Ok so my first week isn’t quite finished yet, but I thought
I would write a short update to say a bit more about Uganda Hands for Hope and
my week at work so far.
Hands for Hope (HfH) is based on the edge of the Namuwongo slum and works with the community that live there, supporting the most
vulnerable families. Around 15,000 people live in the slum, many of them
refugees from northern Uganda, the CR Congo and Sudan. 90% of people there
live under the absolute poverty line (less than 75p a day). I went on a
community walk there yesterday with one of HfH’s social workers and visited
some of the families that HfH works with. Although I had seen images of the slum
and met some of the children, nothing quite prepares you for the level of
poverty you witness when walking around this vast area and it’s
difficult to describe it in words.
HfH was set up in 2008 with the aim of providing support to
the most vulnerable children and families living in the Namuwongo slum. It
currently supports 300 children and their families. HfH run a nursery school
(where I’m based!) and funds children to then attend a local primary and (soon)
secondary school (the first HfH children start secondary school next year). It
also support the families via a livelihoods programme for women, an afternoon
youth programme, a library and health related activity (e.g. health checks,
HIV/ AIDS awareness).
I have spent the week meeting the staff (HfH employs 17
staff, including teachers and a team of social/ outreach workers) and learning
lots about the organisation (Tammy, the current general manager/ administrator,
who I am taking over from, is providing a really great handover!)
It is still the school holidays here and, during this time, HfH
runs a holiday club for all of the children.
Jean Marc, one of HfH's ambassadors talking to the children at the holiday club. |
excitement on the bus! |
queuing to get in.... |
Lunchtime! |