Fount of Mercy
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June 18, 2012
This is by far one on of the most amazing charities I have ever worked with. Not only was I given the chance to travel and work in Africa in the country of Uganda, but I was able to become a major part in making the lives of the blind and deaf community better. I taught sports to the kids while on the trip and to many people, sports would be something that all kids do for the most part. But most people have never really considered that teaching kickball to kids and young adults who are blind or deaf is not just a game to them, its something much more. For these kids learning to play kickball or running races and throwing balls was a stepping stone into their lives and the job training that the other members of my team provided. Once these kids learned that being able to play sports like the normal kids was something they also could do, then possibilities were endless of what they could achieve. Through Fount of Mercy I was given the chance to change someones life forever., while in turn it also changed mine and made me into a better person.
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Would you volunteer for this group again?
Definitely
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
Life-changing
Did the organization use your time wisely?
Very Well
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2011
June 17, 2012
During July 2012 I went with 7 others to Jinja, Uganda to participate in a Leadership Conference which Fount of Mercy sponsored. The entire experience was rewarding and would not have been so without the top notch organization skills of FOM. FOM helped in preparing us state side before we even left and when we arrived FOM assisted us to acclimate to Jinja quickly to increase our participation and effectiveness. Due to airline difficulties we arrived a day late and began teaching the morning after we arrived and was able to do so with little difficulty. FOM is dedicated to the Ugandans and it is apparent in all they do.
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Would you volunteer for this group again?
Definitely
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
Life-changing
Did the organization use your time wisely?
Very Well
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2011
June 16, 2012
Fount of Mercy is excellent in matching up volunteer's experience and skills with the appropriate projects. So they utilize volunteer's gifts to the maximum. This takes careful and excellent planning.
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Would you volunteer for this group again?
Definitely
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
Life-changing
Did the organization use your time wisely?
Very Well
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
June 15, 2012
I am an American woman who has been living and working in Uganda for over three years. I am a teacher by profession and taught in a Ugandan school for three years. At the beginning of 2012, I decided to use my skills and experience as a teacher with Fount of Mercy. I have seen many organizations doing work here in Uganda, but I do not respect all of them. I DO respect the wok Fount of Mercy is doing, because they partner with existing, local groups or institutions-- working WITH (not for) them to help them fulfill their mission. Fount of Mercy is doing excellent work in the Jinja area community to empower women. One major area of Fount of Mercy's work is vocational training. They train women in sewing and tailoring; two Ugandan women teach other women the skill of sewing on the local (non-electric) sewing machines. Since most clothing produced in Uganda is custom made, sewing is a lucrative small business here. Fount of Mercy also provides small business training to women in various communities in the Jinja area. They then support these women as they launch their business together. Of the three groups I know, one has started a village bank. The other two have created a local bakery and a local restaurant in their respective communities. One excellent component of this training is the follow-up support they give these women as they put their learning into practice. This support involves further financial advice, conflict resolution, and encouragement. These women are empowered to earn cash, which enables them to send their children to school and provide for other essentials like soap, lantern fuel, and sugar. I truly admire the work Fount of Mercy is doing. The directors have a humble attitude toward their work, knowing that working in another culture is a constant learning process. I consider myself very fortunate to be a member of the Fount of Mercy team here in Uganda. Fount of Mercy has afforded me the opportunity to train teachers, mostly women, to become more equipped in their profession. In turn, these teachers can positively impact the children of Uganda. Finally, I am grateful for the team at Fount of Mercy, for my co-workers are also my dear friends.
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How does this organization compare with others in the same sector?
Very Well
How much of an impact do you think this organization has?
A lot
Will you recommend this organization to others?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
June 15, 2012
I am Emolu Francis, a Ugandan by nationality, a Kumam by tribe. I am a teacher by profession and have been teaching in Uganda since 1988, based in Jinja District. I have witnessed the work of Fount of Mercy since 2008 and liked their service to the Ugandan community. This year I have taken the initiative to join and work with the team at Fount of Mercy in the education department.
Fount of Mercy serves women in our local community in several ways. They train women to acquire the skill of sewing, using the local sewing machines. They also support women making local crafts (bead-making and basket weaving). They train women in business skills and support them as they begin a small business in their communities. For example, one local women’s group has started a local bakery in Lwanda, where they make buns, donuts, and other snacks to sell in the local trading centre. In Wairaka, the women’s group created a local restaurant called The Community Kitchen. The Wanyange women’s group is running a village bank. Fount of Mercy also educates young women in reproductive health awareness. Finally, they provide leadership training for women who are leaders of local organizations. In all of these areas, Fount of Mercy strives to empower widows to be able to provide for themselves and their children.
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How does this organization compare with others in the same sector?
Quite well
How much of an impact do you think this organization has?
Life-changing
Will you recommend this organization to others?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
June 13, 2012
Am Wamimbi Julius aged 24years, i am working with fount of mercy as their program associate, There is great impact and transformation created in the the different people or groups fount is work with, Personally i my life changed because of the tender love and care i got from the directors of this organisation. I have a bright future working with fount of mercy and i believe that through their great work/programs that are served to the community i will be in position to create more life time change in many people in Uganda and the entire world. I am working as a program associate of this great organisation working with many women's group by equipping and teaching them life time skills in business which will help them meet the daily needs of their families. So far i am working with four women group who have appreciated our services a lot, this has created a big change in their daily living since they have started up small projects individually and as a group to improve on the standards of living. I and fount of mercy as a whole has great joy to see that our work and services are bringing much impact into people's lives. Examples of businesses setup by women include community kitchen, Bread basket project, and a village bank, all businesses are operating well which has brought big smiles on the women's face every day that passes by. Our vision is to equip and teach as many people(women and men) who think that their life is a mess to gain hope and strive for success for their future. Fount is soon starting to work with new women's group to extend the business knowledge to them and help them work together or individually. Fount as an NGO has created several transformations in the live of people in many ways i.e. Educational wise, vocationally wise, helped many leaders to learn the knowledge and skills of running their organisations well, I can't wait to recommend volunteers, donors, well wishers and everyone who has interests of building/creating a big transformation in the lives of African women to come work with us. Thank you so much and i hope my review will help whoever read it understand more of what fount of mercy is doing for the people in Uganda. Wamimbi Julius, Program Associate, Tel: +256-776594949, wamimbi.julius@gmail.com
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How does this organization compare with others in the same sector?
Very Well
How much of an impact do you think this organization has?
Life-changing
Will you recommend this organization to others?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
June 12, 2012
Fount of Mercy is a forward thinking and innovative non profit working to further African grass roots organizations. It is a small but powerful organization that worked with me and my skill set to help local village women. I was able to create and edit business curriculum lessons that were taught to women in villages near Jinja, Uganda. In addition, I also researched and developed prototypes to determine the most viable solution for a sanitary pad project. Fount of Mercy realizes that all women have the right to privacy, health, and dignity and that creating innovative solutions can improve lives.
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Would you volunteer for this group again?
Definitely
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
A lot
Did the organization use your time wisely?
Very Well
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2011
June 12, 2012
Volunteering with Found of Mercy was an amazing opportunity. The majority of our time and energy was focused on the work we did with HODASSU, which was a really great, and really challenging experience. I was given the chance to teach a photography class to some of the children there, starting a basic foundation for future photography classes to build upon. Investing in the kids' lives was awesome. And learning to connect with people from a different culture, especially those with impaired hearing, was a beautiful experience. The Fount of Mercy staff I worked with before and during the trip to Uganda were all a huge support and encouragement. FOM really is such an organized, well-prepared and knowledgeable organization; and because of this, I felt very confident and comfortable in the traveling process, as well as in the various activities we took part in while In Uganda. Volunteering with Fount was awesome. And because of their deeply-rooted passion to help empower those in need in Africa, Fount of Mercy continues to bring about inspiration, growth, and hope for the future.
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Would you volunteer for this group again?
Likely
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
A lot
Did the organization use your time wisely?
Very Well
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2011
June 5, 2012
I interned with Fount of Mercy in Uganda for 6 months and it was honestly the best 6 months I've had in a long time. I grew a tremendous amount, not just because of the new culture, but because of the work Fount does. While in country I helped develop a new vocational program, a beginning sewing class. The basis behind this curriculum was to give students the basic sewing skills they need to start their own tailoring businesses. I trained two local tailors to as teachers for the future class. During the training I saw how how the class really will be something that can help people, as tailors will always be in demand. I think the teacher training would have been more beneficial had there been more time (it was a bit condensed in order to finish before my departure). Regardless of the time restraint the vocational classes Fount of Mercy offers provide not only skills but a personal satisfaction and pride in every student who completes them. Fount realizes what an accomplishment completing a skills course is and they recognize this achievement (and the students) with a graduation ceremony. This is just a small example of the incredible work Fount does and one of the few ways they continue to help others help themselves.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
The Basic Business Classes and Beginning Sewing teacher training. I had the privilege of being involved with 2 Business Class graduations, which is a great accomplishment in itself. And the way Sarah and Margaret came through and finished all of their sample work, as well as following along with the contents of the curriculum book, made me feel so good! The success of the training made me confident that the classes themselves would run smoothly as well.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
Hire me! Too bad you have to have the right amount of resources to do that...
More feedback...
Would you volunteer for this group again?
Definitely
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
A lot
Did the organization use your time wisely?
Very Well
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
Did your volunteer experience have an effect on you? (teaching you a new skill, or introducing new friends, etc.)
It certainly did! After working with Fount I had a very clear idea that I would like my career to take a path towards [vocational] program development and [life] skills training. It also helped me gain a different perspective on life in general as well as interactions between people, relationships, and social cues.
How did this volunteer experience make you feel?
It made me feel accomplished and empowered. I learned that with the limited knowledge I have, I can share it with others and help them out all the while I am learning from them. It made me very happy to be able to make connections and build relationships with the individuals I worked with.
June 4, 2012
I have worked with Fount of Mercy in Jinga Uganda. Our team ran a Leadership conference to build the capacity for the leaders of indigenous NGO's to give the leaders business skills and and other educational support. Many of the local NGO's are run by women and all of them are focused on helping orphans and their caregivers which are almost all women. The work they do is extremely impactful. I am already planning this years trip for another leadership conference as well as working with some of the other organizations that they partner with in country. Another facet of Fount of Mercy's work in Uganda is health education for women and girls to help them understand the threat of AIDS and unplanned pregnancy as well as how their bodies work. They are a fantasic organization and I recommend working with them in any capacity whether here at home or in Uganda.
More feedback...
Would you volunteer for this group again?
Definitely
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
Life-changing
Did the organization use your time wisely?
Very Well
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
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