Year 2008 Projects and Activities

Not much happened in year 2008 as compared to other years. This could be attributed to waning support due to global economic crisis. However, we had three projects as listed below:

Project # 1: Literacy and micro-credit for women groups in Wera and Abarilela sub-counties in Amuria district (North-Eastern Uganda)

From 1996, and in partnership with Tear Fund, Netherlands, Revival Time Ministry set out on emancipation program for rural women through the adult education program. The feasibility study narrowed down on women illiteracy as a major cause for women's marginalization, population explosion, household poverty and infant health related issues. On the other hand we found discipleship of new believes as a challenge among women who could not access any form of Scripture on their own to back our teaching.

After ten years of consistent support, Tear Fund pulled out as expected. The project had grown and had introduced a micro-credit facility for the newly literate women. Unfortunately the gains were reversed twice by the conflict (LRA inversion of Teso in May 2003) and the floods of 2006. However TDT-UK took over immediately, and supported the revival and the continuation of the project as well as innovative ideas such as non-cash credit to women. This year Revival Time provided loans in form of live goats. These goats will be passed on to others after the beneficiaries obtaining the first kid or a set of kids in some cases.

Project #2: Girl-child education support project is a new program aimed at helping needy (mainly orphans) and brilliant teenage girls acquire secondary school education and perhaps beyond that if there really demonstrate the potential

This program started in May 2008 and has 12 beneficiaries. Seven of these are supported by St. Mike's church in Canada while 5 are being supported by a generous couple in UK, Mark and Isle Jordan. There are hundreds of such needy children knocking at our door for such help. Currently, the girls supported from Canada are receiving $30 Cdn each per month while the UK girls are receiving GBP 15 each per months. We are looking for more people to help.

Irene, (right), one of the latest beneficiaries.

The girls are studying in moderate schools. This amount of money is sufficient to provide tuition, hostel and basic needs like soap, stationery etc.

Project #3: Rural pastors and church leaders training. We were able to decentralize our discipleship training for church leadership to various villages around the country. This was possible because we did not have the residential training program in Soroti as we did from 1993 to 2005.

We also reached a couple of secondary schools and preached the gospel and trained Christian student leaders. It was good to facilitate and encourage teaching staff fellowships among the teachers. Staff unity and involvement is good for staff-student relationship for quality academic and spiritual performances.