Help Us Build a House for Ugandan Friends in Need
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Facing hardships
A few years ago Mrs. Jolly’s eldest son was tragically killed in an accident. When he died, his wife abandoned their 3 small children, so Mrs. Jolly lovingly took them in. She took in these 3 orphaned children while 3 of her 4 remaining children were still at home. Mrs. Jolly and her older children are raising these orphans; helping them with school work, bathing, feeding, and teaching them to work the family crops. They need a decent house to shelter them and keep them healthy.
The family
We would like to introduce you to our dear friends, a Ugandan family who lives in a remote, small rural village of South Eastern Uganda. Like most of the people in the village, the family lives in poverty. The head of the family is Mrs. Jolly, a widow and under educated subsistence farmer. She lost her husband 15 years ago when a car killed him at the side of a road as he was working, unloading bananas for a nearby plantation. She was initially left, without a job, caring for her 4 children and aging diabetic mother.
How we met
Soon after his death, their local Christian church reached out to her and offered to put her on a list for a sponsor through a Christian non-profit called Compassion International. We became a sponsor for one of her children. We sent small monthly amounts to the family for about 12 years. It wasn’t until the program ended (once the child turns 18) a few years ago that we were able to freely communicate with the family outside of the structured communication within the organization. Two of the now older children, Yvonne and Desire, reconnected with us through social media. Not a day goes by where they don’t express deep gratitude and thanks for the support we provided through Compassion, as it helped them make ends meet with basic needs like school books, fees, a warm meal at school, and what ever was left over was spent on seeds, food, and livestock.
Their story
The family now consists of 8 people living in a 3 room house made of deteriorating clay, a rotting leaky tin roof, dirt floors that get wet during the rainy season, a crumbling cooking shed that, during the rainy season, leaks and prevents them from cooking. They don’t have proper windows and when it rains, it leaks through the openings. The family had no electricity or running water (we paid to have electricity wired to the house so they can have light at night.) Their shack, which is used for storage of the food from their crops, has been has been robbed due to the ease thieves have breaking through mud walls. They try to protect themselves from thieves who at times, steal the milk from their grandmothers cow before the sun comes up. The cow provides a small amount of milk that they sell to pay for their grandmothers diabetes medication. All the children rise early to help dig potatoes, nuts, pull weeds, milk and graze the cow, and tend to their banana trees and sugar cane. In spite of these hard conditions the family remains joyous and grateful for what they have.
Since then, our entire family has developed a deep friendship with Mrs. Jolly and her children. Every member of her family is gracious, honest, and deeply faithful. In spite of their hardships, they remain happy and thankful for what little they have. Mrs. Jolly is a leader in her community. Even though she has little, she volunteers to help other fellow villagers. Recently, they nominated her to work with a non profit to hand out free mosquito nets to all the villagers. The nearest well is a 5 mile daily walk from their village. The children make this journey, carrying 41 pound Jerry cans back to their house. They live on approximately $400 USD per year, growing their own food & relying on the rain to provide water for their crops. Mrs. Jolly has not had an easy life raising her children, trying to make money on what little crops they can grow, relying on charities to help put her children through school, with little money to buy clothes, shoes, meat, and basic supplies.
Help to make a dream come true
We want to give this family a leg up. The dream of having a more stable, safe house is a dream higher than their reach. We want to provide Mrs. Jolly and her family a safe shelter where she can continue to provide love and stability without the worry about the erosion of her house. Electricity and running water will provide more sanitary, safe and comfortable conditions. Windows and a new sustainable roof will prevent leaks from flooding their house, allow them to cook when it rains, and provide protection from the weather. A cement foundation will allow them to have solid floors without the rain soaking their straw mats on the ground when it rains.
After some research, we identified a local, reputable, Ugandan contractor who can build a modern, basic house for $24,000 USD. We plan to use 100% of your donations to build this house. We will wire the money, in phases as sections of the project are completed. We will provide pictures and details of the progress we’ve made so you know exactly where your money is going. Her daughters income from a low wage job in town, will contribute to the families new utility bills.
We want to bless this family, with your help, to provide a new life foundation that will bring health, stability and forward movement for each member in the family. We cannot express how thankful we are for your financial contribution for this beautiful family.
P.S. Our family will be funding the start up costs for them to run a chicken egg laying operation. We will provide guidance to build an effective chicken coup, get appropriate vaccinations for the hens, provide the right type of feed and temperature for an ideal environment. This business, as they grow, will provide each person in the family with a job that will provide income for the family. We are very excited to help them start this business!
Outside of house
Mrs. Jolly in the kitchen
Outhouse
Getting water at the well
The orphaned kids helping in the garden
A few years ago Mrs. Jolly’s eldest son was tragically killed in an accident. When he died, his wife abandoned their 3 small children, so Mrs. Jolly lovingly took them in. She took in these 3 orphaned children while 3 of her 4 remaining children were still at home. Mrs. Jolly and her older children are raising these orphans; helping them with school work, bathing, feeding, and teaching them to work the family crops. They need a decent house to shelter them and keep them healthy.
The family
We would like to introduce you to our dear friends, a Ugandan family who lives in a remote, small rural village of South Eastern Uganda. Like most of the people in the village, the family lives in poverty. The head of the family is Mrs. Jolly, a widow and under educated subsistence farmer. She lost her husband 15 years ago when a car killed him at the side of a road as he was working, unloading bananas for a nearby plantation. She was initially left, without a job, caring for her 4 children and aging diabetic mother.
How we met
Soon after his death, their local Christian church reached out to her and offered to put her on a list for a sponsor through a Christian non-profit called Compassion International. We became a sponsor for one of her children. We sent small monthly amounts to the family for about 12 years. It wasn’t until the program ended (once the child turns 18) a few years ago that we were able to freely communicate with the family outside of the structured communication within the organization. Two of the now older children, Yvonne and Desire, reconnected with us through social media. Not a day goes by where they don’t express deep gratitude and thanks for the support we provided through Compassion, as it helped them make ends meet with basic needs like school books, fees, a warm meal at school, and what ever was left over was spent on seeds, food, and livestock.
Their story
The family now consists of 8 people living in a 3 room house made of deteriorating clay, a rotting leaky tin roof, dirt floors that get wet during the rainy season, a crumbling cooking shed that, during the rainy season, leaks and prevents them from cooking. They don’t have proper windows and when it rains, it leaks through the openings. The family had no electricity or running water (we paid to have electricity wired to the house so they can have light at night.) Their shack, which is used for storage of the food from their crops, has been has been robbed due to the ease thieves have breaking through mud walls. They try to protect themselves from thieves who at times, steal the milk from their grandmothers cow before the sun comes up. The cow provides a small amount of milk that they sell to pay for their grandmothers diabetes medication. All the children rise early to help dig potatoes, nuts, pull weeds, milk and graze the cow, and tend to their banana trees and sugar cane. In spite of these hard conditions the family remains joyous and grateful for what they have.
Since then, our entire family has developed a deep friendship with Mrs. Jolly and her children. Every member of her family is gracious, honest, and deeply faithful. In spite of their hardships, they remain happy and thankful for what little they have. Mrs. Jolly is a leader in her community. Even though she has little, she volunteers to help other fellow villagers. Recently, they nominated her to work with a non profit to hand out free mosquito nets to all the villagers. The nearest well is a 5 mile daily walk from their village. The children make this journey, carrying 41 pound Jerry cans back to their house. They live on approximately $400 USD per year, growing their own food & relying on the rain to provide water for their crops. Mrs. Jolly has not had an easy life raising her children, trying to make money on what little crops they can grow, relying on charities to help put her children through school, with little money to buy clothes, shoes, meat, and basic supplies.
Help to make a dream come true
We want to give this family a leg up. The dream of having a more stable, safe house is a dream higher than their reach. We want to provide Mrs. Jolly and her family a safe shelter where she can continue to provide love and stability without the worry about the erosion of her house. Electricity and running water will provide more sanitary, safe and comfortable conditions. Windows and a new sustainable roof will prevent leaks from flooding their house, allow them to cook when it rains, and provide protection from the weather. A cement foundation will allow them to have solid floors without the rain soaking their straw mats on the ground when it rains.
After some research, we identified a local, reputable, Ugandan contractor who can build a modern, basic house for $24,000 USD. We plan to use 100% of your donations to build this house. We will wire the money, in phases as sections of the project are completed. We will provide pictures and details of the progress we’ve made so you know exactly where your money is going. Her daughters income from a low wage job in town, will contribute to the families new utility bills.
We want to bless this family, with your help, to provide a new life foundation that will bring health, stability and forward movement for each member in the family. We cannot express how thankful we are for your financial contribution for this beautiful family.
P.S. Our family will be funding the start up costs for them to run a chicken egg laying operation. We will provide guidance to build an effective chicken coup, get appropriate vaccinations for the hens, provide the right type of feed and temperature for an ideal environment. This business, as they grow, will provide each person in the family with a job that will provide income for the family. We are very excited to help them start this business!
Outside of houseMrs. Jolly in the kitchenOuthouseGetting water at the wellThe orphaned kids helping in the garden
Fundraising team: McGehee Family (4)
Emily McGehee
Organizer
Irvine, CA
Chelsea McGehee
Team member
Chip McGehee
Team member
Melanie McGehee
Team member