Project Reporting (Weekly blog, 3 June 2018)

A blog by Catherine Leonard, Secretary-General

Our latest project report for Encourage African Youth To Embrace Their Heritage was due this week.  As it was half-term and I had a few days off, I thought I’d include the report in this blog-spot.

The way GlobalGiving organises all of this – from the prompt to write to the attractive airmail format – is great.  Regular communication with donors and supporters is essential to all of us.  But sometimes forget how important it is to show the impact of people’s donations.  Often – and particularly with crowdfunding – our focus is on securing the gift and/or reaching the target.  However, regular reports are critical to establishing long-term relationships.

GlobalGiving Project Report – Uganda

Just last week, young people took centre stage at the 3rd Cross-Cultural Foundation of Uganda (CCFU) National Cultural Heritage Awards.   We thank you again for generously contributing to our ‘Encourage African Youth’ project which makes things like this possible.

Six individuals and institutions were honoured for their outstanding contribution in the preservation and promotion of Uganda’s cultural heritage.   These ‘Heritage Champions’ serve as role models to us all in their enthusiastic efforts to encourage people to take responsibility for preserving their culture.

Performers at the ceremony, 24 May 2018

Tourism State Minister Godfrey Kiwanda used the occasion to announce that his department will be renamed the ‘Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage’. A wonderful tribute to the CCFU and its work to raise awareness of the importance of cultural heritage preservation.

Aliguma Ahabyona, CCFU’s Heritage Programme Officer said “Uganda’s wealth of heritage is under threat. It is not effectively protected, even when listed. There is also virtually no incentive to preserve our heritage, tangible and intangible.   At the Cross-Cultural Foundation of Uganda (CCFU), we firmly believe that it is our urgent responsibility to help safeguard the remnants of our heritage, working in collaboration with other stakeholders.”

An update from the field – Sierra Leone

Meanwhile in Sierra Leone, the winners of our video competition visited Bunce Island for the first time to learn from the stories of slavery.

Research Officer at the Monuments and Relics Commission, Francis Momoh said “As they marched through the ruins, the deafening silence reminded them of what might have transpired there some 350 years ago. Those who had tears shed them, those who had courage braved it, whilst those who are resilient expressed determination.”

Henry Fergusson pupils going to Bunce Island

We believe that our ‘Encourage African Youth’ project has helped open young people’s eyes to the importance and possibility of their heritage. You can’t change history. You can secure the future.

There’s still more to do of course, but all of us involved in the project thank you again for your kind gift which has helped us get this far.

Learning about the slave trade

In other news …

It was half-term last week, so we busied ourselves with various fun learning activities.  We all went to a fantastic opera workshop and watched the dress rehearsal of the Grange Festival’s Barber of Seville.  We went to the Hay Festival to hear from some fabulous authors and generally to soak up the vibe.  To a Titanic-themed escape room.  (First time I’ve ever done something like that – it was brilliant!)   And we finished the week at the airfield for a flying lesson courtesy of AirBourne Aviation.