The importance of child sponsorship

Education is perhaps one of the most powerful tools that canhelp alleviate poverty in countries like Uganda, and I spent several daysfilming with some of the children sponsored through Amigos.

The sponsorship scheme is well thought out – by way of a £16a month donation, children receive 90 per cent of the school fees, encouragingthe family to take ownership of the child and retain dignity.

This is particularly important for orphaned children, whomay live with aunts of uncles, who otherwise perhaps would not put that childas a priority for schooling over their own children.

The sponsorship also ensures the child receives a decentmeal at school – meaning the families can rest assured the child will be fedproperly during the school day, especially when it is difficult to scrapetogether a meal at home.

It is amazing the difference you can see what you visit thehomes of the sponsored children...

• Ezuma's Struggle...part two
• Rain, rain, go away...
• And so begins another year - visiting the students in Kitgum
• A bright young star - Kira Farm at its best
• Kira Farm the sequel... coming to you in November!

Our little parrot – 19 months

I’m beginning to wonder whether we have a parrot rather than a toddler – she copies everything we say! I really have to watch what I say in front of her and I am becoming quite creative with my alternatives to the usual curses! Even when she is the other side of the room, and I don’t think that she is listening, a little voice will pipe up and surprise me, often to comic effect! A few weeks ago I took her along to a doctors’ appointment and he was describing the potential effects of the painkiller he was prescribing me for sinusitis...

• First visit to Santa’s grotto
• Christmas is coming….
• Toddling
• Cooking with a toddler
• Should babies watch tv?