Gifts with a Difference – bearing fruit
During lockdown last year, A Rocha Uganda worked with 28 schools to plant 1,574 fruit trees, all purchased through Gifts with a Difference.
Before the pandemic hit, the children at Rweshe Pentecostal Primary School in western Uganda had dug holes in preparation for planting trees around the compound, but the school didn’t have enough funds available to purchase any saplings.
‘When A Rocha approached us with the trees we were amazed and I shared the good news of the gift in my local church,’ said Mugisha Francis, one of the school directors.
As soon as children were able to return to school, they got involved in caring for the trees, including weeding around them and keeping them well-watered.
‘None of the 60 fruit trees we received have died because I care for them dearly,’ he says. ‘I call them my miracle trees. I am happy that as they grow, we shall enjoy the fruits. They will provide shade for children to relax during break times and medicine. God gave us enough rain to help them get strong and mature well and I am happy that they have grown and are looking healthy. We are so grateful to A Rocha Uganda and their supporters.’