Our Trivia Night & Silent Auction on Saturday October 30, 2010 was a great success, raising over $7,600 towards Project 2011. 

It a was a night of fun and entertainment with more than 300 guests filling the Kardinia Heights Centre.  We have had a huge number of positive reports from many of our guests telling us how much they enjoyed the night.

A big thank you to the Geelong2Uganda team for making it happen, to Matt Fletcher for being an awesome host, to Kardinia Christian Church for the use of their building and to the many sponsors who kindly donated some amazing items for the silent auction.  Please see our Supporters Page for a full list of sponsors and links to their websites.

Alex holding a signed Western Bulldogs footy, which sold in the Silent Auction.

Many of the 300 strong crowd who made a significant contribution to Project 2011.

Matt Fletcher our host for the evening.  He entertained the crowd and made it a fun night for all.

The Kardinia Heights Centre was our venue with more than 300 guests.

UGANDA STATISTICS

Population:    30.3 million
Population distribution:    0 - 14 years: 50.60%
Life expectancy (at birth):    50.7 years
Estimated orphaned children:    3 million
Infant mortality (under one):    70 per 1,000 live births
Under five mortality:    134 per 1,000 live births
Percentage population with access to safe drinking water:    60%
Adult literacy rate:    67%  (79.5 M, 60.4 F)
Proportion of population living on below $1 a day:    85%

Malaria
Malaria is the number one killer of children under the age of five.
In Uganda about 400 lives are lost daily to this preventable disease.

HIV/AIDS Facts
One of every four Ugandan families cares for an orphan whose parent(s) died of HIV/AIDS
Today 5% of adults, or more than a half million people, are infected with HIV/AIDS.

Child soldiers
Civil war between rebel group "the Lord's Resistance Army" (LRA) and the Government of Uganda has been raging for more than 17 years
Children are abducted from their homes to become soldiers or sexual slaves by the LRA
More than 1.3 million people have been forced from their homes and farms
Approximately 10,000 children have been abducted by the LRA to be trained as soldiers
Approximately 1.5 million families have left their homes as a result of violence and the fear that their children will be kidnapped

Our travel arrangements are coming together with thanks to Brett Robinson from Harvey World Travel - Leopold.  While final airfare costs are yet to be made available, most of our other travel bookings have been made. Some of our group are spending some time sightseeing in Africa prior to our time in Uganda and are leaving Australia in March.  The majority of the team are flying from Australia on Friday April 3rd, 2009 arriving in Entebee, Uganda on Saturday April 4th having gone via Bangkok and Nairobi.  We will spend the first 10 days in Kampala at Jordan House working through the projects we have planned.  We will have a short break to visit Murchsion Falls for 3 days and then onto Gulu fo 5 days where we will do further projects.  Most of the team arrive home on Monday April 27th, while others are travelling elsewhere.

Our fundraising target is for a minimum of $15,000.  This will enable us to assist and support Operation Uganda with all of the projects we will be participating in while in Uganda.

The Gift Catalogue in this website is our major fundraising project.  All the money donated to 'buying' gifts goes to the projects.  All donations are Tax Deductible.

We also have African Jewellery, made by the women of Uganda, for sale.  The jewellery is original, hand-made and shipped directly from Uganda to us.  Contact Us for more information.

We welcome to the team travelling to Uganda in April 09, George and Dianne Cottam.  They bring a wealth of talent and enthusiasm and it is great to have them on board.  On a sadder note Grant Visser has had to withdraw from the team due to sudden ill health.  The team wish him a very speedy recovery and God's richest blessing for all the future holds.  We know he will keep a close eye on this website while we are away to keep up-to-date with all that happens.

Thank you to all of you who have supported this project.  We are just over the $10,000 mark with our fundraising efforts.  If you or someone you know is still interested in purchasing a gift for a friend or loved one this Christmas, then all orders need to be received by Friday December 19th so that gift cards can be posted.  Orders received later than this date cannot be guaranteed of arriving before Christmas.

Well our travel arrangements have been finalised with all payments made.  Immunisations for the team are up-to-date and we are now in the count down of weeks before we go.  Seven weeks for the first group and 9 weeks for the second group.  The excitement is building and we just can't wait to get there.  Stay tuned to the website for an update on team photos and biographies of those who have joined the team.  We are now a group of 16, ready and willing workers ready to go and serve these beautiful children of Kampala and Gulu.

Thank you to all who continue to donate through this website.  We are very close to our $20,000 minimum fundraising total.  The team has been quite encouraged with how quickly we have approached our target figure.  So thankyou, thankyou, thankyou.  Please keep spreading the word about our trip and the projects we hope to achieve while in Uganda and direct people to this website where possible.

Russell Barton, Director of Operation Uganda, was in Geelong on February 7 and 8 to meet the Geelong Team.  As you know Operation Uganda is the orgnaisation that the team will be working with while in Uganda.  The team was able to gather valuable information about the Children's homes in Kampala and Gulu, the various projects they will be part of and which you have contributed to through your donations.  The team was able to learn more about the culture they will be entering into as well as being prepared for the absolute poverty that will be witnessed first hand.  Russell is so enthusiastic for the orphaned and vulnerable children of Uganda that he finds it hard to say 'no' to the many children he encounters who so desperately need help.  His passion, enthusiasm and great sense of humor gave the team such encouragment that they can't wait to be in Uganda and participating in the lives of these precious children.

The Geelong Advertiser published a story and picture of 3 members of our team who are nurses and work in the Emergency Department of The Geelong Hospital.  The article highlighted the trip and outlined what the nurses will be doing in the children's homes while in Kampala and Gulu. 

Our thanks to Amy Gibson, Media and Communications Officer, Barwon Health for organising this media release and photo op. 

Pictured are L-R:  Libby Ellis, Leanne Morganti and Karen Evans