By Anna van de Walle, Uganda Child Sponsor
My husband Antoine and I arrived on Friday 1 August in Kampala, a few days before the visit, to acclimatise and orientate. That afternoon we visited World Vision Uganda headquarters for the initial briefing by Teddy, the World Vision child sponsorship programme manager, who explained the organisational and operating principles of the local organisation.
We were impressed and pleasantly surprised by the professionalism and the effective operation of the local World Vision organisation, which employs only local staff. Teddy explained how the monthly contribution I make is allocated to the regional project in Nabiswera where my sponsored child, Stella lives.
Some of the funds might be spent on her personal needs, e.g. for schooling costs, but the majority is allocated to the improvement project which is operated by the community with participation of World Vision staff. This was news to us and it makes perfect sense. That way Stella benefits while her whole environment is improving.
The project is finite (some 15 years) and includes many if not all local children (some 2,000 in total). It makes contributions to the local school, (partially) pays the school teachers, installs water pumps, provides bicycles, and provides social and educational assistance to families. And it emphasises the care of nature.
On Monday 4 August 7am we were picked up by driver David and guide Obed. Owing to our hotel being in the far south of Kampala and Nabiswera in the north, David had to battle the morning peak, which was horrendous. But he skilfully delivered us at 10am in Nabiswera. The World Vision regional manager Gilbert gave us a brief but complete overview of project activities.