Golf & Article

Hello!

I have been super busy the last week or so as I am on the prowl for
another job, I have been getting down and dirty and very aggressive
with my search, so hopefully I will hear back from someone soon. Most
people like to invite me into their office talk for about half an hour
then tell me that they don't want to hire me but find me incredibly
interesting which is very frustrating. So I have been trudging through
the 'poop'(family rating) so to speak and still working diligently on
this mammoth proposal for Beacon of Hope, I have shown a few
colleagues of mine what I have done so far and they have had nothing
but good remarks about it, so things are looking good!

I went Golfing last weekend. There was a tourney for Gulu walk a cause
that is known world wide for raising money for the children that were
forced to leave their homes at night and walk miles for a safe place
to sleep in order to avoid being captured by rebel groups. The course
was beautiful, not sure if there was any actual grass on it though,
the greens, fairways were all crab grass which made the game very
interesting. I had tons of fun though, I hired a caddy, he sold me on
the fact that he was tryingto get through college so i figured I would
be doing him a good service to hire him and pay him well. Most people
hired caddy's they would walk way up in front and watch your ball like
a hawk, for some reason I played really well and didn't end up in the
rough that often, but it was the crab grass greens that got me, i
three putted most of them, the hole remineded me of when I was young
and dug out a hole in the backyard with a small spade, like I said
golf was interesting. The clubs were used and not all of them were in
the bag, I was missing halfof them, luckily I had a 5,7, and pitching
wedge. Swinging them felt like I was golfing with a led pipe, they
were very heavy. I will load some pictures from the golf tourney soon!

A few weeks ago I wrote a article for the Caledon Enterprise, I have
no idea when it will be published but I was promised it would be at
some point. I know they have changed it around a little so I figured I
would send my original copy for you all to read if you like. The idea
was to spread awareness about children living in poverty in hopes to
entice donors. I hope you are all doing well and you will get a much
larger email update from me in a few days. Can someone please give me
a accurate update on the current situation with the Leafs, I am
desperate!


The Caledon Enterprise

Know that although in the eternal scheme of things you are small, you are also unique and irreplaceable as are your fellow humans everywhere in the world.
- Margaret Laurence

I left Canada, eager, optimistic and content with my career choice. Still to this day I believe I could not be happier doing anything else. I was bound for Mukono Uganda, a small suburb of Kampala. Hired by a grassroots organization known as Beacon of Hope Uganda my job was to help increase their capacity to empower orphans and disadvantaged youth whom have been left to fend for themselves.

As a privileged child growing up in the Caledon area I have had easy access to quality education from various institutions across Ontario from Palgrave Public School to the University of Western Ontario. I am thankful for these educational experiences and the opportunities that will be presented to me because of them. I have also been the beneficiary of remarkable parents. The greatest gift of all is a parent who loves their child unconditionally and dedicates their life to their child’s development. Both my parents - John and Leslie Montgomery - have far exceeded this objective.

I cannot imagine a life without my parents, their unconditional love and devotion for me has been the greatest gift in my life and has given me the strength and ability to accomplish my educational achievements so far. It truly strikes a chord to hear the voices of children in Uganda pleading for an education, knowing that we have few resources to help them attain anything.

I have witnessed firsthand the devastation of children who have lost both parents. Now living in an orphanage, they have no money and must survive on one small meal a day. An invisible cloak has fallen silently over these children, suffocating their self esteem and muting their cries for help.

The HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in Mukono is slightly higher than the national average falling at 6.5 per cent. The number of children who face the plight of raising themselves as a result of HIV/AIDS continues to grow. The likelihood for Mukono to grow to be a slum is unfortunately very high unless action is taken. The population density in Mukono is 175.7 people per km², 29.5 per cent higher than the national average and the rate of urbanization in Mukono is 25.3 compared the national average of 12.27. Many of the youths age 14-19 are out of school and unable to afford school fees. The local streets witness a flood of youths who scrape by for a means to live. Some youths often resort to illegal activities like joining gangs in order to retain a small income for food.

Beacon of Hope looks to provide these youths with the opportunity to earn some money part time and teaches them to utilize these funds for education either by way of traditional academics or vocational training. Our goal is to help alleviate them from poverty, empower their minds and boost their self confidence to help the children of Uganda see and create positives futures for themselves.

John Stewart Mills once stated, very few facts are able to tell their own story, without comments to bring out their meaning. I’ve stated the facts, this is my story and I sincerely hope that it resonates with you. Knowing is half the battle I urge you to reach out for someone in need. If not the children of Uganda, then the children suffering in other parts of Africa, South America and East Asia. There is an abundance of children quietly drowning in the whirlpool of poverty.


Lots of love to you all,
Matt