Local nonprofit Sylvia’s Children is seeking medical professionals to assist on an upcoming trip to Uganda, Africa.
Sylvia Allen, founder and president of Sylvia’s Children, said plans are to open the Hynes Family Clinic, a 6,000- square-foot medical clinic funded and constructed by the nonprofit in the village of Mbiriizi.
“There are 35,000 people in the village, and opening this clinic and offering free medical services during the time we are there helps us continue our goal of being embedded within the community,” she said.
“Their medical people at the clinic can continue to grow and learn from our professionals. They have a small staff and are turning a small profit, and we want to continue with our work in teaching them how to be self-reliant and entrepreneurs.”
Access to health care is limited in this part of Uganda, and the clinic is a way for every child and villager to get the care they need, Allen said.
During previous visits, she said the volunteers who traveled to Uganda have been able to examine every child in the area and create a medical history chart for them.
With the added medical help and donated medical supplies, Allen said the children were treated for ailments ranging from HIV to malnutrition.
“This type of trip really points out the differences in the medical practices and is so important to the villagers from a health viewpoint and in saving lives,” Allen said.
According to Allen, at least six medical professionals — doctors, nurses, physicians assistants and dentists — are needed in order to help make this trip a success.
The visit will take place March 12-24 and will cost $3,500 for each professional who volunteers.
“This money covers round-trip airfare from Newark to Uganda, all transportation costs while we’re in Uganda, drivers and such. It covers lodging, meals and a three-day safari,” she said.
Allen founded Sylvia’s Children after visiting the area as part of a humanitarian mission to Uganda in 2003.
She was asked by the head of the Mbiriizi Primary School and Day Care School to be the “grandmother” of the school, which at the time had only 439 students, 139 of whom were orphans.
Over the past 12 years, Allen said there has been a marked increase in the number of students being educated at the school.
“We currently have 1,024 children enrolled in the school,” she said.
According to Allen, the 439 students were educated in four buildings; today, the 1,024 students attend classes in 26 buildings.
In addition, the nonprofit supports another 120 students in a secondary school.
“Four of the students graduated this year and will be going on to be great influences in the world,” she said. “I am just thrilled.”
In the past 12 years, the nonprofit has been able to build a boys dormitory and make additions to its girls dormitory; build two wells for fresh water, multiple double-classroom blocks, a library, a playground for the children and a tenunit teacher’s housing building; and establish a sewing business.
The nonprofit, through monetary donations and supplies, has been able to give students over 1,000 pairs of socks, shoes, and blankets, and textbooks for classes. It has also been able to hire a school nurse, purchase 8 acres of land adjacent to the school for corn, and build two chicken coops with over 400 chickens.
“Being the adoptive grandmother of over 1,000 children has been a wonderful experience,” Allen said.
Raising more than $1 million has been a big milestone for Sylvia’s Children, Allen said.
“This has shown me that if you stick with something long enough, anything is possible,” she said.
“I look at how they live, and it has changed how I look at things in life — from how I look at people to even how I approach my business.”