The administrators and the entire community of Rubanda Solidarity Nursery and Primary school express sincere thanks and appreciation to you for the great support you gave us to solve the problem of food shortage we faced in the middle of this year due to prolonged drought. It caused food prices to hike and some schools in the country to close earlier than originally planned.

We are very grateful and let you know that our school kept on open because of your remarkable generosity. On a normal schedule, our school closed the term and students then went off for their vacation in September and now are back to school.

Unfortunately, as they returned to school they met another disaster in a row, caused by torrential rains and storms that left some people dead, others missing, plantations and properties destroyed or washed away. For example, on the 25th of September, this year, there were thunder storms and landslides that hit the district and not far away from our school that left 20 people dead and others are still uncounted for, today. Many others were left homeless, injured and are still in hospital recovering. We are glad that the funds you donated to us have been timely and able to get us through these two tough moments and we still have a little balance left.

Graciously, below is the accountability of how we made sure that every penny donated to us could add a smile to our desperate school administrators, students, and the school staff. After we received the funds, our students resumed their three meals schedule a day and went on with their normal books and life at the school. However, though the floods did not directly affect our school, they had great social, psychological and economic impact on each one of us. Some affected families were part of some of our students and staff or related in different ways. Floods also affected our school budget by destroying all new gardens and keeping food prices rising high though slightly lower than during the drought.

Please, in the table below, note how we compare the food prices per the time of the drought and fund donation with current prices during the current floods. Unfortunately, the figures are given in Uganda Shillings but can easily show you the difference between the two terms in the school. The situation of getting the food prices stabilize is still uncertain as we have had to face natural disasters from one to another in a row. But we hope and are optimistic that the weather is going to normalize and things will improve. We promise to keep you updated.

Thank you once again for standing by our side most especially during these hard moments when we truly needed you most.

BELOW IS AN ACCOUNTING TO DATE OF OUR EXPENDITURES:

Amount donated in USD $5,000, with exchange rate at 1USD=3,560USh = 17,8000,000 USh.

TERM TWO 2017:
Posho (940kgs @ 3,600) = 3,408,000
Beans = 2,500
Sweet Potatoes (6 bags w/ transport @ 80,000) = 500,000
   Total Second Term 2017 Expenditure = 3,908,000

TERM THREE 2017:
Posho (3,040kgs @ 2,500) = 7,602,000
Beans = (1,200kgs @ 2,500) = 3,006,000
Sweet Potatoes (10 bags @ 50,000 = 500,000
   Total Third Term 2017 Expenditure = 11,108,000

TOTAL EXPENDITURES FOR TERMS TWO AND THREE 2017: 15,016,000 ($4,218 USD)
Our balance in Ugandan Shillings: 2,784000 ($782 USD)

Below are some pictures of the floods we are going through right now and recovery is a slow motion. You will see some of the abandoned homes with owners either dead, missing or who managed to escape for their life. It’s unbelievable to see how much suffering is happening in the world today. We also have been hearing how much America has not been spared from these horrible climate change disasters with many left dead, property and houses destroyed. We hope where you are located is safe, and too keep you in our prayers.

Once again, thank you for being there with us more than we can explain. God bless each one of you, Yamba Abaana USA, and your generosity.

Lastly, we do promise to always maintain our cooperation with you to develop our school. United we can make a difference.

God bless you,

Rogers Orishaba, Project Coordinator