June Newsletter | A Child’s Dream, A Visit of Hope & A Call for Clean Water

Derrick Asiimwe
Jul 2
3 min read

Dear Mushunga Community,

June has been a month filled with meaningful stories, inspiring visits, and important reflections. From a young boy’s transformation to a vital need for clean water — and exciting developments on our farm — here’s what’s been happening at Mushunga.

Child Spotlight: Philmon A. – A Future Doctor in the Making

Meet Philmon A a bright and determined 13-year-old boy in Grade 4. His story is one of courage, transformation, and the incredible power of community.

In 2023, Mushunga Community Project took Philmon in after his grandmother — having lost all her children except one — approached us, desperately seeking help. She was living in deep poverty and had just lost their fragile home to strong winds, leaving her and Philmon completely homeless.

Thanks to the compassion of a generous donor and the Mushunga team, a permanent brick house was built for Philmon’s grandmother — restoring her dignity and giving Philmon a new beginning.

Today, Philmon is one of the top performers in his class, known for his love of learning and his dream of becoming a doctor, so he can care for his grandmother and the elderly in his village.

It was hard for me to go to school or have food until Mushunga helped me. Now I can dream again.” – Philmon A.

To his sponsor and to all our friends — thank you for changing lives, one child at a time.

A Special Visit from Our Board Chairperson

We were delighted to welcome back Mr. Martyn, our Board Chairperson, whose June visit brought renewed energy to our mission.

During his time at Mushunga, Mr. Martyn:

Toured the construction site of Classroom Block D.
Visited Philmon’s grandmother to see firsthand the impact of community support
Met with staff to discuss strategy and growth
Walked through the farm project, a cornerstone of our vision for self-reliance

Farm Project Update: Seeds of Sustainability

Our farm project continues to take shape as a key part of the Mushunga Community Project’s long-term sustainability strategy. Several potential crops have now been identified, and we’re excited to share that a local coffee grower has offered to provide expert advice to help us get started.

This is a promising step toward reducing our dependency on external food sources, improving nutrition, and creating future income streams for the project.

Urgent Need: Clean Water for the Children of Mushunga

One of the most critical issues we’re currently facing is lack of access to clean water. A damaged pipeline has disconnected our compound from the national supply, with repairs estimated to take up to two years.

As a result, our children must walk 10–20 minutes downhill each day to fetch water from a borehole — returning with heavy jerrycans, often exhausted before class begins. The limited water access has also contributed to a rise in illness, increasing our medical costs and reducing time for learning and rest.

That’s why we are now urgently seeking partners and support to establish a permanent clean water source within our compound — either through a borehole or piped water system.

This project will: