Currently, we have created fundraising for providing assistance during the COVID pandemic for our target population in Rukungiri District, rural Uganda. Our needs-assessments indicate that it will be critical to use some of our funds to provide a second immediate support package to our target population during the ongoing Covid-19 crisis. We are raising $1000 for round 2 of this assistance through our social media platforms. Our secretary, development contributor, and Uganda Secretary and Liaison, Louise Bugaari, will oversee the procurement and distribution of hand-washing soap and face-masks to the entire community in Kebisoni. This project will be carried out with the help of local community leaders, the local church, and Archdeacon Van Amos Katsigazi. Members of this rural community do not have ready access to handwashing soap or face masks at this time. It is important to note again that the people of the Rukungiri district and Kebisoni do not have ambulances or first responders, nor nearby hospitals with modern technology.

How OTYO! is responding to the COVID-19 global crisis.

Locally, our VP and board-member, Cathy Chappell-Chambers, and her family began making face-masks and providing them to the people in her local community when the critical need developed. At a time when Covid-19 cases were surging locally, and no masks were available, Cathy and her family put together the materials and the know-how to make masks for her neighborhood and beyond. Many of the people who received a mask from Cathy’s family then donated to OTYO! in gratitude. 

Globally, we created an immediate assistance plan for our target population in Rukungiri district, Uganda. Our President, Jolly Bugari, reviewed our needs-assessments, and developed an intervention for immediate implementation. Subsequently in May, OTYO! used some of our funds to provide immediate critical support during the Covid-19 crisis. Our board-member and Uganda liaison, Louise Bugaari, set up the procurement and distribution of hand-washing soap and face-masks to the entire community in Kebisoni, through her expert management, local network, and business expertise.  This project is being conducted currently with the help of local community leaders, the local church, and Archdeacon Van Amos Katsigazi. Members of this community do not have ready access to handwashing soap at this time, let alone face masks. And it is important to note that the people of the Rukungiri district and Kebisoni do not have ambulances or first responders, nor nearby hospitals with modern technology.

Moving forward, OTYO will be conducting further needs-assessments with the help of our network in Uganda, and we will be providing further community support in regards to the impact of the COVID-19 crisis. COVID-19 is impacting this rural farming community in a similar way as has the AIDS crisis.

Our board meets monthly.

Thank you to everyone who attended our Art Exhibition Fundraiser on March 7th & 8th, 2020 at The Art Room, 1072 Geneva, in San Francisco, CA. 

Now more than ever you need some African artwork in your home!

This Art Exhibition featured works by contemporary Ugandan artists David Kibuuka, James Kitamirike, Dan Sekanwagi, and many others. The exhibition included oil and acrylics on canvas, limited edition giclee prints, sketches, as well as many unique wooden canvas and wood panel pieces.

We had a great turnout, and we are grateful to all who came and supported OTYO! through their attendance, donations, and logistical help. We met some wonderful people and enjoyed the event.

We have a large collection of quality artwork and will be holding more events soon in San Francisco, Oakland, and around the Bay Area!

Now more than ever you need some African artwork in your home!

• Donate directly to our OTYO! Website using Paypal.
• Donate to our Facebook page using Paypal or a donation button.
• Donate directly to OTYO! (A Sigh of Relief) via email or regular mail using the info on our Contact Page.
• Shop via Amazon Smile and choose our nonprofit as your recipient (no extra costs to you).
• Contribute to one of our fundraisers on one of our social media platforms.
• Visit our Capital Campaign page to see how donation amounts apply to construction of the Community Centre

Lake Bunyoni: Click on photo