Teso Development Trust partnership in relief, development and mission

Teso News - February 2013, Issue 55

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IN THIS ISSUE OF TDT NEWS

Looking back and looking forward

Happy 100th Birthday Ngora Cathedral!

Thinking about what works

Remembering Dr John Maitland

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LOOKING BACK … The turn of the year makes us stop and reflect on the last year and ask “Where do we go from here?” Last year in many ways was a vintage year for TDT which we considered at our AGM at Nottingham on 29th September. Our focus was on the ways we have increased our support for the hospitals and health projects through the Nottingham hospitals health team but also with Chris and Sharon Atkins of the Sheffield Health Link. We also provided food aid and mosquito nets

to communities impacted by flooding in Kumi and Katakwi

provided funds to help 4 communities improve food production in Ongino, Wera, Gweri and Kapir

assisted the setting up of 16 village loan associations in and around Soroti

provided clean water for 14 villages and 6 schools

provided significant help to train leaders in the Church of Uganda and the Pentecostal Assemblies of God (PAG)

helped several schools with building improvements and equipment

Our annual report on our website gives more detail. We are very grateful to our supporters and supporting Churches for their giving, prayers and encouragement, which made this all possible.

THINKING ABOUT WHAT WORKS It is always important to question on what is effective in partnership in Teso. Our management committee also has some very vigorous debates about getting the best value for our efforts and funds. In TDT, we always seek to have reports on the results of our investments and try to report these to our donors. We receive feedback reports which are discussed by the Committee, reported in our newsletter and put on our website. Relevant research studies help us learn best practice. Recently I read a book called “Poor Economics” written by A.V. Bannerjee and E Duflo which reviews the evidence of what works best in helping improve lives in developing countries. Amongst the conclusions about good practice were the high value of bed nets in

preventing malaria the importance of local clean water

Our annual meeting being addressed by Sharon Atkins on the health programme.

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ensuring health care is effectively provided at local community level

the provision of good sanitation the need to source food aid locally the need to invest in small farmers the value of local finance and savings

schemes the need to invest in schools and

especially in good quality teaching and facilities

the importance of having good local agencies to deliver aid

I felt, without being complacent, that much of what we seek to do in TDT and with our Partners reflects this evaluation and shows we are on the right track. For those who are interested in the detail of the evidence, it is an excellent read. The book was published in 2012 by Penguin @ £9.99 and is available at good bookshops or on Amazon. Dave Watts - TDT Administrator

Agricultural development in Gweri Funded by the Souter Foundation, PAG undertook a concentrated programme of improvement in Awaliwal in Gweri sub county which we have also targeted for water improvements. A Farmers’ cooperative of 18 vulnerable households has been set up with training in crop rotation, budding and grafting, organic farming and pest control. The group has been supplied with improved seeds of sorghum and cowpeas, and taught the use of wood burning stoves that will conserve use of wood for cooking and reduce smoke pollution. Six Rocket Lorena stoves were built by the group. PAG is pleased with the results and the group has sent us a note of thanks particularly highlighting the health benefits of the new stoves.

Relief in Katakwi and Kumi We responded once again to the impact of floods in the summer. Mukongoro sub county in Kumi and Acowa and Alito in Katakwi had been hit by heavy rainfall and flooding. Aid was given through PAG in the form of mosquito nets, water purification tablets, jerricans and tarpaulins to help 150 households in most need.

Wood burning stoves at Awaliwal.

Community renewal in Wera and Abarilela We visited the work of our partner Revival Time Ministries in these communities in July to see progress in their enterprise training and literacy programmes. These are going well and we have supported the renting of stores for their groundnuts, the provision of 6 sewing machines for women to set up textile enterprises and provided some further funding for their microloan fund so as to give larger loans. Water progress In 2012, we funded 11 wells and 3 boreholes, executed through PAG thanks to grants from Wilmslow Wells For Africa, Spring Harvest, The Drinking

Fountain Association and The Allen and Nesta Ferguson Trust - and donations from supporters. Some of these were visited on our trip and the borehole at Morupeded in Kumi was formally opened by our chairman. A borehole funded by the Ferguson Trust was completed at Kolir in November (see right). This has meant local clean water for about 12000 people in the villages of Teso, which will make a significant difference to health and hygiene especially for children. This is particularly the case as two of the boreholes serve 6 primary schools.

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Acowa in Amuria was one of the communities hit by flooding which we have helped with relief.

Visit

www.teso.org.uk for up to date news and information

on all TDT’s work.

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HAPPY 100TH BIRTHDAY NGORA CATHEDRAL!

A team from the Bournemouth Deanery was invited to the Centenary Celebrations at Ngora in the Diocese of Kumi. In October 1912, the foundation stone was laid by Bishop Willis for the Ngora Pro-Cathedral and the first confirmation service was held. The Church Missionary Society had introduced Christianity to Uganda in 1877 and this gradually spread into the Teso area just after 1900. The celebrations of the centenary

Kolir Borehole under construction.

Bishop Thomas of Kumi inspects the cathedral’s birthday cake.

lasted for 10 days as we opened churches, had an ordination service, took part in special days of prayer, then finally joined in the Grand Centenary celebration Service. The days when we went to open a new church were times of celebration. There was always the uncertainty of where we were going and at what time (English time or Ugandan time?). There were 6 churches at which we were privileged to be at the opening. All of the community came to together singing and dancing. What wonderful welcomes we had and one particular farewell will remain with us. The people sang and danced in front of the vehicles for a long way down the track until we reached the ‘proper’ road. Each of the special occasions had singing, dancing lots of welcomes and announcements and we even witnessed 4 weddings at one of the services. There would then be a walk around the church, 3 times singing ‘Onward Christian Soldiers’, finishing with the unveiling of plaques and the cutting of ribbons. I unfortunately missed one of the church openings as I had gone down with my usual stomach problem, but I did recover in time to be at the Ordination Service in Ngora Cathedral. With me still not feeling well and the service lasting over 5 hours, this was a difficult but wonderful day. The privilege of preaching in a very full cathedral, and people peering through the windows, was a memorable occasion. During the service we had Lay Readers licensed, and Deacons and Priests ordained as a wonderful celebration for the start of new ministries.

My main interest in Kumi and also when we went up to Soroti for a few days, was the training of Church Leaders. I was very aware of how important they are in their local communities in every area of life. They have a great responsibility not just for the spiritual life but also for health, education and food production. A great trip which has helped strengthen our links with Teso and the work and witness of the two Dioceses. Rev Reg Baldock

Bournemouth Deanery

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Above: The new altar cloth in the cathedral presented by Southwell Diocese to mark the anniversary and to

express its long term friendship. This was made from Irish Linen and Nottingham Lace by Hilary Tinsley from the

Minster who is a specialist in Traditional Church textiles.

Rev Reg Baldock joins Bishop Geresom Ilukor in opening a new church.

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Dr JOHN MAITLAND - An Incarnational Christian

Dr John Maitland was a founder of TDT having been medical superintendent of Ngora Hospital. He died on November 13th after a long battle with cancer. Our previous chairman Neil Stedman writes about him. John once described himself to me as an incarnational Christian. I knew that he was a firm believer in the Gospel and follower of Jesus, but I understood that he saw the outworking of his discipleship in the difference he could make to people and their circumstances. John became a friend as I worked with him over many years: at the hospital in Ngora, running the Friends of Freda Carr Hospital in the UK and establishing its charitable status, setting up Uganda Development Services and initiating the Teso Relief Campaign which became the Teso Development Trust. Both UDS and TDT are now firmly established and are enormously indebted to John for his energy, enthusiasm, vision and boundless generosity. It was never boring and often fun working with John. There was his self-deprecating humour (Always one of the awkward squad - the first liner of his poem read at the funeral service) and his penchant for dreadful puns. John leaves an immeasurable abyss in the lives of his family and many friends, not least those in Uganda who had been his patients, colleagues when

serving as a doctor and his fellow workers who have shared in establishing and sustaining the UDS projects at Kamili and Buyende. Two texts seem to me to say something significant about John, marking the beginning of his service as missionary and the end of his life. Written in Ateso over the out patients building at the Freda Carr Hospital is I have come that they might have life and

have it more abundantly

and the introit at John’s funeral service was

What a wonderful world.

Good bye (for now) John, you have been an Inspirational Christian Neil Stedman

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LOOKING FORWARD … We are looking forward to

three hospital teams going to provide training

the publication of the Bible in Kumam in August

funding 5 community agricultural programmes

completing the diocese of Soroti Lay readers training centre

funding further school improvements at Takaramiam school and Ngora Parents school

continuing to provide clean water in the villages

encouraging the Teso Church in its growth of ministry and witness

Giving more support to the hospitals On 15th January Martin and Elaine Harrison set off for Kumi Hospital where they are to work until the end of March working with Dr Ruth Obaikol and her team to improve the financial systems of the hospital. Dr Ruth asked us to provide this kind of help last year and Martin and Elaine have kindly offered their services. The aim is to review and upgrade the hospitals accounting systems so that it can more efficiently run its finances. The work will also set in place the information systems required to bid for funds for key projects and equipment at the Hospital from Western Donors. A phone call from Martin as we went to press confirmed that the project is going well.

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Kumi Hospital.

Arrangements are in hand for both the Sheffield Health Link team led by Dr Chris

Atkins and the Nottingham health team organised by Jack Strong to undertake

summer training visits.

Enough food for everyone if !! 100 development agencies including Tearfund, the Church of England, Christian Aid, The Methodist Church and CAFOD have just launched a campaign which seeks to raise the profile of the fact that if we take action, the hunger challenge of our world can be met. It is a stunning fact that 1 in 14 of the world’s population go to bed hungry every night. This is a reality in much of Teso. The IF Campaign follows on from Make Poverty History and is focused to lobby the next G8 summit chaired by our Prime Minister. Information on the campaign is set out on the Tearfund website: www.tearfund.org/en/get_involved/campaign/if/ One important aim is to encourage support for small farmers in developing countries to increase their food production. This helps increase availability of food where it is most needed – creating local income and community development. Being concerned with local community wellbeing and with considerable local leadership ability, the Church can play a huge role in tackling hunger and TDT’s partners have a strong track record. The need is for resources of seeds, animals and training to help local people develop their food supply and food security. In 2013, we would like to help our partners as follows:

ECEDA in Ongino This is an ecumenical and community run farming development project in Ongino near Kumi which has made great strides in improving its agriculture by training and planting better strains of various crops (see the front page photo). It is organized by Sam and Winny Okiror who are long standing friends of TDT. The group wish to plant citrus trees (mangoes and oranges), develop cash crops such as vegetables, acquire poultry and increase marketing and enterprise skills. They also aim to build the communities food storage facilities to meet the hunger period of the year. The programme will reach 300 households (1800 people). The budget for the year is £4000 PAG in Gweri The Training and investment given to the farmers’ group in Awaliwal has reaped a good harvest and we would like to continue this by further aid to multiply wood burning stoves, tree planting, organic farming storage techniques and rain water harvesting. This will cost £3000 The Church of Uganda in Acowa The Church is engaged with Tearfund in a major Food Security Programme in Katakwi, Amuria and Kumi. This involves a range of training and development projects. Resources do not allow for capital works such as acquiring livestock or building dams to conserve water supplies for irrigation in the dry season. TDT has contributed to these and the Church has requested aid to construct 4 rainwater harvesting projects linked to local schools in Acowa in Amuria. It will

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provide access to clean water for 4000 children and their families benefitting

health and the development of local crop production. The cost is £5000

We also will need to be prepared to provide emergency food aid. Providing more clean water Our partners in the Pentecostal Church have put together a demanding programme, reflecting the need of so many villages that use polluted and inaccessible water supplies. This year we want to provide 13 more wells - 2 in the Soroti district, 3 in Tubur (20km to the north of Soroti), 1 at Arapai just north of Soroti and 7 in Serere District in the sub-counties of Labor, Ocaapa and Kadunguli. We would like to undertake 3 further boreholes in Kumi. More details are on our website.

Many in the past - individuals, a family or a Church - have sponsored a specific well or

borehole. A well costs £1500 and a

Christine, Jim and Dave meet the lay readers at Soroti last July.

borehole £5250. We are happy to receive funds for a named project and supply you with a report and photos when it is done and see the big difference a source of clean water makes. Investing in Christian Ministry The Churches are continuing to grow as shown by Reg Baldock’s report. The challenge for the leaderships is how to find enough trained leaders to keep the momentum and disciple new Christians. All the Bishops we work with in the Church of Uganda and the Pentecostal Churches have training programmes but they are under resourced. Key needs are to fund on the job training for the

Pentecostal Assemblies of God pastors

to support Lay readers training in the Church of Uganda

to equip the training centres

Funds are needed to pay for tutors, subsistence costs, Theological Books and Bibles for the trainee pastors.

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TESO DEVELOPMENT TRUST www.teso.org.uk

Administrator: Dave Watts B.A. M. Phil. MIED 24 Sandhurst Avenue, Stourbridge West Midlands DY9 0XL 01384 376494 info@teso.org.uk

Management Committee

Chairman Jim Sampson 2 Homefield, Cupernham Green Romsey, Hampshire SO51 7WG 01794 514722 jimandjanet@talktalk.net

Hon Treasurer Andrew Third 7 Manor Park, Ruddington Nottinghamshire NG11 6DS 0115 912 4350 Andrew@integracommunications.co.uk

Hon Secretary Clement Dixon 64 Musters Road, Ruddington Nottinghamshire NG11 6HZ 0115 921 1565 clement.dixon@ntlworld.com

Dr Hugh Mason Catherine Emaru Florence Odeke Philip Good Dr Peter Walker Lucy Hefford Christine Moyes Dr Frank Guinness Website and publicity: Stewart Hills

A Registered Charity 1005139 HMRC number XN84557

Visit

www.teso.org.uk for up to date news and information

on all TDT’s work.

You can also give securely online at www.justgiving.com/tesodevelopment

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THE NEXT ANNUAL MEETING

We look forward to contact with many of you and invite you to the 2013 Annual meeting at St Luke’s, Kilburn, in West London on 28th September. Please put this date in your diary. Details will be circulated in July.

FUNDRAISING We are more than happy to support your fundraising with our leaflet – as many copies as you

want a PowerPoint explaining TDT a DVD of some of our projects extra copies of the newsletters - as

many as you can use a speaker from the committee Contact Dave Watts by email or phone (see right) and discuss how we can help.