Giving the gift of hope
Shannon LeClair
Times Reporter
After meeting a director involved in the Uganda Partnership Association, UP, just over a year ago, Strathmore resident Matt Fitzsimmons has been working with them.
The Uganda Partnership was started in 2007 by a local Ugandan development worker and a group of Canadians,wanting to help the growing population of widows and children in the Bushenyi region.
“It was originally started by a teacher who came across this village and kind of fell in love with the people. She was doing some studies on participatory research,” said Fitzsimmons.
“How it works is, you have to go into a community or a village or whatever and you don’t really take over you just kind of listen to their problems and see how you can help.”
UP works directly with its partners to facilitate micro-finance initiatives and adult education programs with the widows in this community. They also work with local health professionals to coordinate access to healthcare, HIV/AIDS outreach programs and loans to help with medical bills. Through the Pay-it-Forward School Scholarship Program, UP also provides the opportunity for several students to attend school they would otherwise be unable to. In 2010, UP, working with the widows have purchased, through a donation from junior high students in Calgary, land where they plan to construct various buildings and an irrigation system to help fight drought and continue to grow food during such times.
On March 11 at the Civic Centre, Fitzsimmons, in association with the Uganda Partnership Association, is inviting residents to come down and find out more about what it is UP is doing. There will be appetizers and drinks.
“It’s kind of like, here’s some awareness and this is the stuff we’re doing. We know it’s pretty cool so if you guys want to help support us then great and if not, then we’ll hang out.”
There are also two grand prize raffle items: a three-day, two-night stay at the Morningside Bed and Breakfast on Vancouver Island; and an African painting imported from Tanzania.
He said they just want to get people out, to raise awareness about the initiatives they are doing. Fitzsimmons said he got the idea from Manitoba where they have wedding socials. He said it is similar to that, except the funds raised are for an organization. The directors and everyone heading to Uganda in April are self-funding their trip costs. Each volunteer is spending approximately $3,000 of his or her own money.
“Everything will make a difference, all of the funds raised are going directly to the initiatives,” said Fitzsimmons.
For more information or to RSVP contact Matt Fitzsimmons at 403-874-2279 or email mh.fitzsimmons@gmail.com. There is no cost for the tickets, but donations are appreciated.