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AIDS Orphans Program, Mbale, Uganda

Feb 26, 2008 Update
Mbale has been hot and dry lately, and we're anxiously awaiting the start of the rainy season sometime soon. On January 31st, we had all the orphans come to Mbale for one of our tri-annual Orphan Days. The kids are all doing very well, and it was great seeing them all together. Every year CRF sends $10 for each child for Christmas. We used this money to buy a new set of clothes for each orphan. They went home very happy, and I had a wonderful time seeing them get excited about their new clothes. We also wrote letters for sponsors, updated pictures of each child, had a bible lesson, and enjoyed a meal together. The past few weeks, co-workers and I have been traveling to each of the orphans' schools to pay fees. School started on February 4th.
In Him, Stephan Shelburne

In Uganda alone, AIDS has orphaned 1.7 million children in a country of only 30 million (general population). The numbers are overwhelming. Through the Christian Relief Fund of Amarillo, TX, the Mbale AIDS Orphans Program provides in-home sponsorship for orphans between 6 and 12 years of age who have lost one or both parents due to AIDS related illnesses, and need help with primary school education and medical treatment.
In 1997, the Uganda government instituted Universal Primary Education (UPE), which provides mostly free education. Reduced school fees allow us to give more for school uniforms, school books and materials, shoes, a personal Bible, and a new set of clothes each year. Any balance of funds for each orphan is saved to help pay the much more expensive secondary school fees. In addition, each child is given a mattress, blanket and mosquito net. We also help with medical needs in emergency situations.

Right: Many orphans live as second class family members, forced to live on whatever money or food is left after the guardians take care of their own children. Often, orphans are left at home while the other children go to school. Through this program, these orphans will be given an opportunity they would most likely not have otherwise.

The program began in January, 2006. We distributed over 2000 applications to guardians in and around the Mbale area. We have been collecting those applications, processing them, and doing home visits. To date, we have enrolled 44 orphans, most of whom live within 80 miles of Mbale. As God directs and funds are available, we will add orphans from other areas of Uganda. The program is directed by Stephan Shelburne with an overseeing committee of Shawn and Linda Tyler, and Heidi Davison, and five African nationals. Christian Relief Fund also sponsors Jennifer Ndegemo, a Ugandan, who processes applications, conducts home studies, files reports, pays school fees, and does follow up visits with the orphans and their guardians.

"We thank God for the way He is using Christian Relief Fund to change the lives of so many children throughout the world and especially the huge role CRF plays in helping children of Uganda and making this program possible." -Stephan Shelburne

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