Start with a Big Steel Box…

Invite a lot of Friends…

Pack them tight…

And into the container they go!

A container will soon be on its way with 12 tons of books for vulnerable children in Uganda!

A big thanks to:

SD#23 & the librarians!

David, Bruce, Phil, Steve, Jamie, Norma, Jocelyne, Mara, Brooke, Ginette, Wayne, Kara, Brendan, Jordan, Ernie, Sue, Dale, Connie, Sam, Andrea, Tofik, Elaine, Levi, Tristan, Carmelle, Neibyat, Nardos, Ian, Kath, Michael and Eileen

And

Shorestone Homes

Niteo Africa, with the leadership of Country Director, Sam Turya will establish literacy centres throughout Uganda to invest in the reading culture of sub-Saharan Africa.  Mr. Turya is visiting local schools to share the message of how literacy breaks the cycle of poverty.  Sam’s visit is inspiring children, their families, and leaders throughout Kelowna to get involved in social change.

Mr. Sam Turya, Niteo Africa and Mrs. Sandy Dhami, AME

Champion Teacher, Mrs. Carmelle Guidi and from Niteo Africa, Mr. Sam Turya

Student #1

“I am very glad that Sam Turya came to my Social Justice class to speak to us about Niteo.

It was cool to see an activist who was sincerely passionate about what he does. Unless people
like Sam come and talk to us about Africa we will only see it as the media shows it. When we
think of Africa we automatically think of poverty. We must understand that isn’t always the case.

However where it is the case in Africa it seems to be the extreme case. These people of Africa
are bright, lively spirits who don’t deserve the position they’re in. Vs Canadians who are very
fortunate and should help these who are less fortunate. Niteo makes that possible.”

Student #2

“I loved Sam’s visit. His presence is just so vibrant and positive, It was great reminder that happiness does not have to be directly relevant to the lifestyle you are living. It comes from within.  I really loved when he said that in order to get love, we must first give love. The western world can sometimes have a problem with entitlement and his words eliminate that possibility. I can’t believe he came all the way here from Uganda. I really wanted to just buy him a coffee and pick his brain. Loved the accent, loved his talk.”

Student #3

“I think he put everything into a good perspective. It made me appreciate that we get to go to school, and how often we just don’t stop and think about all we’ve been give. It was very incredible that our school would cost them sixteen thousand dollars to attend. He was very inspiring person and it felt like what he does would be very fulfilling/ satisfying career to have.

I’m thankful he could come all the way from Africa to speak to us, it’s a real blessing.”

After arriving close to midnight at our final destination on Wednesday evening; Niteo Board Member, Bruce Merrifield hosted Mr. Turya today.

As a Ugandan educator who has worked with Niteo leadership since 2007, Mr. Turya offered keen insights to two groups of students today at Mt. Boucherie Senior Secondary.

He speaks of the highlights of the discussions as two-fold:

     -increased understanding of how literacy and education break the cycle of poverty.

     -increased understanding of the idea of how each person can do their part to create social justice.

Mrs Irene Maier’s Mt. Boucherie students are participating in Mrs. Rhonda Draper’s movement called “Month of Love” in support of the Niteo Africa literacy projects in Uganda, Africa.

It is exciting when youth catch a vision for activism and social justice!

As Sam said in his opening speech “The work Niteo has accomplished in the last five years will not be forgotten, both the staff, the students and the rest of the community regard the project as successful and are happy to have benefitted for five years than none at all.  The opening of this new center will be an opportunity for Niteo to reach out to an entire new community.”

The grand opening kicked off in a typical Ugandan  fashion… not as planned.  A half an hour of heavy rain means we were a tad delayed, but thanks to prior training I am used to being flexible.

The ceremonies began with a keynote speech from Mr. Hussein, the headmaster at Kawanda Secondary School, who welcomed surrounding schools, special guests and highlighted the work Niteo has previously been involved with at the school.  Next, Niteo’s country director Sam Turya gave a commanding speech about Niteo’s work – our mandate, our previous projects and our future plans.  After the formalities we invited guests and students to officially open the center with us and we all crowded towards the center doors.

The children were eager and made comments to our Niteo staff about the ‘amazing opportunity that has been given to their community’ and about ‘how beneficial a center like this will come to mean to all the students’.  It was an overwhelming response.  The most exciting was to see the big smiles on their faces as they got to go in and see what books were available.  Children crowded around the shelves, shared books with their friends and thanked us continually for bringing such a literacy center to their community.  All in all, the day was a huge success and all of us are looking forward to changes this center will invoke on the literacy culture in Uganda and more specifically the community in Kawanda.

Thank you again to all of Niteo’s friends, volunteers and sponsors!  You have made a huge impact in the lives of these smiling children.

Children Read Together!

The image is an iconic part of the development of Niteo Africa’s vision of investing in literacy: children pouring over a picture book!  What delight!

We believe that literacy will help children to flourish, blossom, be bright, and to shine, the meaning of “Niteo.”

The newest research encourages us to keep investing in a reading culture; inspiring children around the world to keep giving, reading, and living!

Have you heard about the new research out of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development? It was conducted in 14 countries and they identified the two key parental activities that affect student performance in school more than others:

1. reading books to children when they are just beginning school.
2. talking with adolescents about topical political and social issues.

The launch of our newest sustainable literacy centre at Kawanda Senior Secondary school on October 6th will provide an opportunity for students of all ages to participate in these activities with mentors, peers, teachers, and parents.

We look forward to how Canadians and Ugandans will grow together as part of this effort!

With enthusiasm,

Karine

If you haven’t already done so, please explore our website to learn more about Niteo and its mission.

For 5 years Ugandans, Global Missions of First Lutheran Church in Kelowna, and Niteo Africa Society partnered together to provide over 50,000 children a safe place to explore literacy and learning.  At the Eva Ruf Resource Centre in Kampala, Uganda children had access to picture books and computers, often the first ones of their lives.  The partnership between Canadians and Ugandans resulted in the following achievements:

• offering over 50,000 child visitors a template of safety and a focus on literacy
• hosting Niteo teams and others each year
• hosting dance classes, bible study classes, art classes, career education classes, leadership development classes, and computer training
• hosting the neighbouring preschool children each week for literacy classes
• the network and internet cafe remained open and functional for the entire 5 years
• the books and resources were cared for and remained accessible to children
• there was never an unsafe child in our centre
• 50 volunteer travellers had clean beds, good food, and supported a worthy cause of literacy for children, including two long-term volunteers: Bob Vorontiskis and Bree Bootsman
• Betty Kabagambe faithfully served her entire 5 year contract as a capable and devoted manager
• All funds have been accounted for and used according to plan
• Sam Turya has served as Country Director and Overseer for the project for all 5 years

We celebrate the huge successes of Global Missions, Niteo Africa, and the Ugandan leaders who have a vision for investing in the reading culture of Uganda!

We believe these contributions are part of empowering a people to lift themselves to new heights so we all experience the “Magnificence of Africa!”