Last week we had an exciting visit to Kasana children centre. The arrangement was made by our friends Jon and Yvonne from Dallas. Yvonne happens to be working with a cousin sister to one of the administrators of this children home called New Hope Uganda, through whom the connection was made.
I went with Patience, our children home house mother and Evelyn the social worker, together with Jon and Yvonne and Lutaya and Junior from African Hearts organization that takes care of orphans and street children. The intention was to learn from New Hope Uganda's experience, since they have done this kind of ministry for quite some time.
New Hope Uganda started in 1987 with a few children, mainly orphans from the Uganda war of 1980-1985. They have now grown to over 160 children living in 7 families.
At the first sight, we were amazed at the great work done here for all these children, you could literally see God at work. Caleb another administrator at this children home took us around for two days, it was a learning experience to see what God can do for such little children. The word of God say that God is a father to the fatherless!
We had an opportunity to meet Jennie Dangers who wrote the book "The long road to hope". She being the daughter of the founder of this ministry, told us her experience at New Hope Uganda over the years; what it means to grow up in Uganda and taking care of all these children.
Jones Bakimi, Ugandan co-founder of New Hope Uganda narrated the challenges they have gone through over the years and the joy of raising these children in a family environment. He told us how they made sacrifice to become fathers of these children. Some of the children they started with have now become responsible leaders in the community and some are members of the staff to help other children. New Hope, he said emphasizes fatherhood to orphaned and destitute children. He said children who grow up in a family setting normally grow up into responsible leaders.
New Hope Uganda, started a school that now has 600 children, 70% of these come from the community and most of them are given free education. Constance one of the teachers shared with us a lot about teaching children with a Christian perspective, and making the best out of the vulnerable children. She showed us around; it was such a great environment for these children to learn, with visual aids and learning charts in every classroom.
New Hope Uganda has started income generating projects. The main project being crop farming. They grow a number of crops mainly maize, beans, ground nuts and vegetables. New Hope Uganda has 7 families and each family owns a garden and grows their own food. Part of the crops are sold and funds used to pay workers, teachers and staff, and also meet family needs.
One of the family fathers took us to one of the gardens where farmers were using oxen to cultivate. He taught us a lot about using oxen to cultivate, and how children have learnt to use oxen to cultivate their own food.
Caleb took us to more ministry projects like cattle keeping, piggery, fish farming and chicken farming. They also have a milling machine that also meets community needs.
New Hope Uganda run a vocational school where different classes are taught like cloth weaving, mechanical classes, wood work, building and tailoring. Not all children make it to the University and some are gifted differently, this school helps children to discover their talents and be able to make a living.
The ministry also runs a Christian radio station. The station manager told us that the proceeds from radio announcements pay staff and make income for the ministry. It also helps the ministry to reach out to the community with the word of God besides other community development programs.
By the end of our tour we had all learnt a lot and encouraged that we should not despise small beginnings, God is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or imagine!
