It was a sad time for both Jenny and the staff of Potter's Village when they had to say farewell. 

Jenny, Jo & Hannah came to Kisoro for 3 weeks to pack up the house and Jenny handed over as Director.  The staff asked for money to be deducted from each of their salaries in order to pay for a farewell meal. 

Jenny has achieved so much in her time here; not just with the Village but she is highly regarded throughout the whole Diocese. We all wish her and the children well as they settle to a new life in the UK.

We welcomed seven new babies into our community from January to April. They have all had difficult beginnings to their lives, but hopefully, now they are being cared for at Potter's, their stories will be much happier and they have much more positive futures.

Carolyn was born in early March.  Her Mother died one week after birth but the cause is unknown.  Carolyn has a 3 yr old sister who is being cared for by her Grandmother.  The Grandmother lives in a house built by Compassion International.  She is a very caring lady and is grateful for Potter's looking after Carolyn until she is able to care for her herself

Muhwezi was born in January this year.  His mother died a week later in the local Hospital.  It was said that she died of TB but all the paperwork was buried with the mother so this is not certain.  He has two siblings who were living with the maternal Grandmother.  The Grandmother is HIV+ve, her husband has died and she is very poor, she was unable to care for this baby. Muhwezi has settled well but his future is uncertain.

Renet was born in February and her mother died soon after delivery.  The baby was brought straight to Potter's Village as her Father was away working in Kampala.  Further investigation into the family situation will be carried out by our Social worker in due course.   

Uwimana Emmanuel was born in February 2014.  The Mother died a week later.  The Hospital records say she was suffering from post-partum eclampsia, fell, hit her head and died.  The father works in Kampala but his sister has said she will take Emmanuel if the father allows her.

Viola was born at home.  The mother had a retained placenta which on the way to hospital was delivered but the mother, very sadly bled to death.  Two siblings had already died under 5yrs of age from unknown causes.  The Grandmother fed Viola on cow's milk but found it difficult and could not manage so she and the Father brought the baby here. She will probably go back to the maternal Aunt when she is strong enough.

Twins - Naboth & Benson were born in March. These twins were born to a mother too intellectually disabled to undertake simple tasks let alone take care of them.  The Father of the twins is unknown. Her relatives will care for the twins once we have got them beyond being weaned.

The day we dreaded arrived.  Promise had struggled with her health for over 6 months.  She was beautiful and such a little fighter but we knew her heart was failing and nothing more could be done to ease the tortured breathing she had endured for so long. 

Her father was very caring and had already lost two children to unknown causes.  Wonderfully, her Grandmother had come to visit and Promise died in her arms.

 

We are happy to tell you that in the months of January to April another nine children moved out of Potter's. 

JACKSON is still a Potter's Village child but he is attending a school for disabled children in Mukono on the far side of Kampala.  He has settled well and can receive physio as well as being with children in wheelchairs like himself.  We will collect him in December at the end of the school year.  If you would like to help support Jackson with his schooling please contact Ruth for further details.  

JEREMIAH was born to a teenage Mum.  Her parents decided that she was now old enough to care for him with their help and support.  They were grateful for the start Potter's Village had given Jeremiah and did not need us to continue supporting them financially.

MANZI was a little abandoned baby.  His mother had gone back to Rwanda where she started a relationship with a Doctor.  He persuaded her to come and claim her son and he would help bring him up.

RICHARD was resettled with his family.  His big brother comes with him to collect the support money.  The Father has said he wants to take Richard to live in Kampala but that has not been finalised in conversation with the Social Worker.

DIANA has been happily resettled with her siblings.

RUTH UWIMANA went to join her sisters and family in Rwanda.  Many members of her family came to collect her and journey with her back home.

BENSON has been resettled with his father and maternal Grandmother.

DOREEN'S father & family all resettled up North.  They came to collect her.  Geoffrey has visited them and is delighted by how much they love her and the wonderful Carer they have found.  Doreen is given financial help through Potter's Village which pays for her Carer.  This has been an excellent outcome for her when once we did not know how her future would be.

MOSES came to us from the Refugee Camp so under the auspices of the UN.  His father stayed in the camp to be near him but eventually decided he would like to return to the Congo.  Moses is now living with his Father and Grandmother.

This is really great news for Potter's and shows the important role it plays in the early days of these children’s lives and within the community as a whole.

Earlier this month, the news went round Kisoro, that the transformer was down and power would be off for maybe three weeks.  The new generator was in Kampala and waiting to be delivered. 

A quick phone call and they kindly agreed to bring it down to us.  We cannot believe how quiet it is.  In fact you wouldn't know it was on unless you listened for it.  So different from the old generator! 

Our very grateful thanks to all who donated towards last years Generator Appeal.  We also managed to get a very small generator which can either run the computer or an incubator and oxygen concentrator. This saves wastage if only a small amount of power is needed. 

We are delighted to welcome Sonia as help in the Office.  She has completed her A-levels and although her wish would be to train in Law, her family would not be able to afford it.  She will use her salary here Monday-Friday to help pay for her to study locally at the weekends for a Business Administration degree.  It's a lot to take on, but we are hoping she will manage and become a valued member of the team. 

If you would like to support Sonia in her new role, though sponsorship, please contact Ruth by clicking on this link.  Thank you.

In order to raise valuable funds for the continued work in Uganda, I am asking for you to donate a recipe for our Potter's Village recipe book.  If you have a family favourite recipe that you just love to cook, please send it to Ruth, either via email or by sending it to Ruth Mondal, The Potter's Village, C/o 3 Lancastria Mews, Boyndon Road, Maidenhead, SL6 4SA.  Please also tell me where it came from and why you love it!

Thank you.

Patricia is a lovely girl with cerebral palsy.  Her mother is expecting a baby in July and is finding it a struggle to fit Patricia on her knee to feed.  Patricia also does not like lying on the floor for too long and cries endlessly to be carried.  She is very happy sitting in her chair made in the PV Workshop.

This is a brilliant example of how Potter's Village is reaching out to the community. The workshop set up by Sue Hughes is building chairs and standing frames for disabled children.  People are coming to Potter's knowing that they can find practical support to their difficult problems and word is spreading. 

This is a simple, practical affordable way of changing people lives and we are managing to do this because of your help.  Thank you

As Potter's Village increases in size inevitably costs will also increase.  Please pray that we continue to find funding and support in order that we can continue to expand and save the lives of those who need us the most.

Give Thanks to God for:

• Happy resettlement of our children
• Hardworking staff and their commitment to the project
• All those who support us worldwide in our vision
• The growth of work and reputation of the Medical Centre

Please Pray for:

• Sonia, help her to settle in her new role.
• Sue and the senior staff team, who work tirelessly for these precious children.
• Please pray for a better understanding in the community of what we do.  Winniefred heard of a 2 week old baby with no mother but the family did not bring her because they heard we charged to take children.  Clearly there is confusion between the Medical Centre and the Resident Children.  Pray we will find ways of spreading information throughout the far away communities
• Pray for the health of our children in the dry season.  It is dusty and windy and causes many chest infections
• Pray for the new Board in Uganda which includes Local Government Officials and members from the Diocesan Council.  Pray we gel well together and form a useful and productive body
• Praise for the continuing growth of the Medical Centre.  Praise also for new equipment bought from specifically donated funds
• Praise for our recently settled children who are thriving in the Community.  It is so good to see them return each month looking relaxed and healthy
• Praise for our wonderful crop of vegetables and the kitchen staff who enthusiastically took on cooking nutritious meals for our children.  The children now eat a variety of herbs as well as root vegetables