AGM November 2018
Secretary's Report

1. Introduction
I am very pleased to report that the Parish Uganda Link Group has had another very successful year in 2017-2018. The group has worked very effectively throughout the year and has achieved a great deal. Details of this will be provided further into this report.

2. Membership, Meetings and Main Activities
The group currently has seven active members. Unfortunately, two members had to withdraw during the year due to pressures at work and other commitments. We thank them for their excellent contribution to our work.

The group had eleven meetings since the last Annual General Meeting. These were very well attended. All meetings had agendas and minutes circulated in advance and were conducted in a very business-like manner.

During the past year the group has focused its attention on the Community Support Projects, the Pupil Support Scheme and School and Family Links. Another important strand of the work has been the regular written and face to face communication with our fellow parishioners and our partners in Kibiri.

3. Communication
Over the last year the group has been very active in its communication with our fellow parishioners and with our partners in Uganda. There have been a number of bulletin notices used and representatives of the group have spoken at the masses on two occasions. Communications with our partners in Kibiri using email and WhatsApp have been very effective.

4. School and Family Links
Over the last few years the group has been working to create ongoing links between its members and some families in Kibiri. We have also been promoting links between the primary schools in our parishes and those in Kibiri. I am glad to report that the link between Holy Family PS in Teconnaught and St Dominic’s PS continues to develop. However, we have had only limited success in getting either St Joseph’s PS in Crossgar or St Mary’s PS in Killyleagh to engage in a partnership with St Kizito’s PS. We will continue to encourage that engagement over the coming months

Medical supplies for the parish clinic

5. Parish Support Projects
I am pleased to report that work with the projects has progressed very well. The new VIP toilets for St Kizito’s PS have been constructed and are now in everyday use. The school is very grateful for this development as the previous latrines were past their useful life and were presenting a health hazard to the staff and pupils. The new deep pit latrines have been built to a high standard. Perhaps at some time in the future we may be able to replace them with flush toilets and a new septic tank system.

The new latrines now fully operational

The new kitchen and food store constructed for Maria-Assumpta Nursery School is complete and being used daily. The principal and parents greatly appreciate this new development.

The new kitchen and food store for Maria-Assumpta NS

It is disappointing that the new parish clinic is not yet opened. The delay is due to the need for an incinerator to be installed. It also takes some time for the local authorities to provide the license for the clinic to open. We have asked for estimates for the work to provide the incinerator and will take steps to ensure that the clinic is open as soon as possible. The group has provided funding for installation of the electricity to the clinic and for the provision of medical and supplies. These have been procured and we look forward to the people having access to the clinic.

New privacy screen and fridge freezer for the clinic

6. The Pupil Sponsorship Scheme
This has been a highly successful scheme in our parish. The table below sets out the number of pupils sponsored in each school and the contributions made from within our parishes.

During the year each sponsor receives a report from the school and letter of thanks from the pupil they are sponsoring. This is a very important scheme which provides the pupils with an empowering education and their parents with relief in the face of considerable poverty. The group extends its sincere thanks to our fellow parishioners for their ongoing support