I am 28 years married to this wonderful man, my husband Werner.

Love you darling! Xn

Dear Foodstep friends,

At last I have found some time to write you all a new Foodstep newsletter. We have been extremely busy, in many good ways! During the summer holidays (Christmas time on the other side of the Equator) many children went to visit their families. Some of them stayed on with their relatives after the holidays. The Ugandan government prefers to have as little as possible children in Homes. In fact, they would prefer to close all Homes. Fortunately, we work closely together with the Child Protection Services, the police and the local Courts of Justice. Our children are with us at Foodstep for a very good reason: they are unable to live with their families because of serious circumstances. We will keep you posted you personally!

This month, you will receive another update and a recent picture of your child at Foodstep. They are all doing so well! I still enjoy going to work every day of the week. My staff and the children, together they have become my family in Africa… what else could I wish for!
And we continue to build and restore. The entire boys’ dorm has been completely renovated. New floors, newly stuccoed and painted walls, new beds, new matrasses, new gutters on the roof… the boys are ready to go!
We also had the grand opening of our beautiful hair dressing salon. Some of our children received their diplomas in medical pedicure. Do call for an appointment at any time!

A very big and heartfelt thank you to all our sponsors. Thanks to you, we have realized yet another hope-giving project for our children!
And what else…. we had medical worries and we received a lot of medical care…. All babies have been inoculated. Three children have undergone major leg surgery. We have some new ‘found’ and neglected babies and infants. I am very happy to inform you that all went very well and that our new children are settling in.

There is a new swing at the playground, a new roof at the class room, we have new teachers, new children, new plans… even after 10 years in Uganda I am still very much enjoying all our challenges!
Thank you once again for all the loving support you give us.
X Nathalie Seliffet and all children at Foodstep
 

Dear Foodstep friends,

let me start this newsletter by wishing you a wonderful 2018! I realize that many of you have had to deal with snow, rain and storms, whilst we were having a BBQ, eating mango fruit from our own trees and enjoying the daily sun!

It did not mean we did not have our difficult moments in 2017. There are people in this world who despise Foodstep and wish to ruin us. But guess what?? LOVE, true LOVE will really conquer ALL! And that is why the children, the staff and myself have blessed 2018 as a positive year. With family, friends, sponsors, volunteers whose only wish it is to move forward!

We are planning to open a hair dressing salon. Our pupils who are studying to become medical pedicures are headed for their diplomas. Our Belgian nurses are doing some splendid work! Massages are being taught by our Italian friend. All in all: our vocational training centre is up and running!

All Foodstep children had great grades at school. Their long Summer holiday is now heading towards it's end, so we are very busy preparing for the upcoming year. Every child has to bring many items for the coming three months. Toilet rolls, 12 note books, pencils and pens. Brooms to sweep the class room floors, reading material, school and exercise books...... we're busy as can be right now.

We are also very busy renovating our buildings, who have been ours for five years old. It is hard to believe but yes, we have been here for five years already! Even better: we are celebrating our 10th anniversary of our life in Uganda!
And we will most certainly attend our annual BBQ in Belgium, somewhere around the end of July.

2018 will be a break through year, of victory and lots of positivity!

We have had many inspections, both from Uganda and from abroad, and we have been doing wonderfully in the results. I have an incredible Foodstep team! So if ever you were to hear anything strange or unusual about us, please get in touch via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., and we will give you the full story in writing!

We wish to thank all our relatives, friends, sponsors, volunteers for their unconditional love for our Foodstep children! The Home, the children's prison project, Home of Hope for our disabled children and our vocational trainng centre The Rock give you a very warm welcome. We are ready for 2018! Will you support us once again?

Nathalie Seliffet

Dear friends,

Another newsletter from Uganda.

As you already know, there is never a dull moment at Foodstep. Recently, our social workers have been extremely busy with registering with all our children. In Europe, registration happens at birth, but it is no so over here. It has been a tremendous job, as most of our children do not even know who their parents are or where they come from. Let alone that they remember the name of their father or mother….! Therefore, Werner and I have now become the official parents of nine children! We have signed their birth certificates at the office of the probation officer of the Wakiso district. Our family keeps growing… ?

But there have also been children who have left our Foodstep nest. They passed their exams and some of them already found a job! Their graduation was one big party and of course we were EXTREMELY proud of them! It is amazing to see and to realize how these young adults, who once came to Foodstep as injured, deserted and neglected small creatures, have turned into self-assured, responsible, healthy and loving young adults. It was only last week that Hannah opened up her own shop! Isn’t that wonderful?

As before, Foodstep was present at the Day of the African Child. Our acrobatics team even performed for the Minister of Education and Child Welfare. Also, our Patrick was one of the speakers at the Children’s Parliament. This year’s subject was 'children in conflict with the law'. You could have heard a pin drop when he talked about his time at the children’s prison. Especially now that he has graduated and received a diploma for secondary education.

And of course, there were more building activities!

In Kampiringisa, together with the Minister, we did lay the first stone for our girl’s building. Being able, after so many years of talks, negotiations and meetings, to finally get these signatures was a truly memorable occasion. And to see our name at the entrance of the building even more so! The girls are very much looking forward to having a pace of their own!

On our land too, we had two new building projects going on. A toilet building, so the students from our vocational school will no longer have to use the bushes for their sanitary stops. 

And a large chicken coop, with a hen house and some chickens have been realized by our children. Every weekend, they work in our garden, mow the lawn, sow and harvest vegetables and take care of our animals. Our land looks so beautiful right now! 

Werner’s health has improved and he is doing very well. We still love each other very much, even after 27 years. What more could we wish for!

We wish you a very good Summer, hope you had lots of fun at the annual Foodstep Uganda BBQ and goodbye from all of us!

Big kiss,

Nathalie Seliffet