M-LISADA

NEWSLETTER JULY - SEPTEMBER 2019

CULTURAL

GALA

HOLIDAY

PROGRAM

FABRIC

OF LIFE

CHELLASTON

ACADEMY AT

M-LISADA

BRASS FOR

AFRICA

TEACHER

BAND IN UK

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

DEAR FRIENDS AND SUPPORTERS .............................................................................................................................. 3

BRASS FOR AFRICA TEACHER BAND IN UK ............................................................................................................ 4

CHELLASTON ACADEMY AT M-LISADA .................................................................................................................... 5

CULTURAL GALA ............................................................................................................................................................... 6

MENSTRUAL HEALTH PROJECT .................................................................................................................................... 9

READING COMPETITION AND BOOK HEAVEN PROJECT............................................................................... 10

UGANDA COMMUNITY LIBRARIES’ ASSOCIATION ............................................................................................ 11

FURNITURE FOR M-LISADA PRIMARY PASSION SCHOOL ................................................................................ 11

HOLIDAYS ........................................................................................................................................................................... 12

PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT ............................................................................................................................................ 13

MENTAL HEALTH TALKS ............................................................................................................................................... 14

FABRIC FOR LIFE ............................................................................................................................................................... 14

EYE SCREENING ................................................................................................................................................................ 15

GOODBYE TO JAN .......................................................................................................................................................... 16

NEW LONG-TERM VOLUNTEERS............................................................................................................................... 17

TRAINING FOR UPCOMING CULTURAL GALA.................................................................................................... 18

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DEAR FRIENDS AND SUPPORTERS

With great pleasure and gratitude, I would like to thank all our sponsors and donors for their tireless

support to M-LISADA Organization. From the month of July to September, M-LISADA experienced

historical milestones that have changed lives of vulnerable children in Uganda and out of the country as

well.

We were blessed with the support of the Maxwell and Naomi Worman’s Foundation to our Menstrual

Health Program in Kalangala Island, where 356 schoolgirls were trained to make their own sanitary towels.

It is such a joy to see girls attend school because of this thoughtful and needed project.

Two years in a row (2018 & 2019), M-LISADA children got the opportunity to travel to both the US and

the UK. Our kids were ambassadors, representing the children of Uganda as they performed in various

cities in the US, as part of the M-LISADA Dance of Hope program. Also, our young adults who are

teachers with Brass for Africa had the opportunity to travel and perform in the prestigious Cheltenham

Music Festival. M-LISADA believes that when you educate a vulnerable child, you prepare them for the

benefit of the society and of the world. We are so impressed that the children we watched growing are

now traveling around the world and have a platform to perform in the world’s most admired countries.

Without a location or address you can never direct a visitor to your home. The Chellaston Academy has

given M-LISADA a home to our children and a real place we can call our own. It’s such a great moment to

have them with us each year. In July we received our Chellaston Family who made the last donation to

purchase the Dream House.

Thanks to Chellaston Academy, Latymer Upper School, Chris Weigers and David Nass, who made it

possible for us to purchase the Dream House for our transitioning young adults.

M-LISADA would struggle to move an inch if it were not for the support of our committed donors,

sponsors and individuals. Our Management is forever grateful. We look forward to seeing you again at M-

LISADA Organization.

Yours truly,

Donia Emilly

Executive Director

M-LISADA Organization

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BRASS FOR AFRICA

TEACHER BAND IN UK

For our partner organisation Brass for Africa, the July

started with a great and exciting journey.

In the early morning hours of Monday, the 1st of July

11 members of the Brass for Africa Teacher Band set

off for the UK, where they have been performing at

different places and events. 10 of these teachers grew

up and learned how to play at M-LISADA. As a family

we were not only happy and excited, but also very

proud of you: Best, Ivan, Disan, Sumayya, Tadeo,

Sharon, Michael, Gilbert, Emmanuel, Julius and Bruce.

Their trip started with a first gig to a sold out

“Upstairs at Ronnie Scott’s”. The band wowed the

audience with their musicality and energy, and

even moved them to tears as the teachers talked

about their own salvation through music. The

following days, they have been working with the

British Army and taking up a 9-day residency at

the Cheltenham Music Festival, culminating in a

performance with Wynton Marsalis on 13th July.

After two weeks full of adventures and with

numerous new experiences to tell about, they

finally struck out for home. Welcome back! That

journey proved dreams come true. M-LISADA

gives thanks to Brass for Africa for making this

wonderful dream a reality.

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CHELLASTON ACADEMY AT M-LISADA

In July M-LISADA had the joy of welcoming a new class from our special friends Chellaston Academy in the

UK. Chellaston has been visiting and helping support M-LISADA for 12 years. Every year a new class of

around 30 people visit and do work with us and for us. This year’s visit, we took them on a tour to Katwe

and showed them the original one room building that M-LISADA started in. Furthermore, they have been

around for painting the walls, creating some new pictures in preparation of the Cultural Gala, for which

they also joined us. It has been an honour to welcome you again, thank you for everything you have done

for us. Read these lovely words from Ellie Palmer from Chellaston Academy School about that recent trip

to Uganda and visit to M-LISADA:

“During my time in Uganda I met some amazing children that really touched me, and I will never forget.

The love and care we were welcomed with was so overwhelming and it felt just like a home away from

home. I just want to mention M-LISADA, a children’s orphanage that we work with out there, it is the

most magical place that I have ever been to, full of so much happiness and love that is clear as soon as you

step through the gates. It is such an incredible place that I wish everybody has the chance of visiting as the

children and staff there are some of the most inspiring people I have ever met!”

Thank you, Ellie!

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CULTURAL GALA

On the 17th of July one of M-LISADA’s biggest events took

place, the Cultural Gala. That gala is a fundraising concert,

where the M-LISADA children presents their talents in

Brass band, cultural dances and acrobatics. Every staff

member, every M-LISADA child and many friends of M-

LISADA have prepared and done everything possible to

create a spectacular show for the visitors. To organise such

a big event is never easy, but although it might be really

exhausting sometimes, the trainings can still make a lot of

fun and the outcome was worth the effort we have put into

that project.

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The cause for this 4th Annual Cultural Gala

was to fundraise money to support M-

LISADA’s Dreamhouse. The money raised

from the performances was used to buy the

building of the Dreamhouse, which is a home

to fifteen young adults from the age of

sixteen and above. Thanks to everyone, who

supported us and made dreams come true.

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MENSTRUAL HEALTH PROJECT

With financial support from Maxwell and Naomi Worman’s

Foundation, M-LISADA Organization was able to reach out 348 girls

from Bishop Dunstan and Sserwanga Lwanga Secondary schools

carried out a menstrual health workshop trained to make their own

pads and the Foundation also supplied the girls with more materials

such that they can continue making these sanitary pads while they

are at home. The workshop focused on maintaining hygiene during

menstruation periods. It’s the third year since the Foundation has

been supporting the girls on the Island with this project.

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READING COMPETITION AND

BOOK HEAVEN PROJECT

In August different primary schools were invited to participate

in an event, including activities like reciting a poem,

storytelling, read aloud, mind games and spelling quiz. The

Pride Nursey Primary school, Cinderella nursey and primary

school and the Jussam junior school participated on these days

with the M-LISADA children. We were also honored to have

Justin Kiyimba, a chairperson from the Uganda community

Library Association as the guest of honour.

We are glad that our community children managed to be in

the second position. This position is very encouraging to the

Organization and the community, because it shows how the

library has been of great help to our children.

Thanks to every supporter and participant of that event. It has

also been a great platform for students to exchange and learn

from each other.

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UGANDA COMMUNITY LIBRARIES ’ ASSOCIATION

In July, the library attended a two days libraries’ convention conference in Gayaza from 25th – 26th which

was about networking with other libraries in one umbrella UgCLA (Uganda Community Libraries’

Association).

FURNITURE FOR M-LISADA

PASSION PRIMARY SCHOOL

We are happy for our friends and partners from M-LISADA Passion

Primary School who are continually growing and improving. Their latest

development was to expand their furniture. The children and teachers

are pleased to have new tables, chairs and cabinets.

Thanks to Yves Baes, who made this happen.

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HOLIDAYS

From 27th August to 13th of September the school children

had holiday and were back home at M-LISADA, so the

education and sponsorship officer had a meeting with all M-

LISADA children in the beginning of this period. She took the

children through the holiday program and informed them

about the different activities, they would be doing to develop

their physical, cognitive, spiritual, social-emotional, etc. being.

The children going to school joined holiday study session

times every morning. Those from nursery to primary had to

do their holiday exercises, while the secondary students

were revising their notes. This will help the students to

improve their grades, as they have been tutored and helped

by different staff members.

Four times a year, the sponsored children of M-LISADA are

writing letters to their sponsors, to inform them about

school and activities and to update them about their lives

and families. They also used the holidays as an opportunity

to prepare these reports.

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In the end of the holidays, all the pupils were going

back to their schools. See, how the Cinderella

Primary children were preparing food and snacks

before they left M-LISADA.

PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT

This quarter the psychosocial officer of M-LISADA went to Kampiringisa Rehabilitation Centre every

Wednesday besides from the first Wednesday of the month to work with the children who conflict with

the law. She visits the Centre to take the children through trauma heeling. The Officer also goes to the M-

LISADA Passion Primary School for trauma heeling and life skills sessions like communication and problem-

solving skills.

From the 12th to 16th of August M-LISADA had a visitor from the US. She did psychosocial training with

the children and shared her story with them. Thank you, Mama Nora, for visiting us and sharing your story.

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MENTAL HEALTH TALKS

In July, August and September the staff members of M-LISADA were doing three sessions of mental health

talks. The children were separated into two groups

because of the age. Their first talk has been about

general mental health, so the children and the staff

members were talking about stress, anxiety,

depression, trauma and phobia. The second mental

health talk was about stress management, in the third

talk the staff members informed the children about

stigma and discrimination.

FABRIC FOR LIFE

During the three weeks of holidays, a

group of ten M-LISADA children went

to Ntinda to the free spirit house of

Nina for acquiring and improving their

sewing and designing skills.

They had their third season within the

holidays.

In season one the children were put in

small groups to make outfits.

In season two the children did individual

outfits.

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They produced outfits for a model, so for

being graduate they had to present their

own looks.

This time, one three days a week the

children learned how to produce bags.

A big, heartfelt thank you to Babaluku and

Nina who made this happen.

EYE SCREENING

Through the Maxwell and Naomi Worman’s Foundation,

our children at the M-LISADA Centre and M-LISADA

Passion Primary School got an opportunity to be screened

and 6 we found with eye defect and recommendations

were given to help the children recover their eyesight.

One of the children with sight problem was also given

eyeglasses by the Foundation. We are grateful to the

Foundation for their support.

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GOODBYE TO JAN

Jan who came from Germany and spent one year with us,

has just finished his voluntary service here. As he has been

doing a great work and it was fun to have him, we would

like to send a big thank you to him! Read some words

from Jan about his time at M-LISADA:

I volunteered at M-LISADA for one year and had a really

great time there. The children and the staff received me

very warmly and always supported me in getting to know

the language and culture. As a volunteer at M-LISADA one

can work in many different departments, so there is always something to do and it doesn´t get boring. The

main departments are education and skills. For example, you can assist in the library teaching reading,

writing, english and maths.

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I was teaching basic computer skills for the community

children and music. M-LISADA has 3 brass bands on

different levels and I had a lot of fun teaching the kids

how to play an instrument in the community band and

playing in the Senior band. Generally, there is a lot of

music happening there, ranging from brass instruments

to flutes, piano or guitar. Besides the music groups,

there is also culture dance, and theatre. Another task

was updating the Facebook page of M-LISADA and

writing the newsletter about the different activities and

taking pictures.

I will never forget my time there and I am very thankful

for all the beautiful memories, the great friendships and

the experiences I made there.

NEW LONG-TERM VOLUNTEERS

As Jan has just been leaving us, two new long-term volunteers arrived at M-LISADA.

Paula and Edda are both 19 years old women from Germany. On 20th of August, they arrived well at

Kampala, Uganda, as well as at M-LISADA. All the staff members and children gave their best to give them

a friendly welcome. Thanks to everyone, they will feel comfortable here. For the next 12 month they are

going to support our M-LISADA wherever and whenever they can and going to grow into our M-LISADA

family. Paula is a dancer and gymnast. She is joining the cultural dance group and is probably going to teach

the children, especially Sylvia acrobatics. Edda is playing the trumpet and piano, going to join the M-LISADA

Senior Band and teach the children.

They are excited about and looking forward to all the experiences and insights they will gain during the

next month.

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TRAINING FOR UPCOMING CULTURAL GALA

On 1st of November a second Cultural

Gala organized by M-LISADA is going to

take place. To fundraise money for

renovating the Dreamhouse, that event

will be built up even more massive than

the first one that year. This Gala is not

going to take place at M-LISADA, but at

the Nsambya sharing hall, which houses much more

visitors. To achieve an optimal outcome, we have hired

some of the best drama, vocal and dance coaches, who

are doing everything possible to put on a successful

production. Everyone is busy with practicing now and

excited about that date.

With a team of M-LISADA staff members, some of the

coaches and service providers, we have for example

made decisions about decorations, show lighting, sound

and stage equipment. The costumes for dancers, singers,

musicians and actors are in the works.

These days we are continually developing our vision of

how the production and the whole event is going to look

like and working hard on realising it.

We want to thank every trainer, coach, staff member and

supporter for the effort they are putting into that major

project.

Furthermore, we would like to invite everyone, who can

do it to visit our Cultural Gala. It is going to be a really

great day for everyone, we can’t wait for it.

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M-LISADA ORGANIZATION Ave Maria Road, Nsambya,

P.O. 71511, Kampala, Uganda

Tel.: +256 772 433 793 / +256 392 845 287

E-Mail: m-lisada-xstreet@hotmail.com

Web: www.mlisada.org