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Created by African Centres for Lightning and Electromagnetics Network Inc.

You have seen the injuries and deaths month after month. Here is your opportunity to be directly involved in ACLENet's projects:

ACLENet is becoming known for the work we do to save lives. In the past year, we have received lightning protection inquiries from multiple private and mission school systems across Uganda, a high school and hospital system in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a general surgical hospital in Madagascar, a medical center in Tanzania, a church in Kenya, and more.

ACLENet's role is expanding across Africa

and WE NEED YOUR HELP:

1. We need a VEHICLE that can traverse the bad roads in rural Uganda. A used Toyota RAV4 is an economical, multipurpose starter vehicle that has been recommended. It would transport our staff for initial measurement surveys of schools as well as to install lightning protection systems (LPS) at schools that have been sponsored by donors, for biennial maintenance visits to each school installed to inspect, test, and repair their LPS, for investigations of lightning injury incidents, for public lightning safety education programs we do at the schools and communities affected by lightning, and many other activities -- $16,000 (or any part you want to contribute for the vehicle or for fuel and other expenses over time)

Dear DONOR - do not be intimidated by the large amounts: ANY AMOUNT YOU CONTRIBUTE WILL HELP and be put to good use!

2. In conjunction with the Uganda government Ministries of Education and Disaster Preparedness and along with lightning safety advocacy programs around the world, we are planning to commemorate International Lightning Safety Day at Runyanya Primary School where 18 children were killed and 38 others hospitalized on 28 June 2011. It will also involve the media, local officials, and parents, students and survivors of the incident to raise country-wide awareness - $4000 by 20 June

3. ICLP2022, one of the world's most prestigious lightning conferences is meeting on the African continent for the first time (see videos and links below). We want to take as many of our staff as we can to the meeting for staff development as they begin meeting LP experts from around the world, staff a booth as a home-base for other lightning safety advocates

who will be attending, present papers, and teach others about what we are doing. $2600 per staff member

4. We do not just install LPS at a school and walk away. We visit every two years to make sure it is intact, a new building has not been added or one torn down, there has been no vandalism or theft of materials, as well as do lightning safety education programs in the community. This is the year to inspect the 6 schools completed since 2016. While we are there we will also teach staff at each school to do monthly visual inspections so they can notify us quickly of needed repairs. $1500 per school - We hope to complete visits by 30 September 2022.

5. Last, but not least, whenever there is a Lightning Mass Casualty Incident such as Kembo Nuuhu Primary School, 17 May 2022 (featured in the June ACLENet newsletter), we do our best to travel to investigate the physical damage as well as interview teachers and witnesses and examine survivors. We report the findings at international meetings and use what we learn to tailor our approach to lightning safety and protection across Africa. Past investigations: Mongoyo Primary School (3 killed, 72 injured); Arua incident (10 boys killed playing soccer) to be reported at ICLP2022 meeting (see #3 above). Because this school is on an island, it will be more difficult and expensive to travel to investigate than those we could reach by land. $3200 by 20 July so we do not let too much time go by.

Any amount you can contribute will help us reach these goals!

Please let us know where you want your donation to go in the comment section of the donation page or write us (macooper@uic.edu) to discuss more details.

THANK YOU for your PRAYERS, DONATIONS, TIME, KIND WORDS, and EMOTIONAL SUPPORT over these last six years! We have accomplished so much with God's Grace and your support.

African Centres for Lightning and Electromagnetics Network Inc. is a tax-exempt public charity (federal tax ID #811417000). All contributions are tax deductible to the extent allowable by law. No goods or services were provided in exchange for your generous financial donation.

$1,500 One-Time

Please contribute what you can - $1500 will allow us to drive to a school where we have installed lightning protection for our biennial inspection where we test and repair the system and give lightning safety education programs in the community.

$2,600 One-Time

Please contribute what you can - $2600 will allow an ACLENet staff member to attend ICLP2022 in South Africa in October. Attending this major lightning protection conference will allow them to meet lightning safety advocates from around the world.

$3,200 One-Time

Please contribute what you can - We investigate as many school lightning incidents as funds allow. On 17 May 2022, over thirty students were injured at a school on an island in the middle of Lake Victoria. Let us make a timely visit!

$4,000 One-Time

Please contribute what you can - Every year, safety advocates worldwide mark International Lightning Safety Day to commemorate when 18 children were killed and 38 hospitalized at Runyanya Primary School in Uganda (28 June 2011).

$16,000 One-Time

Please contribute what you can - $16,000 will allow us to purchase a used 4WD Toyota RAV4 to traverse the rough basic roads in rural Uganda where many of the schools we serve are located.

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