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The Potter's Village - Newsletter


Welcome to the latest issue of the Potters Village Newsletter.

Issue 4. 2015



In this Issue

Winniefred's new wheels!
Support from the Government
Nutrition Unit benches
A tragic event
Premature Twins
New Babies
New Immunisation room
Volunteer Margaret
Toilet Attendant
Comfort for Comfort
Standing tall;
Please pray for us




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Winniefred's new wheels!

Potter's Village Social Worker Winniefred has been struggling with all the home visits she needs to do in this mountainous and very rural part of Uganda.  In the past she has had to pay for somebody to drive her to visit families, which can sometimes be over 2 hours away.

Her job is busy and she decided earlier this year to see if Potter's village could apply to a charity called ROPE for a grant to buy a motorbike.  This money was granted and now she has her bike which has eased travels to different areas. This has also helped us to reduce on our expenditure on transport.

A huge thank you to ROPE for their support. 


Support from the Government

Potter's Village has always tried to be as self-sufficient as possible, so when we hear about the new Government Wealth Creation Scheme, we decided it would be helpful to apply to the scheme to see if they could provide us with a cow.

it costs Potter's Village a significant amount of money each month to buy in enough milk for all our resident children, so we thought a Cow would help. 

However, not surprisingly the Government scheme was oversubscribed and we were sad when they told us that they would provide animals on a first come first serve basis.  

Fortunately, however we got the good news that Potters was selected first in recognition for all we do for the children in the community.  Due to this we were given a cow! Her name is Invaheza and she now lives close to Potter's village on the Gishegera farm with the PV goats. 

She arrived pregnant so, we are eagerly waiting to see when she gives birth.  A joke at Potters is that the Director wanted a giraffe but has to be content with a cow! She is a lovely addition to the project and we are very grateful for her.


Nutrition Unit benches

The Nutrition Rehabilitation Centre is continuing to develop and grow.  The mothers whose children are receiving treatment have lessons everyday about Nutritional cooking and other hygienic programmes.

We realised that we needed a more official learning space for them with adequate seating, which has led to the making of some solid wooden benches.


A tragic event

Ruth and Rebecca were two Doctors that came to Potter's Village in August to volunteer for 3 months.  Not only did they do their medical work but Rebecca used her artistic talents to great use on the Nutritional rehabilitation Unit walls (pictured, are some of her wonderful paintings). 

One Sunday afternoon they went for a walk along one of the roads.  A speeding motorbike hit Rebecca and threw her into a deep concrete drainage ditch.  She suffered a severe head injury and sadly died 4 days later.  Our hearts go out to her family and boyfriend as well as to Ruth.  She was a lovely girl and this was a great tragedy.


Premature Twins

Twins Gato & Gakuru have spent a long time in our premature baby unit.  Their parents have been very attentive.  Their Father sat for hours just cuddling them and the mother was always smiling.  They have been very patient with their two tiny children.

Recently they have become strong enough to return home and there was so much rejoicing the day they went. They made sure they went round and thanked everybody at Potter's Village for their work.  A wonderful outcome, for two very vulnerable children.


New Babies

We welcomed 5 new babies into our PV resident community from July to September.

Brian was born at the beginning of September. He is an abandoned baby who was found in a plastic bag with his placenta still attached.  It was amazing he survived.  We have found his 15 year old mother who was raped but did not know she was pregnant.  Winniefred and Geoffrey (PV Welfare officer) will work with her and see what the future is for him.

Miracle Is approximately 18 months old. He was found behind Potter’s Village late in the night crying and crawling all alone. He was brought to us and we tried to look for the family but we failed to trace them. We are now planning to put him into foster care. He is a gorgeous boy.

Judith was born at the end of August. The mother died after one week from delivery. She started having chest pain, was taken to hospital and then died.

Susan was also born at the end of August. Her mother is still a high school student who gave birth and afterwards disappeared. The Grandmother brought the child to Potter’s Village.   She wants time to find and settle her daughter then will come for Susan.

Bridget; She was born in early July. Her mother is deaf and is also sadly, mentally unstable. Bridget came in when she was very malnourished, but now we are glad that she is doing well. We are unsure of her future.

if you would like to become a Potter's Village Child Sponsor, please visit our website for more details


New Immunisation room

As the Medical Centre continues to get busier, it was decided that it would be easier to move the immunisation room from the main medical centre to another block.

This has helped alleviate congestion in the Medical Centre and is working well.  We put a big post outside with a new sign directing the parents on where to go.


Volunteer Margaret

We were very grateful to have Margaret volunteer with us for a nearly six months from March to August this year. 

She was a great help in getting the new Nutritional Rehabilitation Unit running efficiently.  She was the right person at the right time and we are incredibly grateful for her and for the time and effort she gave to help those children suffering from malnutrition.


Toilet Attendant

As Potter's Village grows and develops, we have more general public onsite attending outpatient’s appointments for immunisation clinics.  Because of this, we have had to improve our facilities and in a previous newsletter we talked about our new Ecosan toilets.

In order to maintain a good level of hygiene onsite, we have felt it necessary to employ a toilet attendant to help with this.

A shelter has been built for him to cope with heavy rains and hot sun.  As well as keeping an eye on the toilets, he is busy digging the compound around it.  Leonard (compound supervisor) will plant a hedge and some fruits for him to maintain.


Comfort for Comfort

All our children make progress eventually in our Nutrition Unit but not Comfort.  She has been with us for 14 weeks.  She is 18 months and only 5 kilos.  She is fed through a tube every 2 or 3 hours day and night. 

Some days she puts on weight, some days she loses it again.  She vomits easily so feeds have to be carefully gauged and different diets tried.  She can be fine for several days yet still lose weight.  

We have done all the tests we can and have now referred her to a larger hospital in a different area where we hope they can find out the cause of her problems.


Standing tall;

The workshop made a standing frame for Deus.  He has cerebral palsy.  He can sit unsupported and can put weight on his legs for a short time.  This standing frame is a perfect fit and supports him when his knees begin to sag. 

The frame not only allows him to strengthen his leg muscles but enables him to use his hands more effectively.  Hopefully he will learn to feed himself.  Leonard, who is in charge of the workshop, enjoyed trying his artistic talents on the sides.


Please pray for us

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:

  • The numbers of local people attending the Medical Centre  .
  • The Nutritional Rehabilitation Centre (NRU).  How God is moving the project forwards
  • Amazing staff and their families
  • For all the volunteers who support Potter's Village through prayer and practical assistance 
  • For all those who continue to support Potter's Village financially
  • Winniefred's new motorbike
  • Invaheza the Cow and the support of the authorities for this project. 

Please Pray for:

  • Stamina and good health for Mike, Sue and Rosie.
  • Funding for the NRU, which can save lives and help transform communities
  • Winniefred (Social Worker) as she learns to ride her motorbike
  • For Rebecca's family and friends
  • Deus as he learns to stand using his walking frame
  • For Comfort that an answer to her problems will be found
  • Premature twins Gato & Gakuru that they will thrive and grow