  
UGANDA – SUTHERLAND ORPHANS PROJECT
Where is it? Based in a small village called Akwarikwar in the Bukedea District of Uganda, which lies between the main towns of Mbale and Soroti, about 5 hours north east of the capital Kampala. This is a very rural area, with little support from government or aid agencies.
What is it? Started in 1998 by Pastor Robert Adiba, the Sutherland orphanage project is a practical response to some of the huge problems created by the HIV/AIDS epidemic as it affects Robert's own community, which has left many children orphaned (losing either one or both parents) and abandoned. Robert took it upon himself to rescue up to 70 children and young people and create a network of support for them by placing them with local families and providing for their food, clothing and education needs - giving them a hope and a future. Many of those first children have completed the programme and so in 2010 a new set of 38 younger children have been added in to begin a new cycle.
Why is Brookside Involved? Since 2002 we have had a growing relationship with this project and the community in which it is based. Teams of people from Brookside have visited the area since 2008 to undertake and support a range of projects , including visiting the Sutherland orphans and taking out the financial support that is so key for them.
How can I be involved? We originally committed to Robert Adiba to take on the financial support for this project for the 3 years up to 2008. We renewed that commitment for the three years, through to 2011, and plan to do so again through to 2014.
For £2000 per year we can feed, clothe, educate and give LIFE to up to 60 children and young people. This is peanuts!
All it takes is for 80 individuals or families to commit to giving £25 once per year. What a HUGE difference we can make for SO LITTLE! But this isn't just about financial support - it's about building relationship, exposing ourselves to the needs of others, and in the process changing us so we can be the sort of extravagantly generous people God wants us to be.
So, you can help by:
- Giving and encouraging friends & family to give £25 once per year.
- Encouraging our children and young people to write letters, via the church office, to those in Uganda receiving our support to let them know we want to share in some small way in their lives, and they in ours.
- Pray for the work of Robert Adiba and his team as they deal with the overwhelming needs on a daily basis.
- Think and pray about joining one of the trips to Uganda – please talk with Alan Magness if you think this may be for you.
- If going to Uganda is not for you, maybe you could support one of the team going out this year or in future years.
Click on the following link to view some of the activites on the last trip to Uganda in 2011.
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