STREET CHILDREN OUTREACH

Our services in this early stage were to compliment other organizations because they generally run week days and we have been running on the weekend. So far we have been providing space for the boys to bathe and wash their clothes. We eat dinner together on Saturday and Sunday. While we are waiting for dinner to be ready we watch movies, play cards, and draw pictures, they LOVE to draw! We have started a talking circle where they share their past, their challenges, their dreams… and really anything they want to talk about. We also take the time to talk one on one with the children as often as we can.

One of the boys said thank you to us for what we have done for them so far and he said he wonders what he can give us to show his appreciation. We assured him we don’t need anything that we honestly care for them.



CHALLENGES:
- Some of the neighborhood people (adults and children) stare constantly.
- We don’t have a very large space so we are using what we can to play and do the washing
- We need more resources…. so much more. Resources like: basins, jerry cans,  soap, brushes, cooking utensils, hair clippers, nail clippers, and learning materials… we need paper, pens, books, reading and picture books, drawing and craft materials.
- The boys need basics like shoes, pants or shorts, shirts, jelly for their skin, underwear, hats or toques and jackets or sweaters. I was so sad that the toques I brought from Canada were taken from the boys as soon as they went back to the street.
- Cost
We spend much on food for the boys when they come but I honestly believe that EVERYONE should be treated with Dignity and Respect! I insist on us giving them balanced food that changes if not day to day then week to week. So they eat Matooke, Beans, Peas, Fish, Gnuts, Rice…. We add egg to what we can so there is a little more nutrition… we add fruit when we can like watermelon… I know their bellies can take tap water but I like to give boiled water because it is safer…. So there is much prep in the meals. We go through a lot of water because they wash their clothes and bathe and drink and eat. This water costs by the jerry can so we try to be as smart as possible about how we use the water.



CHALLENGES THE BOYS SPEAK OF:
- Being beaten, stolen from and sexually abused on the street. This is so hard to hear because they are so young and I wish so much they were in a safer place at night.
- One of the challenges that they don’t speak openly about is bugs… their clothes have bugs from sleeping outside. These bugs bite them and they are hard to get rid of. We have been giving some hot water to wash with after he sp openly asked for it. He was so frank about his concern and solution it was funny in a little guy being so grown up and independent way. They surprise me each day they are here with how cleaver they are.
- Medical attention is also a challenge. Some of the boys have jiggers and we can help them remove them but I would rather a nurse help, some have wounds that take long to heal and others get sick with the flu or Malaria and need medicine.
- Some of the boys talk about going back home or going back to school. I wish there was something I could do to help them with school but I let them know I will not make promises I cannot keep and I am not a funded organization where I can find school fees. We have however, offered to do home visits to assist with conversations about a child returning home. Our goal is not just to go and say please take them back without a proper dialogue about changes, changes the child needs to make as well as the guardians.
- Of course the biggest challenge is a safe space for them to sleep. I know we are aiming to provide dorms in the future but that does not help here and now. They ask us when they can sleep here and I remind them we have to show the lady who rents to us that they are good boys who respect the space.

​COMMUNITY OUTREACH
Currently we have two villages that we are working with doing outreach once a week.
 

Village: Sunga Luvule
We are working with Equator Nursery and Primary School. At this school we are working with two groups of children the P4-P7 and the P1-P3.
We are meeting with the children and will be providing Counselling and Guidance in the form of group work and individual meetings.
Since we have started we have met with 20 families in the community. We will be hosting group meetings as well as working with individual higher need families.

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Village: Kiteengesa
We are working with New Hope Primary School. At this school we are working with the P4-P7 and the P1-P3.
We are meeting with the children and will be providing Counselling and Guidance in the form of group work and individual meetings.
With these children we will also be working with them in developing their reading and writing skills through hosting a reading club.



​YOUTH COUNCIL
The youth council is hosted by Marvious Kiwanuka. Currently they have 13 members. These youth are egger to get into the community and start providing support to elderly and higher need families.
They want to spend their next holiday with a family that needs house repairs and they will create the materials needed to repair the home and do the repairs voluntarily.

After all, “we must become the change we want to see in the world.”
~ Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (1869-1948)