July 2026 - Growing from the Ground Up
Something to Cluck About!
There are some new residents at Sunrise — 20 chickens have officially moved in!
Our new chicken project is intentionally starting small, with a temporary chicken house cleverly built from leftover materials from the girls’ dormitory construction. We’ll see how our first flock does before expanding.
The project is about much more than chickens. It gives students a chance to learn practical, hands-on skills as we begin introducing more vocational training at Sunrise. It will also add variety and nutrition to meals for our boarding students — and hopefully make boarding at Sunrise even more appealing. Every new boarding student helps us move closer to local sustainability, while also creating a scholarship for a low-income day student.
There’s even a special plan for our first flock: some will help provide a celebratory meal for our Primary 7 students when they sit their final exams in December and prepare to graduate to secondary school.
As the flock grows, we hope to begin selling surplus chickens and turn this small project into another source of income for the school.
Twenty chickens may be a small start — but at Sunrise, small ideas have a way of growing!
Growing Partnerships, Growing Possibilities
July brought some new friends to Sunrise! The Rotaract E-Club of Uganda Global, Rotary Club of Sunrise Kampala and Obutonde joined our students for a fun and engaging day focused on mentorship, learning and caring for the environment.
Obutonde is a youth-led environmental initiative empowering young people to take action on the global waste crisis and become leaders in sustainability. Rotaract and Rotary are helping in another important way — connecting students with mentorship, career guidance and opportunities for community service.
Best of all, these are partnerships that will continue to grow. The Rotary Clubs are planning a return visit to mentor students and bring practical items for the classrooms, including textbooks, atlases, waste bins, wall clocks and handwashing facilities. They will also provide professional health support at our October medical camp celebrating the reopening of Grace Family Health Centre.
Obutonde will be returning too, bringing tree seedlings to plant with the students as part of their work to restore local ecosystems and create greener communities for future generations.
From planting trees to mentoring young minds, we’re excited to be growing something meaningful together.
Bringing Grace Family Health Centre Back to Life
2026 Fundraiser Dinner - October 3!
There’s a fresh coat of paint going up at Grace Family Health Centre — and with it, a real sense of excitement about what’s ahead.
Renovations are now underway as the Coalition prepares for the official reopening on October 16, when a community medical camp will welcome patients back through the doors. Over the coming weeks, work will include improving the access road, purchasing new medical equipment and beds, and repairing the solar power, water and bathroom systems. The Coalition is also pursuing grants for a secure brick perimeter wall and much-needed upgrades to the inpatient wards.
It’s an ambitious list, but after nearly two years with the clinic closed, each improvement brings essential healthcare one step closer to the families who need it.
And here at home, we have a chance to help make it happen! Join us on October 2 at The Middle Road Community Hall for an evening in support of the clinic’s reopening. Chef Kyle Dampsey will create an elevated three-course Ugandan-inspired dinner, accompanied by Afro Fusion music from QWST, a light art installation by local artist Cam Mathieson and of course wine and cocktails.
Tickets are $150, with 50% tax deductible. Reserve at nicolevanseters@gmail.com or through our Sunrise Centre website.
A clinic doesn’t reopen all at once. It happens one repair, one partnership and one generous contribution at a time. Step by step, we’re getting there.