Hi,
It’s been so long since we’ve posted. We apologize as the summer as started off so busy. We will make better efforts to post news and updates here.

Please read about the Nyaka Board Chair in Uganda, Emma Mugisha. Emma works for Barclay’s Bank and was recognized for our work with Nyaka.

Ugandan children of hope
Friday, 23 May 2008
HIV and AIDS have orphaned more than 2.2 million children in Uganda.
The majority of them live alone or are cared for by grandmothers, who are generally regarded as the most trustworthy providers for them.
Even with the best intentions, however, few have any way of supporting the children, never mind sending them to school.

In 2003, the Nyaka AIDS Orphan School was opened in order to give children in the village of Nyakagyezi an education, and consequently hope for a better future.

Emma Mugisha, Treasurer, Barclays Uganda, has been passionately involved in the school ever since she first heard about the project from its founder Twesigye Jackson Kaguri Jackson in 2001.

By offering the orphans a primary education, healthcare, clean water, vocational training, as well as two meals a day, Twesigye and his wife Beronda hope to counteract in some way the pervasive hunger, poverty and systemic deprivation that was suffocating so many children in their community.

Following her meeting with Twesigye, Emma, who was an MBA student at the time, made Nyaka the topic of her dissertation. And seven years later, she is now on the national school board and Chairwoman of the Nyaka AIDS Foundation. The foundation runs schools in Nyaka, which has 210 students, and in Kutamba with 91 students.

“Working with the orphans keeps me going and makes me a better person, mother, wife and employee,” she says.

Emma is also one of Nyaka’s most productive fundraisers.
“Barclays matches all the money Emma and her colleagues raise,” says Twesigye. “As a result a total of 12.5 million Ugandan schillings have been invested in the school.”

But Emma’s contribution to Nyaka goes far beyond financial support.
Regularly driving the nine hours from her home in Kampala to the Nyaka, Emma has committed herself personally to helping the orphans. “She has been a caseworker, friend and ally for the children and grandmothers at Nyaka,” says Twesigye. But most importantly, she has become a mentor to the children.

“Her connection with the children and the grandmothers has given them hope. The children admire Emma, and see her as the woman they would like to grow up to be,” Twesigye explains.

Emma has been named as a finalist in the Barclays Chairman’s Awards 2008. The Chairman’s Awards, now in their 12th year, recognise and celebrate colleagues’ achievements in their local community and in areas such as diversity, financial inclusion and the environment. The winners will be announced at a ceremony in London on Wednesday, 11 June.

Note: Emma did not win the award but did receive recognition from her fellow employees at Barclay’s. We are so proud to have Emma as a part of Nyaka and are forever grateful for her dedication to the grandmothers and children.