Big Give 2023 – Update

05/08/2024

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In December 2023, CRESS supporters took part in the Big Give, where we raised £14,150 in just one week to support savings groups and studentsThe donations funded a Savings Conference for the 2094 members of our Savings Groups in Imvepi and Mijale. Our founder, Caroline, and a small team from the UK attended this conference in Northern Uganda.

"As we arrived we saw a group of women in their best dresses waiting in the road for us and singing and dancing a welcome. We then walked a short distance to the conference and very movingly they people had put cloths down along the ground for us all to walk on as a marker of respect and gratitude. There was much singing and dancing at our arrival. We were then ushered into a specially constructed tent so we could keep dry and out of the hot sun."

The conference was an opportunity for all of the groups to come together as a community and share their stories. Throughout the day, they heard from dozens of people who all testified to the impact of the CRESS programmes to change their lives for the better, with their families able to eat more than once a day, purchase medicines, set up a businesses. Some individuals have been able to build brick and iron-roofed houses, purchase animals, bicycles and even motorcycles.

Success Stories

Morjita Mixed Group (31 members, 27 women & 4 men) invested £1000 in a computer business by purchasing a solar panel, computer, printers, files, pens etc. Within one year they had paid back the investment and made another £1000 to share between all the members.

Adede Grace, 40 years old, has 10 members to care for in her home. Over 4 years she has managed to build her own brick built house and purchased 2 goats (both pictured right), selling their offspring. She can now pay her children’s school fees and all their medical bills as well as eat two meals a day – her family life has changed dramatically for the better.

The Big Give also raised funds for an education conference for 70 students from primary to tertiary education. This event has been postponed due to changes in Arua, and will be held in 2025.

We thank the BIG Give supporters for making this conference possible and enabling so many people to meet, to be fed, and to share together!

Keep an eye out for more Big Give announcements coming soon!

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