MCF Chair Kish Modha with children at Kamwokya School, Kampala.
1400 children receive an education at Kamwokya School.
A young girl taking care of her sister in rural Uganda. 8 children and 3 adults live in a 600 square foot home or orphanage.
An infant receives some T.L.C. from a nurse at New Life Home, Nairobi.
All children receive a full meal every day – for some of them this is their only meal in a day.
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MCF REPORT - SEPTEMBER 2010
MCF Chairman Kish Modha shares his latest report
Hello!
This is Kish from the Mondetta Charity Foundation. Here's my latest report on the latest goings-on. We're pleased with our work in East Africa but as with all matters dealing with humanitarian aid, our job will never be completed. With the help of our supporters, we can continue our ongoing fight to bring a better life to the children of East Africa.
Donations have been received from the Seven Oaks School Division here in Winnipeg in the form of books, computers and chairs and are en route to Kamwokya Primary School, Kampala. The sizable shipment is being handled by our freight forwarders, LEI who have contributed $2000.00 towards the shipping costs. MCF will cover the remaining $3500.00.
Teacher Exchange
Along with her boyfriend, Jill Bjornson, a teacher at Arthur Wright Elementary School, spent several weeks volunteering at Kamwokya School. She was very well received by the teachers, students and people in the community surrounding the school. Jane Kansiime, headmistress, had said this to say about Jill's time at the school:
“Jill and Joe left on the 18th of August, 2010 for Canada and we had already closed the school but you needed to be there to see how the whole school gathered to see them off and the crying that could be heard from the crowd.
Saying goodbye was extremely hard for all of us, especially Jill who was very emotional about leaving. I very well know that she has a lot to tell you and she promised to come and give you all the details of what transpired during her and her boyfriend's time at the school. I'm very happy to say they didn't have any problems while they were here, as you know problems can arise. I also know very well that your mind was on this very special project but I did all I could to make them happy and comfortable.”
Dental/Medical Clinic Project
Efforts continue to be made in bringing basic medical and dental services to the families and people surrounding the Kamwokya School but may be hampered due to instability caused by impending national elections next year. The MCF will continue its efforts in Uganda but will tread softly given the volatility surrounding electoral processes and outcomes in the troubled East African nation.
New Life Home Trust Centre
Lamu, KENYA
Our work in Lamu, Kenya continues to progress well. The New Life Home Trust (NLHT) Centre, which cares for 50-60 young children, recently received official government registration under the Deptartment of Children's Services as a Private Children's Institution. We are extremely pleased and grateful that the government officially recognizes what NLHT is doing for the orphaned children in need on the island. The minister of the department, Mr. Hussein, recently visited the centre and was amazed and in awe of the work being done and the help being provided. As more and more donations are received, the MCF can continue to expand its efforts with NLHT to provide help to even more.
General News
Also, as of October 1st, Kali Guillas will join the MCF as an Executive Director. Kali has a great deal of experience in fundraising, having organized our golf tournament a couple of years ago and is presently working in the same field at another non-profit organization. Kali will be responsible for setting up our long-term plans as well as consolidating our fundraising strategies. We are looking forward to the fresh perspective and experience Kali will bring to the MCF and are excited to have her on board.
As always, the Mondetta Charity Foundation lives on donations received from our supporters and thanks those who have given for their sacrifice. If you would like to donate, please click on the 'Donations' tab under the 'Giving Back' heading on the Mondetta website.
Thank you
MCF REPORT - SPRING 2010
March 2010
Download the latest newsletter below from Kish Modha on his travels to Kenya and Uganda earlier this year. This report features a review and photos of the progress being made at Kamwoyka Primary School, including upgrades to the kitchen facility and classrooms.
Click on the image below to download the full PDF.
MCF REPORT - FALL 2009
October 19, 2009
Download the latest newsletter below from Kish Modha on his travels to Kenya and Uganda earlier this year. This report features an in-depth review and photos of the progress being made at Kamwoyka Primary School and the Kids of Africa Orphanange.
Click on the image below to download the full PDF.
"REWRITE THE FUTURE" FASHION GALA
June 4, 2009
Mondetta / MCF participated in this Save The Children Canada fashion event, to benefit children with HIV/AIDS in Kenya. With participation from Distant Caravans Clothing, October Boutique, Hempyrean, Boutique La Femme and Olsen Europe, the event received great support and raised proceeds through the live and silent auctions.
Other features of the gala included Ray Dirks' art display, a keynote address from Kenyan High Commissioner to Canada, His Excellency Mr. Simon Nabukwesi, and a wonderful performance from the Kenyan Folklorama Dance Group.
Thank-you to all who attended and supported such a worthy cause.
Dinner With Stephen Lewis
November 7, 2008
Mondetta Charity Foundation (MCF), along with other organizations in Winnipeg such as Uganda Canada Association, CUSO., CBC Manitoba and Architects Without Borders joined to form a group called “Friends of Uganda” (FOU).
On October 25, FOU organized a gala event of “Dinner with Stephen Lewis” at the Convention Center. Mr. Lewis, as usual, touched the hearts of over four hundred guest with his passionate, eloquent speech on sufferings in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Ugandan Deputy High Commissioner, Mr. Joseph Kahiigwa from Ottawa was also in attendance.
MCF, represented by Kish Modha at the steering committee, was one of the main sponsors of the event by contributing initial funds and silent auction items, providing a location for media launch as well as helping in sale of dinner tickets.
The evening raised about thirty eight thousand ($38,000.00) that will be spent on philanthropic projects in Uganda through Stephen Lewis Foundation.
Friends of Uganda
May 21, 2008
Letter from Kish Modha:
Representing Mondetta Charity Foundation, I am involved with a group of organizations such as Uganda Canada Assoc., Architects without Border, Mennonite Council, Rotary Club, CUSO, etc to organize a dinner and a talk by Stephen Lewis on Oct 29. We have been working on the project for last couple months. Now it will be launched, officially, Friday May 23 from our showroom between 11:00 and 12:00 CST. Minister for Water Resources and representatives from the participant groups will be here.
For Immediate Release:
October 12, 2007
Toronto, ON (October 12, 2007)
Save the Children Canada, the non-governmental organization that has been delivering immediate and lasting improvements to children’s lives around the world since 1921, has appointed Kishor Modha to its Board of Directors effective September 28, 2007. Kishor L. Modha, M.Sc., is General Manager of Mondetta Clothing Company, established in 1986. Kish was born in Uganda to Indian parents. He was forced to leave that country in 1972 when the Uganda Government under Idi Amin expelled people of Indian origin from the country. As Kish and his partners/nephews come from Kenya and Uganda, they decided to give back to those countries through the creation of the Mondetta Charity Foundation in 2006. He lives in Winnipeg with his wife, Divya. An active community member, Kish has worked with the Hindu Society of Manitoba and other prominent service organizations.
“Kish will be an excellent addition to our Board” states David Morley, President and Chief Executive Officer of Save the Children Canada. “He cares deeply about the need to help children around the world, and brings to our Board a lifetime of hands-on experience with fundraising, marketing, advocacy and community networking.”
About Save the Children Canada:
Save the Children Canada is the world’s largest child-rights organization working for over 86 years to improve the quality of children's lives through the realization of their rights. Save the Children Canada is a member of the International Save the Children Alliance. With Save the Children Members organizations in 28 countries and operating programs in over 120 countries, the Alliance is the world's largest global movement for children.
Sue Rooks, Communications
Save The Children Canada
(416) 221-5501 ext. 305
srooks@savethechildren.ca
Kish Modha and the MCF featured in Indo-Canadian Telegram
July 2007
Writer Ashok Athavale gives heartfelt recognition to the humanitarian efforts of the MCF and provides a brief history on Mr. Modha's life journey.
Click here to view the full PDF article.
MCF featured article in MCIC April newsletter
April 2007
The Mondetta Charity Foundation is proudly featured on page 3 of the April 2007 edition of the Manitoba Council for International Cooperation newsletter.
Click here to view full the PDF newsletter.
MCF Chair Kish Modha Visits Kenya and Uganda
December 28 2006
From November 28 to December 16 I traveled to Kenya and Uganda. As an officially registered charity we are required by Revenue Canada to maintain an agent in the countries where our donations will be utilized. We have therefore appointed contacts at the New Life Home orphanage in Nairobi, Kenya and at Kamwokya Primary School in Kampala, Uganda.
New Life Home now has 6 orphanages in Kenya, doubled from only 3 in 2004. Nairobi orphanage is the head quarter of the organization, which is managed by Lee and Ann Marie Pruitt. Lee is a Certified Public Accountant and Ann Marie is a retired nurse and their work is overseen by the founders of New Life Home: Clive and Mary Beckenham. At present, in Nairobi, there are 54 children under their care from newborn to 8 years of age. The facility is registered as a private medical centre with the Kenyan government. There are 2 nurses on duty at all times and a doctor on call 24 hours a day, in addition to various other aides and staff. The New Life Home orphanage strives to find adoptive parents for the children and as of November 2006, 577 (69%) of the 835 children that had been admitted were placed in foster care, ultimately leading to adoption.
Kamwokya Primary School is situated in the largest slum in the northern part of Kampala, Uganda. We have been working very closely with the school’s principal Ms. Jane Kansiime the last few years but have now made her our primary agent at the school and at later date she will most likely become the liaison for MCF’s efforts throughout Uganda. The school has 1400 students in Grades 1 through 7 who struggle to gain an education with very limited supplies and educational resources. Last year, MCF helped Ms Kansiime purchase desks for some of the students who had previously sat on the bare ground whilst attending classes.
A little help goes a long way in Kenya and Uganda:
- $4.00 provided keeps a child fed for one month.
- $75.00 sends a child to school for an entire year.
- In Uganda an average school receives 370.00 shillings (25 cents Canadian) per child per month as a subsidy from the government. Parents have to pay monthly fees to school that they can, in most case, barely afford.
With a desire to help and a willingness to make small sacrifices, we can all provide the help these children so greatly need and provide the sort of hope they have never known.
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