Since Christmas we have seen an increase in babies being admitted to the crisis centre.

Currently the crisis centre has 24 resident babies and 56 in the community. The project has had to open a third babies' room to accommodate the high numbers in the crisis centre and employ additional staff to support this increase.

 

 

 

The medical centre is doing well currently and has been very busy for the last 2 months. The patient numbers are high and the staff are committed and working hard to provide quality services.

The two nurses who have been studying recently completed their courses successfully, and there are two other members of staff pursuing further education. We are grateful for all those members of staff committed to personal development and for all those who are supporting them financially.

We are glad that the government has supported us with a new fridge for immunisation vaccines (pictured). It is solar powered and we believe that in addition to keeping vaccines safe, it will also help us to cut on electricity costs.

It was a joyous occasion when five children who are residents in the child crisis centre were baptised.

These five children were all abandoned before they came to Potter's Village. The service took place in the Potter's Village chapel.

 

We have sadly had a high number of abandoned babies at Potter's Village over the last six months. The police have not been able to trace the families of five of the children and therefore Potter's Village has been trying to find foster homes for them.

Recently one family has decided they can become foster parents. Baby A has been resettled with them and they need no financial support from Potter's Village.

We hope to find other families in the community with a heart for fostering – please pray for families to step forward so that all our abandoned babies can be resettled and find loving homes.

Thank you to all those who have supported our Appeal for Wheels.

We are aiming to raise £30,000 to buy a good second-hand truck.

Since the appeal was launched, we have raised just over £20,000! Please, can you help us to raise the last £10,000 so that we can equip Potter's Village with a good second-hand vehicle?

Click on the link below to give via our JustGiving page, or scan the QR code to be taken to our appeal page 

https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/appealforwheels

To watch the Appeal for Wheels video click here to be taken to YouTube.

 

Potter's Village has recently been blessed to have the National Army (UPDF) painting our buildings as a way of giving back to the community.

Everything, including the cost for the paints and labour, was done at their own cost. They painted the Omega building, one of the children's wards, the mother’s hostel and a laboratory.

 

 

Picture taken during the trustees visit in February.

Admission to Potter's Village during the last few months has increased. We have received 8 babies into the crisis centre since January and more into our community support programme.

Brian was brought by his grandmother, who is very elderly and did not have any of his documents, such as a birth certificate. Brian's mother is struggling with mental health issues and his father is unknown. The grandmother needed help and thought Brian was born last December.

Gilbert was born in early March 2024 and was
admitted to Potter’s Village in January this year.  His mother had died and his father cannot manage to care for him at this time.

Emmanuel was abandoned at the end of December and was found by the police, who referred him to a local health centre. He was then transferred to another hospital with an intensive care unit and once he was stabilised, he was brought to Potter's Village in the middle of January. Police are still looking for his parents.

Pretty was born last November and was admitted at Potter’s Village in January. Her mother died in early January and her father could not manage taking care of her.

Alvin was born in February and was brought to Potter's Village a week later. He had been abandoned and was found near her home by a kind lady in Chanika Town. The local authority chairperson helped bring the child to Potter’s Village.

Alex was born in September and came to Potter's Village in March this year after he was abandoned by his mother. His father disappeared to Kampala and never comes to see him. He was admitted short-term, as the police are handling the case.

Ligan was born in December and came to Potter's Village at about a month old. His mother struggles with mental illness and is unable to care for him.

Irene was born in February and came to Potter's Village in early March. Her mother sadly died two weeks after delivery.

 

A number of children have been resettled back with their families recently.

Bahati was born prematurely. His mother was a refugee from Congo, living in the local camp. She left the camp to seek help at Potter's Village, where she then abandoned the baby.

Since then his mother has not been traced and we don't know of any other relatives and we have no records for him, like a birth certificate or place of birth. Bahati is doing well and is growing and developing, though his appetite is very low. He has recently been fostered by Winnefried, who is the Warden at Potter's Village. In her care, he is doing so well and is a smiling and jolly boy. Winnifred hopes that Bahati can stay with her long-term.

Patience is around 9 months old and is now so big and active in the room. Since Christmas she has become such a good helper to the baby carers and can follow some simple instructions. She is such a friendly and cheerful little girl. She was resettled at the end of February back with her mum. Her mother was very young when Patience was born and was still studying. However, despite this, she visited Patience a lot and has a beautiful bond with her. They have gone back to their village to live and will continue to be supported by Potter's Village.

 

The Rehabilitaiton Unit is progressing well. The playground is at the completion stage and we are hoping it will be ready for use in the next two weeks.

With the new motorcycle in place, the weekly home visits for both physio and nutrition are being carried out and it’s now possible to monitor the progress of children from homes as well as being able to teach all the family members.

Six children were assisted with wheelchairs recently.

 

 

 

 

 

We thank God;

• For the Crisis Centre, that it can continue to care for all those babies in need
• For the Child Sponsors making such a huge difference to children's lives
• For all those supporters across the world praying and giving to this work.
• For supporting church communities
• For the staff and their dedication to this work
• For volunteers giving up their time to help

Please pray

• For good health for the babies in the crisis centre. This season, the weather is so cold and not
  conducive for the babies. They are falling sick so often.
• For stability with the economy in Uganda, where families are struggling
• For the children re-settled in the community, that they may be cared for and thrive.
• For all staff, whatever their role, that they feel valued and show compassion to all those needing the support of Potter’s Village.
• For the children recently admitted, that they may feel loved despite such a difficult start to life.
• For Idah (Administrator) and the Board of Governors, as they manage Potter’s Village
• For Friends of Potter’s Village, that they will continue to have sufficient income and for good stewardship of donated funds.
• For the pickup truck appeal
• That we find more long-term foster carers
• For continued commitment and unity among the staff.
• For financial stability for the Medical Centre.