Corona Virus Update: The college has suspended all league play until further notice.

I am going to be participating in the second annual SACU ” 5K Walk for Wisdom” on Sunday, June 28 at 12:00 at Seacliff Park/Leamington Marina.  The purpose of this walkathon is to raise money to fund the education of the vulnerable children of Buwundo, Uganda.  Please see the poster above

SACU stands for “Save African Child Uganda”, a small grass-roots organization currently run by 6 directors from Essex County – all volunteers.  I am one of the directors and have been involved with the organization for 10 years.  We currently educate, feed and provide medical assistance to over 170 children of the village and surrounding area, all made possible through sponsorships of the children, donations and constant fundraising efforts.   We have raised sufficient funds over the last 10 years to build a nursery and primary school (JK – Grade 7) on our own land along with both a girl’s and boy’s shelter to provide full time care for about 25 abandoned, abused or forgotten children.  We also have an outdoor classroom/ chapel, a cookhouse, a playground area and washroom areas.  We have a teaching staff of 15, a full time cook, and 5 other employees on the school grounds. 

We have become a beacon of hope for those families that were unable to afford the tuition needed to send their children to school, as education in Uganda is not available to all, unlike here in Canada.  We are proud to state that one of our first SACU graduates has received her ECE diploma and we have 2 students about to graduate from high school this year.  We have 15 other children attending high school and all are performing very well. Three of our male students are attending technical schools and are currently putting their skills to the test as they assist in the rebuilding of the outdoor kitchen that was just destroyed in a torrential storm.

I have visited the SACU school twice, the first time in 2013 when the first classroom was constructed on our newly purchased land, and just last November.  The change on site was incredible – from one classroom to a completed school. I was also present to witness the graduation ceremony of the 2019 kindergarten class, a full day celebration attended by over 1000 villagers, so proud and grateful to see these children live past the age of 5 and so thankful that they are receiving an education that will provide them with the opportunity for a better future.

So, I am asking for your help.  Will you sponsor me on my short 5K walk, the distance a small child will walk to attend school or to fetch fresh water each day?  Your donation of $20 or more will be receipted through Faith Reformed Church of Kingsville, a long-time supporter of SACU.  Donations can be cash (contact me), cheque (made out to Faith Reformed Church – mail to Cheryl Rutgers, 5 Helen Crescent, Leamington, ON, N8H 4S7) or e-transfer to Faith Reformed Church (jrutgers_cheryl@hotmail.com)  Please note that all (100%) of the funds raised go directly to fulfill the purposes of SACU – food, shelter, clothing, medical needs and education.  

Our SACU students and I want to say “Thank You” in advance

Cheryl Rutgers