April 2020 – COVID 19 - REMEMBER THE POOR IN UGANDA!
Here in the USA the COVID-19 virus pandemic has us in various degrees of isolation; 6 feet apart, “shelter in place”, and under “lockdown” and we can’t easily buy toilet paper or wipes or masks. However, we still have many resources and comfortable homes to be quarantined in compared to our friends in Western Uganda.
“If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother.” - Deuteronomy 15:7
Photo: Annah with 5 of her 6 children. Abandoned by her husband, she gets food by working in neighbors' farms and had just started her small FAITH garden. With COVID-19's lockdown order, she cannot go out to work in her neighbors' farms anymore to get food for herself and her 6 young children.
For a week or so, families have been sheltering in place in Uganda - the churches are closed and reliant on the radio to hear from their pastors if they are able. Uganda’s schools are closed but children in the villages can’t access school online. The economy is severely affected and many basic foods such as salt have tripled in price while the maize that rural farmers rely on for their income has dropped to about half price as markets in nearby countries have been cut off.
On March 25, President Museveni announced that all public transport by bus, taxi, trains and boda- bodas (motor bike) is prohibited. Markets are open for food items only – and nothing else. All these anti COVID19 virus measures are being strictly enforced by the authorities.
However, just prior to all this we at TCI got very encouraging reports from the ongoing village projects where the Paradigm Shift Personal Leadership training and the FAITH gardens had begun. This is a method of using all available land around the home to grow vegetables to ensure that there is Food Available In The Household (FAITH). Here are a few of the comments from some of the participants:
ANNAH- a single mother of six says: “TCI is good because in the past we were in darkness and now people in community they ask me where I got this kind of knowledge.” Faith gardens have helped her because she gets food to feed her children and people in community come to collect vegetables and it creates friendship.
EVERESTO, a village chairperson and father of 7 says: “TCI’S work with us is good because it has changed my old mind and community members are waiting for paradigm shift training and FAITH gardens have helped with food production and I even get money from people in the community after harvest.”
LAUBEN, a father of 8 children, is observing that there is now an increase of food security at home and also a little income from harvests to support family and tuition fees. He says that FAITH gardens have helped him to get vegetables and a balanced diet and also created friendship with people in the community as he has given them eggplants and seeds. “I wish every Individual in the community to learn from ideas given by TCI and the community people are very happy after seeing outcomes.”
“TCI is good because I gained a lot in changing my mind and people in the community are demanding trainings” says Kasembo Allen
With isolation of families, no groups allowed, and communities crying out for the TCI training – we have decided to use a two-pronged approach:
1. RADIO -We will use radio broadcasts to reach as many households as possible. Our team of Uganda trainers have mobilized for action and are in final preparation to launch the TCI training via radio on Friday April 3. They will share the Paradigm Shift / Leadership training materials and incorporate methods for FAITH gardens. In addition we will provide air-time for Pastor Moses to reach his congregation and related churches at this time. We believe this is a wonderful opportunity to share the love of Jesus and to spread our very practical messages to millions of listeners. These will help these communities in this time of confusion and great economic uncertainty.
2. FOOD PACKS – Many families are in need of relief right now and we will provide food packages containing Maize, beans, salt and soap for very needy families (identified by the local pastor of the villages) where we have been working.
We understand the difficulties that are facing many here in the USA but we ask you to please consider giving a monthly donation for our work among those who are in dire need in Western Uganda or else donate $25 dollars which will purchase one food pack. Go to this this site to donate online:
