A Friend Helping Uganda Youth

Today, I received an email from a friend and colleague who has worked for a number of years in northern Uganda. He helped to found an organization: "Survey of War Affected Youth," (SWAY) and now this fund-raising effort for youth affected by the ongoing conflict called "Uganda Youth."

Please read on for his message and more information about his efforts:

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Friends and family,

Many of you know that Jeannie and I have been working in northern Uganda for the past two years, helping UNICEF and other humanitarian organizations design and develop post-conflict programs for young men and women affected by the 20-year war.

The war in Uganda has displaced millions to crowded camps, and thousands of youth have been kidnapped by rebel forces, many of them young children. During our time there we have met some amazing young men and women with terrible stories who are striving for a better life. We want to help them fulfill their incredible potential, and so earlier this year we started our own charity, offering tax-deductible receipts in the US and Canada.

To our amazement, we raised nearly $10,000 this year, more than we ever expected, and so we have begun to support an inspiring youth organization in Uganda with your donations. While we continue to send many youth to school, we are also helping this youth organization set up a grinding mill to generate income, and are supporting the creation of a small micro-lending program. Both are described in the attached newsletter.

Our new goal is to raise an additional $10,000 in order to expand these savings and credit groups to a thousand young men and women in 2007. If you are interested in contributing, this is an opportunity to be closer to the people you help, to hear their stories, and to see their success along the way.

We have set up a charitable giving site, offering tax-deductible donations in the US and Canada, at the following web address: http://ugandayouth.givemeaning.com

A little can go a long way. $70 can help a young woman set up a small kiosk. $120 will pay for a computer course for a disabled young man. $250 will help us form a woman's savings cooperative. $750 will cover a year in secondary school.

A number of you are still in graduate school, are having new babies, or for other reasons find it difficult to give. In this case, feel free to pass this appeal on to friends or family. The viral success of the last year was due in part to the widespread attention we received from all of you.

Thank you all, have a terrific holiday, and I hope you won't mind hearing from us again next December!

Chris