By Mickey Woolard, Founder
Almost every day I get questions about how things are in Uganda. I answer the questions with current information from our staff. With the meeting calls I have with the staff in Uganda every Friday and also with the help of WhatsApp, we can communicate daily if need be. By this time each year I would have already been to Uganda twice. My next trip will be number 18 since 2014. It’s hard not being there, very hard, but I understand the worldwide pandemic, needed safe practices and travel bans. No one really knows when travel will resume. This year? 2021? Patience and safety right now.
The Propel Foundation is solid because of our wonderful staff on the ground in Uganda and our Board of Directors. Working each day under the restrictions of Uganda’s COVID-19 plan, Achim Apangu (Coordinator/Projects Director), Pennie Muhereza (Education Director), and Ronald Okumu (Medical Director) continue Propel’s work. I wanted to today and each day acknowledge them for all the work they are doing and just how excellent they are doing with all of the things going on around them concerning the virus.
There is no definite answer right now about when school will resume and what it will look like. Maybe a September announcement and plan for the remainder of the year. That is what we are hoping. Pennie continues to meet with teachers in the district to develop curriculum for when school resumes. Medical needs are still there even though school is not in session. Ronald has initiated a school visit plan to continue to check on the children of the schools and families to treat illnesses and provide leadership in the areas of health education and hygiene. Achim is busy currently researching and planning for three projects that will be announced soon.
The Propel Foundation is taking a big step to be prepared when school resumes and travel is more open. We have developed a Comprehensive Strategy Plan outlining how Propel will assist the schools/families when the schools reopen. The plan (proposed) will be approved by the Board of Directors at their August meeting. Special thanks to our Ugandan staff and also Hilary Sadowsky and Ali McDaneld for putting this together. I really wanted Propel to be ready when things resume and be ready with alternatives because there will not be one answer to many things.
From all of us at Propel, thank you for reading and thank you, as always, for your continued support.
Mickey Woolard, Founder