Ugandan School Attack - 38 children murdered

Amy Gilchrist in support of PODA volunteer organization is organizing this fundraiser on behalf of William Gilchrist.

Donation protected

UPDATE:

We are happy to share with you that after much consultation and research we have concrete steps to move forward in support of the people of the Mpondwe school massacre. With the funds raised through your generosity we have initiated a trauma counselling program for the families of those murdered and missing, and the survivors of the massacre.

Families have already received financial support from the Ugandan Government in the amount of 2000 dollars each. Given the amount of money we have raised here and our positive findings in assessing the need and interest in trauma counselling in the community we have decided this is the best way forward.

In September Kathy and Bill Gilchrist (original members of the team involved in building this school) sponsored the Gud Kwo Foundation (see note below) to travel to Bwera to meet with survivor families in an effort to determine the needs on the ground and to assess if a trauma counselling program would be welcome. The response was very positive. 62 survivors came together to meet with Gud Kwo counsellors and support staff over a two day event. (See photo above). This was an opportunity for survivors to connect with each other and with counsellors and to discuss their shared experiences in a supported, empathic environment. Survivors expressed their overwhelming grief and fear, sleepless nights, inability to eat, and at times their “hearts filled with anger”. People expressed the long term effects of this tragedy on themselves, their families and their community.

In an anonymous questionairre attendees filled out after the event it was clear a counselling program was welcomed and could play a significant roll in the long term recovery of families and the community on the whole.

Starting immediately (November 10), and continuing full time over the next month, 2 counsellors and 2 administrators from Gud Kwo and 2 local Bwera counsellors will be meeting in groups and with individual survivors for support. Attendees will be supported in travel, food and expenses to attend. The ongoing needs and wants of the community and the program's capacity will be re-assessed over the next months.

Gud Kwo has the full support of Bwera Local Government Hospital, health professionals at the Bwera Hospital, and the Kitgum District Local Government in this project.

Note: The Gud Kwo Foundation (Gud Kwo means "Touch A lIfe") is an Ugandan Non-profit whose mission is to better the lives of individuals in the community with an emphasis on vulnerable groups. (GudKwoFoundation.org).

PODA is “pleased that those affected by this tragedy will have access to trauma counselling”.

Thank you so much to all of you for your compassion and generosity. We are so grateful for your donation. We hope this program helps support the survivors of the horrible massacre to move forward in their healing. Thank you.

If you need any more information please contact Bill Gilchrist, who will be managing dispersement of funds. [email redacted]

Original text:

WARNING: These details are very difficult to read.

Friday, June 16th 38 students at Mpondwe Lhubiriha Secondary School in Mpondwe, Uganda were senselessly massacred by armed rebels. Six children were abducted and are still missing. The scope of the horror is beyond comprehension. This small community is reeling and will take much support to heal.

UPDATE: 3 of the abducted children have been safely recovered.

Local Victoria residents have strong, important ties to the community of Mpondwe. In 2010 a small group of driven, compassionate people from diverse backgrounds- (doctors, nurses, engineers, philanthropists and activists) came together under the local volunteer organization "Partnerships for Opportunity and Development" (PODA) and joined hands and hearts with the community of Mpondwe to work together to build this school, as well support local women's initiatives and goat and honey beekeeping programs. Through this example of grassroots, cooperation, children from the surrounding villages received an education, meals, housing, and a better future. This is a joint achievement that served the whole community and was meant to do so for generations.

Please help.

We are raising funds to be used directly in the community of Mpondwe for:

* Trauma and grief counselling as well as ongoing support to surviving children, families, teachers, and those affected in the community.

* Medical supplies and equipment for the local Mpondwe hospital as well as help to cover burial costs.

* Support for the Mpondwe community in the days and weeks ahead as needs arise.

Please donate