Our projects

Through sales of kippot and generous dontions we have implemented various projects in the communities. Before commencing any project, we meet with the the community committee and elders to decide how funds can be best used. The community are the best ones to decide how to use profits and donations, rather than being told how to use funds.

One of the poorer communities of the Abayudaya is the Namatumba. They told Kippot for Hope that during the rainy season, their synagogues open windows let in large amounts of water, making it difficult for them to pray. One of our first projects was to help the community install glass panes in their windows.

The Synangogue beforehand

The newly installed windows

Kippot for Hope prides itself in establishing sustainable projects. We prefer to set up initiatives that will produce ongoing income for the community. A few months ago we helped the Namatumba community plough a spare acre of land and convert it into a pineapple plantation by planting 10,000 pineapples seeds. With three yields every year, this one acre of land should generate five times what it cost to set up - every year!

We have discussed plans for education.  School fees in Uganda are prohibitively expensive, so majority of children leave school by the age of 12. The community has no health facilities.  If someone becomes sick they are taken by bicycle, over 50 kilometres, to the nearest clinic.  One of the committee’s long term hopes is that someone can qualify as a nurse and establishes aclinic in their community.  Hygiene is also an issue – they have no running water and have to pay a neighbouring community for access to their bore hole. 

The community have plans to use some of the profits from the pineapples to dig two community pit latrines near their synagogue.  They also dream of completing their synagogue and want it to be a special place that they can be proud of.  The remaining eight windows are yet to be glassed; a concrete floor laid; prayer books obtained; and a few more benches made so less of the congregation must sit on the floor during the service. 

Our Supporters

Leon Haskin, Melbourne Australia Dena Stemmer, Manchester UK

Updated 11 July 2010