Following President Museveni’s address this week to the Ugandan nation closing schools churches and placing a near total ban on public transport, yesterday TEAMS Board, in conjunction with the on-site managers agreed to close TEAMS Layibi site until further notice.
This is the first time in our 20 year history that we have closed our gates to the public and sent our staff home. 4 members of staff have volunteered to live on site in isolation during this crisis to protect our site, look after our crops and to maintain the running of our community borehole. We are so grateful to them for making this sacrifice and ask for your prayers of protection for them and their families. They are Pastor Charles, Alfred (a former member of our Agape orphan programme and now our assistant book keeper), Dennis and Martin, respectively our chief of security and his deputy. TEAMS has decided for the time being to continue paying all staff. Those remaining on site will be paid in full (and food will be provided). Those who, understandably want to be with their families or return to their villages will also be paid most of their normal salaries. All staff who have subsidised loans from our microfinance programme will receive a repayment holiday for as long as the site is closed. All staff have been given paracetamol and advice on how to stay safe. Please pray for their safety. We have plenty of sanitiser on site, but like the UK this is now virtually unobtainable in Gulu. This action is unprecedented. With fundraising also coming to a halt, our reserves are very much under stress. Please help us through this difficult time by making an on-line donation, or contact us by telephone to discuss ways in which you can help.