Zoom to Uganda with Friends of Sabina!

The stars have aligned for our annual meetup with leaders of the nonprofit, Friends of Sabina (FOS), which will be a completely virtual gathering on Tuesday, Aug. 5, from Noon to 2 p.m. In this case, the stars are the students at Sabina Boarding Primary School and four visitors from Christ Church. The Aribiah family is on a trip to Uganda, enabling Sonni, Teddy, Jonah, and Luke to see Sabina’s improvements in person. Much has changed since the Aribiahs’ previous visits, and we’re eager to hear about it.

You’re invited to log into Zoom as your schedule permits (email info@christchurchcolumbia.org for the link); there will be a recording if you must miss a portion and want to catch up later.

FOS operates the primary school and a nursery program that together enroll 424 students in Sanje, Uganda. FOS Co-Director Ann Marie Davis, who is on site, will lead an informative show-and-tell during the Zoom. She will be joined remotely by Co-Director Maria White and assisted in person by Sponsorship Coordinator Deborah Nakiduuli, Librarian Richard Tumusiime, and Administrator Moses Nsubuga.

We’re anticipating another moving performance by the choir and keeping an eye out for sponsored students who remain at Sabina in primary grades: Roger, Herbert, Purity, Geofrey, Lydia and Sharon.

Nearly a dozen parishioners at Christ Church began sponsoring individual students in 2020. A photo collage of seven of the youngsters, pictured at that point in time, appears on the FOS page of the Christ Church website. By now, these students have completed primary grades at Sabina and enrolled in secondary schools.

All of these deserving youngsters come from families who otherwise cannot afford their schooling, and sponsors commit to fund an annual scholarship and to keep in touch. One aim is to form relationships, like family across the miles. FOS helps accomplish that goal by encouraging an exchange of letters and occasional video calls. For information on becoming a sponsor, email outreach@christchurchcolumbia.org.

Christ Church began supporting Sabina Primary School more than a decade ago by first establishing a library. Besides the Aribiahs, parishioners Steve and Linda Alpern and the late Charlie Hoke and Ellen Boudreau Hoke have traveled there. Consider making a future trip; you can inquire about it during the Q&A portion of next week’s Zoom meetup.

Sabina’s library has become a resource not just for the school but for the surrounding community. The Outreach Commission at our May meeting approved donating $3,300 to FOS to pay the librarian’s salary, periodical subscriptions, and a portion of internet service. Funds come from the Vestry-approved, 2025 Outreach budget derived from your pledges and contributions. Thanks to all!