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The Young Seeds Foundation of Tasmania (YSF) project is managed by a small group of volunteers dedicated to assist some of the most disadvantaged children in the world. In the Southern Sudanese and Northern Ugandan States of Africa, thousands of people remain displaced. Women whom have been sexually violated remain in fear and isolation, many bearing children through the cause of rape, and orphans arise as a daily occurrence. The ravages of war remain constant and relentless.
YSF is committed to provide the right to education for refugee children from South Sudan and some may be living in Kyrandongo Refugee camp in Northern Uganda. By accessing Uganda, these children will develop their capacities and enable them to support others in their country when they eventually qualify as doctors, teachers, mechanics, nurses, and clergy etc.
Young Seeds presently has a small committee of management that is responsible for the allocation of donations and sponsorship to the South Sudan/Uganda operation and to provide the overseeing mechanism to ensure that funding is completely transparent and used for the right cause. To assist us with this process we employ 2 'in-country' coordinators to monitor the financial aspects of school fees and monitor the welfare and educational achievements of students. Okot Vinansio is employed as vice-principal at a local secondary school and has recently attained a Master in Education degree. Oroma John has been with us for many years and provides a safe home for our children during their school holidays.
WHO ARE WE?
Young Seeds Foundation is managed by a small team of volunteers based in Tasmania.
Young Seeds was founded in 2010 by Lowilla Okello after visiting a Primary School in his home village of Pajok Payam in Magwi County, South Sudan. Lowilla met with hundreds of disadvantaged children and orphans in the village who asked him to help them to go to school. On his return back to Tasmania, Lowilla initiated a campaign to raise awareness about the educational needs of these children.
A voluntary committee was established to assist in raising awareness and funds to assist refugee children. A sponsorship process was initiated which initially saw 2 young boys being provided the opportunity to attend primary boarding school in Uganda. This country was chosen as it borders South Sudan and the educational levels are much higher. This is seen as crucial as some of the children have aspirations to be doctors. The sponsorship of these initial 2 boys has been in place since mid-2011, and they will both be entering University in 2019 alongside another long-term sponsored student. Two of these will be entering medical school and the other wishes to study international human rights.
We currently have 20 children, 11 girls and 9 boys, sponsored at various levels of education from kindergarten to Senior 6.
Young Seeds is a registered charity with the Australian Charities and Nor-For-Profits Commission and is registered with Tasmania Department of Justice; both of these organisations require annual reports demonstrating financial accountability.
YS is also very excited that Global Development Group (GDG) has partnered with us. We are financially accountable to GDG but also accountable in terms of stringent child protection policies and an emphasis on empowerment based projects. Global Development Group was established in 2002, and is an Australian-founded non-government overseas humanitarian development organisation (www.globaldevelopmentgroup.org).
Currently the YSF Committee is comprised of members who originate from South Sudan, local Australian people, as well as a member of the local Bhutanese community in Launceston.
Obviously we could not operate without the generosity of sponsors and donors and to you our heartfelt gratitude. You have provided more than you can ever know for these disadvantaged children.
Jane Orasio, Lowilla Okello and Susan Neighbour at Star Education Centre in November 2012 with two of the sponsored children and the Head Master Eric Ubuya.
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