Dear friends and supporters,
I apologize for not posting any updates regarding my volunteer trip to Uganda that was postponed in May. However, I knew that I would not have a final decision regarding the status of the July trip until mid-June. The CVAP executive director has recently returned to Uganda, and after assessing the current situation in Uganda with the CVAP board of directors in Montreal and the director of operations in Gulu, it has been decided that the July-August trip will go ahead as planned! Political unrest and violence that was seen in the country following the series of “walk to work” protests occurring in April has subsided. Though the problem of rising food and fuel costs in Uganda has not been solved, the violence surrounding this complex concern has reached a level that permits safe travel to Uganda.
After nearly two months of being unsure whether I should be preparing for this trip or not, I am officially heading to Gulu, Uganda with the Concordia Volunteers Abroad Program on July 2! My placement has remained the same and I will be working with The AIDs Support Organization (TASO) I blogged about previously.
I want to thank everyone again who has supported my volunteer efforts. This trip really would not be possible without your help. Your donations will be used as they would have been had I gone in May ($500 supporting our community partners in Uganda, and $2000 covering flight costs). If you have not donated yet, and would like to, you may deposit funds in my PayPal account by clicking the DONATE link on my blog:
http://melissaarmbruster.blogspot.com/
Or, you can donate directly to CVAP. Please include your name AND my name for these transactions. (Your name/Melissa) http://www.concordiavolunteers.org/donate/
Cheques and email money transfers are also acceptable.
http://melissaarmbruster.blogspot.com/
Or, you can donate directly to CVAP. Please include your name AND my name for these transactions. (Your name/Melissa) http://www.concordiavolunteers.org/donate/
Cheques and email money transfers are also acceptable.
Please donate whatever you can. Whether it is $5 or $500, every expression of generosity is greatly appreciated. While $10 is barely enough for a meal in Canada, in Uganda it will treat a child with malaria. $190.00 will provide the monthly salary of a full time nurse.
Despite the setbacks earlier this summer, I am thrilled to be traveling to Uganda for July and August and I look forward to sharing my experience with you through my blog (http://melissaarmbruster.blogspot.com) and when I return to Canada in September.
Despite the setbacks earlier this summer, I am thrilled to be traveling to Uganda for July and August and I look forward to sharing my experience with you through my blog (http://melissaarmbruster.blogspot.com) and when I return to Canada in September.
Sincerely,
Melissa Armbruster
