#UPLIFT HEARTS of people living in Uganda

There are a number of different nationalities just surviving in the refugee camps in Uganda. They mostly come from South Sudan followed by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia, Burundi, Eritrea, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Sudan and others.

Why support UPLIFT HEARTS?

Because they have so little food to eat.

The elderly and young suffer the most as they rely on other people to give them food. Their family and friends want to help them, but how can they do this, when they are barely feeding themselves?

Because they have no safe place to sleep.

They have no house and sleep on the dirt floor with no blankets to keep them warm.

Because their children are too sick and have no energy to learn even if they could.

Learning and education is vital to improve their situation. Families have no possibility of providing books etc for their children. The priority for families is food and shelter and they are barely surviving.

Because all hope has gone from their eyes.

The children and women look around seeking something, someone who could help them to live another day. A safe place to rest their aching bodies but as they look into the people around them, they see despair, hunger, sickness and the acceptance of their fate. All seems lost; they see no future for them or their loved ones.

That is why l need your support to raise $20,000 to firstly send items which are needed to the Missionary Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary who have set up services in the refugee camp in Uganda and also to in South Sudan. Items that I will be sending are set out further below.

I will also be assisting other communities in the refugee camp in Uganda and in South Sudan with the assistance of other community based organisations (CBOs) for projects such things as:

(1) Teaching women how to cook basic nutritional meals for their family.

(2) Teaching women and girls how to use sewing machines

I will be providing sewing machines for women to learn how to sew. I will also be providing material for sewing, cotton, elastic, ribbon patterns etc so they can learn. This will enable women to learn a trade, make clothes for themselves and then start a small business for themselves to earn a living.

(3) Repairs to sewing machines

Machines break down, so providing training to men with disabilities to learn how to fix these sewing machines. Again with the idea that once the skill is learnt, they can start a little business.

(4)Farming

Teaching men to plant, look after and pick the crops for food for themselves and worth the possibility of selling some is a vital project that will be looked into and commenced so people can feed themselves. Farming animals such as chickens and cows will be another project I wish to start as this again helps with nutrition and possible sale of excess eggs and milk.

(5) Education

I will be discussing this with the Missionaries of the Blessed Virgin Mary to commence preschool for the children in both the refugee camp in Uganda as well as South Sudan where they are building their convent. Once a safe place can be provided for the children to learn supplies of what is needed will be sent to them.

As you can read, there are a number of projects I hope to start and have already started. Please consider donating to assist me get these projects off the ground and helping the people who need it most.

The container will be filled with dry food, clothes, sewing machines, material for sewing, solar panels, mattresses, sleeping bags, blankets, towels, bandages, dictionaries, pencils and more.

A little about me

My name is Josephine Bonaccorso. Since l was a child and saw faces of hungry, starving children in third world countries, l have wanted to do something, but felt l could not help. For an unknown reason Uganda stuck in my mind. I liked this foreign word. Each time I heard this word and thought I couldn't do anything, but my mind said, ‘‘you can”. When l started work, l would donate to as many charities l could afford but I kept hearing “you can” do more.

Finally at the age of 62 l decided to do more. I found a person that sent containers approximately every three months to Uganda. I located a group of nuns whom l felt were helping the needy there. I also felt I was meant to help them as the mother superior is called Antonietta and my dear mother’s name was Antonina which is very similar.

I started filling the large bags and told a few friends what l was doing. They were eager to help me. So, by the time the container was ready to be packed ready to leave, l had four bags full. The container left via ship at the end of October 2022. It took approximately 3 months to arrive in Uganda and my bags were collected by the Missionary Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary. They were very pleased to receive the bags and have put them to good use. These missionaries assist, their communities, orphanages and refugee camps.

Of course I know what I sent was a drop in the ocean but a stream starts with a drop of water at a time. If enough drops are sent, imagine how many people can be helped. I now feel I am doing what I was meant to do. I have spoken to a number of people who are willing to donate larger items that can’t be placed in bags such as solar panels and am excited that this will now happen.

So I am asking you to please help me uplift their hearts; help them to see that we see them as people that matter. Make their life a bit better and give them the courage to hope and courage to see a brighter future for themselves and their children.

I can’t do this all by myself but I know WE CAN.

Thank you in advance for your kind donation. Rest assured that all the money deposited in the bank account will be used to help the people in the refugee camps, orphans, women and children in need.