Each year we share an end-of-year review and each year it is humbling to take a step back and see the many ways in which our partnerships have grown and developed into what they are today! Rationale’s fourth year is no exception. We have continued supporting our existing students as they graduate from their respective programs and transition into the next stages of their academic and professional careers while building the foundation for the years that will follow. We are pleased to share with you our many accomplishments in 2015.

This year, we…

• Continued to support Gloria, who we are proud to announce has just completed her diploma in nursing program! Rationale will continue working with Gloria as she applies to programs at the next level of her academic career and as she pursues opportunities to practice nursing in the time before she enrolls.
• Maintained our support of Emily while she completed her year of contract employment as a midwife in Ikotos, South Sudan, for AVSI (an international non-profit organization dedicated to providing health services to remote communities). Emily has just returned to Uganda in time for the holidays and we will continue working with her as she, too, transitions into the next stage of her education.
• Enrolled a brand new student, Aryemo Janet Hope, who began her studies in science education at Gulu University this semester. Stay tuned for more updates on Janet’s progress soon! Offering an additional scholarship was only made possible by the generosity of everyone who attended our 2014 end-of-year fundraising dinner at Ethiopian Diamond.
• Added a new mentor, Okello Lwanga, to our Uganda team to support our students through their studies and their many transitions thereafter as well as maintain a regular presence for Rationale in Uganda year-round.
• Spent two months on the ground in Gulu revitalizing our mentorship program, evaluating our programs, and spending time with our students.
• Partnered with Ethiopian Diamond to hold an end-of-the-year fundraising event in Chicago on December 11th.

Finally, we’re happy to announce we are currently putting the final touches on our brand new website which will be launched to celebrate the beginning of 2016!

We thank everyone for your continued support. From all of us at Rationale, we wish you a very Happy New Year and can't wait to see what success 2016 will bring! Consider helping make that a possibility by donating to our year-end giving campaign using the button below.

With gratitude,
The Rationale Team

Rationale’s third year was both exciting and eventful! We have continued to strengthen our commitments to our students and build our mission here in the US and in Uganda, as well. We are pleased to share with you our many accomplishments in 2014.

This year, we…

• Continued to support Francis, Gloria, and Emily through their studies.
• Spent two months on the ground in Gulu, strengthening our mentorship program, evaluating our programs, and assessing the standing of each our students.
• Watched Emily complete her program in midwifery at St. Mary’s Hospital Lacor. We are very excited for her graduation in March! She is our first student to complete their program under Rationale’s support and will now spend her time using her new skills by working and gaining experience in a rural clinic before applying for the next level of her education to begin next January!
  
• Received 501(c)(3) status from the federal government, recognizing Rationale as a tax-exempt organization and making your contributions deductible each year (to the extent permitted by law)
  
• Expanded our board of directors to include Oola Julius Peter Kakaye, Malik Kemokai, Aatifa Sadiq, and Tamkeenat Syed (in addition to Matthew Sebastian and Jaclyn Tabbert in their previously held positions)
  • Julius is Deputy Director at St. Jude Children’s Home and lecturer at Gulu University. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Social and Philosophical Studies from Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda’s largest institution of higher learning. Julius then earned his Master of Arts degree in Development Studies from Uganda Martyrs University and also holds a Diploma in Guidance and Counseling from Alokolum National Major Seminary. He is a prominent advocate for vulnerable youth in northern Uganda and will act as liaison between Rationale and the Ugandan communities with whom we partner.
  • Malik is experienced in community projects and nonprofit development. He has worked for several Chicago-based organizations assisting in the development, communications, and fundraiser sectors. Malik has come to Rationale with enthusiasm to assist in fundraising efforts. He is currently finishing his graduate degree in nonprofit management from North Park University.  
  • Aatifa is a graduate from the University of Chicago’s School of Social Service Administration program. She has experience working for numerous international-based organizations as a project coordinator. Aatifa is excited to provide Rationale with program evaluation and assistance in development.
  • Tamkeenat is currently pursuing her Doctor of Medicine from Meharry Medical College. A long-time supporter and former volunteer for Rationale, Tamkeenat is very eager to continue supporting Rationale as a board member. Tamkeenat has formed an essential supportive bond with Gloria and Emily, our two students studying in the medical field, as they each continue their respective studies.
• Partnered with Ethiopian Diamond to hold an end-of-the-year fundraising event in Chicago on December 12th which, because of your generous support, raised enough funds to support all of our students for another year!
• Continued work on a new website to launch in 2015

We thank everyone for your continued support. We are excited for what 2015 will bring!

With gratitude,
The Rationale Team

Thanks to the ongoing support of our students, our friends, and our staff, 2013 – Rationale’s second year – was a remarkable one. We have strengthened our commitments both as an organization here in the US and in Uganda as a growing staple in the lives of our many partners. We’re proud to share with you our accomplishments in 2013.

This year, we…

• Spent June-July on the ground in Gulu and Nwoya evaluating our programs, forging new essential partnerships, and adjusting our impact to better serve the communities in which we work
• Continued to support Francis, Gloria, and Emily through their studies
• Identified the independent success of St. Jude’s food security farm and, after extensive consultations with the staff at St. Jude, decided to shift our focus away from the farm and more fully towards our current scholarship program and the collaborative research projects we will launch in 2014
• Partnered with Vertigo to hold our first annual anniversary event in Chicago on March 22, 2013
• Partnered with Pan-African Association at their annual 5k PAAWR to Empower event
• Expanded our US team to include an intern from DePaul University – Amelia Hussein – who is currently double majoring in International Studies and Peace, Conflict, and Justice Studies
• Refined our Mentorship Program to establish one permanent mentor for our students who has become a regular presence in their lives seeing to their academic and personal success
• Initiated an ongoing series of news roundups around topics related to our work
• Forged new partnerships to facilitate the launch of our collaborative research projects this upcoming year
• Began work on a new website to launch in 2014

We have big things in store for 2014 and can’t wait to share them with you all as the time comes!

With gratitude,
Rationale

Top Row, L-R: Gloria, Francis, David (mentor)  Bottom Row, Center: Emily

Before beginning the new year with an expanded team in Chicago, we would like to take a moment to thank everyone who made our 2012 such a success.

A very special thank you goes to Sarah and Mamadou for making our largest fundraiser of the year at J-Bar Chicago a reality.

The gift baskets and raffle donations for that night would not have been possible without the work of Deborah and Tammy. Half of the night’s donations were generated as a direct result of their dedicated work and we cannot thank them enough.

Finally, we would like to thank all of the business that supported us in these past six months:

Gratia Pearls
www.gratiapearl.com

Tate’s Ice Cream
http://www.facebook.com/TatesIceCreamShop

Aveda
www.aveda.com

Lululemon
www.lululuemon.com  

CorePower Yoga in Chicago’s South Loop
www.corepoweryoga.com

Hendrickx Belgian Bread Crafter
100 E. Walton Street Chicago, IL 60611

Exhale Spa Chicago
www.exhalespa.com  

Chicago Chocolate Tours
www.chicagochocolatetours.com

Caribou Coffee
www.cariboucoffee.com  

Conscious Cup Coffee
www.consciouscup.com

Argo Tea
www.argotea.com
 
Barnes and Noble
www.barnesandnoble.com
 
Thanks for standing with us in our first year – we look forward to the years ahead!

Happy New Year! Before we move into 2013 we wanted to take a moment to reflect on the past year.

Thanks to our team in Uganda, our partners and volunteers here in the States, and everyone who has supported us in our inaugural year, 2012 was a year to remember for Rationale. What began as a partnership between two individuals in 2009 has blossomed into the organization we now call Rationale and we couldn’t be more proud of our early achievements.

This year we…

• Founded Rationale this March after three years designing and assessing our strategies in cooperation with St. Jude Children’s Home
• Officially launched the project in Gulu this June
• Spent June-August on the ground in Uganda monitoring and evaluating our progress as we awarded our foundational scholarships
• Added a mentor to our Uganda team in order to smooth our students’ transition into University life and support all of our students as they encounter any difficulties that may arise
• Partnered with J-Bar Chicago and Grey Goose to hold a “Cocktails for a Cause” benefit event, securing funding for the remainder of the year
• Ended the year with two University students and one secondary school student enrolled in our scholarship program, providing support for each for the duration of their studies
• Began to expand our team to include new positions in grant and research, communications and operations, and fundraising
• Formed working groups to provide a forum for creative, critical dialogue as we move beyond our inaugural year

2012 has been a momentous year for Rationale and we cannot wait to see what 2013 has in store for us!

From all of us at Rationale: Thank you for making 2012 a success for our young organization.

Top Row, L-R: Francis, David (mentor)  Bottom Row, L-R: Emily, Gloria, Scovia (prospective scholarship recipient)