News from the Revival Centre from the desk of Madam Allen Ssekindi Champions Coordinator and Director of Revival Centre
Children’s Act Conference
On the 17th of July 2018, Derek, one of our very own champions at Revival, beat all the odds to join a prestigious meeting in Kampala’s Golf Hotel. The Uganda Human Rights Commission in conjunction with United Nations Children’s Education Fund (UNICEF) launched the findings on the compatibility of Ugandan Legislation with the convention on the rights of the Ugandan Child. This was an extremely important gathering in a prestigious Hotel where Ministers, Members of Parliament, the international community and other Non-governmental organisations, among others, met to discuss the findings of the Report. Derek who has recently joined Senior 1 Class was chosen to discuss the plight of children in Uganda. In his submission, Derek thanked Revival Centre for supporting the vulnerable children in Uganda without whose support many hundreds of children would never have attained any education. He advised the congregation to always help those who are in need, as well as people with disability. After all the presentations and discussions, Derek signed the newly launched report. He did this on behalf of Ugandan Children as a way of affirming that findings of the report are a true representation of the current situation on the rights of children in Uganda. This was a wonderful moment seeing a Champion standing shoulder to shoulder with so many important people in this country to support the launch.
Derek making a Presentation at Kampala Golf Hotel
Derek Signing on the Report as the Chairperson UHRC and the Country Representative of UNICEF Uganda look on
The Children in their new uniform graced the occasion with a poem about sexual harassment in schools
The Panelists: Derek( L), Dr. Zahara (M) from the School of Law, Makerere University and Mr. Mujuni (R) From Ministry of Gender, Labor and Social Development
Note from the Trustees
After the conference the Revival Centre felt it was appropriate to reiterate the importance of child safeguarding at the Centre. The Directors of the Revival Centre have given clear instructions to the teachers, and both teachers and parents have now received direct briefings on the requirements of the new law by the Ugandan Human Rights Commission. Within Uganda, the Revival Centre is seen as a front-runner in implementing the new law.
Revival Grammar Gets a face lift
When you visit Revival Grammar School today you may think you are somewhere else and not in Matugga. The school has been painted with white and black squares just like the new ‘O’ level Uniform. The new block looks really smart. As you enter the gate there is a welcome note which tells you where you are “Revival Group of Schools”. When the gate is rolled way, your eyes will not miss the nice patterns on the new block. You will not miss the beautiful flower garden. It is our New Look! The walk way has gravel layers of stones to protect the students from the mud which is churned up when it rains. This has not only excited the student community but it is likely to attract more students. We are forever grateful to our partners in the UK for the partnership and support.
Revival schools new Mini bus
The Revival Centre has recently acquired a bus to pick up and drop off the day scholars to and from school. This was acquired after making a good exchange with the school’s old van. The owner of the bus expects the Revival Centre pay for the bus over a period of three terms. (one installment per term) The bus which was driven through the gates of Revival Centre already branded, brought a lot of joy and excitement to the children. It is not a new Bus but it is believed that it will serve the purpose for which it was acquired. In addition to the daily bus run for scholars, the bus will also take students for educational tours and trips rather than having to hire mini buses or taxis for the purpose.
Our “new” school bus!
Revival goes Solar
A new Solar Panel has been installed thanks to Mrs Crossley, head of Moorfield School, Ilkley. On her retirement the staff presented her with a gift to be used in Matugga, a project she has supported for many years. Additional money was raised by the staff and pupils at a number of school events. This gift has enabled us to purchase a ‘double panel’ installation which has been put on the new secondary classroom block. “This time we shall pass highly” (they mean passing their exams) some of the boys were heard saying. You should have seen the excitement from the Boys dormitory when the solar lights in the Senior 1 and Senior 5 – Senior 6 dormitories were switched on. A security light has been installed to cater for the extra dormitory which did not benefit from the solar installation. A big thank you to Moorfield School for this wonderful gift.
You are receiving this email because you have expressed an interest in supporting Matugga. Our mailing address is: Give A Child A Hope, GACAH St John’s Church Office, Bolling Road, Ben Rhydding, West Yorkshire LS29 8PN, United Kingdom.
We just wanted to say a very big thank you to the people who sponsored us for our 3 Peaks Walk. Thanks to everyone’s generosity we have raised an incredible £840 so far.
The Walk
On the 1st October, Barney Addenbrook and I (Sam Gurney) walked the Yorkshire Three Peaks; Pen-Y-Ghent, Whernside, and Ingleborough. A total of 24.5 miles. It took us 11 hours and while it was a tough day it was well worth it to raise money to support the centre and help improve the children’s lives. We are going to use the money, when we travel to Uganda at the end of October, to provide a play area for The Revival Centre so that the children will have somewhere safe to play.
Providing this play area would not be possible were it not for the generosity of our sponsors and donors, who’s combined efforts have achieved an amazing £840, with more donations still coming in. So a big thank you to everyone who’s donated anything at all to this fantastic cause. While we may be flying out in just a few weeks (29th of October), don’t worry, its not too late to still donate if you haven’t. You can sponsor us by either :
Head over to https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/samandjosh to place your donation.
You can give a cash donation to either of us in person, which we will then upload to the site on your behalf.
Walk Details
It was looking like it was going to be a beautiful day as we set out from Horton in Ribblesdale at 6:45am! The sun wasn’t up yet and the sky was clear. The thermometer on the car was reading 2 degrees celsius.
However as we climbed Pen-Y-Ghent the sun rose and by the time we reached the summit (695m) at around 8am the sun was up and it was starting to warm up.
Heading for Whernside – The Ribblehead Viaduct on the Settle – Carlisle Railway – an awesome feat of Victorian engineering.
Sunrise on the way up Pen-Y-Ghent
Then came the descent and the long walk through Ribblehead, alongside the famous Ribblehead Viaduct and across the valley towards the ascent of Whernside.
2 down, 1 to go. On top of Whernside
We summited Whernside (736m) at around 2pm in glorious sunshine. Whernside has a long and steep descent which proved quite draining but we were not yet finished.
Next, the final ascent up Ingleborough, started at around 3pm, reaching the summit(723m) at around 4pm. The sunshine had now been obscured by a mist which shrouded the top and we had to spend 10 minutes wandering around the top searching for the trig point which marked the summit. Just when we felt elated that we had completed the 3 Peaks we had to contend with a 2hr descent over steep, rough ground, back to our starting point.
Just below the summit of Ingleborough
On the way up Ingleborough – its getting a bit misty now
On top of Ingleborough – after 10 minute hunt for the trig point
On the descent we met another walker also doing the 3 Peaks who we walked with the rest of the way. Later talking in the pub after we had finished we told him about what we were doing and why and he generously donated £10 to the cause
Debbie Walker is heading out to Matugga in late October for a couple of weeks, leading a small group, visiting The Revival Centre for the first time. The group is small, consisting of 2 young men who have finished school this year and are looking to experience the wider world for a year whilst doing some good along the way.
Sam Gurney and Barney Addenbrook have committed to travelling with Debbie to Matugga on 29th October to experience first hand what life is like and the work being done at The Revival Centre.
Whilst in Matugga they will be taking part in a project to create a safe play area on an area of land at The Revival Centre. The work will likely include clearing the land and/or fencing the area. Sam and Barney have undertaken to raise money for the project by doing a sponsored 3 peaks walk on 22nd September. The 3 peaks in question are the Yorkshire 3 peaks consisting of Whernside, Ingleborough and Pen-Y-Ghent. A total of 24.5 miles!
They are consequently looking for sponsorship. If you are able to donate please visit https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/samandjosh
Visit to Revival Centre, September to October 2016
Here are some photos from the visit to Revival Centre, Matugga in 2016 (4 trustees – Debbie, Sharon, Hannah and Marion; Sharon’s son Peter, Hannah’s son Christopher and friend of Revival – Jane Coupe).
Babirye Faith, Chef Moses, Madam Allen, Peter, Sharon, Chef Ivan (in chef whites), Debbie, Hannah and Marion .
Madam Jane Mukalazi (Bishop Ivan’s sister) bringing the trustees into the community to meet Faith
Hannah and Chrisopher say hello to a newborn twin in the community
But who are CelloPhonics? Local musician and founding member, Cat Ledgerwood, explains:
“CelloPhonics is a new collective of musicians from around Yorkshire performing covers of pop songs, as well as some original material. We have gathered a few of our friends to perform with us in this family-friendly concert, in aid of the Matugga Revival Center in Uganda. We would love you to come along!”
All proceeds from this event will be going to the centre via the local charity “Give a Child a Hope” which was set up to support the work of Bishop Ivan Lugolobi and his team in Uganda. The evening will be held in the Hall of St. John’s Church, Ben Rhydding. The concert will be set in a relaxed, cafe-style environment. There will be a bar available.
Tickets : £5 per adult, £12 family. Available from the Church Office (601430) or the Vicarage (607363).
For updates about this event and more information about CelloPhonics,
As many of you will be aware Bishop Ivan Lugoloobi, from The Revival Centre in Matugga, will be visiting the UK this month.
The dates for various events for whilst he is here are below :
Sunday 11th June: St John’s Church Ben Rhydding. The Family Service at 10 am. Ivan will be speaking. Friday 16th June: The Sanctuary, 6 Church St, Ilkley. Worship and joint prayer for Ilkley and Matugga at 9 – 10.30 am Tuesday 20th June 7 – 9 pm : The Bridge Christian Fellowship at Outside The Box Cafe, 2 Bridge Lane, Ilkley. Worship and Praise meeting. Ivan will be speaking. Sunday 25th June: Christchurch, The Grove, Ilkley. Sunday morning worship at 10 am ( new service time). Ivan will be speaking.
IVAN’S FAREWELL CELEBRATION SERVICE will be at St John’s Church Ben Rhydding on Sunday 25th June at 7 – 9 pm. Everyone is welcome. Bring a friend! We also aim to arrange a Visitors’ Past & Future Evening; time to be advised in the programme update mailing.
Bishop Ivan describing life at Revival to children at East Morton Primary School.
Come and support the Ben Rydding Choir at Ilkley Bandstand on Saturday – 27th May at 11am. This event is to raise money for The Revival Centre in Matugga
