2021 First Quarter Report

AGAPE INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION
​THREE MONTHS ACTIVITY 
March 30, 2021

​It is a great honor since the beginning of the year 2021 up to date (March 2021) in AIO compared to 2020 which had been a rough year to all our staff, board members, volunteers, and board of directors of the organization. As President of the Board of Directors of Agape International Organization, I congratulate all persons involved in the organization from volunteers to the board of directors for the resilience the Lord has put into your hearts. Many people have lost their dear ones, and some were struggling with physical, social, economic problems etc, but we thank God for good health and life He has given to us all.

Agape International Organization derived its meaning from the Ancient Greek word, which is referring to "love: the highest form of love, charity", and "the love of God for man and of man for God".  We embrace a universal, unconditional love of God that transcends to mankind, which serves regardless of circumstances. The meaning of the organization goes beyond as affection as in "greeting with affection" and "show affection for the dying and the dead".  We show an affection that could denote friendship and, brotherhood. We provide care for the vulnerable person through holistic approach of physical, mental, and spiritual wellbeing of the person.
In 2021, AIO board set our strategic direction for the near future by defining organizational objectives, under the following thematic areas of interventions: Orphanage, relief and rehabilitation, education, health, and Mission. The following are successful stories and achievements.
Administrative achievements

1. We have functional board of directors both in USA and management in Uganda who meet quarterly to review the progress of our organization.
2. We have opened bank accounts both in Uganda and USA and have introduced online donation in our website for easy process and transfers of funds. In Uganda we have managed to have an office space and postal services (P.O. Box) at CAM Hotel in Koboko Uganda. Some of our children of the foundation have started school but others are still at home due to COVID-19 pandemic.

 
 
Orphanage (Ruth and Robert foundation)

1. We have established AIO compassion for children in need called Ruth and Robert foundation named in the honor of Ruth and Robert who were first people who provided financial support to this project. This project is in Mityana Uganda, we currently have twenty-two children in the orphanage with three volunteer staff who are working tirelessly in the field ensuring that children have someone to show love, care and compassion. We are so thankful with Nakiganda Gladys who is our project coordinator of the orphanage.
2. The foundation has moved into a new rental house. The organization was able to purchase beds, bedsheets, blankets, clothing, and some necessities in the orphanage. The orphanage has bible studies every Saturday which is attended by all the children from the neighborhood. Children are experiencing hope and love. We received 13 children's bibles from one of the board members of Agape International USA. We received $2,000.00 dollars from one of the friends of the foundation who declined his name to be mentioned. It is what the Lord has put in his heart for the mission we are so grateful to this friend and others who continued supporting our mission.

Education department

1. We managed to receive funds from Mikaya foundation to sponsor four students to do vocational training. Out of the four students, one is a female studying electric installation, two are specializing in brick laying and construction and one is studying diploma in civil engineering. We were able to rescue six children who lost both of their parents on their way from South Sudan to Uganda during the 2013 civil war in South Sudan. Agape International was able to reunite these children with their 70-year-old grandmother. These six children are now in school with the support from Agape International.

Relief and rehabilitation

1. This year we were able to deliver six containers of relief items to the refugees’ resettlement camps in the west Nile region of Uganda.
2. Another successful story is that we showed love by helping to rebuild a shelter to one of our volunteers whose house burned down. We were able to receive some little donations from individuals to provide shelter and food to our orphans.

Health

1. We have secured funding for Agape community public health awareness and psychosocial support that shall be implemented these coming months of April titled “Ending teenage pregnancy, drug and behavioral addiction. The project shall take 3 months done at school and refugee settlement level. Pregnancy, drugs and behavioral addiction has become the leading causes of school dropout among refugee teenagers; hence the need to curb the vice that was exacerbated by the lockdown due to COVID-19.

In a nutshell, it is overly exciting time to be in a leadership role with AIO. Ideas imagined years ago have gained momentum, and there has been growth in every area of the organization: educational programs, mission, increase in the number of staff and most importantly the benefits to members of the community.
 
 
 
Challenges the Agape International Organization faced during the 1ST. quarter

1. No consistent financial flow to support program activities otherwise the managing board is worried of future expectations of certain programs of the organization may be called off, hence the organization is limited in its activities.
2. Incomplete office equipment; AIO this year 2021 managed to obtain office space however its nonoperational because we have no office equipment and furniture that makes visibility of the AIO in Uganda difficult in terms of head office.
3. AIO has no staff under payroll, its staff still volunteer. This resulted to poor field supervision, delayed reporting, and made coordination with Uganda office very difficult.
4. Lack of transportation to facilitate supervision of distant refugee settlements.
5. Unsponsored children under AIO Ruth and Robert foundation have been a challenge due to school fees.

Recommendations

1. Scale up project proposal writing and sharing with donors to obtain donations and grants for the projects to enable consistency. The board of governance and directors are encouraged to take active role, as soon as possible. The communication department to upload information for public consumption and advert to enable the website generates income to facilitate the projects on ground.
2. Office visibility, stacking a well functional office with basic equipment, a signpost and employing one full time staff to manage AIO office in Uganda. The staff shall be in AIO payroll. AIO country director is to draft office equipment budget and identify one of its current staff under AIO payroll. The draft shall be shared with the board of directors for scrutiny.
3. Purchase of AIO Motorbike to facilitate supervision and a link between office and refugee settlements. Board of executive directors shall discuss it in their subsequent meeting after consultations.
4. Sharing on website the profile of the children to widen chances of people who would like to support and sponsor.

NEW ACTIVITIES THIS QUARTER

1. Agriculture, AIO shall start agriculture project of about 2-4 acres of land in Uganda to facilitate feeding in Ruth and Robert foundation. AIO-UGANDA shall present 4 months budget and implementation shall be immediate.
2. Public health awareness project in the refugee settlement shall be started immediately this month of April.
3. Office equipment stocking of the Mityana AIO office will commence this quarter.

Leadership training institute is our long term plan to be established in Uganda or South Sudan as ways of improving the literacy level of African nations, the board of directors are progressively development effective strategies for the college.
Conclusion
We all have seen the robust implementation of AIO this year with persistence and perseverance we shall become a great Christian NGO in the world to serve the world and most especially the church of Christ.
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Yours the president AIO, Joel Chrispo Dumba