Dear friends of the AMAZIMA association
Regular monthly newsletters are still on our to-do list – unfortunately, still in the "nice to have" category.
The organization is stable, the financial situation is slightly more relaxed than before, and our motivation remains strong despite the consistently high workload.
You can read more about this and the current project organization on the following pages.
Breaking news from our upcoming project trip will be available in the next travel blog from Uganda at the end of this week.
Thank you so much for your continued interest.
Kind regards
Jürg König, Co-Präsident Micha Bärtschi, Co-Präsident
«Let’s brainstorm about this ...»
That was also the end of the message at the end of the second term that prompted our last-minute fundraising appeal before the summer holidays.
On behalf of the staff on site, we would like to express our sincere gratitude that everyone was able to begin their summer holidays with timely and fair compensation.
Here is the WhatsApp message from Julius and Egidius:
Your donations continue to go entirely towards the school project.
Below is an excerpt from the school's accounting records.
RIDI: More Than a Name Change
During our project visit earlier this year, we gained many important insights into the direct and indirect impacts of our project on the ground. We have made significantly more progress in the last two years than we had perceived from our rather narrow and limited perspective in Switzerland.
Far beyond the direct support we provide for the current stabilization of the school, we are also making excellent progress with our medium-term plans. Strengthening the school's surrounding community has progressed much further and extends far deeper into the community than we had anticipated.
The recent name change of the main project from KOP (Kigezi Orphans Project) to RIDI (Roots of Impact Development Initiative) also reflects the fact that our influence now extends far beyond the core project of stabilizing the school. The local community, the Kigezi community, across a wide catchment area, is increasingly benefiting from our multifaceted commitment.
The Amazima Community Farmers Initiative (more on this in an upcoming newsletter) plays a key role in this endeavor.
At the same time, the newly created position of Public Relations & Communications has proven to be a stroke of luck. The incumbent, Mercy Kyomugisha, performs invaluable work as a liaison and mediator between RIDI, the Kigezi Community School, and the Kigezi community. More details can be found in the article about her below.
Project overview
Mercy Kyomugisha
Public Relations & Communications Manager at RIDI
How it all began: From the MTN booth to RIDI
Mercy is deeply rooted in her homeland. Born and raised in the city of Kabale, she still lives there today. Before joining us, she worked for MTN Mobile Money. She had her own booth where people could top up their mobile phones with money. The concept is similar to prepaid Twint. This work provided the link to our project: Our local project managers were among her loyal customers. Everyday business encounters soon developed into deeper conversations. Julius and Egidius immediately recognized Mercy's potential and her big heart for people. They eventually asked her directly if she would like to use her skills for a greater purpose and work full-time for us. Today, she works for us in a combined position with a fixed salary and commission.
In her personal life, Mercy is thriving. She is happily married and the proud mother of two children: her daughter is 11 years old, and her son is 5. She knows the wishes, worries, and dreams of families very well from her own experience.
One big goal: competition for the capital city
The decisive turning point for Mercy was an invitation to the Kigezi Community School. When she visited the school for the first time, she immediately felt the urge to sustainably improve this place and give the children new perspectives.
Her goal for the coming years is ambitious, but crystal clear: she wants to make Kigezi Community School one of the best schools in the entire country. Mercy isn't afraid to compare it to the large, established private schools in the distant capital, Kampala. She is convinced that our children have the same potential.
Communication and Closeness Lead to Success
To make this vision a reality, Mercy has a clear strategy and is tackling everything systematically:
· Public Relations & Communication: Mercy will increase KOP's visibility so that even more people learn about our work.
· Dialogue with Parents: Maintaining open communication with families is her top priority. She actively seeks dialogue to understand where problems arise in daily school life and what the challenges are.
· Marketing & Growth: Through proactive marketing, she aims to gradually increase student enrollment to provide even more children with a safe place to learn in the future.
We are absolutely thrilled by Mercy's drive, her professionalism, and her infectious motivation. With her blend of warmth and strong communication skills, she's a tremendous asset to Amazima. We're so glad you're on our team, Mercy!
