Stopping child abandonment in Uganda

Welcome to your Spring update. It has now been over 2 years since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and we began the year with a renewed optimism. However, as you may be aware, Kampala is now facing a new crisis, as in the last 2 years food prices have risen a staggering 400%. A meal that cost just 20p in 2020 now costs £1!

Read our '2 years of COVID-19' blog

Last month we launched our Feeding Futures appeal to combat this crisis and build a brighter future for families in Kampala. We have been truly blown away by the generosity of our supporters, who have so far helped us raise an incredible £7,244, enabling us to provide 16,960 meals to families in need!

We invite you to watch the video below which documents a day in the life of one of our Feeding Project volunteers. The video follows Obvious as she delivers much needed food parcels to families living in Naguru slum. Please do feel free to share this video and our Feeding Futures campaign with your friends and family, as the more people who hear about and support our campaign, the more families we can help in Uganda.

 Ewafe Project Update

Last year we brought you the exciting news that with thanks to a generous benefactor the Ewafe home was expanding. The renovations were completed in January 2022, with the additions including a new therapy room, a new dormitory, staff cottages, a solar-powered kitchen and 3-acres of land around the home to grow crops.

Read our 'Ewafe Home Expansion' blog

However, despite the exciting expansions, the repercussions of COVID-19 coupled with rampant inflation has meant that child abuse, neglect and abandonment have continued to rise in Kampala, and thus the Ewafe Home remains at full capacity. It is an unfortunate reality, but we want to thank you for your generous support which helps us to ensure that we can provide a safe space for abandoned children whilst we work to reintegrate them back into a loving home. This quarter has yet again been a busy one: 

• Rescued and admitted 8 children into the home. 
• Reintegrated 2 children back with their families. 
• Cared for the 65 children currently staying at the home.

*Aisha's Story 

18 months ago, *Aisha and her four siblings were abandoned by their mother at a local police station within Kampala. It transpired that their father had recently sold the family home, leaving the children with their mother but with no accommodation or source of income. Their mother was unable to support the children on her own and so she spent weeks searching for her husband but was unable to locate him. She also tried to seek support of relatives but they were also unable to help due to the number of mouths that would have needed to be fed. In the end the family ended up living on the streets, where they begged for food or money in order to survive. 

In October 2020, Aisha and her siblings were referred to the Ewafe Home by the police. Since then the Ewafe staff have cared for the children, helping them to feel at home:

“I am grateful to you (Ewafe project) and to God that my siblings and I were all welcomed here and we are being taken good care of. I feel like I now have everything that I have ever prayed for.” - Aisha.

In the meantime our team of social workers have been working to trace the children's relatives. In March 2022 the team were able to make a breakthrough and located relatives in Luwero District. They were all relived to know that the children were safe and well after having not seem them such a long time. Their grandfather was especially thankful:

“I am willing to stay with my grandchildren for the rest of my life, thank you Kids Club Kampala, may God bless you.” - Aisha's grandfather

We will soon be conducting a follow up assessment with the relatives to ensure that the home environment is safe for Aisha and her siblings to be reintegrated. We hope to be able to provide a positive update later in the year.

What a year we have had at Kids Club Kampala!

We can’t talk about 2021 without mentioning the COVID-19 pandemic. As things opened up around the world, we were hoping Uganda would be the same. But, in June, a strict lockdown was imposed on Uganda closing schools, markets, businesses and churches. 

Our greatest achievements in 2021 reflect the resilience of our communities, volunteers, our teams in Uganda and the UK as well as the passion and kindness of our supporters in the wake of continued lockdowns and restrictions in Uganda. 

Take a look at 21 of our phenomenal achievements in 2021! 

We look forward to visiting you!