Dear Nyenga supporter,

Another year is drawing to a close, and it is time to share some glimpses of everything happening at Nyenga.

In last year’s Christmas letter, we expressed our hopes to take part in the malaria vaccination program—and as early as February, that wish was fulfilled! Now, babies are vaccinated three times during infancy and again at 1.5 years old to be fully protected. The staff at the health center are confident that mothers will return for that final injection. Fantastic! Now, we hope that older children can eventually gain access to the program as well.

The first year of the Norec project (formerly the Peace Corps) is ending, and four new participants—two Norwegians, and Iddi and Rodgers from Nyenga’s agriculture department—are ready to begin. Umar and Moses had a wonderful stay at the agricultural school in Aurland from Easter until September. They had much to learn about organic farming, marketing, and sales, not to mention experiencing Norwegian nature and culture. Summarizing their stay before returning home, they expressed a better understanding of what Nyenga’s core values – transparency, trust, and involvemen – truly mean in practice. Solveig Høyland’s period in the project is also coming to an end. Thank you for your wisdom, commitment, and your will to contribute to change. Welcome back to Nyenga!

As usual at this time of year, we are waiting anxiously for the exam results of our 7th graders. Two of them, talented footballers, have received scholarships to secondary school in Jinja with football training included. For several of our graduates, formal education ends here. This is why “school farming” is so important; many have access to small plots of land that, if farmed correctly, can provide an income. If the initiative is there, we see some of them again at the SINA/KIIRA entrepreneur program, located in the former orphanage premises.

Six of the young people from the orphanage have now completed four years of secondary boarding school and will start a two-year vocational education in June/July. Until school starts, they will live at Nyenga and work in agriculture. Education is a “business” and is becoming increasingly expensive. If you know of a company, a group of colleagues, an association, or a group of friends who would like to fully or partially sponsor the education of Edward, Dixon, Reagan, Bena, Apio, or Acheng, please contact a board member or email post@nyenga.org for more information.

In a restless world, our thoughts go especially to our neighbors in Sudan and Congo. We hope the presidential and parliamentary elections in Uganda will be conducted peacefully, both before and after January 15th. What we can contribute from our peaceful corner of the earth is something many have said before us: “It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.”

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to our work in various ways throughout the year. There are many who light candles—none mentioned, none forgotten!

Merry Christmas! Happy New Year, dear supporters!

With regards from the board of the Nyenga Foundation,

Marie Bu Jacobsen, Anne Grete Kjørrefjord, Agnes Tvinnereim, Camilla Tetler, Dora Poni Loro, Line Alice Ytrehus, Anne-Mette Tjønn Hansen.

CLICK HERE TO SEE: CHRISTMAS CAROUSEL