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M-LISADA
NEWSLETTER JULY - SEPTEMBER 2019
CULTURAL
GALA
HOLIDAY
PROGRAM
FABRIC
OF LIFE
CHELLASTON
ACADEMY AT
M-LISADA
BRASS FOR
AFRICA
TEACHER
BAND IN UK
2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
DEAR FRIENDS AND SUPPORTERS .............................................................................................................................. 3
BRASS FOR AFRICA TEACHER BAND IN UK ............................................................................................................ 4
CHELLASTON ACADEMY AT M-LISADA .................................................................................................................... 5
CULTURAL GALA ............................................................................................................................................................... 6
MENSTRUAL HEALTH PROJECT .................................................................................................................................... 9
READING COMPETITION AND BOOK HEAVEN PROJECT............................................................................... 10
UGANDA COMMUNITY LIBRARIES’ ASSOCIATION ............................................................................................ 11
FURNITURE FOR M-LISADA PRIMARY PASSION SCHOOL ................................................................................ 11
HOLIDAYS ........................................................................................................................................................................... 12
PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT ............................................................................................................................................ 13
MENTAL HEALTH TALKS ............................................................................................................................................... 14
FABRIC FOR LIFE ............................................................................................................................................................... 14
EYE SCREENING ................................................................................................................................................................ 15
GOODBYE TO JAN .......................................................................................................................................................... 16
NEW LONG-TERM VOLUNTEERS............................................................................................................................... 17
TRAINING FOR UPCOMING CULTURAL GALA.................................................................................................... 18
3
DEAR FRIENDS AND SUPPORTERS
With great pleasure and gratitude, I would like to thank all our sponsors and donors for their tireless
support to M-LISADA Organization. From the month of July to September, M-LISADA experienced
historical milestones that have changed lives of vulnerable children in Uganda and out of the country as
well.
We were blessed with the support of the Maxwell and Naomi Worman’s Foundation to our Menstrual
Health Program in Kalangala Island, where 356 schoolgirls were trained to make their own sanitary towels.
It is such a joy to see girls attend school because of this thoughtful and needed project.
Two years in a row (2018 & 2019), M-LISADA children got the opportunity to travel to both the US and
the UK. Our kids were ambassadors, representing the children of Uganda as they performed in various
cities in the US, as part of the M-LISADA Dance of Hope program. Also, our young adults who are
teachers with Brass for Africa had the opportunity to travel and perform in the prestigious Cheltenham
Music Festival. M-LISADA believes that when you educate a vulnerable child, you prepare them for the
benefit of the society and of the world. We are so impressed that the children we watched growing are
now traveling around the world and have a platform to perform in the world’s most admired countries.
Without a location or address you can never direct a visitor to your home. The Chellaston Academy has
given M-LISADA a home to our children and a real place we can call our own. It’s such a great moment to
have them with us each year. In July we received our Chellaston Family who made the last donation to
purchase the Dream House.
Thanks to Chellaston Academy, Latymer Upper School, Chris Weigers and David Nass, who made it
possible for us to purchase the Dream House for our transitioning young adults.
M-LISADA would struggle to move an inch if it were not for the support of our committed donors,
sponsors and individuals. Our Management is forever grateful. We look forward to seeing you again at M-
LISADA Organization.
Yours truly,
Donia Emilly
Executive Director
M-LISADA Organization
4
BRASS FOR AFRICA
TEACHER BAND IN UK
For our partner organisation Brass for Africa, the July
started with a great and exciting journey.
In the early morning hours of Monday, the 1st of July
11 members of the Brass for Africa Teacher Band set
off for the UK, where they have been performing at
different places and events. 10 of these teachers grew
up and learned how to play at M-LISADA. As a family
we were not only happy and excited, but also very
proud of you: Best, Ivan, Disan, Sumayya, Tadeo,
Sharon, Michael, Gilbert, Emmanuel, Julius and Bruce.
Their trip started with a first gig to a sold out
“Upstairs at Ronnie Scott’s”. The band wowed the
audience with their musicality and energy, and
even moved them to tears as the teachers talked
about their own salvation through music. The
following days, they have been working with the
British Army and taking up a 9-day residency at
the Cheltenham Music Festival, culminating in a
performance with Wynton Marsalis on 13th July.
After two weeks full of adventures and with
numerous new experiences to tell about, they
finally struck out for home. Welcome back! That
journey proved dreams come true. M-LISADA
gives thanks to Brass for Africa for making this
wonderful dream a reality.
5
CHELLASTON ACADEMY AT M-LISADA
In July M-LISADA had the joy of welcoming a new class from our special friends Chellaston Academy in the
UK. Chellaston has been visiting and helping support M-LISADA for 12 years. Every year a new class of
around 30 people visit and do work with us and for us. This year’s visit, we took them on a tour to Katwe
and showed them the original one room building that M-LISADA started in. Furthermore, they have been
around for painting the walls, creating some new pictures in preparation of the Cultural Gala, for which
they also joined us. It has been an honour to welcome you again, thank you for everything you have done
for us. Read these lovely words from Ellie Palmer from Chellaston Academy School about that recent trip
to Uganda and visit to M-LISADA:
“During my time in Uganda I met some amazing children that really touched me, and I will never forget.
The love and care we were welcomed with was so overwhelming and it felt just like a home away from
home. I just want to mention M-LISADA, a children’s orphanage that we work with out there, it is the
most magical place that I have ever been to, full of so much happiness and love that is clear as soon as you
step through the gates. It is such an incredible place that I wish everybody has the chance of visiting as the
children and staff there are some of the most inspiring people I have ever met!”
Thank you, Ellie!
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CULTURAL GALA
On the 17th of July one of M-LISADA’s biggest events took
place, the Cultural Gala. That gala is a fundraising concert,
where the M-LISADA children presents their talents in
Brass band, cultural dances and acrobatics. Every staff
member, every M-LISADA child and many friends of M-
LISADA have prepared and done everything possible to
create a spectacular show for the visitors. To organise such
a big event is never easy, but although it might be really
exhausting sometimes, the trainings can still make a lot of
fun and the outcome was worth the effort we have put into
that project.
7
The cause for this 4th Annual Cultural Gala
was to fundraise money to support M-
LISADA’s Dreamhouse. The money raised
from the performances was used to buy the
building of the Dreamhouse, which is a home
to fifteen young adults from the age of
sixteen and above. Thanks to everyone, who
supported us and made dreams come true.
8
9
MENSTRUAL HEALTH PROJECT
With financial support from Maxwell and Naomi Worman’s
Foundation, M-LISADA Organization was able to reach out 348 girls
from Bishop Dunstan and Sserwanga Lwanga Secondary schools
carried out a menstrual health workshop trained to make their own
pads and the Foundation also supplied the girls with more materials
such that they can continue making these sanitary pads while they
are at home. The workshop focused on maintaining hygiene during
menstruation periods. It’s the third year since the Foundation has
been supporting the girls on the Island with this project.
10
READING COMPETITION AND
BOOK HEAVEN PROJECT
In August different primary schools were invited to participate
in an event, including activities like reciting a poem,
storytelling, read aloud, mind games and spelling quiz. The
Pride Nursey Primary school, Cinderella nursey and primary
school and the Jussam junior school participated on these days
with the M-LISADA children. We were also honored to have
Justin Kiyimba, a chairperson from the Uganda community
Library Association as the guest of honour.
We are glad that our community children managed to be in
the second position. This position is very encouraging to the
Organization and the community, because it shows how the
library has been of great help to our children.
Thanks to every supporter and participant of that event. It has
also been a great platform for students to exchange and learn
from each other.
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UGANDA COMMUNITY LIBRARIES ’ ASSOCIATION
In July, the library attended a two days libraries’ convention conference in Gayaza from 25th – 26th which
was about networking with other libraries in one umbrella UgCLA (Uganda Community Libraries’
Association).
FURNITURE FOR M-LISADA
PASSION PRIMARY SCHOOL
We are happy for our friends and partners from M-LISADA Passion
Primary School who are continually growing and improving. Their latest
development was to expand their furniture. The children and teachers
are pleased to have new tables, chairs and cabinets.
Thanks to Yves Baes, who made this happen.
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HOLIDAYS
From 27th August to 13th of September the school children
had holiday and were back home at M-LISADA, so the
education and sponsorship officer had a meeting with all M-
LISADA children in the beginning of this period. She took the
children through the holiday program and informed them
about the different activities, they would be doing to develop
their physical, cognitive, spiritual, social-emotional, etc. being.
The children going to school joined holiday study session
times every morning. Those from nursery to primary had to
do their holiday exercises, while the secondary students
were revising their notes. This will help the students to
improve their grades, as they have been tutored and helped
by different staff members.
Four times a year, the sponsored children of M-LISADA are
writing letters to their sponsors, to inform them about
school and activities and to update them about their lives
and families. They also used the holidays as an opportunity
to prepare these reports.
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In the end of the holidays, all the pupils were going
back to their schools. See, how the Cinderella
Primary children were preparing food and snacks
before they left M-LISADA.
PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT
This quarter the psychosocial officer of M-LISADA went to Kampiringisa Rehabilitation Centre every
Wednesday besides from the first Wednesday of the month to work with the children who conflict with
the law. She visits the Centre to take the children through trauma heeling. The Officer also goes to the M-
LISADA Passion Primary School for trauma heeling and life skills sessions like communication and problem-
solving skills.
From the 12th to 16th of August M-LISADA had a visitor from the US. She did psychosocial training with
the children and shared her story with them. Thank you, Mama Nora, for visiting us and sharing your story.
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MENTAL HEALTH TALKS
In July, August and September the staff members of M-LISADA were doing three sessions of mental health
talks. The children were separated into two groups
because of the age. Their first talk has been about
general mental health, so the children and the staff
members were talking about stress, anxiety,
depression, trauma and phobia. The second mental
health talk was about stress management, in the third
talk the staff members informed the children about
stigma and discrimination.
FABRIC FOR LIFE
During the three weeks of holidays, a
group of ten M-LISADA children went
to Ntinda to the free spirit house of
Nina for acquiring and improving their
sewing and designing skills.
They had their third season within the
holidays.
In season one the children were put in
small groups to make outfits.
In season two the children did individual
outfits.
15
They produced outfits for a model, so for
being graduate they had to present their
own looks.
This time, one three days a week the
children learned how to produce bags.
A big, heartfelt thank you to Babaluku and
Nina who made this happen.
EYE SCREENING
Through the Maxwell and Naomi Worman’s Foundation,
our children at the M-LISADA Centre and M-LISADA
Passion Primary School got an opportunity to be screened
and 6 we found with eye defect and recommendations
were given to help the children recover their eyesight.
One of the children with sight problem was also given
eyeglasses by the Foundation. We are grateful to the
Foundation for their support.
16
GOODBYE TO JAN
Jan who came from Germany and spent one year with us,
has just finished his voluntary service here. As he has been
doing a great work and it was fun to have him, we would
like to send a big thank you to him! Read some words
from Jan about his time at M-LISADA:
I volunteered at M-LISADA for one year and had a really
great time there. The children and the staff received me
very warmly and always supported me in getting to know
the language and culture. As a volunteer at M-LISADA one
can work in many different departments, so there is always something to do and it doesn´t get boring. The
main departments are education and skills. For example, you can assist in the library teaching reading,
writing, english and maths.
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I was teaching basic computer skills for the community
children and music. M-LISADA has 3 brass bands on
different levels and I had a lot of fun teaching the kids
how to play an instrument in the community band and
playing in the Senior band. Generally, there is a lot of
music happening there, ranging from brass instruments
to flutes, piano or guitar. Besides the music groups,
there is also culture dance, and theatre. Another task
was updating the Facebook page of M-LISADA and
writing the newsletter about the different activities and
taking pictures.
I will never forget my time there and I am very thankful
for all the beautiful memories, the great friendships and
the experiences I made there.
NEW LONG-TERM VOLUNTEERS
As Jan has just been leaving us, two new long-term volunteers arrived at M-LISADA.
Paula and Edda are both 19 years old women from Germany. On 20th of August, they arrived well at
Kampala, Uganda, as well as at M-LISADA. All the staff members and children gave their best to give them
a friendly welcome. Thanks to everyone, they will feel comfortable here. For the next 12 month they are
going to support our M-LISADA wherever and whenever they can and going to grow into our M-LISADA
family. Paula is a dancer and gymnast. She is joining the cultural dance group and is probably going to teach
the children, especially Sylvia acrobatics. Edda is playing the trumpet and piano, going to join the M-LISADA
Senior Band and teach the children.
They are excited about and looking forward to all the experiences and insights they will gain during the
next month.
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TRAINING FOR UPCOMING CULTURAL GALA
On 1st of November a second Cultural
Gala organized by M-LISADA is going to
take place. To fundraise money for
renovating the Dreamhouse, that event
will be built up even more massive than
the first one that year. This Gala is not
going to take place at M-LISADA, but at
the Nsambya sharing hall, which houses much more
visitors. To achieve an optimal outcome, we have hired
some of the best drama, vocal and dance coaches, who
are doing everything possible to put on a successful
production. Everyone is busy with practicing now and
excited about that date.
With a team of M-LISADA staff members, some of the
coaches and service providers, we have for example
made decisions about decorations, show lighting, sound
and stage equipment. The costumes for dancers, singers,
musicians and actors are in the works.
These days we are continually developing our vision of
how the production and the whole event is going to look
like and working hard on realising it.
We want to thank every trainer, coach, staff member and
supporter for the effort they are putting into that major
project.
Furthermore, we would like to invite everyone, who can
do it to visit our Cultural Gala. It is going to be a really
great day for everyone, we can’t wait for it.
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M-LISADA ORGANIZATION Ave Maria Road, Nsambya,
P.O. 71511, Kampala, Uganda
Tel.: +256 772 433 793 / +256 392 845 287
E-Mail: [email protected]
Web: www.mlisada.org