Hope For African Children Ministries

MISSION REPORT JUNE 2010

2010-07-01T08:20:00.000-07:00

After completing school the next step was to take a Trip to Masaka to work with the community and children. Included in these activities were giving shoes to children, teaching hygiene and sanitation, starting up 'Centre Days' for the children, parents meetings, learning about the 'Pigs Project', school visits, and preparation for our friends who will be visiting the village.

This month we gave 39 children school shoes; you can imagine the excitement in the village for each child who went home with a pair of shoes. We expect that the kids no longer think that shoes are a luxury but now they know the importance of wearing shoes and making them to be part of their lives. A lot of thanks goes to our dear sponsors and anyone who has supported us in any way.

We are preparing our 'Pigs Project' which is due to start in August.
6 families were chosen to receive pigs. Rules were set up for all the people who will be involved in this project. Education was started on how to keep and take care of the pig. The selected families are being taught about taking care of pigs before they can get them. This includes feeding, housing etc. The rules and regulations are to make sure that this project sustains the family of the child in many different ways.

We held a parents and Board meeting to discuss the academic performance of the children, the roles of the parents in each child's education.

We made school visit and paid tuition for some of the sponsored children.
We are hoping to start an HIV/AIDS program in community schools. This program will help us to reach out in various community primary schools, creating awareness about HIV/AIDS. We will also include lessons on hygiene, sanitation, basic health and nutrition. We have already talked to the some the principles of the community schools to give us permission to go in their schools and reach out to children. We hope this program will start in the next study term.

We have changed the days we shall be meeting with the children as part of our project. Instead of meeting them every day in evening we shall be meeting them once a week during the study term and then two days in their holidays we have done this to avoid children having to walk home late in evening. We shall be doing all the activities we were supposed to do in the week just one day in the week and two days during school holidays.

Jeff and Mama Rachael preparing Porridge for the kids during 'Centre Day'.

We have also been working on the HACM office. Painting, getting chairs, tables etc so it looks like a real office.

Keneth clearing around the office.

Let me finish by thanking you once again for your continued support towards the work we are doing in Masaka. Without you we couldn’t do it.

MISSION REPORT FEBRUARY 2010

2010-03-29T07:35:00.000-07:00

In February we visited the kids at school to make sure everyone in our 'care' is studying and performing well. We talked to the teachers to get updates on how they were doing.

Geoffrey and Keneth traveled to Masaka to see the kids and meet with the teachers. We made school visit to 5 schools where our kids attend. We have paid tuition fees for 19 children. We are so glad that we are making progress and are hoping to pay tuition for 37 children by the end of this year.

On duty: Geoffrey at St Gemma Primary School, Keneth at Kabuwoko primary school kids sighing after getting their school fees paid.

Hope: Enock and Rachael now have hope of continuing with their studies after their school tuition were paid, above is Geoffrey at St Jude primary school. Keneth at Aunt Tusu Nursery and primary school during school visit.

Mulamu David aged 5, now has a sponsor. David wants to be a Pastor in his village. David has a kind and giving heart and always performs well in school with A’s.

David is writing a first letter to his sponsor.

Esseza and Benah are 2 of the children in our program still in need. HACM is working hrd to try and make sure that kids like this will be able get shoes and school uniforms.

Laurent has no school bag to keep his books safe so he uses a black plastic bag. He has no uniform or shoes either.

HACM is working on both of those projects. This year we hope to make sure all our kids in the project get school uniforms, shoes & tuition fees paid.

Another plan this year is to train some of the young teenagers in the village to work with HACM. We would like to encourage them to help us in monitoring, helping, teaching and supporting their community through Hope For African Children Ministries.

These young adults will be picked from the community high school kids who have been involved in the work and activities that HACM is doing in their villages. We hope that this will help us to train and empower some young people to help us in the work we are doing.

We are pleased that we have a new office, as requested by the Community Development Officer. We look forward to continuing with the work we are doing.

HACM office which acts as the headquarters for our operations for now.

MISSION REPORT DECEMBER 2009

2010-01-21T08:31:00.001-08:00

During the month of December Keneth, Geoffrey and Patrick were accompanied by their friend from the USA. Elysia came from the United States to work with another orphanage in Uganda and she joined us on a trip to Masaka.

A lot of activities were done, including a soccer tournament, teaching sanitation, hygiene, HIV and AIDS, home visits, children’s Christmas Party, craft class, letter writing and community work.

We are so glad that all these were accomplished successfully.

During the tournament were able to reach out to more than 15 community villages and almost 500 children and youth. They learnt a lot from all these classes and assured us they would put what we taught them into practice.

Classes for the kids

The soccer tournament begins

Soccer spectators

The prize giving

We also got involved in home visits as part of our activities. We visited their homes, talked to their guardians/parents. We try to talk to our kids too and see how they are doing and address the problems they face in their homes.

Visit to Gerrald & Margaret's home (all their cousins)

Making clothes to help earn money to feed the family

We recently donated a matress and blanket to this family

We have started a craft class for the community children. Here we teach them how to make different hand crafts from the traditional raw materials. Our main objective is to teach children how to make things that they can then sell or help to raise money for the ministry.

Elysia trying to make her own doll from banana fibres

Geoffrey and Patrick teaching the kids how to make necklaces from beads

All the kids getting involved

In our sponsorship program, every sponsored child writes a letter to his or her sponsor. It was during this time that we helped our kids to write these letters to their sponsors, to thank them and also tell them about their general life.

We send our sincere thanks for the sponsors of our kids and we encourage everyone to get involved in this program.

Cissy writing a letter to her sponsor

Enoch writing his letter

Geoffrey & Sylvia writing together

It is vital that everyone knows the importance of community work in the places they live in. The group gathered a number of older children to get involved in cleaning a community well in Segero, Kyamukudde village.

There is a problem with lack of clean water in the villages of Masaka and most of the wells are not protected or very well built. We were able to get everyone involved in cleaning these wells. Hopefully at some point in the future we will be able to raise money to build more wells for the communities.

Keneth, Elysia, Geoffrey and Patrick lead the community children to clean the well

Our visitor Elysia also helped in treating various wounds.

I would like to extend our grateful thanks to the people who have sent us medical supplies, thank you so much and may you keep up that wonderful heart.

Each year HFACM organizes an end of year Christmas party. It gives us a chance to spend time together and enjoy ourselves. These children spend most of the year enduring such hardships and this is a great opportunity to have some fun.

Preparing food for the party

Kids enjoying the meal

We handed out prizes for the best performers of the year.

The children thanking Elysia for the gifts she bought

The community is very generous with what little they have and all vistors are given gifts when they leave. Here Elysia exchanges gifts with the families she has spent time with.

It is a sign of love, appreciation and acceptance.

Let me thank all the people that have really supported us in our work throughout this year.

Thank you so much and I encourage you to continue doing the same in 2010.

Without you we couldn’t do this work for the communities and families in Masaka, Rakai.

Please keep up that wonderful kind heart and know that any amount however small, will make a big impact in the lives of these people.

Thank you.
Yours faithfully
Keneth kiyija

MISSION REPORT NOVEMBER 2009

2009-12-10T11:47:00.000-08:00

November has been a month of preparation for the children’s holiday program and for the village as well. Keneth and Geoffrey spent a short holiday in the villages trying to put everything together to see that the program is successful.

Our children have completed their school examinations and they will soon be collecting their results for the end of the year. We are hopeful that this time our kids are more likely to perform better than the previous months, we think they will have better performance because some of them have not been chased for school fees thanks to the Hope for African Children Ministries sponsorship.

Children at the Assembly at the school

Geoffrey looking into Rachael’s books to check her performance

We visited Roger’s grandmother to see how she was doing. Her condition is not improving.

Our holiday program is going to include different activities for the kids. Teaching hygiene, sanitation, doing community work, teaching Bible studies, organizing soccer tournaments, teaching hand crafts. We will also have an end of year Christmas party for the kids and will be visiting their homes and helping with the letters to their sponsors.

The highlight is always the soccer tournament and we will have a trophy for the winning team and gifts for the kids. At the Christmas party we will have prizes for the kids who performed well in school and who have been consistent in their discipline and helpfulness.

We are so pleased about the progress of Hope for African Children Ministries Sponsorship Program. Joyce was recently sponsored through the program and we are all very happy about the possibilities for her.

We still encourgae anyone to make a commitment of sponsoring a child.

Thank your for your support. For those who would like to make a donation to Hope for African Children Ministires, simply write a check of any amount and mail it to:
Community Church of Mill Valley
8 Olive Street Mill Valley, CA 94941 USA.
Remember any amount you donate will make a great contribution to this cause, Thank you. Thank you for the support you give to us without you, we could not do this, thank you with that kind spirit.
Yours faithful
Kiyija keneth

"Sponsor A Child" Program

2009-11-09T11:18:00.000-08:00

Hope for African Children Ministries has started a "Sponsor A Child" Program.

For $25 a month you will provide a child with the necessary funds to support:
School fees
School uniform
Shoes
School lunch
Basic medical expenses
School supplies
Mosquito net

These funds will also support community development within the child's village:
Cleaning and building water wells
Lessons on hygiene, sanitation and basic health
Lessons on HIV/AIDS prevention

The funds not only help support the child but the greater community as well.
Each sponsor will get a letter from the child after each study term, with an update on their progress

We are hoping to get commitments for sponsorship of a year or more, per child. ($300)

We have 30 children currently seeking sponsorship.

Here are a few of their stories.......

Belinda is 9 years old. She lives with her grandmother who is disabled. She lost her dad to AIDS and her mom is very sick but she is a healthy young girl. She wants to become a Doctor to help sick people in her village. Belinda is a hard working, both at home and school. She is a great help to her grandmother. Food is a struggle in her family with typically only one meal a day. Her best subjects in school are social studies and mathematics. She is such a sharing girl.

David is 5 years old. His Dad has a mental problem and his mom is in poor health. His dream is to be a Pastor. He likes singing, soccer and taking care of animals. David is kind and giving child and he performs well in school with a lot of A’s. David likes coloring and singing in school.

Joyce is five years old. Her father died and she lives with her uncle and eight other relatives. Her mom is crippled and cannot work. She wants to be a doctor when she grows up. Joyce likes netball and cooking. Joyce is a quiet and humble girl. Her best subjects in school are English and mathematics.

Laurent is nine years old. His Dad is blind and the mom has a mental problems. He wants to be a Doctor to treat blind people. He likes to play soccer and enjoys arts and crafts. He helps his family by cooking, farming, fetching water and collecting firewood. Laurent is a hard working boy always there for his parents and he is always showing much improvement in everything he does at school. His best subjects in school are sports, art and craft.

Rachael is ten years old. She lost both her parents to AIDS and she stays with her grandmother and twelve relatives. Her grandmother is a peasant farmer. Rachael is in good health. Rachael has a dream to be a doctor. Her favorite hobbies are playing netball and reading books. Whenever you talk to her about her parents she cries. Rachael is very hard working and really wants to stay in school. Rachael’s best subject is science.

If you have any questions or would like additional information please contact:

USA - Camilla Burraston - camillaburraston@gmail.com or Harriet Kostic - kostic@sbcglobal.net

UGANDA - Keneth Kiyija - kenstahl2001@yahoo.co.uk

MISSION REPORT AUGUST 2009

2009-09-17T09:41:00.000-07:00

August has been a busy month for the volunteer group and the board community members as we had a special visitor and a lot was done during our visit to the village including teaching hygiene, home visit, sports, games, school visits, arts and craft and story making. It was really a busy trip for all of us. The first trip was to make arrangements for our visitor Simon, who was going to work with us in the village. Simon is my friend from Sweden who had come to work with JCRC. I met him in the USA when I had my heart surgery and he was very interested to come to this village to work and visit the kids there. Along with my friends Geoffrey, Patrick and Simon we traveled to Masaka to work with the kids. Many things were done for the time we were in the village. We made school visit to our kids since it was there last day of school before their three week holiday and we were pleased to report that most of their performance had greatly improved. One big problem we noticed is that most of the kids do not have shoes.

Simon giving candy to some of the kids

Simon accompanied us to visit our kid’s schools

We also did home visits to most of the families of the kids we are supporting. We found that most of the kids we support are sleeping on the bare ground and lack mattresses. There are also no mosquito nets to help prevent malaria. Food is a problem and most families have only one assured meal a day, if that. A number of kids have little or no clothing.

Home visits

Simon with friends and families in the village

Kids singing, to welcome Simon

78 year old grand mother who is responsible for her grandchildren

We taught hygiene to community children, especially how to take care of their teeth and bodies. We gave toothbrush, toothpaste and soap to more than 150 Community children who participated in these classes.

Keneth and Geoffrey demonstrating how to brush teeth and informing them how important it is to keep their teeth clean.

Kids all happy and ready in the line to get tooth brush, toothpaste and soap.

Patrick and Simon distributing hygiene stuff to kids.

Pictures of how excited the kids were after getting the hygiene stuff.

We also taught hand crafts to the kids - Angel using Maize/corn leave and banana fibres.

Simon getting involved.

Keneth teaching the kids hand crafts.

There was also music where the kids sang for the visitor and the board members.

Some of the board members that work with us in these communities.

Simon was given a number of gifts by kids and community members, thanking him for coming out to the village and working with us. There was an exchange of gifts. Simon also gave gifts to some families in the village.

Simon receiving and giving gifts

Simon was given traditional dolls made by the kids from banana fibers.

Simon giving a bed net to Roger’s family

On this trip we collected stories for our child sponsorship program. We are looking for people, interested in sponsoring a child. It will be a monthly contribution to help a child with basic necessities.

We also visited community water wells:

Most of the people in these villages walk miles to get water from well and it is hard to believe they drink the water they get. Typically it is dirty, shared by animals and a breeding place for mosquitoes.

As you recently read, in one of the monthly reports, we have been involved in the building of a local community church called kabonera prayer place. We visited the church with Simon. We were excited that a lot of work has been done to this church, though more support is needed.

Simon joined in the sports and games. We played soccer and netball with the kids. It was a surprise for the kids to see how good Simon was.

Simon was taught by the girls, how to play netball. He had not played before.

We thank you for your prayers and support in the work we are doing.
We ask you kindly for your continued support.

Please remember any amount that you donate will be a great contribution towards the work we are doing. We kindly ask anyone to donate towards this cause.
Yes, together we can make a change. Thank you for your support
Yours faithfully

Keneth kiyija

MISSION REPORT JULY 2009

2009-07-31T09:39:00.001-07:00

During the month of July we have been following up on the kids progress with school visits. We are also very pleased with the progress on construction of Kabonera Church.

We are so blessed that one of Keneth’s friends from Sweden, is here in Uganda. He is volunteering with the Joint Clinical Research Centre and will be traveling to work with HACM in Masaka. Simon met Keneth in San Francisco during his trip for the heart surgery.
Simon was very interested in coming to Uganda and working with the kid’s project.
Now here he is !

In preparation for his visit, we bought another tent for his accommodation. We are so honoured to have Simon working with us. Please pray for our safety and health too.

Our kids are getting prepared to do their final exams for this study term in early August and we are happy there is an improvement in performance. We expect them to get good marks at the end of the study term.

Godwin with the kids and teachers at school, checking on progress

Godwin with teacher, Mrs. Kamya & Enock

Godwin with Rachel and her teacher.

Our kids have already started their music, dance and drama. We are so excited that we were able to buy the instruments for them. As usual the sports and games are going very well.

Below are some of the kids singing.

Godwin also visited Kabonera Church where we donated four bags of cement. We are very happy the building is showing a lot of progress, even though there is still a lot that needs to be done.

We bought more medicine to treat our kids. One of the problems we have, is that even the kids who are not in our project come to us for help. We can't refuse them so we just try and help wherever we can.

We shall be making another trip to Masaka, with Simon in August.

Let me thank you for your continued support towards this project and as I always say, may you continue with that wonderful heart.

Thank you so much,
Yours faithfully
Kiyija Keneth

MISSION REPORT JUNE 2009

2009-07-28T13:43:00.000-07:00

Update: Rose and Ruth, the two kids with injuries from our last trip, have fully recovered. They are attending school as normal. Thanks for your support that we can change lives like that.

In the month of June, we made school visits to make sure that the kids we are supporting are at school and make sure that they are utilizing the materials we gave them. We talked to their respective teachers to follow their academic performance.

Keneth at school with the kids

We spent more time involved in sports and games, we are glad we got someone who will be helping us to train our kids into great soccer professionals. Sports is making a big impact on our kids. We donated two footballs to the youth. We want to continue our work with them and not neglect them.

We worked with building the community church in Kabonera village which was in a bad state but was still used by some of our kids (my grandmother also goes to this church). We donated 4 bags of concrete cement. They have already made bricks for themselves and started building.

We actively got involved in building it too and we shall continue to support this church in any way we can. The people are full of spirit and so friendly and welcoming.

Kabonera village church, which will be replaced by a more solid brick building. As you can see it is not very stable.

Thank you so much for your willingness to continue supporting us.
Yours faithfully
Keneth Kiyija

MINISTRY REPORT MAY 2009

2009-07-20T14:31:00.000-07:00

The month of May was school holiday for our kids. Patrick and I traveled to Masaka to work on the holiday program with the kids which included school visits, analyzing the academic performance, organizing parents and board meetings, sports, games, music, dance and drama, teaching hygiene and basic health as well as doing religious activities.

During home visit we found out that some of our kids were sleeping in terrible conditions, using just a sack and torn clothes for a bed (five kids together). We were able to purchase a mattress and a blanket to donate to this home.

The bedding the kids were sleeping on

Keneth removing bedding from house

Keneth & Patrick bring in the new mattress

Some of our kids had dangerous wounds from burns and had not received medication. Unless these wounds are treated, they can become life threatening because of the infection.

Ruth after treatment, with the bandages on her hand

Rose, after having her leg treated

Ruth's hand before treatment

We were able to take them to have appropriate care.

We decided to start up a first aid box. We bought some medicines to treat minor injuries which often occur in the community.

To help with the accommodation problem we face when visiting these villages we bought a tent. It makes access to families and the work we do easier.

We found out that our kids are fully using the sports and games materials that we bought them. We had made a kids soccer team for the community and we shall soon be opening up a sports tournament with the purpose of bringing the children in the community together. We expect to buy more of the sports equipment. We have realized that sports and games are making a big impact. We formed a community soccer team called HACMU Team and we are so glad that our first competition walked away with victory.

We organized a meeting for the adults in the community. We explained the progress and our intention for the way forward for this project. The parents asked me to send their sincere thanks to all the people that are supporting them and they said you are in their prayers.

We expect all our kids to start school on 24th May 2009 and we were able to provide 35 children with scholastic materials and 6 with tuition fees. We expect to increase on the number of children we are supporting.

MISSION REPORT APRIL 2009

2009-07-20T13:48:00.000-07:00

April is the final school term for our kids before they break for their school holiday.
I traveled to Masaka before Easter Festival to spend time working with kids and also meet the board to discuss the way forward for this project. Our main concern was to talk about ways we shall be tackling HIV/ AIDS in these communities and the future of this organization in general.

We have arranged different Holiday activities for our kids which include, music, dance, drama, sports and games, lesson on hygiene, sanitation, gospel and current dangers that may affect them during this season.

In the same month Patrick traveled to Masaka to spend time working with the board and kids. He actively participated in the parent’s meeting and mainly raised concern for the Parent’s cooperation with the project especially in making the holiday program a success.
Office Time: Patrick working on children stuff and trying to put things in place.

He also joined the board to visit school for the kids with the purpose of making academic evaluation for the kids we support.

Below is one of the board member Priscila looking at some of the children’s academic performance.

We are so happy that we have started yielding the fruits of our harvest as many of our kids performed so well in school Thanks goes to the people who are supporting our work. A lot is needed to be done towards such communities but we always believe that we can get there as many people continue to work hard towards this cause.
We were able to buy three footballs for the boys and one netball for the girls, we are so happy that the kids are utilizing them effectively.

Below are some of the kids with their footballs. Fun Time: Tony and Douglas juggling
the balls.
You never know we might have some David Beckham’s in our talent.

We use the sport to bring the children together and form community relationship and bonds. Also to help teach about HIV/AIDS.
Music, dance and drama is another way we shall be teaching people about HIV/AIDS because it draws more attention for people and can be both entertainment and education.

Some of our kids have serious health problems. There are many injuries in the homes through fires for cooking and hot water. One young girl was severly burnt by hot water and the lack of medical care can lead to infections and more serious problems.
Part of our mission is to help these children get the help they need.

We would also like to have basic first aid kits for these small but serious problems.

We shall be traveling back to Masaka at the beginning the beginning of May to run the kids Holiday program and we are very excited for that trip. Let me thank those who have donated towards this ministry. May God bless you and reward you abundantly

MISSION REPORT NOV-DEC 2008

2009-02-11T09:58:00.000-08:00

I along with my friends Patrick and Geofrey left Kampala to work with the orphan children in Masaka- Rakai for over two weeks. With the support of Community Church of Mill Valley and individuals from USA communities. I was able to support the team with transport fare and food for time we were in Masaka and Rakai.

ACTIVITIES ON THE TRIP
We taught basic health and hygiene to community children as well as adults who were interested to learn.

TAUGHT HYGIENE

2008-12-23T03:28:00.000-08:00

We taught basic health and hygiene to community children as well as Adults who were interested to learn.
All ready to listen and learn: Health education, kids all attentive to learn more about hygiene and Basic health.

SOME OF THE ORPHANS WE CHOSE TO START PROVIDING SCHOLASTIC MATERIALS

2008-12-18T02:56:00.000-08:00

A m working with more than 200 Orphan children in Masaka and Rakai and from the little support we are getting, we decided to choose only 30 children to start with by the begining of next year who will be getting scholastic materials and 5 will be paid school fees.This decission was reached at by the meeting held on 4th December with the community Elders to start with the few kids by the small funds we are getting and we should increase the number of children as the funds will be increasing. To choose these 30 children the group of Elders helped us to pick them up basing on the way of life they were leaving and how much needy they were, though it was difficult because all of them are so needy but per now we can just afford a few. In case the ministry receive any support inform of materials ( shoes, clothes, books,toys, sports equipments and any other) will be equally shared to all the Orphans we are working with. The 30 children are only chose because of limited financial support for now.

MISSION TEAM TO MASAKA-RAKAI 2008

2008-12-18T02:38:00.000-08:00

I and my friends Patrick and Geofrey left Kampala to work with the Orphan children in Masaka - Rakai for two weeks under Hope For African Children Ministry (HFACM). With the support of Community Church of Millvalley and other individuals in US communities. I was able to support their Transport Fare and food for the time they were serving in Masaka and Rakai.

MISSION TRIP TO MASAKA 29TH-14TH NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2008

2008-11-29T02:37:00.000-08:00

ACTIVITIES OF THE MISSION

1) CLEANING COMMUNITIY WATER WELLS.

2) TEACHING HYGIENE AND COMMUNITY SANITATION TO KIDS IN THE VILLAGE.

3) TEACHING SUNDAY SCHOOL AS WELL AS TEACHING BIBLE STUDY TO KIDS AND ADULTS IN THE COMMUNITY FROM HOME TO HOME.

4) LOOKING FOR BOARD MEMBER/ ELDERS IN THE COMMMUNITY TO WORK AS ADVICERS

5) TEACHING ABOUT HIV AND AIDS AND OTHER INFECTIOUS DISEASES TO THE COMMUNITY.

6)PLAYING GAMES AND SPORTS WITH THE KIDS.

7) TEACHING ENGLISH TO KIDS AND THE ADULTS WHO ARE INTERESTED TO LEARN.

7)VISITING COMMUNITY SCHOOLS AND SEE HOW WE CAN OPEN UP THE AIDS CLUBS IN THESE SCHOOLS.

AIMS OF THE MINISTRY

2008-11-17T05:02:00.000-08:00

· Setting up income generating activities for the communities to make them independent in future.
· Sensitization, monitoring and mobilization of the ministry projects to make them beneficial to children and community.
· Training the school drop outs in different vocational skills and knowledge to become independent like tailoring, building, mechanics and be productive in the community
· Sensitization of the community about the social problems like HIV/Aids, malaria, cholera, diahorea, basic hygiene and food nutrition
· Setting up community based projects like boreholes, wells, clinics
· Setting up an orphanage for the children t5o develop their talents and become useful for them and their communities

OBJECTIVES OF THE MINISTRY

2008-11-17T04:52:00.000-08:00

· To improve on the health, hygiene and community sanitation
· To encourage different professionals with any kind of talents and skills to volunteer in these communities like doctors, engineers, teachers, sports men, community based workers, musicians, counselors.
· To provide education and scholastic materials to orphans and vulnerable children.
· To improve on the agricultural production in the communities.
· To sensitize the community about HIV/Aids and infectious diseases.
· To help the children to be independent, helpful to their community.

Problems Facing the Masaka Community and What Needs to be Done

2008-11-03T22:39:00.000-08:00

Facts About Masaka District
Masaka District is found in South western Uganda across the bounder of Tanzania. It is well known to be the first district in Uganda where AIDS victim was notified around 1986. Masaka district is the meeting point, of travelers from Rwanda and Tanzania who park their Lorries in one of Masaka towm called Lukaya and sources say that one of the travelers brought AIDS in Uganda. Currently Masaka has been affected by problems caused by AIDS victims for example the increasing number of orphans in the district, poor Aids care in the district, And low response to AIDS victims in the district especially deep in villages.

Problems faced by children and communities in Masaka

Infant mortality
The number of children dying before the age five is increasing because: Mother do not recieve postnatal care
Children die of Malaria, poor feeding and AIDS
Children born with teenage mother lack adequate care
Poor care of children in families, due to loss of parents and poverty No drugs in hospital because of theft

Solutions:
Make medical services free.
Providing mosquito nets.
Bring medical services nearer to people..
Building medical centers to provide adequate care to all children .

Poor Nutrition (some children run away from home because of lack of enough food , some end up steal food because they do not eat enough at home)
Poverty, parents cannot afford to sustain their children on balance diet, cannot afford milk, chicken, fish except on Christmas.
Some families have only one meal a day or two meals a day, Lunch supper and only Porridge and Posho. Harvests are poor, Famine has been rampant.
Orphans can not feed themselves well, they must attend to other demands
We eat the same kind of meal like Posho( maize meal), cassava and greens with no other Nutritious foods.

Solutions:
Improve Nutrition through education and mobilizations for food production by teaching farmers good method of farming.
Increased Agricultural products through distribution of improved seeds and extension services.

Poor Water and sanitation
Not everyone has access to safe drinking water.
Some people drink water from unprotected wells which sometimes are shared with animals.
For some places water is along distance away from their homes at times up to 2miles. They do not have bore holes, springs and wells.
Those that latrines are not in good conditions. They are shallow, not well built and have no water for washing toilets.
Some people do not know the importance of washing their hands before after using toilets.

Solution:
Drills more bore holes for clean water to reduce diseases. Improve toilets for better sanitation for children. Teach people hygiene and Sanitation.

Education
More children go to school but they are some children who do not go especially in Villages who are mostly orphans and those with parents who can not pay their school requirements.
Few children go to high school due to high amount of school fees..
Some children especially orphans run away from home due to mistreatment from their step mother and end going on street.
Schools are not enough, classes are not enough and teachers as well.
Children lack school fees and scholastic materials to use at school.
Children are hungry, they keep thinking about food all the time.
Vocational and technical training are few and those which are there are expensive.

Solutions:
Ensure that all children attain education through sponsorship programs and providing them scholastic materials.
More schools like orphanages should be built to care for the increasing number of Orphans. Star Vocation schools for children who drop out of school.

Increasing Number of Orphans
They are neglected and exploited of children who are not cared for or supported by parents or relative. Orphan children end up working as maids, Shamber boys and young girls end up into early marriage. Because of poverty, families can not properly look after Orphans.
Orphans can not access basic necessities and sometimes end up stealing.
In some homes Guardians deny orphans food and clothes. They torture and abuse them.
They give harsh punishments compared to what other children at home get. They sometimes have to do all house work.
Orphans born with AIDS are not followed to provide treatment to them especially in villages and are neglected in families.
Sometimes when both parents die the elder child takes care of other children.

Solutions:
Address needs to orphans.
Address needs to families headed by children. Provide education for Orphans.
Aids children need counseling services.

Poverty
Unemployment
Unproductive agricultural products which earn little for farmers
Parents end up not providing necessities at home.
Fathers spend all their time drinking Alcohol in pubs.
Mother do not work and have no source of earning because of the historical influence about Women.

Solution:
Teach Women hand Craft.
Teach farmers good methods of farming.
Father should be taught other work through vocational training.

READ ABOUT KENETH'S LIFE

2008-11-01T22:50:00.000-07:00

I was born into a family of seven children with five brothers and two sisters. I am the youngest child. My mother also adopted two more children which makes our family a total of nine. When I was an infant I was severely sick and then when I was three years old, I was diagnosed with a caridal cordal defect. My mother was so shocked to hear this sad news, especially because the doctors told her that I needed surgery in a country such as South Africa, India, the United States, or Britain. We also found out that the minimal costs for the surgery were $18,000 dollars; this was another problem because all her resources together did not even reach $200 dollars.
My father separated me from my siblings because he knew that I was ill and identified me as not being a help. He just called me a “dead body” and was waiting for the day of burial. My mother did not lose hope but continued to suffer, taking care of me daily. My father disregarded me completely and tried to have my mother do the same. She refused and being the wonderful mother that she is, continued to take care of me like the other children.
Time had passed and my life was dependent on God and my mother. My condition was becoming worse but she never lost hope because she believed that one day God would create a miracle for me to have a healthy heart.
Living in the extreme poverty with my family and having poor health were the two most horrible conditions a human can have. But God kept me alive as well as my prayers and my mother. I was able to finish High School. The doctors told me that I would be unable to work because of the high risk it would create. I did not listen to them because I knew that studying was the only way that my future would be bright. I studied all the time. The environment did not help me because sometimes I would study on an empty stomach and I only had two notebooks for the nine classes that I was taking. Also, during this time, my father died of AIDS.
I finished my high school and was fortunate to be one of the top five students in my class. This was a huge achievement in my life. Additionally, I was admitted to one of the top universities in Africa, Makerere University. I started studying there to get my Bachelors Degree in tourism and completed one year. However, the costs were high and I struggled to maintain tuition payments. Also, the doctor told me that I had to stop working because of my health condition and my life was in danger.
A friend of mine named James came to Uganda. I met him because we attended the same church together. I hid my condition from him but as my friend, I told him to pray for me. When James found out about my story he told the small, community church of Mill Valley about me because he wanted to see if there was something he could do to help. The community church accepted to pay for my tuition and living expenses ay my Ugandan University. They also worked hand in hand to fulfill God’s plan to see that I come to the United States to have a healthy heart. Receiving this news was the best day of my life because I knew if I had surgery, I would be able to be healthy.

2008-11-01T22:00:00.000-07:00

The kids of Masaka

2008-11-01T20:17:00.000-07:00

These are some of the kids in Masaka, so amazing seeing them dancing and singing can make some ones day. Most of them unaccessible to good health care, education, shelter, food, clothes and other neccesities. Working with these children can always brings Joy in my heart.