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Writer's pictureFred Groves

Local organization raising money for Ugandan students

Jean Qian (left) of Vivace Estate Winery welcomed members of SACU - Ingrid Silvaggio-Heugh, Kathy and Elaine Johnson, Betty Westfall, Cheryl Rutgers and Kathy and Rick Vriesen.
Jean Qian (left) of Vivace Estate Winery welcomed members of SACU - Ingrid Silvaggio-Heugh, Kathy and Rick Vriesen, Elaine Johnson, Betty Westfall, and Cheryl Rutgers.


For Proscovia Nakyeyune, the generous support she has received from a group of Essex County residents has been life changing.


She just graduated from a small remote school in the Uganda village of Buwundo and now, even though she is blind, is working as a tailor.


The support came from Save African Children Uganda (SACU), which for several years have been raising money, over $150,000 annually, to help children like Proscovia get to school and find rewarding employment.


Dozens of supporters came to the Vivace Estate Winery on Concession 5 North recently to raise funds which will help over 200 students in Uganda.


“We are a grassroots organization. We are not affiliated with anyone. There are six of us here in Essex County,” said Ingrid Silvaggio-Heugh of SACU.


A retired teacher, Heugh has travelled to Uganda, most recently in 2019, and is frank when describing what is needed to help the young children in the African country.


“What we are struggling with is that it’s costing us over $180,000 per year.”


The 212 sponsored children receive an education in the school that SACU helped build, along with two meals per day and uniforms to wear.


SACU was started in 2010 after retired teacher Geri Sutts, who had made several trips to Uganda, met up with 19-year-old orphan Ivan Nsera and the two set to work building a school.


Heugh said one reason that there is an increase in the amount of money they need to raise is because some of the teachers at the Buwundo school, which now has about 600 students, are seeking better paying opportunities.


Heugh said that the school they have built is among the highest academic achievers in Uganda. 


That is good news for other students such as Ronald, Senkayo and Mukwaya who have graduated and found work in construction and small engine repair.


“I feel the children in those remote villages are forgotten. Without us they wouldn’t have anything,” she said.


The event at Vivace had lots of great music, good eats and raffles for numerous items including some beautifully framed photographs by Willy Vanaudengerde.

For more information, contact info@sacuganda.org

Local organization raising money for Ugandan students

By Fred Groves


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