Children who were abused, malnourished, uneducated and sick with disease — these are some of the kids retired Essex County teacher Geri Sutts saw when she first arrived in Uganda in 2008.
Now, 63 children from this African nation have food, shelter, clothing, medicine and schooling thanks to Sutts and the many local people who’ve contributed to her organization, Save African Children Uganda.
“I’m very proud of my kids,” says Sutts, who founded the Canadian chapter of SACU in 2010.
SACU hosted its second annual fundraiser Saturday night, to raise money to help the children in a village called Buwundo in southeastern Uganda.
Sutts, who taught 31 years, retired in 2004 with a plan to help children in the third world. She’s expecting to add 20 more kids to her Buwundo project that already has 63 children.
“It’s the right thing for me to do,” she said. “I love it there. I’m drawn there. I’d live there if I could.”
In September of 2011, Sutts built a shelter to house 20 abused and abandoned children. Villagers in the remote area live in dung huts, with grass roofs that leak, and have no water or electricity.
According to many supporters and organizers attending the SACU fundraising event Saturday, Sutts is doing a remarkable job.
“She has such an amazing story,” said Natalie Westfall, who’s a member of SACU’s board of directors.
Sutts first travelled to Africa in 2008 and met the international director of SACU, Ivan Nsera, who was 19 at the time. His vision inspired her, she said. She returned to Uganda in 2010 to visit Buwundo. At first the kids were afraid and nervous of Sutts. They have never met a tall, blonde, caucasian woman before, she said.
“Now when they see Auntie Geri’s car, they come running for hugs,” she said. “They look forward to when I come.”
The village has flourished over the years, she said.
It had one cow in 2012. Now there are nine. Banana trees planted in 2012 have now sprouted way over her head.
They grow many crops including beans and sweet potatoes.
“We’re trying to be self-sustained,” she said.
Sutts said all this could not have happened without the kind donators and supporters.
Last year’s fundraiser raised more than $6,800. That money to buy the property for their school and shelter.
With the help of many supporters, the organization tries to sent a minimum of $2,500 a month to pay for education, food and medical supplies.
This year’s fundraiser will go directly to food and care.
“This is just my passion,” said Sutts. “I like helping people. It’s in my heart and I won’t stop.”
If anyone would like to donate money or their time to SACU, contact Westfall at 519-890-2920.
jboyce@windsorstar.com or Twitter @BoyceWillBBoyce
Files: Geri Sutts has returned from Africa and has helped form Save African Child Uganda, Wednesday October 6, 2010. (Windsor Star files)
