KUZA Program

Congratulations Graduates!

kuzaprogram — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 18:28:30 +0000

In Uganda, extreme poverty and other social issues make graduating high school a real challenge for most youth. Many drop out to work (to help feed their families) or grow too tired from working in addition to school. Even more fall prey to illness and particularly for the girls, abuse. Here at KUZA, we are working to solve these issues by granting scholarships that allow promising young people the space to focus solely on their education.

For that reason, we are beyond excited to congratulate our first class of high school graduates! Graduation took place way back in December, however the long-awaited test results finally surfaced. We are pleased to announce they all passed with flying colors!

We are also happy to report that Amos and Derrik scored 17 on their final exams, scoring the highest of their class. It’s a wonderful feeling to see the KUZA vision in action. Very well done Amos and Derrik, we could not be more proud.

(left to right) Derrik and Amos at the source of the Nile River.

Keep checking back right here to find out more about our new students, who will pave the next wave to graduation. We will have information on how you can get involved in directly sponsoring them. We are still raising money for book and supplies…see this link. Just $22.00 helps you give students the tools they need to succeed. If you would like more information contact sara@kuzaprogram.org or DONATE today!

New Books for New Students

kuzaprogram — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 20:57:55 +0000

We are excited to announce our new students start school THIS Sunday! We know they are going to work very hard and have a great first week of school. Individual profiles and information on how you can sponsor them is coming soon! However in the meantime….

Recent inflation and school fee increases have left our students in need of new school supplies, particularly school books. Only $22.00 per student provides them with everything they need to start the school year off right. Can you imagine? It’s such a small price for us here in the states.

This urgent need having just been made known to us from Uganda, we are sending out the signal to our KUZA Family to provide for these willing and capable new students. Can you help provide this need?

$22.00= books for ONE student

$44.00=books for TWO students

$66.00=books for THREE students

$88.00=books for FOUR students

(and so on…)

If you feel led to meet this important need in some way, please DONATE today by clicking THIS LINK. Contact Sara@kuzaprogram.org for more details.

Kuza Program is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.

All donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law.

Dessert Re-Cap

kuzaprogram — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 20:35:32 +0000

Thank you to all the sponsors and supporters of KUZA who joined us on January 27th to celebrate graduations and learn new ways to get involved with our program. We are very thankful to each and every one of you and are so grateful you made it to our event! It was a wonderful time for the KUZA family to connect with one another and hear updates from Uganda. Sponsors were also able to get their picture taken with a message to the student they sponsor. Our students will be beyond excited to get these pictures!

There are some exciting things in store for KUZA as we’ve recently added new students and will be updating you with their profiles right here….so stay tuned. In the meantime there are still loads of ways to get involved with the program so if you have a desire to roll up your sleeves, contact us! We’d love to work with you….

WE made the front page!

kuzaprogram — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 18:01:34 +0000

Job Tendo (pictured right below the “P”) appeared on today’s front page of Uganda’s largest newspaper! He scored the highest possible score on the big primary school exams in December… and was the best at his school, one of the best in the country! THANKS to his sponsor for paying his school fees & giving this bright student the opportunity to attend a fabulous school!

Graduation Celebration & Dinner

kuzaprogram — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 20:57:03 +0000

Here at KUZA Program we have many goals, but an important one we’ve identified as we enter 2013 is the KUZA USA community. We desire that you connect with each other and the program more deeply. To kick off the new year, we’ve planned a special evening where you can join us and participate in those very things!

This event is NOT a fundraiser. Please bring your friends and family and join us for a light dinner and dessert to experience the KUZA family community. You’ll also have an opportunity to learn about and participate in the following things:

Recent KUZA student graduations
Updates & stories from Uganda
Purchase our lovely KUZA beaded jewelry
Sign up to host a bead party
Write letters to YOUR student
Learn about our current needs and how you and your family can become involved.

Sunday, January 27th, 5-7pm at Sunset Presbyterian Church

RSVP Kirsten Willams 503.533.1603 or kp_williams@frontier.com

We’ll see you there!

Advent, KUZA and the New Year

kuzaprogram — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 03:59:35 +0000

By: Jenni Kupelian (KUZA Media Team)

I was on my way home tonight noticing the frenzy everyone was in. It’s the last day of class before Christmas break for many schools today in Portland, Oregon… and I couldn’t help but feel that traffic was more…mean…than usual. It seemed everyone had somewhere they needed to be, which was clearly more important than anyone else’s need for the road. I started to feel sour inside and laid on my horn once or twice. Let’s just say I wasn’t really in the Holiday Spirit…in fact, I was feeling quite the opposite.

It’s easy to become saddened and overwhelmed by the stress and materialism here in the United States. I feel so much pressure to buy “stuff”…even me…who is a bit of a hippie at my core. With the western ideal of consumerism spreading globally year by year…it’s easy to just give up. Can things really even change?

I watched this video by a wonderful non-profit group called, “Advent Conspiracy” the other day…take a look…

Watching this video, I was challenged to re-think the holidays…or more accurately, the season of Advent. Perhaps I’m a little late to the game, just a few days out from Christmas…but it also got me curious about what Christmas in Uganda is like.

What I found was that Santa Claus is NOT a common place concept. To some it’s a growing part of the holiday season, something that’s becoming identifiable in the cities, but still very dull in comparison to the festive community celebrations that take place. Many Ugandans have simply never heard of him. As I surfed different East African based blogs I read many stories of dancing, eating (meat is the food for celebration in Uganda) and singing deep into the night. I read about frying whole chickens inside of pumpkins (yum!) and that “Nkwagaliza Ssekukulu Enungi.” is how many say “Merry Christmas”. All the traditions I read about were based in community, togetherness, family and tangible experience. Not to mention looking out for the less fortunate and particularly, the many orphans in the country.

Surely every country has its problems and consumerism and stress are no longer simply an American issue, but has become a global issue. However, I cannot help but remember how well Ugandans (having visited twice now myself) take part in community. How much they love to be together…how much they love to be with the KUZA team when we visit…and how much we love being with them as well. I just wish it came easier to facilitate that in our culture state-side in everyday life.

THEN, I am reminded of and inspired by the KUZA family both here in Portland, Oregon and abroad in Kampala…so many people have given their time, money, love and energy to put great Ugandan Youth in fantastic schools. It has been an amazing year (as you may have read in our recent newsletter that mailed out last week)!

Whether it be trips to Uganda, banquets, bead parties or KUZA student retreats…so much happened in 2012 and we are so grateful to all of you! And even yet, there is so much more work KUZA is excited to do. If you feel lead to celebrate Advent in part by donating to KUZA…there is still time! Simply visit our donation page…or maybe you want to get involved in a more hands on way in the spirit of KUZA community. We’d love to work with you! Coming in January we’ll be hosting a dessert where you can find out ways to do just that…stay tuned for information coming your way soon!

We are ever thankful for this season of celebration…the year behind us (and the one ahead)…and especially for the opportunity to worship fully, spend less, give more, & love all.

For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given: and the government shall be on His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. -Isaiah 9:6

Trying something new…

kuzaprogram — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 19:22:01 +0000

Italian Sodas. Fajitas. Iphones. Escalators.

These are a few things we introduced to some of the KUZA students today!

Check out the smiles as they bravely try new things!

Strawberry Italian Soda, a first time for everything!

Self-Portraits with iPhone.

: Finally, enjoying something familiar…
Sure wish they imported Stoney to the USA!

A Day for Introductions

kuzaprogram — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 05:49:23 +0000

Three jam-packed days so far! Everyday has been full of adventure. Today I met one of the new students Rehema. We both shuffled around the office awkwardly for half an hour while I tried to think of conversation starters. But what do you ask someone who’s currently living with the student director because her mother and siblings have been evicted from their home and are living under a tree? What’s your favorite color? How many siblings do you have? Are you a single or double orphan? Stumped, I decided perhaps an activity would serve as a better ice breaker. We unpacked boxes of clothes side by side until Liz and Vero arrived. Liz and Vero have already been in KUZA for a year and are about to finish high school. They seemed to make Rehema feel more at home. I finally broke through the ice when I suggested we pose for some “snaps” in our sun glasses. A huge smile stretched across her face! Hurrah for sunglasses, I was no longer the outsider!

Later we took the girls to Domino Pizza (not to be confused with the Domino’s chain in the US). As we were eating I couldn’t help but wonder how Rehema does it. On the last retreat we were told that she couldn’t even smile because she was so worried about her family. I would be too! How can she manage all of it, and still go to one of the best schools in Uganda? I know for a fact that if my mom and brothers were living under a tree it would be 100x harder, if not impossible, for me to focus and do well in school. The fact that she can muster enough strength to continue to perform in school is amazing. I couldn’t help but admire her.

Much love from Uganda

Katherine

Banquet Re-Cap

kuzaprogram — Sun, 20 May 2012 01:03:16 +0000

Our 2012 KUZA Banquet was a huge success thanks to all our amazing sponsors, guests and speakers! Many people were able to hear the KUZA story for the first time and we raised lots of support for our students. Care to see some highlights? Here they are!

2012 KUZA Promo Video

kuzaprogram — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 00:25:26 +0000

We had such a good time sharing the KUZA story at our Banquet Benefit last night! Did you make? If not…don’t worry! You can watch the video right now and still become involved in the KUZA family!