Uganda's election from a child's view... 25th February 2016

"We have had no school since some time in November. It has been good but I think I am bored now! I miss my sport afternoons and my mum just makes me fetch water all of the time. The grown ups are listening to the radio from morning to night. No music, just voices. People arguing over one man versus another man. They say the old man is here to stay. They say they do not want another war. I don't know, I am just fed up and want some music to sing along with or dance to. Someone said that school will start next week. I hope so!"

Helping Jeremiah back on his feet... 6th October 2015

Jeremiah is seven and was eventually diagnosed with a brain tumour. He was unable to walk and even sitting became impossible for his little body. Jeremiah's family got into debt so as to try and get him radiotherapy in far off, Mbale. We heard about their plight and have been able to help them pay back what they owed and get some follow-up treatment. In the next few months we hope to be able to enable them to access physiotherapy so that Jeremiah can, literally, get back on his feet!

Beating Famine... 10th July

Green fields hide the reality of famine. The cupboards are bare, the purses are empty and harvest is still several weeks away. These are hard times for a young child who is only given one meal a day, a carbohydrate heavy plate after a long day at school. Helping Hands is working with mothers to train them in better, more effective ways of farming which can help them to cope with changing patterns of rainfall. In three villages, we have bought land for groups of women to work together under our supervision. The successful harvests so far have made many other interested in what we are doing.

Working Together as a Family 22nd May 2015

At Helping Hands we have always worked hand in hand with our Ugandan friends. This is the way we like to work and it is the best way to work, we think! When your "team on the ground" were born in the same villages that they now work in, you already have an open door and a heap of personal connections and local knowledge. However, when you add the fresh eyes provided by outsiders and the willingness to consider how things might improve then you have a really winning combination. We really enjoy our fruitful friendship and that is exactly what it is... sometimes we call ourselves the Helping Hands' Family as that is how we all feel, even when the road has the odd bump!!!