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BIG THANK YOU

On behalf of Yimba Uganda I would like to recognize and appreciate the very hard work of 2 very humble people who have played an intricate role in the success of Yimba Uganda.

Chris and Sandy Reddan from Australia are one of the strong pillars of Yimba Uganda. To not thank and appreciate them for their hard work and ongoing efforts towards the progress of the organisation would be unfair, even though I know they would rather it be like that, simply because of their overwhelming humility.

To start with, they have been very supportive of their daughter Anne Marie and all the work she does in Uganda even if it means her being away from home for several months every year. They also were the best hosts I could ever have wished for during my stay in Australia, making sure I never lacked a thing, had the best fun and continuously going out of their way to make sure I attained some life skills like swimming (black boys can swim hehe).

They have selflessly financially given to the organization to help run most of our projects. In addition to that they continuously physically work hard at all of our fundraisers and markets (often more than the rest of us), including waking up at 6am to set up, as well as selling their own plants, and home made crafts!

They are a truly spiritually guided couple, continuously encouraging me during hard times, and praying for the progress of the organisation. But most of all, they have loved me and love everyone who has the chance to be around them.


I pray that God will greatly reward you and continue to bless the work of your hands and fulfilling your hearts desires. You surely do all you can to be a blessing to those less privileged than yourselves, and would like to take this opportunity to say a heart-felt thank you!



#yimbauganda  #lovetotheworld #changemakers #thankyou #appreciation

Kikaramoja Slum Overview

Check this out, Anne-Marie being interviewed about Yimba Uganda's first outreach in Kikaramoja Slum! Take a listen

http://lightfm.com.au/conversation-with-clayton/anne-marie-reddan

Australia Outreach

Well, the last 3 months have absolutely flown by and Emmanuel has safely just arrived back in Uganda again after 3 months abroad in Australia.

We had an amazing time in Australia, fundraising for future projects, raising awareness for current needs and projects and celebrating the unique Ugandan culture with communities in Australia. We would like to take this opportunity to THANK everyone who supported us throughout this time; to the schools who opened their doors to us and allowed us to run cultural engagement programs with your students, to the individuals we have come into contact with and have supported us through donations, purchasing our crafts or through your prayers, to the community groups and churches who invited us to minister to them, and to everyone else who gave us support in anyway.

This is a very exciting time Yimba Uganda, as when 'one door closes another door opens' and we are looking forward to launching our new projects in the coming months. We would really appreciate your thoughts and prayers during this time to ensure we make the right decisions and are able to have a positive impact on those we are trying to assist. So watch this space to see what we are getting up to BACK IN UGANDA in the next few months.

#Love to the World
YIMBA UGANDA

African Family Fundraiser

As many of you would already know, Yimba Uganda hosted their first fundraiser in Australia on the 4th and 5th of October at Hedgend Maze in Healesville. The weekend as a whole was a huge success and we were truly blessed by all of those who attended. Thanks to everyone who contributed in their own way, whether it be through helping out at the stalls, collecting tickets, promoting the event, or donating to the cause, it surely wouldn't such a successful event if it weren't for you!

A special shout out to a few people, firstly Lea and Anth Bowen for their EXTREMELY generous support in allowing us to host their event for no cost and to Sandy and Chris Reddan for their ongoing dedication to our fundraising efforts and working tirelessly throughout the entire weekend! May God truly bless you just as you continue to bless us.

Here is a clip we put together to give you an insight into the fun! See if you can spot yourself! Enjoy... and remember to keep spreading #lovetotheworld.

School Outreach Program

Well, what an amazing three months we have had with Emmanuel here in Australia. One  the programs that we have been running that have kept us super busy is our School Outreach Program, which as mentioned in previous blog posts we have been invited into Primary and High Schools throughout Melbourne to share about life in Uganda, the needs there as well as celebration of the culture through drumming classes and bead making workshops. We have visited some incredible schools including Yea High School Ayce, Lilydale West Primary School, Rolling Hills Primary School, Mooroolbark East Primary, Coldstream Primary, Gruyere Primary School and more! Word got about that the program was so great we actually had to turn down a few schools due to time restrictions. A big thank-you to every school for inviting us, every staff member who lent us a helping hand during our workshops and the great generosity shown to us all by your students, staff, teachers and school community, we feel truly blessed!

Today was our last day of this program and it was topped of with our final visit to Mooroolbark East Primary School.. and what an amazing school! The staff, students, principle, everyone was so accommodating towards us and you really made us feel so at home! Thank-you for your incredible generosity towards our programs in Uganda and a big thanks to Matt for organising everything and making sure it all came together! 

Enjoy a few pics of Emma performing at Mooroolbark East's Assembly singing his new release 'Guruka' if you also want to check the song out we have just uploaded it to youtube so please find the link below, Enjoy! 

St John's Youth Group!

What an awesome time we all had at St John's youth group last week! Emmanuel (Coopy Bly) was invited to perform and minister to the youth of Healesville in a mini concert. It was a really special time, and everyone had so much fun, dancing and jumping along to the music and were all left touched and moved by his deep, inspirational lyrics. Thanks for all those who attended, may God richly bless you, just as you blessed us! :) #blessedtobless #lovetotheworld #giventogive 

Rolling Hills Primary School

Our school outreaches have continued to be a huge success with another great day held at Rolling Hills Primary School! We were able to interact with over 120 students who absolutely loved the drumming workshops and paper bead making classes! The best part of the day would definitely have been the 'Question Time' when all the children came together in a big group. The kids were soooo interested in finding out more about Uganda and Emmanuel's life that this session ended up going for an hour and a half! The students were also very interested in listening to Emmanuel's Music (Coopy Bly) so he was able to treat them to a performance of his new release song 'Guruka'. The Children loved it and danced and jumped to the music! Such a special moment!

Thanks for having us Rolling Hill's Primary School, we were truly blessed by your hospitality and keen interest in life in Africa. Hope to see you all again soon!

AFRICAN FUNDRAISER

In October 2014 YIMBA UGANDA is hosting an ‘AFRICAN FUNDRAISER’ at Hedgend Maze in Healesville to raise money for our school outreach/sanitation program that we are to launch in November 2014.

So come along, bring your family and friends and have some fun this October while directly donating to improve the lives of those who truly need it most!

The fundraiser will be jam packed with African themed activities such as:
-Live Performances
-African Drumming workshops
-Paper bead making lessons
-African Crafts on sale
-African themed secret message hidden in the Famous Hedge-Maze

Other Exciting Activities include:

-Face painting

-Fairy Floss

-Mini Golf
-Frisbee Golf
-HUGE 1.2km Hedge-Maze
-Fossil Dig
AND MUCH MORE… 

EXTRA DETAILS:

When: Saturday the 4^th and Sunday the 5^th of October
Where: Hedgend Maze Healesville (163 Albert Road Healesville 3777)

Time: 10am-5pm (both days)

Cost:  $15 adults (16 years and up)

$10 children (4-16 years)
 0-3 years free

How to purchase Tickets:
Please follow the link to purchase and print your tickets online:

https://tickets.myguestlist.com.au/540813dc261c4/african-fundraiser/

Or alternatively call Anne-Marie on  +61) 431 736 118 to put tickets on hold, and pay on the day.

*Please note that ALL TICKETS must be either pre purchased or pre booked in order for you to receive the discounted price AND most importantly for the money to go to Yimba Uganda. *

100% of the profits made from the African Fundraiser will go towards the funding of Yimba Uganda’s Female Sanitation Project! - Click on the 'Sanitation project' tab on the side to read more about this project and find out exactly where you money is going! 

Bayswater North Probus Club!

Well, what a special morning we had visiting the lovely women of Bayswater North Probus Club!
It was a great opportunity to meet with these women and share our passion, and the work of Yimba Uganda with them. The women were really touched by the presentation and we had some incredible feedback, including multiple women stating that 'it was the best presentation they have ever heard!'  So praise God for that! :) A big big thank you to these women for inviting us to speak to you all, and an even bigger thank-you for the great generosity shown to us through support of our up-coming female sanitation program. May God Bless you richly!

#lovetotheworld

#yimbauganda

Primary School Incursion #1

The team at Yimba Uganda has had an action packed week so far! 

Monday and Tuesday we spent time with students at Lilydale West Primary School teaching their 5/6 classes about the unique Ugandan culture, how to play African drums and also how to make hand-made paper beads.  Both days were a huge success and we thoroughly enjoyed our time there! We have also received great feedback from both students and teachers. The students absolutely loved making the beads, and were eager to go home and teach their parents and siblings. They were very interested in Emmanuel's knowledge of Uganda and asked many insightful questions! A big thank-you to the students and teachers of Lilydale West Primary School for inviting us to your school, it was a great experience and we hope to visit you again soon!

Our favourite questions of the day:
'Do all Africans have dreadlocks?'
'Do Africans only eat fish?'

Emmanuel Playing BasketBall with the kids at recess

Bead Making :)

Australian Outreach!

Hey All!

Sorry for the absence on the blog as of late, it has been a very busy month! If you are looking for more ongoing updates, remember to check out our Facebook page! 

 Emmanuel is currently in Australia, which has been a really great experience so far.  He will be in Australia for 3 months duration, fundraising for Yimba Uganda, raising awareness for our current and upcoming projects as well as engaging in a cultural exchange in a number of schools and community groups.  Here are a few pictures and stories of what he has been getting up to! Enjoy!

Emmanuel presenting at Rotary Club of Healesville:

Emmanuel made quite an impression on the Rotary Club of Healesville, giving a presentation on Yimba Uganda and Uganda at large. All the members were very intrigued and thoroughly enjoyed his presentation. In the coming months Emmanuel hopes to present at a number of other Rotary groups throughout the district.  

School Outreach: Yimba Uganda is all about reaching out to those around you, using the talents that you have to teach and encourage others.  So what a perfect opportunity to have Emmanuel reach out to the youth in Australia, educating them about Ugandan music, culture and traditions.  While in the schools, Emmanuel has been giving presentations on what life is like growing up in Uganda, the needs people have there, as well as providing an insight into the diversity of the country. He has also been teaching African drumming, whilst Anne-Marie or Sandy teach African paper bead making for a more hands on experience. We have had some amazing feedback from this program, and have many other schools booked for the coming months. 

Markets: One of Yimba Uganda’s greatest source of funding is coming from the sale of Ugandan crafts at market stalls throughout Melbourne. Currently, we are fundraising for sound machines to lower the costs of all our outreaches, providing us with the opportunity to expand our school and community outreach programs. Slowly by slowly we are coming up with the money for this project, so please pray that we will be able to find the rest of the money to launch this project when Emmanuel returns to Uganda in October.  Whilst at the markets, we have been engaging with different members of the community, teaching them some African drumming and Crafts as well.

Coopy Bly Music: During the month of September, Emmanuel has been given the opportunity to speak a number of Church Youth groups, about life as a Christian Musician in Uganda, and how he has used this special gift to give back to vulnerable communities. He will be performing at these events, and engaging with a wide range of Australian Youth. If you would like to come and watch at any of these events, let us know and we can provide you with the details. 

CD sales: Another form of fundraising during Emmanuel’s Australia tour is the sale of CD’s. The CD’s are a playlist of Coopy Bly’s (Emmanuel’s) greatest hits. All of the money from the sale of these CD’s will go towards ministry in Uganda. So please contact me if you would like to purchase one of these CDs! anne-marie_reddan_lives@hotmail.com or 0431 736 118.

Please continue to pray for Emmanuel’s stay in Australia; including his upcoming presentations and programs in youth groups and schools, that everything would run smoothly and people would be impacted by his presence. Please also pray that more opportunities would arise both for Emmanuel and his work through Yimba Uganda. He will continue to keep you updated throughout the remainder of his trip, through Facebook, and bloodspot. 

-Yimba Uganda 

#lovetotheworld