Sylvia’s Children Prepares to Bring Happy Holidays to Students in Uganda

Over the course of the past 14 years, the Mbiriizi Advanced Primary and Day Care School in Uganda has grown – and the needs of the students as well as the facility have grown with it. Where there once were 439 students, there are now more than 1,000. Twenty-five percent of them are orphans. Fourteen years ago, local resident Sylvia Allen was “adopted” by the children as their honorary grandmother – and she, in turn, has adopted them.

Thanks to the support of her Holmdel-based organization Sylvia’s Children, these children are grateful for the basics of education, health care, safety, lodging, and food. And twice a year – once in June for a collective celebration of all the children’s birthdays and again in November for a festive Christmas party – the students also get to look forward to some special gifts and treats.

This year’s holiday party, which also marks the end of their school year, will be held on November 16, 2019. Plans are currently underway for Allen and a group of enthusiastic volunteers to make the organization’s 14th holiday journey to visit the children.

They plan on bringing a new dress for every girl and a new shirt for every boy, plus special goody bags with candy, crayons, stickers, beads, sunglasses, kazoos, and pencils. For many of the students, these will be the only gifts they receive and they are deeply appreciated.

Along with the gifts, the volunteers also organize a Christmas party, with rare treats such as cake and soda, plus meat sauce and rice. Often, the meat that is served comes only twice a year – when Sylvia’s Children comes to visit. And of course, the festivities also include a great deal of singing, dancing, and hugging among the happy children, teachers, and guests.

In the midst of the formidable logistics and planning that goes into the trip, donations are still needed to help provide the supplies for the celebration, the food to be served, and the children’s presents. The volunteers all pay their own way, and 100% of every donation goes directly to supporting the needs of the students.

The holiday season may still seem far away – and for the children of the far-away Mbiriizi Advanced Primary and Day Care School, it may feel even more distant. However, due to the miles to be traveled and the many arrangements to be made, advance preparation is critical and contributions are needed now to help bring holiday joy and wonder to the faces of these youngsters.

It takes very little. For just $45, two children can receive one shirt, one dress, and two goody bags. A dress costs $17 and a shirt is $13. Bags of treats cost $7.50 each. For a generous donation of $500, they can afford meat for the holiday meal. For $900, they can also provide gifts to 75 students in grades P-7, as well as the 50 faculty members.

To find out more, to make a donation, or to volunteer, visit www.sylviaschildren.org, call 732-946-2711, or email sylvia@sylviaschildren.org.