One of these young ladies received wonderful new paint markers for Christmas. The other had a huge stash of water-based markers at home. They spent a couple of days together in their holidays and brought all their drawing materials to the beach house. They had a wonderful time creating amazing drawings. But what to do with them? They had a great idea. Let's have an art show at the local shops and raise money for RYDA.

Lots of people stopped to look and said they liked their work. The girls raised $10 in just a couple of hours. They also discovered that most people leave home these days without cash. Thank you girls. You did have a great idea and your donation is really important. Every bit we raise helps RYDA to help those young people in Uganda get a job.

News Catch Up

The staff toilet facility upgrade (required by government inspectors) was completed by the end of 2022. Christmas Gift Certificates raised $740. A fabulous response. Thank you to all involved. New term began in early January. At the same time, Director Geoffrey spent a week at home on a drip recovering from severe malaria. He recovered from that episode and returned to work, but the issue is on-going and there have been further occasions when he needed treatment. Work on the girls' bathroom recommenced.

• There has been little useful rain since the start of the year. Water is becoming an issue. Tanks are very low and town water is being rationed by the water authorities. RYDA is considering buying water and having it trucked to their tanks.
• Ebola and Covid in Kampala are controlled. RYDA maintains a strict hygiene regime which includes litres and litres of hand sanitizer and use of masks.
• Ron Seccull, the Yarrawonga Can Man, has been given the all clear by doctors and is again collecting and cashing in for RYDA.

Lots of Bottles & Cans

Ron's work for Rubaga Youth Development Association has expanded considerably since he met Karen. Karen runs Waterfront Holiday Houses offering several beautiful holiday rental properties on the edge of the Mighty Murray River and Lake Mulwala.

Karen and Ron have developed a system. Karen's team takes a trailer each time they clean and reset a house. They collect and sift the guests' recycling and separate the bottles and cans Ron can cash. When they have a couple of full bags they ring Ron. He picks them up, takes them back to base in his garage and counts them into the containers he uses to deliver to the recycle depot. Karen writes:

Our houses have a lot of recycling. We are so happy to have met Ron and so happy to be contributing to such a wonderful cause.

• 0438 339 998
• karen@waterfrontholidayhouses.com.au

March Transfer

February was a complicated month for St. Margaret's Treasurer - annual report time, external audit and changing to a new accounting system. Once all that was conquered it was possible to arrange a transfer to RYDA. On March 2nd

was sent. It will exchange to USD1686.84 at their end.

This transfer gathered the Christmas Certificate donations, Ron's recent amount, a significant amount from a St. Margaret's member and many vital smaller gifts like that of our Art Show Girls. Once again thank you for your continuing prayerful and practical responses to RYDA's ambition, which is simply to give as many orphaned and vulnerable teenagers as possible the opportunity to study their way to a better future.

Activity at RYDA

We have not yet had photos of the developing Girls' Bathroom facilities which you so generously supported last year. Communication through February has been difficult, partly because of Geoffrey's periods of illness and partly because, as Murphy would have it, when he has been at work the computer hasn't always been working because the mains power supply has been on and off. However, he did get these photos through last week, which I thought might be of interest.

They offer some insight into how things get done at RYDA.

The recent government inspection (end of 2022), along with the requirements to renovate the girls' bathroom and the staff amenities, required that a VIP toilet should be built. These photos are its beginning. This will become an in-ground sewage treatment system that seeps filtered water into the deep soil and allows worms and bacteria to work on the solids. The system has some similarities to the septic tanks systems some of us remember in our backyards.

April 2023

Good

• The girls' bathroom is finished and very much appreciated! Thank you all once again for prayers and financial contributions towards achieving this needed upgrade.

• The $2632 transferred at the beginning of March came at just the right moment to boost food, hygiene and other basic supplies. Supplies were very low and very costly due to inflation, so it was a great relief, even if temporary. Again thanks to all who contributed. You are providing basic daily blessings.

• Ron the Can Man is transferring a further $1000 to our account next week. Thanks to all his Yarrawonga supporters. That means we should be able to send another donation to RYDA in May. If you have anything to contribute to see How to Support RYDA above.

• The first round of exams for the year is finishing up this week. Both teachers and students will enjoy a little relief. We hope every young person has been able to do their very best as they continue to work towards a qualification that will help secure a better future compared to where their life was previously heading.

Not So Good

All the not so good things circulate around Director Geoffrey's fluctuating battles with insulin levels and, at times, complications due to malaria. He has been in and out of hospital for most of this year. We know Rubaga Youth Development Association is very good at what they do. Everyone has a role from security at the gate, through every other learning and living experience on a residential campus, to communicating with the wider world. This latter role is one of Geoffrey's many responsibilities and he simply has not been able to do it.

Other staff have very little slack in their positions, but together they can manage some of Geoffrey's local responsibilities such sourcing food in bulk through local market networks. Current roles and immediate necessity 'gap-filling' come first ... and then there is no time left.

So, communication has been limited since the start of the year and even what we consider as simple - such as taking photos of the new bathroom and attaching them to an email - is not priority. We can't fix the current problems. But we can pray that God will continue to guide and support Geoffrey and the team so that they can.

Bathroom under construction earlier in the year and new tanks to support the system.

Singularity Sings H.M.S. Pinafore

This is Josephine, the Lass that loved a sailor, with Captain Corcoran, her father, to the right, Admiral Sir Joseph Porter to the left. Problem: The captain wants her to marry Sir Joseph. Add in a planned elopement, advocacy for equality of humankind, thwarted plans and a twist in the tail and you have a typically comic Gilbert & Sullivan plot. Singularity are deep into rehearsing this musical mayhem for your enjoyment which can be at either of these venues at 2pm. St. John's Cowes June 11th OR St. Margaret's Mooroolbark June 18th

May 2023

Josephine (Jodie Debono) and cousin Hebe (Anne Wakefield) would love to see you at an upcoming RYDA fund raising performance of Gilbert & Sullivan's H.M.S. Pinafore.

Josephine has fallen in love with a common sailor, something often counselled as unwise by experienced mothers. Able Seaman Ralph Rackstraw, H.M.S. Pinafore, is equally imbued with romantic intent for Josephine, who, as daughter of the captain of his ship is, unfortunately, beyond his status. To further complicate the plot Daddy intends her to accept the hand of the First Lord of the Admiralty who is visiting the ship on this very day.

Expect a rollicking afternoon of madcap fun, enthusiastic vocals and mellifluous accompaniment as the plot descends to the dungeons of despair before rising refreshed to the heights of happiness as a buttercup rises from soil to sun.

Funds for Friends in Uganda

Mid-May we were able to transfer a further

to Rubaga Youth Development Association.

Thank you to each and every person who has given anything towards this and anyone who has prayed for the continuing success of RYDA's work to change the lives of orphaned and disadvantaged youths.

July 2023

Ready, set, go at St. Margaret's for one of two Singularity fundraising performances of H.M.S. Pinafore for Rubaga Youth Development Association.

The previous Sunday this amazing volunteer choir, with voices added from Island Harmony Choir, gave its first RYDA performance at Cowes Uniting Church, Phillip Island. See our Rogue's Gallery below and let the costumes and animated faces imagine you into the fun and joyfulness shared with the audience at each event.

Along with a wonderful relaxing afternoon and a yummy 'chat and chew' at the conclusion of each performance, the amounts raised to support RYDA's continuing work with orphaned and disadvantaged teenagers were:

St. John's $1310

St. Margaret's $800

Thank you to everyone who gave in any way to bring about the entertainment and financial successes of each event.

Transfer to RYDA The concert total of $2110 has been added to $315 from Ron Seccull and his supporters collecting bottles and cans in Yarrawonga and $219.25 from small donations from several big-hearted people to make a total of $2644.25 which was sent to Rubaga Youth Development Association on July 13th. That exchanges to USD1714.71. Again thank you to anyone involved. You know every dollar will be well spent exactly as needed at the time it arrives.

Letter from Principal Suzan

After trying to contact Director Geoffrey and discovering that he was once again in hospital and too sick to communicate, we tried contacting Principal Suzan Liz Nabirye using WhatsApp. This is her generous, informative reply.

Dear Douglas, Praise God dear. Thank you for the message. Steven has been sick and for last week he was not well at all but now improving. He got some medication and was discharged yesterday. Now at home. Thank you for supporting RYDA we have been in a process of registration of those to do external examination this year. At RYDA we are planning to do graduation in August this year for since COVID 19 we had not done it for the previous students who completed. The toilet at the canteen has also been completed with urinals and toilet seats. We used the money you had sent and then the balance was used to start on the V.I.P toilet which is being constructed at the end of the lower block on the left side. Also the banana plantation near the administration has been reinstated again.

There was a problem with Geoffrey Steven's phone but now it has been rectified he will be able to receive emails and WhatsApp messages. We regret for inconveniences caused in our delays to communicate on time but now we shall endeavour to do timely communication. We are praying for Geoffrey Steven's quick recovery. As you know he still guides and mentors us to do organization work and we still need his expertise and experience. Also l completed my first year with best results for the two semesters with 4·42 for each. Am now in my second year first semester doing a Master of Divinity. It is my second masters, the first one was Master in Project Planning and Management, and because of that l have been chosen to go to lsrael to attend an all convocation conference and a tour in Israel, which is due in September. I pray to God who has helped me to perform well. He will help me through friends to raise money for the air ticket. Sending you my photos as an Ordinard now. Am also sending photos of bathroom and preparation of pit latrines. Hoping to hear from you soon. God bless you and we thank all our donors and partners for the support. May the Almighty God richly bless them. Suzan Liz Nabirye Principal RYDA

November 2023

If you are anywhere near St. Margaret's, Mooroolbark, next Sunday, November 26th at 2:00pm then come, come, come to the Christmas Concert for RYDA. This concert is a gift to the community from Singularity Choir. Carols, sing-a-long and an 'in concert' performance of ... Amahl is the story of a miracle that follows the overnight stay of the 3 wise men in a poor widow's home just before they reached Bethlehem. When his mother tells him to answer the door late in the evening, Amahl, the widow's disabled son, welcomes the wandering kings into their home. He sits and listens to their explanation of where they come from and why they are taking presents to a child in Bethlehem. Amahl offers a present of his own for the child and receives a blessing that changes his life. Amahl is the first opera commissioned for television in the United States. It was performed in New York City by the NBC Opera Theatre on Christmas Eve 1951. A version was presented by ABC Melbourne on 18th December 1957.

We have given for you...	Do you struggle to find the right gift? Is it getting difficult to tell people what to give you for Christmas? Do you have all you need? Are you wanting to down size anyway? Are you a bit uncomfortable with the 'surprise' gifts you know cost too much? Do you receive gifts you won't use? ... With Gift Certificates everyone wins. Click the image you need, then print, Or save the file and take it to your local print shop.	I have given for you...
Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) St. Margaret's Uniting Church Bendigo Bank BSB 633 000 Account No. 157319310 Swift Code: BENDAU3B Code for donors outside Australia only. Contact Doug for alternative if your bank doesn't trade with this code.		Please: Include a reference to RYDA in the payment.

Letter from RYDA

Dear Douglas,

Greetings from the Rubaga youth Development Association (RYDA) and the entire community.

I want to start with apologising to you and the donor community for taking a long to communicate to you. This wasn't intentional but it has been that I have been sick on and off. Bear with me. Suzan Liz the principal is at the theology school so sometimes it takes long for her to visit the center and the deputy principal Mr Onyait Steven left as he got a new job. That is the reason why certain things weren't as normal as it used to be. Am very sorry.

However, am now recovering and the eyes are normalising and vision is coming back.

Today am at the centre and below is what is happening at the center:

• Students are doing the final UBTEB and DIT exams.
• We have also reinstalled the banana plantation.
• The main entrance has been worked on and we are working towards meeting the required standards.

The challenges faced currently is the water bills which has accrued over the last 8 months is totalling to 4,200,000 (Ugandan Shillings) and the staff salaries for 3 months totalling to 5,000,000 hence total due to be cleared next months 9,200,000. (Ed: At today's exchange rate nine million two hundred thousand shillings = USD2443.85).

Let me also write to our donors and supporters.

Dear beloved donors and supporters. We want to write to you to appreciate your continued support over times. We are very grateful for all you have done for us over the years without which we would not have achieved the accomplished project activities. The Singularly Choir you have done great things. Your regular concert has enabled us to do a lot for our targeted groups. The people of St. Margaret's, Mooroolbark and St. John's Cowes, the organisation work and co-ordination of fundraising events is highly commendable.

We wish you all the best for Christmas celebrations and a happy new year 2024.

To other supporters and funders we are indebted to you for the continuous support to RYDA.

Let me hope that I will continue giving you information and reports as my health situation improves.

Your Sincerely
Geoffrey Steven Kyeyune
Director RYDA

December 2023

Rejoice people! The Lord continues to be full of surprises. On December 4th St. Margaret's treasurer transferred $6,021.22 ($US3,799.99) to the RYDA account in Kampala.

The next day we were able to speak to Director Geoffrey and tell him of your generosity. He was so happy. Apparently the water bill has been overdue for a while and about the time the transfer was being processed Geoffrey had been contacted and warned that the water would have to be turned off if the bill remained unpaid. Now there will be enough for the water bill and much of the remainder will go towards staff salaries.

This amazing amount was made up of:

• $980 ... Ron Seccull's can collecting in Wodonga
• $570 ... Singularity's Christmas Concert
• $500 ... an individual donation from a St. Margaret's person
• $250 ... an individual donation from a St. John's person
• a frequent, regular small amount from a Phillip Island person
• proceeds from the RYDA Donation Box available each Sunday at St. Margaret's
• and the balance from a Mooroolbark organisation that wishes to remain unnamed.

Thanks from RYDA

Executive Director Geoffrey Kyeyune sent this message on 21/12/2023, as Christmas was almost upon us.

Dear Douglas
Let me take this opportunity to send to donor community for the support they have given to us in the year we are concluding 2023.

On behalf of the Rubaga Youth Development Association l write to extend our sincere gratitude to all our donors for enabling us to work and conduct our activities and programme. Let me assure you that our activities will not have been done without you in this challenging time globally.

The St Margaret Uniting Church and St John of Cowes community you have done us wonders for many years. The Singularly Choir what an effort you have done to sing for RYDA. Mr Ron Seccull your love will always be remembered.

In our hearts you remain. May God bless you abundantly. We wish you a good Christmas and a happy new year.
Geoffrey Steven Kyeyune.

• Do you struggle to find the right gift?
• Is it getting difficult to tell people what to give you for Christmas or birthday?
• Do you have all you need?
• Are you wanting to down size anyway?
• Are you a bit uncomfortable with the 'surprise' gifts you know cost too much?
• Do you receive gifts you won't use?
• ...

We have given for you...

I have given for you...

• Click the image you need, then print,
• Or save the file and take it to your local print shop.
• Print and include this RYDA Information Sheet with your certificate.

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