Help Poor Children with Cancer to Access Treatment

Despite dramatic improvements in survival, nutrition, and education over recent decades, today's children face an uncertain future. 

Climate change, ecological degradation, migrating populations, conflict, widespread inequalities, and destructive commercial practices threaten the health and future of children in every country. 

Even in rich countries, many children go hungry or live in conditions of absolute poverty, especially those belonging to marginalised social groups—including indigenous populations and ethnic minorities.

However, we can all do something to give a young person a better future for example our community of supporters at New Hope Children’s hostel have been able to help a young man called Felex, who is 18 years old, to believe he has a future.

“My parents are peasant farmers and I have 5 siblings. When I was 10 years old, I began developing lumps under my skin and after treatment they reappeared. I was then sent for a biopsy and was diagnosed with skin cancer and was referred to the Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI) in Kampala. In 2016 I commenced chemotherapy treatment for the next 2 years.

My battle with the cancer forced me to drop out of school due to frequent hospitalizations as I was falling behind and it also impacted my self-esteem. You are mindful and fearful of your own mortality as I have witnessed friends passing away during time in the hostel and at the hospital.

During the COVID-19 pandemic my treatment was disrupted due to travel restrictions, causing a recurrence of the lumps and deterioration in my health. However, after the travel restrictions were lifted, I resumed treatment at UCI. Concerned about my condition and the family financial difficulties, I was referred to New Hope Children's Hostel for closer monitoring and support.

I had a place to stay, meals and transport to treatment. The emotional support and care from the staff was also invaluable during the difficult times. I was very excited to have been one of the young men at the hostel chosen by The Hope Creator President of Rotary club of Kireka Movers Rtn Sarah Komugisha, to learn a skill to assist me to find work after I went home. I enrolled in the welding class and I did struggle due to my ill health but the president encouraged me to continue and finish. I completed my final exam and plan to someday start my own welding business. I want to support my family as they have sacrificed a lot for me to get well.”

Felex can now think about having a future.

Each of us has the potential to help one child either through sponsoring their education, or providing food and shelter, access to medical support, the list is endless. And the best way you can do this is by providing a small donation to a charity providing this support to disadvantaged children.

It is surprising how a little help can go a long way. GlobalGiving has many projects aimed at helping children throughout the world. These children can’t do it alone.

If each of us helped just ONE child how good would that be.

The diagnosis and treatment of cancer is a stressful and scary experience for anyone, but for children it can have a tremendous impact both physically and mentally.

For children from rural communities, that must leave their family and friends and go to the city to get treatment, it is very daunting. Also, for those children who go to school, it means that their education is on hold whilst they undergo treatment.

In this report we are pleased to be able to highlight two initiatives that are great solutions for: 1. Young boys who are missing out on developing new skills: 2. Showing women how to make an affordable, useable hygienic product.  

1. Rotary Club Kireka Movers has initiated a project called “Boy Child Uplifting Project” (BCUP) to support young boys to be self-sustaining, confident and have a purpose through developing new skills in such areas as carpentry, welding, motor mechanics etc.

The Hope Creator President {2023/2024) Sarah Komugisha says “Several of the young boys on the program, are patients from our New Hope Children’s hostel, who are currently having treatment for their cancer.”

Meet Emmanuel, who is benefiting from this program.

"In 2021, I became sick and was admitted to a hospital and after many investigations and being given medicine, there was no improvement, I continued feeling pain. I was sent to another hospital and had a CT scan and the results were not good so, I was referred to Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI). I was diagnosed with nasopharyngeal carcinoma and commenced my cancer treatment in January 2022. At this time life was hard as I had to sleep on the veranda at the hospital and getting food was difficult because we did not have money. I was referred to New Hope Children’s hostel, which is ran by Kawempe Home Care. It became my home. They provide me with food, transport, clothing, and accommodation and they also support me with medical tests.

During my treatment Sarah Komugisha (The Hope Creator President of Rotary Club of Kireka Movers) spoke to us about the opportunity for “Supporting a boy child to acquire a skill” which was an initiative of Rotary. I was interested so I registered and started training in carpentry as it was near Mulago, were I get my treatment. When I am not at an appointment, I attend school and will complete my studies at the end of June 2024. I have acquired a lot of skills, and can make things like facer boards, chairs, tables, doors, stools, beds, drawers, side boards and may others things. I am very grateful for this opportunity because after here when I complete my treatment, I can get a job to work and earn a living.

I am so grateful for the wonderful kindness and support given to me by Kawempe Home Care, and Musawo Sarah. I look forward to having a good life after here." says Emmanuel.

The good news is that Emmanuel is now back home and is on three month medical reviews.  We wish him all the best with his health and work. 

Hazel and Amara Providing Practical Solutions.

Hazel and Amara’s Skills Programs provide practical sessions for groups and they recently visited the hostel and showed the women how to make reusable pads. This skill will help the women immensely as these items are expensive to buy. Also, this skill will help them to provide pads for their daughters as well and also pass on the skill to them. Hazel and Amara have many times supported us with food donations. Thank you for providing our caregivers with such practical support and for the children, nutritional support.

We are extremely grateful to our wonderful supporters both through GlobalGiving and local groups in Uganda who donate food and medicines for the children.

"At the end, it’s not about what you have or even what you’ve accomplished. It’s about who you’ve lifted up, who you’ve made better. It’s about what you’ve given back.” – Denzel Washington