Real Partners Uganda was founded by two couples (Joe & Elaine Griswold and Dana & Kathryn Hiscock) who first traveled to Uganda in 2003 as safari tourists with a special goal of trekking Gorillas in the far western mountains of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. The Griswolds and Hiscocks are deeply committed to conservation of wild areas and the life that is found there. Although a small country in size, Uganda is nearly unmatched in the diversity of its wildlife. For example, over a thousand species of birds live in this tiny country (vs. 850 in all of North America). The diversity of primates is remarkable, and many of the species are endangered.
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Real Partners Uganda founders, Elaine and Joseph Griswold (on right) and Kathryn and Dana Hiscock (on left) in front of original primary school building, now replaced by a permanent, more modern structure
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This 400-lb silverback male is one of 750 mountain gorillas left on earth. About half are living in Uganda in two national parks. When we trekked gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, we visited the troop led by this magnificent male. The survival of mountain gorillas is linked closely to conservation of their remaining habitat. Hungry people in Uganda (and the rest of the world), convert forests and other natural areas into farms, destroying the plants and other resources on which mountain gorillas depend. Also poor people may hunt gorillas for "bush meat", killing them directly. Their experience with the remarkable animals of East Africa was one of the major factors that convinced them that they needed to help fight poverty and suffering in Uganda, not only for the sake of the people, but to give the wildlife a chance to continue living in the remaining natural areas.
But the clincher for them came on a visit to the rural village of Kalungi located a few miles off the "AIDS Highway" that runs between population centers (Kampala) in the east and the national parks in the west. They visited a school there (see below) and were greatly moved. What they witnessed were children in ragged clothes with little to eat, trying to get an education with the help of a dedicated group of teachers, and village leaders who lacked even the most basic resources to achieve their goals. And they met several leaders with whom they are still working today. As a friend of theirs has quipped, "They went to Africa to view the animals and got captured by the children."
But the clincher for them came on a visit to the rural village of Kalungi located a few miles off the "AIDS Highway" that runs between population centers (Kampala) in the east and the national parks in the west. They visited a school there (see below) and were greatly moved. What they witnessed were children in ragged clothes with little to eat, trying to get an education with the help of a dedicated group of teachers, and village leaders who lacked even the most basic resources to achieve their goals. And they met several leaders with whom they are still working today. As a friend of theirs has quipped, "They went to Africa to view the animals and got captured by the children."
Real Partners Uganda.....Licensed as an official non-profit 501(c)(3) in August 2006, Real Partners Uganda supports Tree of Life Ministries and other organizations that provide comprehensive care for orphans and vulnerable children in Uganda, many of whom have lost parents to HIV/AIDS and may be infected themselves. Our main work with Tree of Life Ministries supports Mustard Seed Academy, a nursery, primary and high school for the poorest children in the community. To develop a sustainable learning community we promote economic opportunities for the Ugandan people, especially ones that generate support for the school. A key emphasis is working in ways that use land wisely and conserve wild areas that might otherwise be overrun by human development. We believe that only by providing comprehensive care--a strong education, good nutrition, healthcare and loving supervision--can we help children pull themselves out of poverty and break the cycle. RPU works to empower adult Ugandans to develop and run their own projects, that over time gradually become self-supporting. As a charity, our overhead is very low. Over 95% of all donations go directly to the programs in Uganda.
We encourage children to keep living in their own families and community whenever possible. However, we provide accommodations in a family home (Rapha's House) if a student's living situation deteriorates. By keeping children in the community, we can serve more with fewer resources, and the children learn about their own culture. We find that Mustard Seed children actually teach their parents and siblings many things, especially how to speak better English. However, it has become clear that more and more children need a boarding program because often the difficult living conditions at home impact a student's education and overall development in a negative way
On the ground at the project site in Lukaya, Ugandans run the program. They plan with us through email, texting and phone conversations, as well as twice yearly visits. The leaders submit requisitions each month for operating funds and capital development money to RPU, and must submit spending reports in a timely fashion each month or more often. The leadership of RPU takes very seriously its responsibility for prudent financial management both here and in Uganda. We comply with federal regulations that require us to submit a federal 990 form that documents our operations (available upon request).
We encourage children to keep living in their own families and community whenever possible. However, we provide accommodations in a family home (Rapha's House) if a student's living situation deteriorates. By keeping children in the community, we can serve more with fewer resources, and the children learn about their own culture. We find that Mustard Seed children actually teach their parents and siblings many things, especially how to speak better English. However, it has become clear that more and more children need a boarding program because often the difficult living conditions at home impact a student's education and overall development in a negative way
On the ground at the project site in Lukaya, Ugandans run the program. They plan with us through email, texting and phone conversations, as well as twice yearly visits. The leaders submit requisitions each month for operating funds and capital development money to RPU, and must submit spending reports in a timely fashion each month or more often. The leadership of RPU takes very seriously its responsibility for prudent financial management both here and in Uganda. We comply with federal regulations that require us to submit a federal 990 form that documents our operations (available upon request).
Mustard Seed Academy Now Has Two Campuses and Permanent Classrooms. The Mustard Seed Nursery School campus, very close to the center of Lukaya Town, was developed during 2010 on two acres. I has 3 large classrooms, several offices, a clinic, playground, campus life center with stage and back stage areas, staff housing, storage, gardens and a kitchen.
In one of the biggest steps to date, Tree of Life Ministries, with the support of RPU, purchased 13 acres of land about one mile from Lukaya town center. It is the site of the permanent Mustard Seed Academy Primary School and Secondary School, and a variety of related activities. The land is high and well-drained, perfect for the classrooms and other buildings that are planned for the campus. The purchase was made possible, in part, by a generous grant in May 2011 from the William C. Bullitt Foundation of New York City. We are delighted and grateful that the Bullitt Foundation supports RPU's work on a yearly basis.
The construction of the new campus is now nearing completion. It features many environmentally sustainable features, including buildings that are outfitted with water collecting gutters leading to storage tanks where water can be used for irrigation and cleaning. Plantings of Moringa ("the miracle tree") as a living fence produce, not only a barrier around the compound, but an ongoing supply of leaves that are loaded with protein and other healthful nutrients. The campus is powered with solar arrays, making it largely independent of the unreliable hydro-power grid.
Thanks to the work of Slippery Rock Rotary Club, a global grant from Rotary International was received to provide water and sanitation for the school campus, and a community water station to serve the villagers in the surrounding area with good, free water.
A big boost for the schools' development has been fund-raising auctions organized by Ocean Heights Presbyterian Church on behalf of Real Partners Uganda and Mustard Seed Academy. Much of the congregation contributed to organizing these events, that have raised funds to build two kitchens, outfit classrooms, purchase 50 World Readers (electronic readers loaded with African books), and to develop a computer lab. We welcome other churches or organizations to work with us in sponsoring their own fund-raisers for the Uganda children. Please Contact Us.... if you or your organization would like to become partners.
In one of the biggest steps to date, Tree of Life Ministries, with the support of RPU, purchased 13 acres of land about one mile from Lukaya town center. It is the site of the permanent Mustard Seed Academy Primary School and Secondary School, and a variety of related activities. The land is high and well-drained, perfect for the classrooms and other buildings that are planned for the campus. The purchase was made possible, in part, by a generous grant in May 2011 from the William C. Bullitt Foundation of New York City. We are delighted and grateful that the Bullitt Foundation supports RPU's work on a yearly basis.
The construction of the new campus is now nearing completion. It features many environmentally sustainable features, including buildings that are outfitted with water collecting gutters leading to storage tanks where water can be used for irrigation and cleaning. Plantings of Moringa ("the miracle tree") as a living fence produce, not only a barrier around the compound, but an ongoing supply of leaves that are loaded with protein and other healthful nutrients. The campus is powered with solar arrays, making it largely independent of the unreliable hydro-power grid.
Thanks to the work of Slippery Rock Rotary Club, a global grant from Rotary International was received to provide water and sanitation for the school campus, and a community water station to serve the villagers in the surrounding area with good, free water.
A big boost for the schools' development has been fund-raising auctions organized by Ocean Heights Presbyterian Church on behalf of Real Partners Uganda and Mustard Seed Academy. Much of the congregation contributed to organizing these events, that have raised funds to build two kitchens, outfit classrooms, purchase 50 World Readers (electronic readers loaded with African books), and to develop a computer lab. We welcome other churches or organizations to work with us in sponsoring their own fund-raisers for the Uganda children. Please Contact Us.... if you or your organization would like to become partners.