In early 2012, the Maria Reed Montessori Pre-School will be built, staffed, and opened for 40 village children! We will offer the first ever Montessori Program in North-Central Uganda, and we believe that it will inspire families to value learning in such creative, new ways. Thanks to all the donors who believe in us!

The picture you see here is part of the 2011 story of success. UCSP is sustaining itself through a generous grant from SMFG for an ongoing revenue service – renting the tents and chairs you see here for functions in North-Central Uganda near the village. Also, our famous UCSP Drama and Choir Group has been contracted to perform health programs all around Uganda.

Many of you are aware that climate change has challenged our farming way of life. This year brought severe drought and a freak hail storm wiped out all the first crop of vegetables in October after the drought broke. UCSP housed and fed 21 resettled families in our temporary health screening building for two months until enough donations for cement and other building supplies enabled the families to rebuild on their lands. Again, SMFG and donors like you kept our spirits up and some food in our tummies. Thank you!

Sammy Kawuzi, Executive Director UCSP was invited to attend a Montessori Conference in Dallas in the summer, but a visa was not approved at that time. But, we had word that his visit to the USA to visit Montessori leaders in Austin, Texas, and Phoenix, Arizona might be approved after the coming Holiday Season! His trip in February 2012 will finalize the process to break ground and build the Maria Reed Montessori Pres-School on his return in March 2012. (Note: This trip was also foiled due to lack of a visa approval…)

Finally, three new UCSP Assistants were sponsored to return to post secondary training programs which help them with skills for running the rental services and the school programs. Two assistants, Esther and Joann, graduated this month in Hotel and Restaurant Management Training, skills that make supporting the Project much more professional. The third, Paul, has one more year in Industrial Arts and Construction Management. The Project has one sponsor here in America for Paul, but we need some help with his fees for 2012. Interested?

Mama kaay (that’s me) is now the USA Volunteer Coordinator for the Project. My UCSPI Board dissolved our 501c3 as the transition to Arizona Community Foundation was underway. I cannot express how happy I am to have transferred all the assets of the school to Sammy and his Board. Just look at the successes they are managing so far. We know the drought and storm have set back food security in the global recession and prices are staggeringly high to buy food when farms fail. Climate change, recession, government corruption, loss of health screening funds, fuel prices all interfered with the Project goals for 2011, but Nawantale villagers are strong, and they will reward your support with learning and breaking the bonds of lack of education over time. They ask only that you not give up on them.

UCSP had to rebuild the well after the hovering Mother Tree collapsed, crushing the borehole equipment. UCSP designed and built a public restroom near the well so visitors from afar to draw water also have latrine facilities. And now, UCSP is readying to build the first Montessori Pre-School in the region.

There are many remarkable stories we could share from Nawantale, 2011. These are only a few. On behalf of Sammy Kawuzi, his Board, Student Leaders Guild, and Elders Committee, I wish each of you a glorious Holiday Season. May blessings continue to flow between our distant, but connected communities. We still look to you for assistance, leadership, and support in the future. We need to build a high school, create job training courses, combat climate change, look for ways to keep our health when funds have disappeared in Uganda for HIV AIDS screening, malaria prevention, and help with medication costs. We cannot do all this alone.

Our gift to you this Season is our determination. We ask that you consider supporting us in return. Mama kaay has included donation information as part of this report. May 2012 bring us all hope, sustainability, inspiration, jobs, good health, and food. Thank you!

A large Ugandan NGO has hired the Uganda Community School Project Drama and Music Group of 47 members to perform for 5 Districts from now until the end of 2011.

The UCSP Drama and Music Group has been performing since last year and has provided a small, steady revenue for the Project on a small scale. This new contract is huge!

They have their uniforms which makes their performances on malaria prevention, ending domestic violence, and other important human rights issues very professional. Their talents are highly sought after and now, this large contract will assist the Project’s reputation in the arts!

I am sending $$ for a Public Address System, for the old one has died. We could also use some additional instruments. I am asking for your donations to assist with this expense. Eventually, they will be able to offset all their additional costs with the contract income.

Your recent support to keep feeding the poorest families has made this door open! The energy to keep finding ways to provide income for families other than only through farming is now paying off in music! Isn’t that amazing!