Sponsor a Child

I'm writing this having recently returned from visiting our Children's Centre near Kasese, Uganda.

I visited with two of our founding trustees, along with three other NOTDECsupporters from the UK.

We spent just over two weeks in Uganda, mostly based nearby the centre, but also with a couple of days in Kampala. There we met with around 15 young people who have completed sponsorship with NOTDEC and are now working.

Life for them finding jobs is not easy, even when jobs are available, sometimes bribes are needed to secure a job.

The time spent near the children's centre was split between remaining on site and interacting with staff and  children, as well as visits to homes where children are supported in the community. 

Besause of changes made in Ugandan law children have to be resettled with relatives around the ago of 5-6 years old. 

This requirement puts an additional burden on NOTDEC Social workers who expect to maintain regular visits throughout the sponsorship programme.

We made many trips to remote locations, up mountainous gravel and dirt tracks, not straightforward to reach. 
Whenever we arrived at  any location, we were welcomed by the whole family who were always happy to see us and share stories of how their family lives are going. Some children sang to us,we were offered food and even a chicken as a token of their gratitude for the support they receive.

It was a truly heartwarming experience to visit families, who exclusively have so little, often living in one house with three rooms, shared by up to 10-12 family members.

The staff and children onsite were equally welcoming, and it was easy to see the benefit of the children's early years spent in a centre where they are cared for, fed, nurtured and clothed in a safe and secure environment.

If you are reading this for the first time, please consider supporting the work of NOTDEC, in our Sponsor a Child Programme. 

There are always some children who need sponsors, as we are contacted by local officials as a safe place for abandoned babies in our Save Life Programme.

This area of Uganda suffers from high levels of maternal mortality, partly due to the inaccessibility of many of the mountainous rural locations, as we were able to experience.

If you cannot afford to make a full sponsorship, please consider a part sponsorship. 

Thank you for taking time to read this, know God's blessings as you respond.