HINGA

Summer 2023 Hinga Venture Updates
Our Kiwanis Club’s investment of $25,000 to help Andy Agaba through the Kennedy School of Business several years ago is paying off big-time for thousands in Uganda.

We are multiplying the donations entrusted to us by creating many new entrepreneurs. The following are just two examples of the 200+ ventures we have partnered with over the years. These represent thousands of jobs, wages and thriving families in Uganda.

Liberation Community Finance is a rural Microfinance company that serves approximately 5,000 smallholder farmers in the central region of Uganda.

Hiinga provides capital to Liberation so that these funds are given to poor farmers. Besides capital, Liberation provides training in financial literacy, savings, investments, and other social skills so that these families can become sustainable. Our $100,000 of investment has reached over 1,000 farmers directly in various agriculture value-chains including coffee, corn, vanilla, tomato growing, and livestock. 72% of direct beneficiaries are women farmers.

If you would like to support more farmers, women, and entrepreneurs? Let our Kiwanis Club know.

Nasho Computers is a computer hardware, software, solar energy, and general electronics supplier in Northern Uganda (remember Radio Shack?).

Founded by Nathan, a young man of 31 years, the company has grown from one location to four locations since Hinga started supporting him and his team. Nasho provides 50 gainful employment opportunities in Northern Uganda, a region that is still recovering from decades of war. The plans for Nasho are big. They hope to diversify into other ventures and create hundreds of jobs.

Nathan is an embodiment of hope that our country has in its young people. It’s through opportunities like those Hinga provides that will unlock the full potential and promise of our youth. Remember, talent is universal, but opportunity is not.

Would you like to donate to provide more opportunity? Contact our Kiwanis Club.

Kiwanis Works In Wonderful Ways!

Sebbe Hospital, a 100-bed hospital, opened for business on May 3, 2021, in the middle of a worldwide pandemic, and in an area of the world where healthcare has been limited at best. In its first 45 days the hospital served almost 9,000 people, filling a critical gap in medical care for the people in and around Nansana, Uganda. The closest hospital is more than 2 hours away.

This might not have happened had it not been for the generosity of our Menlo Park Kiwanis Club. Part of the Club’s mission is to promote international development that improves the lives of families and children.  Last year, the Club presented a check for $45,000 to Andy Agaba, CEO of Hinga, a vital Ugandan charity, and a long-time associate of the Club. He was the force behind turning the clinic into a hospital, and now the new hospital serves a population of 750,000 people.

“Most ailments that couldn’t be treated before are now being detected as treatable conditions.  We can also handle accidents and wounds, and, if needed, save lives,” said Andy. “In the next year or two, we hope to grow to 35 beds, and eventually into a building that can house 100 beds.”

“The construction of this much-needed hospital is a project Andy oversees through Hinga. For several years the Club has supported his work with Hinga,” said Club member Louise DeDera. “Our recent donation funded the shipping of a huge amount of donated medical equipment needed for the recently built hospital.

“What the Menlo Park Kiwanis Club did was a game changer for us,” Andy added. Without the Club’s donation of almost $50,000, Hinga could never have shipped $350,000-$450,000 worth of medical equipment to Uganda, and the hospital wouldn’t have opened. So many lives can be saved and become better now.”

First A Hospital, Now A School
In early 2022, Menlo Park Kiwanis Club donated $30,000 to Hinga, a vital Ugandan charity the Club has worked with for many years, most recently helping Hiinga turn a medical clinic into a full-fledged hospital. The donation this time will be used to help Hiinga build a school, and then another and another as each school pays back the money to Hinga. The first school to use the money is a 3-story structure in Kampala, Uganda. The classrooms are large, each accommodating between 50 and 100 students.

Over the years, thousands of children will benefit from this initial $30,000 investment, and more teachers will have jobs. Their jobs and those involved with construction of the schools will help Uganda raise much needed tax money.

Uganda, like many, if not most African nations, lacks a tax base, resulting in poor roads and other infrastructure. That is why Andy Agaba, of Hinga, is focused on building schools, hospitals, forming agricultural co-ops, and small to medium size businesses. And, it is why we are happy to help this worthy effort in addition to the many grants we make right here in the Menlo Park area.

Hiinga is also building more hospitals. If you are interested in helping us help Hinga, please contact the Menlo Park Kiwanis Club, or you can make a donation to us—online or by check.

In addition to expanding medical care for the area, Andy’s next project is to establish a Kiwanis group in Nansana.  This is another project our Menlo Park Kiwanis Club is ready, able, and willing to help him with!