our end of year newsletter!
But first, I would like to share a heartfelt “Thank You” to each of you for your continued support. Without our student sponsors and donors, Hands4Uganda would not be able to facilitate the needed funding for the continuation of Rock of Ages Community School. Your support has affected over 400 children this year alone. Your donations have not only provided access to an education, food, water, and medical care, but also the exploration of sports, arts, and special interests. This year we were proud to support the ROA initiative to provide more opportunities for students to play, discover, and compete in a variety of individual and team sports as well as artistic activities. You can read more about this under “Sports, Arts, and Extracurricular Expansion” below.
Although we have a shared love for ROA, the H4U BOD members are spread through multiple states including Texas, Arizona, Montana and Idaho. At the beginning of this year we gathered for a three day meeting in order to connect in person and discuss the future of H4U and our support of ROA. We hope to see this program continue into the distant future as we have seen, firsthand, the impact of the facilitation of your donations on the lives of the children we serve at ROA. From this meeting the idea for an H4U Endowment Fund was shared and this year our members have worked diligently to establish this fund to ensure that we and our donors have an opportunity to ensure the support of this school, long after we are gone.
We look forward to the opportunities for service and connection that 2023 may hold. We feel incredibly blessed to be entrusted with this work and we thank you for your prayers and financial gifts that have made another year at ROA a success!
Blessings on your holidays and New Year,
Ariane Shaver
Hands4Uganda Board Chair
If you follow us on social media, you know that students have a variety of agricultural lessons throughout the year including gardening, cattle rearing, and poultry farming. To celebrate the students’ knowledge and work in these areas throughout the past school year, students partook in a school grown meal. On this day students were served chicken, a much-loved lunch special, from chickens that were hatched and tended to by students on campus. They also had posho, a corn meal side dish created from corn that was planted, grown, dried and sorted for milling on site. Lastly, they enjoyed a handful of fruits and vegetables harvested from the school garden. Students were all smiles as they devoured this well-earned, celebratory meal!
“To learn to read is to light a fire; every syllable that is spelled out is a spark.” ― Victor Hugo
Each Friday students participate in a schoolwide activity, referred to as DEAR which stands for Drop Everything And Read. This is a Rotary International initiative to enhance children’s literacy skills. For one hour each Friday, students visit the ROA library room, choose books to take back to their classes and share in quiet reading time. For younger students, teachers will read or distribute small picture book sets for children to follow along. During this trimester, local Rotarians visited ROA to explore the schools library, donate additional books and reading materials for students, and participate in a Friday DEAR hour. This visit was accompanied by both local TV and radio, featuring the ROA library which is one-of-a-kind in the area!
We continue to look forward to the completion of the Fly Fishing Collaborative Aquaculture Farm. While we had hoped for this project to be completed by the end of this year, our ROA team, volunteer, and the FFC team have been working diligently to ensure the appropriate power supply and backups will be in place before any fish are brought on site. While the infrastructure for the farm was completed this year, tanks are in place, and plans have been laid for the garden expansion, a consistent power source to ensure the continuous movement of water through each tank has been a struggle to secure.
A generous donor (and electrical engineer by trade) has helped us to create a plan for solar power that will tie in to a back-up generator and city power. With this system in place, we should never have to fear the loss of power to the pond pumps which would cause a loss of all stocked fish. Now that this hurdle and been overcome, we look forward to a project completion early in this coming year!
The teachers and staff at ROA have worked diligently to expand opportunities for students to partake in arts, sports, and extracurricular activities throughout this past year. Research shows that allowing children to explore through play helps them to perform better in the classroom. We were pleased to support the ROA initiative to increase opportunities for students to play and explore a variety of sports and artistic expressions this year.
Each term’s activities focused on a different category of sport or art. Through the first term students focused on track and field events. Second term brought ball and team sports including volleyball, netball, woodball, chess, and an all-school favorite- football (soccer).
Third term’s focus was primarily on arts and performance and students partook in a variety of music, dance, and drama lessons, showcasing their talents at the end of year school celebration!
Student of all ages participate in these activities, competing against their peers in individual sports and performances. However, this was the first year that ROA school teams have been able to partake in district competitions throughout the area!
In addition to the school wide expansion of arts and sports, after school club opportunities were also presented by teachers and staff. Current clubs and extracurricular groups include Tailoring, Writing, Debate, Scripture Union, and Umeme. A school favorite is Umeme which is Uganda’s leading electrical distribution company. Students learn about electricity, safety, and even get to attend a field trip to the local power plant!
As opportunities for students continue to grow, ROA needs equipment and supplies to facilitate student involvement. If you would like to donate towards these items, please donate through our site here and add a note of “extracurricular needs”.
As this year comes to and end we will see a third class of students complete their Lower Secondary Education. ROA graduates are supported through Secondary School at four separate locations. Due to a lack of funding as well as staff H4U has been unable to provide opportunities for lower secondary students to continue through an upper secondary education. After much discussion, prayer, and planning we are pleased to announce that beginning in 2024, ROA lower secondary graduates will be able to continue in their education if receiving a score within Division I for their final exams! We are anticipating four students from the 2023 class will meet this requirement and pray that God will provide more funding opportunities for future students to continue in their education!
As mentioned in the opening note from our board chair, H4U has established an endowment fund. The Hands4Uganda Endowment (H4UE) offers opportunities and structure to those who wish to provide financial support for H4U's mission through charitable giving. The purpose of the endowment is to enable H4U to continue to maintain financial stability through scholarships and offset school overhead (e.g. utilities, maintenance, curriculum, and other costs associated with the operations) of Rock of Ages School. Through this endowment fund, the committee seeks to provide a perpetual source of income supporting education programs for Uganda youth.
If you are interested in donating to the H4UE, please reach out to Andy Benscoter with any questions at andy@hands4uganda.org.
I greet you all in the almighty name of our Lord Jesus Christ!
I thank the Lord for His continued provisions of both life and different resources.
Today marks the second month since the start of the new academic year of the institution. The pupils have reported and it's back to the normal classroom business.
We have retained most of the the staff members, except for a few who have joined the governmental education system. We have three new teachers that have joined us, Teacher Sharon, Teacher Agnes, and Teacher Victo.
On the other hand, we have retained many of our pupils and all have moved to new classes. The biggest percentage have returned expect some that changed schools due to circumstances beyond our control (like moving to another area).
In these past weeks, we have registered a total of 347 pupils altogether, though more pupils are still expected to report in the coming weeks.
As we start this term, we hope to integrate the normal curriculum with hands on skill training to give our learners a cutting edge and awaken the entrepreneurial skill in them.
This term we will run on the following program.
| DATE | ACTIVITY |
| January 30 | Opening of Term 1 |
| February 18 | Celebration of Rock of Ages Graduates |
| February 27-28 | Beginning of Term 1, I Exams |
| March 27-28 | Mid Term Exams |
| April 1 | Checking of Pupils Progress |
| April 24-25 | End of Term Exams |
| May 5 | Closure of Term |
Beginning of term Exams are to be done and are ongoing. The is vital to the studies and academic progress of the children as Ethel's evaluate them since they are coming from the long holidays.
As the new term resumed, trainings and preparations were made for the Graduation Celebrations that took place on 18th of February, and it was a successful event! This compensates the activities that were meant to take place towards the end of last term. But due to the Ebola outbreak (in Uganda), the celebrations were postponed to this year the everything was okay health wise.
This celebration was the first event that was held at the new school premises that was a function used to connect and build bonds between pupils, parents, and teachers. It was a joyful function! The theme emphasized on the cultural backgrounds of the various tribes (of Uganda) and their cultures.
The biggest need that the school may have this year is for another building. So we pray that the Lord may further provide and we will get a well built Kitchen and Dining Hall, together with dormitories (for the P7 classes) because at the moment we have fun out of space in the forms.
Furthermore, I would like to appreciate the support and the grace that the Lord has enabled to put this team together with Rock of Ages, Hands4Uganda, and you, our supporters.
Betty Wasswa
Founder and Director
Rock of Ages
A Year in Review
In July, Board Chair Ariane Shaver, Directors Mackenzie Gorham and Adam Conley, and an H4U volunteer, Malori Starks were the first team to visit ROA since the completion of the new school facility! Due to COVID-19 this was the first time since 2019 that a team has been able to travel to Uganda. While visiting ROA they were able to provide over 200 new books for the ROA library, school supplies, teaching aids, earrings, and ear piercings. Additionally, basic first aid techniques were taught and information on the importance of mental health was shared.
The team spent a lot of quality time with Betty and the ROA team to better clarify needs and goals for the students and the school. One of the joint focuses for H4U and ROA as we move into the new year will be to enhance communication between students and sponsors. We look forward to a new system that will help you feel more connected and up to date with all the happenings at ROA and H4U! In addition, the team had the opportunity to work with the Fly Fishing Collaborative to move forward with the aquaculture project! For more information on the beloved “Fish Farm” check out the section labeled “Aquaculture Update” below.
While the school building was completed at the beginning of January 2021, many finishing touches were needed to truly make the school as functional as possible. We have been chipping away at these small, but significant, needs and are excited to share our progress!
New desks and bookshelves have been placed in all classrooms creating more space for students and storage of their learning materials.
Chalkboards and bulletin boards have been installed in all classrooms for teaching aids and displays. The school walls are made of concrete and in order to preserve the structure, no nails or tacks are allowed to be pushed into the walls and tape is only a temporary solution. The display boards provide a much-needed space for learning materials and a more visual and fun learning opportunity for the students!
New walkways have been installed in the school courtyard and ROA is working to allow for grass growth in open areas over the winter break!
Additional needs for classrooms still include storage. Eventually we would like cubbies and additional bookshelves to be installed in all classrooms to aid in classroom organization and cleanliness.
“The mission of Hands4Uganda is to make a positive difference in the lives of the children and youth of Uganda by assisting them in achieving their highest potential through a faith-based education”. And from the very first graduating Rock of Ages class, we have done our best to ensure these children are able to continue in their education through secondary school. As many of you may know, Rock of Ages does not have its own secondary school which means all students who graduate must transition to a new school. Secondary programs are boarding schools and the cost is nearly 3x the amount needed for primary sponsorship ($80 vs $30/month). In addition, none of the secondary funding aids any ROA programs as all funding from secondary sponsorships is used directly to cover secondary student fees.
We have been so incredibly blessed to bring 99 children through the ROA primary program and are proud to have served 84 ROA graduates who are in secondary school this past year. Unfortunately, this program has placed a large burden on Hands4Uganda funding as only 20 students in the secondary program are currently covered by a full sponsorship, i.e. $80/mo. Over the past year we have covered tuition fees for secondary students from our holdback funds and generous, non-designated gifts to the organization. We are concerned that with the increasing size of primary classes that we will soon not be able to handle the financial burden of the secondary program.
We feel that providing a secondary education to ROA graduates is vital to our mission to help these children reach their highest potential. Only 26% of all Ugandan students complete their secondary education and we want ROA students to be a part of that number! We ask for your prayers, and if possible, financial support so that we may continue to fund the education of these deserving students!
As we have continued to develop the new school facility, it’s become apparent that additional land for Rock of Ages will be needed for the full vision of the ROA campus to come to fruition.
An unexpected piece of land and an unexpected gift came together in God’s perfect timing to help us begin to address the issue of space! This new area comes with the added benefits of two large chicken coops, an incinerator, and water well with a working pump! The chicken coops bring a great opportunity for the expansion of the ROA agricultural program. The incinerator will allow for ROA trash to be properly disposed of. Currently and traditionally within the village, trash is piled in a hole and then constantly slow-burned. The trash pit is unsafe for students and we are so excited for an enclosed incinerator that will create a more appropriate and safe solution to on site trash disposal! This new area will also provide space we can utilize for the aquaculture project and planting, leaving more space on the original school land to add much needed structures to the ROA campus.
Following two years of vetting and planning, the Fly Fishing Collaborative (FFC) team solidified their plans for an aquaponics project at Rock of Ages Community School! In fact, the FFC project lead, Alyson W., visited Rock of Ages in July while the most recent US team was there! Alyson spent a lot of time with Abdu Wasswa and Julius Dungu who will be heading the aquaculture project on site. They toured a variety of aquaponics, aquaculture, and fish farming practices in the area, even visiting an older FFC project built in Kenya!
Through their experiences, discussions, and the establishment of the overall goals for this project the aquaponics project was officially changed to an aquaculture project. Simply put, aquaponics uses an enclosed system of water to grow fish and plants together through circulating water. An aquaculture system uses water, first sent through fish tanks, and then through a drip system to plants rooted into the ground, to provide an ecosystem for fish and then nutrient dense, year-round, irrigation to plants.
Using an aquaculture system will allow for a high density of planting for fruits, vegetables, and greens. These plants along with the tanked fish will be used to supplement student lunches and surplus will be sold for increased income for the school. The amount of food created through this project is estimated to support a student population of 700 (ROA maximum capacity with the completion of the school campus). With the current student population close to 350, there will be a healthy surplus available for sale to supply extra income for the school!
As you can imagine, a project of this size does come with many costs. While our initial estimates for the project were around a $20k contribution from Hands4Uganda, the actual needed amount is $40k. We ask that you consider donating to this project as 2022 comes to an end so that we may move into 2023 with the funding needed to finally make this project a reality for the ROA campus! For additional information on this project check out the FFC blog HERE.
Following the completion of the FFC aquaculture build, the next “big project” we look forward to working on with ROA will be the Multipurpose Building. This structure will include the school kitchen, event space, library, administrative offices, and boarding space for the P7 students. We hope to begin working on this three-story building in the summer of 2023!
One of H4U’s focuses in working through our mission with ROA is building a sustainable program for the students of Mbiko.
When COVID-19 caused the global shutdown, we braced for the worst. We assumed many of our supporters, certainly out of work and unsure of what the future held, would possibly cut their charitable funding. We strategized how we would be able to continue to support ROA at the level that was needed once school resumed, assuming that we may lose a large portion of our donor base. We thank God that He and you never failed us.
For each sponsorship we lost, we gained another. And while our overall donations were smaller than they had been in previous years, many doors opened for us that have led to the ROA campus becoming more sustainable. With solar panels powering the campus, and the aquaculture project coming together which will not only provide regenerative food for students and faculty but a reliable resource for additional income for ROA.
In 2023 we hope to grow the infrastructure of H4U as an organization. This year we were fortunate to add two new board members to the Board of Directors. We look forward to continuing the mission of H4U through a team of diversified backgrounds and specialties and a common passion for supporting the students at ROA.
We hope to improve communication between sponsors and students as we know the impact these special relationships have on each of you, and the students. We are actively pursuing solutions to the setbacks that have been barriers to more regular communication and look forward to implementing these in the new year.
We thank you for your continued prayers and donations to Hands4Uganda. Without our amazing donors, and the gracious hand of God, none of this work in Uganda would be possible! We pray that you will continue this journey with us throughout the new year and we look forward to sharing more of our projects, stories, and the amazing ways God is using this organization to touch the lives of the beautiful children in Mbiko.
We are excited to announce a small team will be heading to Uganda in support of Rock of Ages for the first time since 2019! We would love for you to take this opportunity to send your sponsored child some words of encouragement.
The team will be able to take one #10 business size envelope (4.125 in. x 9.5 in.) per student. If you would like to send a letter to your child feel free to include any items that will fit within this size envelope including letters, pictures, stickers, etc.
All letters must be received by July 7.
Please send to:
Ariane Shaver
Box 194
2608 N Main St. B
Belton, TX 76513
In addition, the team will be taking books for the ROA library. A list of books can be found on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1JEJFIDRMDM4T?ref_=wl_share . We will be happy to include a “Donated by” or “In Honor of” or etc. note on the first page of any donated book. Please indicate your request at Amazon checkout under “Review items and shipping” where you can choose “Add gift options” and create a note with the message you would like to have included.
Thank you again for all of your support,
The Hands4Uganda Team
I greet you in the name of our lord Jesus Christ and hope this finds you well as we continue serving and fulfilling the Lord's work. Allow me to pass my sincere gratitude as I appreciate the support and sponsorship that you have given to Hands4Uganda for Rock of Ages School.
May the Lord richly bless you. Webale Nnyo and Mukama akuwe O’mukisa
At the beginning of this year i.e. January 10th 2022, the government officially opened schools. It was joyful and exciting but the road wasn’t smooth. With your prayers and support, we have pushed and came to the end of the first Trimester.
Among the various things that have transpired in this term, below are the challenges and how we have managed to cover and work around them with a way forward.
First and foremost, there was a loss of interest in education. Depending on most of the learners' settings, the community where they live, one could say it takes courage for a child to stay home and not indulge in peer pressure. The prolonged stay out of school led to formation of many groups which didn’t have a good influence on young children and some lost the love for being in school and didn’t want to return.
This also came about when learners outgrew their classes after two years of staying home. Some students felt they were too big for some classes considering their body sizes and had to be convinced and counseled to be in those respective grade levels.
There is also a challenge of increased prices in the market for most of the scholastic and food items that are key to the feeding of the learners at the school. There is fluctuation of food prices which has also been a challenge to the school as we try to sustain on the amount of funding that has until this point been enough for support.
During the Covid -19 lockdown period, most of the parents lost their jobs and resorted to personal small businesses (i.e. selling vegetables or second hand goods). This made most of them move to places that are cheap in terms of renting, yet they want their children to still attend Rock of Ages.
The quickest and cheapest means of transport is boda-boda which in turn is the most dangerous and not recommended for ferrying school children. In that way we greatly fear we may lose many learners. We have realized there is a great need for a school bus to help maintain the children who turn out to be coming from farther than walking distance.
As a school we have mobilized and started career guidance and counseling sessions that help motivate and inspire learners to actively stay in schools. We have a program that is family based with the purpose of mentoring learners with the parent's love and participation in education.
We are adjusting and empowering our learners to a holistic education whereby we are skilling all the learners for a better and complete education to run concurrently with the national curriculum and among these are:
We are integrating our learners in income generating activities that will help in ensuring that they have skills to support their families and among these are:
While we have a long way to go, we have come so far. Once again we do appreciate all our dear Sponsors for the support.
May the almighty bless you,
Betty Wasswa
