Ana (approximately 6) is the daughter of a sex worker from the South-West and a soldier from the North of Uganda. She stayed with mom until she was able to walk. Then she married another man and disappeared. Ana was left helpless and would move from house to house looking for food and shelter. That is how she reached at our feeding project in the town of Kisoro. She was admitted at the rehab centre on January 17, 2009.

‘Girl’ is approximately 7 and has no other name. She is a half cast of a Hutu father who abandoned her Pygmy mother. She was brought up in the grass houses with the mother but she was harassed by the rest of the tribe due to her mixed origin. This caused her to run away often. But she was also not accepted by the Hutu’s. She eventually ended up totally on the streets. She has been coming for feeding at our project in the town in the course of the last year. She was admitted at the rehab centre on January 17, 2009.

Gilbert Hakiza is 15 and studying in primary 5. He lost his mother while still very young. His father married another woman who abused him. He would often run away and started living on the street, stealing boxes from night watchmen and smoking marihuana, which served as a blanket in the cold nights. He used to be a broker of prostitutes and when chased by the night patrol would run barefoot through the streets – often over broken glass – sustaining injury to which no treatment was ever provided. He was happy to be called a street child. He could eat leftovers from the garbage bins, collect charcoal from there to earn some little money or beg help from passing drivers at times. When proposed to enter the rehab centre, he almost refused. His life was rescued there. He stopped smoking ever since and was delivered from all bad habits. He accepted the Lord Jesus as His Savior and started spreading the Word to others. Eventually many were saved through him. Gilbert is very prayerful and would love to preach the gospel all over the world.

Jukira David, 6 years old, was abused by his step-mother who scalded with hot water over his chest and abdomen – the deep psychological and physical scars remain. His father was a soldier who later abandoned the family in the slums of Kisoro. David became homeless and helpless after the death of his step mother and started street life. He was admitted at the rehab centre of Koinonia and has finished primary 1.

Ambrose Nuwagaba is 17 and completed primary 6. He has been an orphan from about 5 years old. He grew up ever since on the streets. He used to be a broker of prostitutes and steal to survive. He would sleep on bricks with no cover and smoke marihuana. He was often beaten up by older boys in the hard life of the streets. He was constantly chased by guards and gangs and on the run even at night. He started coming at the feeding centre of Koinonia and from there he was directed to the rehab centre. After some up and downs, he totally abandoned drugs and bad manners. He is thankful to God for rescuing his life. He is following vocational training to become a mechanic.

Moses Hafasha 17 years old: “I thank God who sent Koinonia to Kisoro and His servants to rescue me from the streets. I came to know God and experience miracles. I would have died but was spared. God saved me in his love (Jh 3:16 and Je 31:3). I used to stay outside and sleep in boxes, along verandas, in trees and bushes. I would beg and sing and people would give me something to eat. I am ok now, eating and sleeping well. I am happy and confident. I am following vocational training for carpentry”.

Karageya Robert (21 years old – used to be a criminal and a drug addict and was jailed several times once for raping). He is an HIV patient: “I thank and praise the Almighty God who rescued my life from the streets and death. I was ignorant, evil and hated by everybody. God’s servants from Koinonia Ministries showed me love and extended help to me. I have no parents but know now that God is my Father and the Father of all. Though I used to be helpless, I have a great hope to inherit the kingdom of heaven. I understood that I am of great value and am no longer worried”.

Ambrose Nuwagaba is 17 and completed primary 6. He has been an orphan from about 5 years old. He grew up ever since on the streets. He used to be a broker of prostitutes and steal to survive. He would sleep on bricks with no cover and smoke marihuana. He was often beaten up by older boys in the hard life of the streets. He was constantly chased by guards and gangs and on the run even at night. He started coming at the feeding centre of Koinonia and from there he was directed to the rehab centre. After some up and downs, he totally abandoned drugs and bad manners. He is thankful to God for rescuing his life. He is following vocational training to become a mechanic.