BUILD A FUTURE WITH US!
Lochoro Chuman sends her greetings from Uganda. She smiles because there are people who surrounded her when life brought her down. I love you and thank you for taking care of me and supporting me in my studies. Lochoro was raped at home during lockdown and was ashamed to talk about it. Later, she explained everything. She was helped and sent to a shelter for young mothers to deal with her trauma, but had to leave quickly because she had contracted a highly contagious disease as a result of her experience.
At home, the need is too great to even consider returning now. Two of her brothers and sisters died of malnutrition a few years ago. This is one of the reasons that drove Chuman to the streets of Kampala, where she was found and helped by Koinonia. Her other brother was killed last year by armed cattle thieves during the period of instability in Napak. After the birth, Chuman wants to pursue vocational training so that she can support herself and her baby.
Greetings from Napak, in northern Uganda, during a visit to one of the schools where we have several children attending primary school as boarders. Behind the numbers are stories of lives, like our own children, on their way to their destination. They are equally loved by God, created in His image and conceived with thoughts of peace, plans for prosperity, and a good future. We all know that along the path of life there are many thieves of destiny.
Uganda recently reopened its schools after being closed for almost two years. This was not an easy time for anyone, but it was certainly difficult for the children who had just picked up the threads of their lives.
All these and many more once lived on the hard streets of the capital, begging to survive and support their families, in a desperate attempt to break out of abject poverty.
Abura and Loweng, pictured above, are sisters from a family of eight children living in dire circumstances. Despair drove one of the sisters to Kampala to beg on the streets and earn money for her family. We took her in and supported her until she suddenly passed away last year.
We wanted to help the whole family in any way we could. Above, on the left, are the twins who were born in our hands and cared for by Koinonia from day one. They have now been taken home by the street mother. Their sister (bottom right) and brother (center) are also supported by us. In the center below is Emma, our dedicated field worker in Napak.
Alex was always so sad. He had been practically the head of the family since he was five years old. When we took him off the streets, his grandmother’s house was the only home he had. By that time, he had already had a hard life on the streets of the capital, which were anything but child-friendly. At home, he had to take care of his crippled grandmother, cook, maintain the garden, day in and day out, while attending day school. In Maniata, the village where they lived, the neighbors told us about his suffering. Sadness had left deep marks on his face, and we witnessed it every time we visited him. The boy could never smile because of the abuse and burdens that were much heavier than his small shoulders could bear. Yet he did not want to abandon his grandmother. When she died, we took him to a boarding school.
Het is de tweede keer dat ik hem daar ontmoette. Hij rende snel achter de auto toen we de school naderden en hij ons zag aankomen, luid juichend. Ik hoorde zijn stem het eerst en draaide me om te zien wie het is. Ik zal nooit de vreugde op zijn gezichtje vergeten. Hij is veranderd naar een lief en vrolijk kind. Hij weet dat er iemand voor hem zorgt en dat hij weer kind kan zijn.
All these children and many more are asking us to pass on their greetings and thank you for the support you give them.
Moses, in the middle, is HIV-positive. Both his parents are dead, and the child knew only misery at the hands of his alcoholic grandmother, the only relative who could take him in after we brought him back from the streets. I had visited him there. Another boy who couldn’t smile. Always sick, weak, and abused. The grave that had defeated him from conception was always visible on his face…
Today, both Moses and his brothers and sisters are under our care. He is a confident boy and a soccer player. He thanks you warmly for all your support and explains why: the school, the balanced diet tailored to his special needs, the medication. Moses knows that there is hope because he has experienced God’s goodness in acts of mercy.
Our students from the secondary school in Kisoro, 24 hours from Napak, a distance from north to south, greet you on a rainy day. Most of these children were taken off the streets when they were very young. Today, they have arrived somewhere.
Jukira, center photo on the right, says: “I am so happy to be your son. Today I am wearing a uniform like the others. You have chosen a very good school, which was not a given. Please give my regards to my sponsors. Tell them that we are so grateful.”
Above, children who are still in primary or vocational education. They live in our house in Kisoro.
Edna, in the middle, is in grade 7 and says, “I really love you.”
Flugence is 15 years old, although our children do not have a registered date of birth. He is staying at our rehabilitation center in Kabale and has reached the age and level to return home to study and be supported from there, but there is no home for him. His mother is mentally unstable, staying here and there, depending on the mercy of people. She completely lost her mind in Rwanda, probably during the civil war.
Part of daily life in our homes is community. Children sing and are taught from the Bible as the basis for their upbringing. Christopher (right, above) was once one of them, a top street gangster. He has been completely rehabilitated and is now a pastor, married, and has two children.
Can you imagine that these children were once wild, full of drugs, but are now peaceful children, enjoying life and working on their future, as every child should?
They are saved, protected, and confident, knowing that God loves them; they have experienced it firsthand. Together, we can reach many more children. Would you like to build the future with us?
These are some of Totoalobo’s own words, spoken straight from her heart. She is the spokesperson for all of them: “Thank you for your support. I was once lost in Kampala. You found me and brought me back. I come from a very poor family, but in you, I am rich. No one at home could take responsibility for caring for us. My mother used to take me to the streets of Kampala to beg and take care of her. I always pray for you.”
Construction is underway in Kabale, on building land given to us by the district. We are almost halfway through the work. We are grateful to everyone who has made this possible. All your donations, large and small, your sacrifice of love, goes directly to them. Above is a photo of our team. Pr Benon, bottom left, is the chairman of the loyal local committee that looks after the interests of the children, good order, and
smooth progress.
On the right in the middle, the engineer and the workers during lunch. We hope and believe that we will be able to continue and complete this work. So far, the boys’ rooms are ready, along with the outdoor toilets, while the dining room is under construction. We still need the staff and administrative areas and the girls’ house. Your donations specifically for the construction project are very welcome to help us complete everything.
These are T-shirts printed in Belgium. 10 Mile runners and supporters wore them. They have come a long way.
Will you join us as a supporter in the marathon for life? Many children are waiting, and many needs can be met if we all do our part.
May we bring this to your attention in conclusion?
- There is no free education in Uganda.
- The sponsorship money covers the costs of primary school students, but a secondary school student costs us on average twice the sponsorship amount.
- Students in higher education cost us three times the sponsorship amount.
- A home is part of resettling a child’s life.
Would you consider:
- Sponsor education with a fixed monthly amount?
- Donate to our building fund?
- Share this newsletter with friends and family?
- Sponsor a child.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or suggestions.
