Open Market preaching in Ocapa

YCVM recently did some open market preaching in the Ocapa region. The band also provided some music for the occasion.

Flooding in Kumi

Apparently there has been some flooding in the local communities. I don't have any details other than these pictures. I don't think any of the YCVM buildings were affected.

YCVM band plays at Uganda independence day celebration

Silver sent some pictures of the YCVM band ministering to people at a recent district celebration of Uganda's independence. The band is seen here with Silver leading on the guitar, and the others playing traditional hand-made instruments.

Village house gets a roof

In the last few months, enough donations were received to continue construction of the Ngora village house to the roof level! Doors and windows are still to be added, as resources permit. We thank God for all of the generous people who contributed to this effort. And the YCVM orphans thank you for all of your support!

Worshipping at the Kabakuli National Prayer Conference

The YCVM band led some worship at a prayer conference at the end of August. Silver is playing the guitar, and the band is playing traditional instruments such as the Adungu (harp).

Peeling Cassava

As mentioned in a previous entry, Silver has planted some cassava on the grounds. It can either be sold or eaten. During their summer break, all of the orphans spent some time doing work around the village. A few of them are peeling cassava, right next to the new structure that YCVM is building.

Back To School!

The fall term is beginning, and everyone is returning to school. Here you can see some of the personal effects and scholastic materials being packed at Grace Among's home, and the motorbikes used for transportation.

Building a house in the Kumi village for the orphans

As noted on the YCVM website, the house that Silver built for the orphans was destroyed by a storm a few years ago. Since then, they've been living with local families when they're home from school. This arrangement has been less than ideal, and YCVM has made it a priority to construct a building for them in the Kumi village. The orphans can then live together in a safe environment, rather than scattered around.

Above, you can see some of the construction. Silver, the director of YCVM, is shown here lending his skills with the pick. Notice the grass huts in the background - they are typical village dwellings. In the next photo, workers are mixing concrete and sand.

Boarding school walls are up!

Construction of the boarding school is progressing, although there was a delay because of rising cement prices. After the cost returned to previous levels, the building was raised up to point where it is almost ready for roofing. Windows and doors will come after that.

In the pictures above, Martin Odi and his wife Helen observe the construction progress. Reverend Odi is a retired bishop who is a key leader of YCVM.

As always, funds are needed for school fees for the orphans, and for the roof construction.

Apujan Agricultural Project

One of YCVM's Income Generating Activities (IGAs) is farming an agricultural plot in Apujan. Here you can see Silver busy preparing the land and plowing it for future use. Check back for more updates on how this activity progresses.

YCVM Conference

Recently, YCVM held a conference where the Board of Executives, the Executive Committee, the YCVM band, and the orphans can come together in fellowship to get to know each other. It's also an opportunity for the management of YCVM to give career guidance to the orphans, and speak good morals to the children.



Some of the children are also completing their 1st term in school. Here you see Helen Atai standing with Executive Board member Ann Onyait. Since YCVM has currently run out of funds, they are borrowing money to keep the kids in school. But borrowing is a tricky proposition. YCVM needs funds for immediate use in caring for the children and keeping them in school. Please visit ycvm.org to find out how to contribute.

A Widow and her Orphan Children

In a recent email from Silver, he included some photos of a widow and her children. From his descriptions, apparently one of the widow's daughters wanted to commit suicide because her mother could not care for them adequately. I can only guess how many other families are in similar situations throughout Africa.

Silver builds a home for a childless, needy, elderly woman

YCVM director Silver Omakenyi has a huge heart of compassion. Even though he is poor, he goes to great lengths to help those around him who are in need. Pictured here is a house he recently built for a childless, needy old woman.

The soil in Uganda is very suitable for brick-making. Silver mixes water with earth, and hand-packs the mud into bricks, which are left to dry. The bricks are then stacked in a large pile, and a fire is lit underneath to bake them.

Not only is brick-making very labor-intensive, but also the bricks must be transported from the baking pile to the construction site. This is not trivial, since vehicles are not available. Sometimes people will end up having to carry them by hand, or on a bicycle.

School and Health

Silver reports that 5 children are sick, but YCVM doesn't have enough funds for health care and school fees. For the 1st term of the year, the average cost to put one of the orphans in school is $225 USD. Sponsors are needed immediately for the children.

Bringing us up to the present ...

... as of today, YCVM sponsors 11 orphans. Photos are on the website (ycvm.org), along with the boarding school construction. Funds are running low, so the children might have to pull out of their current schooling, until more money arrives. Same goes for the boarding school - construction will continue when there is money.

On other fronts, a piece of property near a lake might be purchased for a future Income Generating Activity (IGA). The vision is to construct a conference center with lodging, and make it available to outside groups. In any event, land will increase in value, so it's a good investment.


Silver also reports that some of the children have been sick. Jessica had malaria, and has been treated. Helen was also sick on April 3rd, while she was at school. She is receiving treatment while staying at Grace Among's house. Mary had a swollen leg and she was treated at school. Abeja Alice also had a problem with her kidneys, and Sheila is ever weak. They need your prayers urgently!

Intro

Youth and Child Visionary Ministries is a local Christian effort to care for orphan children of Kumi in Eastern Uganda. The vision is to establish a self-sustaining boarding school. Silver Omakenyi is the director of YCVM. Silver, who is also an orphan, is currently caring for 11 younger orphans on his own. YCVM is supported by the fundraising efforts of Chinese Community United Methodist Church in Oakland, CA. More funds are needed to complete the Boarding School construction and establish income-generating activites to achieve its self-sustaining goal. We need your support!