Send Children to School in Uganda

Since 1997, the program now known as Bridges for Children has been caring for children in Kampala, Uganda. In post-war Uganda and in the darkest days of the HIV/AIDS crisis, the program partnered with the church for temporary classrooms that doubled as shelter for children living in the streets.

Over time, as life-saving medications became available and stigma lessened, the program shifted to an educational model providing school fees and allowing children to attend the church school without financial support. In some years, as many as 500 children attended. Last year 224 children were in the program. 

You have helped these children in many ways, including:

• Education and interventions such as medical care, and trauma healing.
• Two daily meals
• The Wamama group for mothers

Now in a new season, Bridges for Children embraces a time of transition into a new model of care. Bridges Founder Sara Sebyala has been working to establish means for the program to become self-sustaining. With this in mind, she has added raising chickens and growing pineapples to her activities.

“Now every day I have eggs. I sell the eggs and I have money in my hands, and every day more chickens are laying and I watch that money grow.” Sara’s aim is to support children and families through farming.

After watching grades plateau and then drop, and after seeing less long-term life change in students,  we all asked how we could bring more hope and positive change into the children’s lives. One problem was the number of children outpaced the financial support. Another was the administrative aspect that took Sara and her team out of the mothering roles where they excel. At the beginning of this school year, the Bridges team began working with families to transition students into other schools. Calvary Primary is operating with fewer students and Nineteen students continue in secondary school.

Sara knows education is a key part of escaping poverty, but there are many other factors that affect a child’s future. The 42 children raised in her home over the years have done well. She is restructuring to have more time with individual children, to make more investment into their day-to-day lives beyond the classroom.

 Within five years, Sara hopes Bridges for Children will be fully self-sustained trough the farm. We'll bring you more updates as this new season unfolds. 

Links:

• TI Web Site

Greetings and Happy New Year! 

I am writing to share with you what your contributions to this project have accomplished.   I wish to illustrate these accomplishments by sharing the life story on one child enrolled in Bridges for Children and the hopeful impact she will have on future generations. Through your generosity, care and support, this one changed life will continue to bring life and hope to the next generation.

Namukasa* was orphaned at age two.   Her elder sister raised her until she was eight, when she was removed from school and placed in another home. 

At age nine, Namukasa  was working the ground, digging from 6 in the morning until 1 in the afternoon. Then she had to collect firewood, carry water a great distance and prepare meals.  She ate just one meal in a full day of physical hardship.  This meal was her breakfast, lunch and dinner.  She lacked access to soap, clean clothes, and a mattress to sleep on at night. 

Namukasa was beaten by her new caregivers, she lived in poverty. She felt abandoned and alone. Life seemed hopeless, until one day a lady walked into her village and noticed her condition. The lady was the director of Bridges for Children, Sara Sebyala. Sara adopted Namuksa in a maternal sense and provided emotional care, education, and a safe place for her to be nurtured and educated.

Namukasa joined Bridges for Children in 2006, when she was in Primary 4 Class.Today she is a strong, determined, hopeful, thankful, and capable 19 year-old, who desires to serve others. She is currently doing a “first teaching practice” at a nursery school in Luzira. She is on her way to becoming a preschool teacher.

Namukasa has journeyed through much difficulty and continues to move forward with determination.  Bridges for Children, offered her hope and a road that leads to service in her community.  She is a testimony of endurance and strength and a face of light and hope in a country facing continual adversity.

She says, "Bridges for Children has been my shelter and refuge to run to. They have stayed with me, always listened to me when I need someone to talk to, they have given me their time, cried when I cried, made me to laugh  and put a smile on my face again."

Namukasa's story  is a success story. You can rejoice in knowing you helped write the chapters in this young girl’s life.  Your donations are seeds sown into fertile ground, yielding a crop and a harvest that will impact lives today and tomorrow. 

Thank you for giving so that children like Namukasa  can  have hope. We give thanks to you, to the staff of Bridges for Children, and every heart that cries for change in a world that seems dark and hopeless. 

 *name changed to protect identity