Stopping child abandonment in Uganda

£20,873 raised for The Ewafe Project!

Since 2017, Kids Club Kampala has taken part in an annual match funding campaign called The Big Give Christmas Challenge. In previous years we have used this campaign to raise money for the Feeding Project. However, this year we decided that the campaign would instead raise funds for the Ewafe Project, as due to COVID-19 there has been an increase in the number of cases of children being abandoned which has exacerbated the need for this vital project.

The Big Give 2020 took place in the first week of December and we had set an ambitious target of raising £16,000. I am delighted to let you know that we managed to exceed our target by over £4,000, raising a huge £20,873! 

These funds will enable us to rescue even more children who have no safe space to go, help them to heal at our transitional home before reintegrating them into safe and loving families.

Simon's Story

During Big Give week you may have seen a lot of social media posts about our Ewafe Project and some familiar Ewafe impact stories shared on our blog. However, last week we also shared something brand new with our supporters: a moving video which follows Simon's story. If you have not yet watched it then please do click on the video below to find out how the Ewafe Project was able to completely transform Simon's life.

Please click play to watch Simon's story!

Ewafe Project 2020 Highlights!

• In 2020 we managed to rescue 35 new children from abuse or abandonment and admitted them to our transitional home, with all children being provided with counselling, medical care and rehabilitation.
• Throughout the year we also successfully and safely reintegrated a further 12 children back into loving and caring families.
• During the COVID-19 lockdown we increased food supplies at the home and installed handwashing stations.
• Our transitional home was also blessed with a 'brand new' office which was created by re-purposing an old shipping container. This has enabled us to increase the capacity of the home and rescue more children.

Below is our 2020 impact video in which we share how we responded to COVID-19 as well as celebrating some of our key achievements across our different projects areas.

2020 Impact Video: How Kids Club Kampala responded to the COVID-19 crisis and some of our key achievements across our different projects areas.

Our Plans for 2021

Despite all of our successes in 2020, sadly COVID-19 has exacerbated poverty levels, with a further 3.5 million Ugandans having fallen into poverty. Children have lost vital time in education, and women and children are now at a greater risk of violence and abuse. Many families are still finding it hard to find work, and need to continue to use our food banks.

To respond to these complex needs, we have developed a 4 step plan that will map our Road to Recovery for children and their communities during 2021.

Phase 2: Protecting

This phase involves the strengthening of our programmes that protect children and provide immediate safeguarding in the slums.

We are aware of an increase in cases of child abuse, domestic violence, drug and alcohol abuse, poor mental health, family breakdown, homelessness and exploitation of children in the slums that we work.

In response we have already increased the capacity at our Ewafe Project so that in 2021 we are able to rescue even more children from situations of abandonment, abuse, exploitation and neglect. We will provide these children with a safe place to stay whilst receiving medical care, counselling and support whilst social workers search for safe alternative family members or loving foster families.

In order to meet the anticipated increase in demand for our Ewafe Project in 2021 your kind support has never been more vital. 

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

We would like to thank you for all your support in 2020 and we wish you a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year. 

From the Kids Club Kampala Team - Olivia, Corrie, Jo and Andy