Fundraiser to benefit Ugandan woman

A year ago, Nestar Lakot Okella of Uganda was in Kentville to speak on the work of the Canadian Foodgrains Bank to representatives of several churches.

Although reluctant to speak about her own life, Nestar did tell the group that she had grown up with war since she was five years old.

“I’m tired of war,” she told an audience living in one of the world’s most peaceable areas, and they could only begin to guess what war meant.

When pressed to speak on her own aspirations, Nestar related that she had been able to obtain her Bachelor’s degree with outside help, as her father’s modest fortune had been destroyed by war. She hoped that she might be able to go for her Master’s at some point, but clearly didn’t have the means to do so.

Members of the Kentville Christian Reformed Church have picked up the ball for the 25-year-old. Led by John VanderTuin and Anne van Arragon Hutten, they’ve raised over $3,600 to-date in cash donations toward the cost of a Master’s degree for Nestar, who is now at the Universiteit van Maastricht in the Netherlands. Additionally, her plane tickets, visa costs and other legalities have been paid for.

Nestar chose the Maastricht university because it offers an intense one-year degree in International Development. The university is giving her a scholarship for two-thirds of the cost of tuition, plus living expenses.

Another $1,300 or more is required to fund the balance of Nestar’s tuition account. On Saturday, May 17, a fundraiser will be held in the Christian Reformed Church parking lot.

Perennial plants will be on offer, along with a yard sale. A pancake breakfast was already scheduled for that morning, so there will be considerable traffic at the time.

“It would be great if the community sees this as a way to help a deserving student, instead of looking to score a carload of bargains,” says Hutten. “But the bargains will be there as well, in the yard sale section. Cash donations would be great, too. It would be wonderful if we could raise the rest of the tuition with this event.”

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