Genealogy code: C XI c.4 & N XI h.2
Hello Vreugdenhil family members,
We’d like to introduce ourselves… We are Marjan van Reeuwijk-Vreugdenhil and Marieke Knol-Vreugdenhil, and we met each other during a trip to Uganda. How extraordinary it is to discover that we both share the same last name! This journey was organized in October 2022 by Gabrielle van de Kamp, the founder of the Otuke Foundation. We’d like to share our experiences of an unforgettable and impactful journey with all of you.
In the nineties, the Otuke district in Northern Uganda was a frontline area for over 20 years in the conflict between the Lord’s Resistance Army, led by Joseph Kony, and the Ugandan government. In this war, thousands of children were abducted to become child soldiers or used as sex slaves. In 2005, peace was restored in Otuke, but extreme poverty remained, with malnutrition affecting children and many women deliberately infected with the HIV virus by Kony. The people and children still live with the consequences of this war. The Otuke Foundation is dedicated to make a difference in this region. With the aim of reducing extreme poverty in the Otuke district, they have established initiatives including savings groups. The goal is to empower participants to start their own business and thereby generate their own income. We met some of these savings groups and were impressed by the sense of community among the people. During our trip, a part of the group participated in a medical outreach for the people in these savings groups. Thanks to the funds raised before the trip, we were able to accomplish a lot. People received medical check-ups from local doctors and nurses, were tested for various diseases, and provided with medication such as antibiotics, malaria tablets, painkillers, and anti-worm medication. In addition, wheelchairs, walking frames, and crutches were distributed, along with soap and toothbrushes. What we consider ordinary is truly remarkable there.
Furthermore, the other half of the group helped to establish a sewing workshop. We attended a church service, which was a unique experience to witness how they practice it there. During the “collection,” people came forward with offerings such as a goat, a woven basket, a bowl of rice, and corn cobs. It was a profoundly moving experience to see this. Afterwards, everything was distributed among those who needed it most. It left us speechless…And a memorial was held at the site where the refugee camp was tragically attacked during the war. We listened to people’s testimonies there and placed flowers at the monument. Additionally, we conducted a home visit, experiencing a day in the life of a local family. We organized a sports day with typical Dutch games. Laughter filled the air, momentarily taking away their worries. We distributed sports clothing that we had brought along. Each savings group received a set of sports attire, which they greatly appreciated and took pride in. Through the generous contributions and donations, we were able to provide essential medical care to around 1500 men, women, and children. We established a sewing workshop/store, and we supplied local doctor Dr. Opio with medical supplies and medicines. Looking back, we feel that it was a beautiful and impactful journey. As one of the travelers put it, “I thought I was going to give a lot there, but they gave me so much more.” We certainly felt the same way! For October 2023, another trip is planned. The focus will be on the food forest and a water project. The food forest project that we introduced in 2021 is progressing well and is proving successful in this area too. However, unfortunately, not all the pilot projects we initiated survived. When investigating the cause, we discovered that in that specific area, more than 5,000.
families lack access to clean drinking water. The water pumps are either broken or dry. Every day, have to travel long distances to fetch water from the river for their households. This water is extremely dirty and leads to many health issues in the area. For these people, it wasn’t a priority to go the extra mile to provide water for the food . Clean water is a basic necessity, which is why the foundation has decided to initiate a water project. To set up and realize such a project properly, we need approximately 75,000 euros. We have already conducted several drills and found a source at a depth of 65 meters that can provide clean water to these 5,000 families. We’re saving up for this and hope to make this wonderful project a reality in the year 2023. That would be truly amazing! If you’d like to donate, here are the details: