Travel for Purpose/ Return with Action
As you may know, I traveled to Uganda in April 2023.
HeartSounds US would like to take this opportunity to help you understand the actual scope and development of each of our projects. During the 14 days, our country director, Simon, and myself, in conjunction with four technical advisors, visited each of the Heart Sounds US projects.
My Ugandan Journey: Visiting Four Life-Altering Projects
roject 1- Health Outreach in the Rural Areas of Kabale:
● Orchestrated a robust health outreach, attracting 250 people.
● Addressed dental, ophthalmology, diabetes, and hypertension issues, as well as providing vaccinations.
● Delivered over 100 pairs of reading glasses, dental supplies, an ophthalmoscope and first aid supplies.
Action upon arrival home:
★ Heart Sounds planned to purchase a tent to increase and improve examination space for the outreach.
★ Created a partnership with the local health officer to supply Novocain and antibiotics for use in dental care.
★ Planned to purchase an electric powered scaler to improve our ability to provide dental hygiene.
★ Established a regular schedule to provide health outreach clinics in 2023-2024. Our next outreach is September 2023.
Project 2 – The Home for Divine Mercy Vocational School:
● Brought over 300 packages of underwear and 200 reusable hygiene items as well as toothbrushes to the 60 girls residing at the home.
● Purchased 10 additional bunkbeds (frame and mattresses) for the girl’s dormitory setting.
● Inventoried and examined sewing and knitting machines for repair and/or replacement, as well as looking at needed additions to the current classroom resources.
● Made preliminary plans for a sustainable farming project changing the focus from Heart Sounds US purchasing food, to farming for independent food production.
● Made plans for structural repairs at the dormitory.
Action upon arrival home:
★ Developed the program design and budget for a farming project to be initiated in July 2023, that will provide enough food to feed the girls for a year. We also hope to provide food to families in the local village.
★ Opened discussions with a Dutch foundation for the replacement of sewing and knitting machines.
★ Brought hand-embroidered cloth back to the US for sale at fair trade markets.
Project 2 – The Home for Divine Mercy Vocational School:
● Brought over 300 packages of underwear and 200 reusable hygiene items as well as toothbrushes to the 60 girls residing at the home.
● Purchased 10 additional bunkbeds (frame and mattresses) for the girl’s dormitory setting.
● Inventoried and examined sewing and knitting machines for repair and/or replacement, as well as looking at needed additions to the current classroom resources.
● Made preliminary plans for a sustainable farming project changing the focus from Heart Sounds US purchasing food, to farming for independent food production.
● Made plans for structural repairs at the dormitory.
Action upon arrival home:
★ Developed the program design and budget for a farming project to be initiated in July 2023, that will provide enough food to feed the girls for a year. We also hope to provide food to families in the local village.
★ Opened discussions with a Dutch foundation for the replacement of sewing and knitting machines.
★ Brought hand-embroidered cloth back to the US for sale at fair trade markets.
Project 4 – Peer Nation Jewelers:
● Met with eight jewelers and the Peer Nation Program Coordinator to develop marketing plans for the sale of products in the US.
● Discussed the grant for funds from the US Embassy to support Peer Nation Mental Health Programs.
● Received and shared information about jewelry making to be communicated to our customers.
Action upon returning home:
★ Worked on and submitted a grant to the US Embassy to develop entrepreneurial programs for Peer Nation participants.
★ Submitted a concept paper, as part of a research team, to the Welcome Trust in the UK to provide support for persons recovering from mental illness.
★ Participated in a multi-day market for the sale of Peer Nation jewelry in early May 2023. We raised over $770, which was sent to the jewelers. This market effort, to be repeated in September 2023, is supported by volunteers, board members and staff.
Travel Synopsis:
The four projects that Heart Sounds US supports have certainly traveled the distance since their beginning. Each project has a distinct life and rhythm of its own. This life began as the Heart Sounds US board first put their forward thinking initiatives together with strategic action steps to fulfill each project outcome.
Will you continue with Heart Sounds US on the next phase of our journey? Consider making a donation to support one or all of our four projects journeying to impact :
- Public Health Outreach
- Female safety and security in a Vocational /Educational school program
- Secondary School development in an underserved area marked by conflict
- Mental Health Recovery through a self-sustaining jewelry making program
Think of what has been accomplished with donations thus far.
Please help to move Heart Sounds US further on this journey of HOPE!
On behalf of our Board, Volunteers and Staff and most especially, those whom we serve
Many thanks for your support.
Rich Pulice
President of Heart Sounds US, Inc.
