Crisis Centre for abandoned/orphaned babies Uganda

Join in with our milestone celebrations!

As we promised in our last report here are some photos of the hugely successful ceremonies and festivities that everyone at Nafasi and our sister project, Children’s Welfare Mission, enjoyed on 21st October.

It was an unforgettable occasion and we were very privileged to have the Mayor of Kira District, and the Deputy Ambassador for the Netherlands to cut the ribbons and officially open the new buildings of Nafasi Welfare Centre and the new primary school block at the Mission. It was a big day too for meeting new contacts at local government and community organisation level, vital to developing our networks and securing support and resources into the medium and long-term. Everyone was hugely impressed by the design and excellent facilities that we now have at the new Welfare Centre and the high standards of care for our babies and young children was so evident and inspiring.

This memorable and wonderful day was shared by a group of 38 donors, sponsors and volunteers as part of a 10-day visit organised around the opening celebrations, tours of the local Namugongo area and trips to see some of the beautiful countryside and wildlife of Uganda. For many in the group, it was their first chance to meet the individual children they are sponsoring at the mission schools. It was everyone’s first opportunity to visit Nafasi’s new buildings, see for themselves the fantastic work and dedication of the carers and staff, and most importantly to meet the babies and young children who are the central focus of all we do at Nafasi.

Don’t miss the link below to a 2-minute film for a glimpse of the formal opening - see the children cutting the cake and hear their African jubilations! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yolr4dGrfUI

Chance to make a difference in the life of a teen mum and her 4-month-old baby daughter.

Meeting one of our teen Mums and her 4-month-old daughter so moved and inspired one of the Dutch couples in the group that it has resulted in new chances for them all! Read on for more detail...

Our youngest and most vulnerable teen Mum has just gone back to school, one of her many new chances, thanks to the generosity of her new sponsors. It’s the start of a new and more hopeful chapter in what has been a traumatic and frightening young life so far….

“Carol” was raised by her sister, as their mother died when she was just a year old. She is the youngest child in a family of seven. Their father struggled to look after all the children. The children had to get petty jobs in order to get food.  Carol was sent at age 10 to Kampala, some 150 miles from her hometown in eastern Uganda. Her dreams of getting an education, learning English and one-day training to be a nurse were dashed when she was made to work as a nanny and take care of one of her elder brother’s children and household. Sexual abuse and rape by a family member then followed. Before she was 13, and too young to understand what was happening to her body, she found out she was about to have a baby!

Thankfully one of her sisters managed to rescue her and take her to Wakisa, a crisis centre for pregnant teenagers in Kampala, where she was admitted and received pre and postnatal care and counselling. Nafasi Welfare Centre’s social work team and the Nafasi Community Support Programme work closely with Wakisa. Discussions started on how Nafasi could provide the care and support so urgently needed by this young Mum, a child herself, and her baby.

Two weeks after giving birth to a beautiful little girl, “Deborah”, they were both admitted to Nafasi, and as with all new arrivals, underwent assessment and personalised care plans were set up. One of the clear priorities identified was to help Carol go back to school without being separated from her own child. This is where the visiting couple come in. Carol and Deborah’s life-changing New chance had literally just flown in from Holland! The couple approached us and offered their help and ongoing financial support, explaining how impressed they are with Nafasi’s work and seeing it as their new chance to make a difference in the lives of these vulnerable children.

In their own words… “Even in Carol’s situation, we can make a small difference so that she can eventually hopefully live independently with Deborah and provide for the two of them. We hope that the small thing we do in sponsoring her can have big and positive consequences….Such a small thing, such a big impact. We have experienced so much of the kindness and hospitality of Uganda, that we have returned as changed people. We are part of a partnership that focuses on the children.”

We are delighted to report that Carol’s is already enjoying her new chances. She is back at school, attending as a day pupil at the Mission primary school whilst her baby is looked after by the Nafasi carers. She is able to look after Deborah in the evenings and weekends. Deborah is thriving, growing fast, she can now smile and sit up. Together Nafasi and our generous donors are giving these and other vulnerable babies and children new chances, and we really appreciate you all.

You can help make a difference!

Are you inspired by the generosity of this Dutch couple and would you like to help too? We are looking for donors who will support us every month. By increasing our regular income we will be able to employ more staff and look after more children like Deborah.

If you would be kind enough to start a regular donation before the end of the year it will receive a 100% match after 3 months from Global Giving’s Year-End Campaign.

This holiday season, give the gift of giving.

Why not give your loved ones a GlobalGiving Gift Cards and they can make a worthwhile and life-changing donation to Nafasi! https://www.globalgiving.org/gifts/

Thank you for your support in 2017

Thank you for taking the time read this report and thanks you again for your support. Only with your help and donations can we continue this vital work in Uganda caring for babies in the centre and supporting Teen Mums in the community.

There is more information on our website www.nafasiwelfarecentre.org  and you can follow us on social media. https://www.facebook.com/nafasiwelfarecentre/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_Dw0Cu9VWS2AbO7OZaEh7A

If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at info@nafasiwelfarecentre.org

On behalf of all the staff at Nafasi, the babies and young children and the teen Mums supported in our community project we wish you all a very Happy Christmas and our best wishes for a peaceful, healthy and fulfilling 2018!