Welcome to the African Dream Blog!

Inspired by the Combonian missionary father Enrico Colleoni, who has been working in Uganda for the past 40 years, African Dream was founded in 2006 by Vincenzo Baggio and Antonella Benigna.

The goal of our association is to help the less fortunate of Uganda and to assist those people who don't have the means to improve their own lives.
With its commitment, African Dream will raise funds directed entirely to help Uganda.

Our projects will finance activities for the improvement of the educational system, of health care and of the quality of life, especially in the most rural parts of the country.
Our objectives aim at creating better solutions for reducing poverty, famine, illnesses, illiteracy and sexual discrimination.

The first project is the a College for 300 students. We hope to finish the project by the end of 2009.

3/04/2009

Dear African Dreamers,

For quite some time, from the entire area, it was impossible to communicate by E-mail. However, Father Raphael has now managed to send us the latest updates.
The new year started off very well and the lessons started again on January 30.


At the first national exams, the Nebbi College, compared to all other schools has obtained the best results!!
In fact, they had 4 “FIRST GRADE” students on a total of 23!! The second best school had only 2 “FIRST GRADE” students on a total of 100.
The “challenge” now is to keep up this fantastic result that confirms the validity of our school and the preparation of our students.

This year we have a lot of students: 27 in class S4, 32 in class S3, 45 in class S2 and there will be 70 students in S1.
Even more youngsters applied to become students of the college but today we can only accept a selected number. The school is in fact still in the process of being finished!There is a need for more desks. Actually some of the youngsters share desks as well as stools and dining-tables.

The works are ongoing: the second sleeping-accomodation only requires doors and windows. As they are needed for the students of the S1-class, were lessons will start on February 16, they are being installed now.

Father Gianni brought all materials for the solar panels and as such, we will have the energy that is required in no time!!!

As you can see, the road that leads to our target is getting shorter and shorter but our College is alive, it is breathing and it just waits to be completed.
The more help we will manage to get, the faster we will be able to bring our first dream to a good end!!

Thank you, African Dreamer!
Antonella

5‰ for African Dream

Dear African Dreamer,
[this message is dedicated to anyone who need to file income taxes in Italy]
Another year and the time for filing our income tax and to choose for the 5‰ clause comes closer.

Only just one year has gone by since that same Post of 2008 and the Nebbi College is almost finished. It almost seemed like an impossible task but they nevertheless almost finished it!!!

For sure, one day it will all grow bigger but the first part of the school, the one for 160 students, is in the process of being finished.
Like in all Marathons however, the last mile is the most difficult one… it therefor requires a great infusion of energy.
The energy is in the hands of those that are finishing the works at Nebbi, but it also is in the fuel that results from donations.

So, with a fast and simple gesture, the final acceleration may also come from you. By choosing the 5‰ for African Dream when filing your income tax, you are definitely helping to make the dream of the Nebbi youngsters come true!!!

Some useful “instructions”:
“It is possible to transfer 5‰ in favour of the Nonprofit Association and by doing so you will be supporting our initiative to build the school in Nebbi (Uganda). To set apart 5‰ for AFRICAN DREAM Onlus: → sign the area “sostegno del volontariato, delle organizzazioni non lucrative di utilità sociale, delle associazioni di promozione sociale, delle associazioni e fondazioni” (voluntary support of non lucrative organisations with social interest, associations creating social promotions, associations and foundations). → enter the fiscal code of AFRICAN DREAM Onlus: 920209301 into the related space ".

Why African Dream and not whatever another project?
Because here you have witnessed birth, growing and getting to the last mile of a concrete project, a project that today brings a future to 160 Ugandese youngsters!!

Thank you, with all my heart,
Antonella