Give a Child a Chance Programme – Page 2

How would your children with such a school outing?

November 6, 2016 by Lawrance Titterton Leave a Comment

Recently 12 pupils from the Graeme Naish Memorial School (a Alongside Africa Uganda partner school) went on a hike in the countryside to the edge of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park where the family of one Zakaria resides. Zakaria Tumurinde and his wife Mauda Nyiravuguhenda are from the ethnic minority Batwa (pygmy) community. Although in the evening of their years they had with them a very young child of about 7 years, one Akanjuna Gloria, (not her real name) who could pass for a grandchild of the couple. Zakaria and Mauda earn a living guarding the crop gardens of better-off non-Batwa households in the neighboring community from stray wild animals from the National Park.

In the course of interaction the visitors learnt that Gloria was not their blood relative, instead she was an abandoned baby. Gloria had been discovered (as a baby) next to her mother who had been murdered by the predominant Bakiga (non-Batwa) community in the area. By the time Gloria was found she was evidently malnourished, naked, and sickly with visible signs of mosquito bites, hanging on to her dead mother.

Gloria with her carers and pupils at GNMS at the hut she calls home

Consequently Mauda and her husband decided to take the baby Gloria and raise her up in spite of their meagre earnings. Though theirs was a pitiful life they opted to share the little they get to grant Gloria an opportunity to live. Gloria now looks much healthier but has never gone to school. The visitors were understandably moved, some to tears, to see the pitiful Batwa dance, with Gloria too joined the dancers! One wonders how such a family finds the courage to continue, let alone to smile and dance.

If you can give Gloria and other children like her the opportunity to go to school, get an education and have the chance to escape the poverty trap please PM us or visit our Give a Child a Chance sponsorship page.

Primary Leaving Exams take place in Uganda next Monday.

October 29, 2016 by Lawrance Titterton Leave a Comment

AAU Director with sponsored children on the eve of their primary leaving exams

Earlier today our Director, Wilberforce, delivered success cards, mathematical sets, some little last-minute support and above all words of encouragement to our sponsored children Sophan and Precious who are sitting their primary leaving exams on Monday. Wilberforce told them that they not only have what it takes but also have our prayers and support in the upcoming examinations.

At times what matters most is not money, material gifts or possessions but having someone look you in the eye, hold your hand and calmly and reassuringly mention those four wonderful words: ‘I believe in you!’. Wilberforce was left sensing a greater sense of inspiration in the two candidates. May their dreams come true – they surely deserve all our prayers and words of bright hope (Amasiko).

Poverty and Hunger have become part of us

August 6, 2016 by Lawrance Titterton Leave a Comment

“Poverty and hunger have become part of us,” says Cath’s Mother from Kabale District. “I have learned to live with the reality that nothing can change our life.”

Cath is six-year-old girl, the youngest in her family. At the moment Cath is not attending school, as her Mother supports her by doing odd jobs such as washing, and the occasional support from well-wishers.

Cath came to AMASIKO for a hot meal one day, when she arrived her malnutrition was obvious. This is no surprise when she has to walk 18km every day just to get to AMASIKO. Cath lives with her Mother with no kitchen or toilet facilities. It’s amazing when asked what her dream is, she simple said “going to school” a factor that is so accessible to us.

Having parents who do not have access to ways to support her future it’s hard to think how she can get out of the situation she is in. But thanks to Alongside Africa AMASIKO programme she is able to access medical care, food and safe environment for five days a week. This has benefited her malnutrition, but this is only a short term intervention. This little girl really needs to be educated, so she can hope for a better future and aid in breaking the cycle of poverty. We urge you to consider this and think about a way that YOU can help.

All the best,

ASA

Angela deserves a better childhood

August 2, 2016 by Lawrance Titterton Leave a Comment

CHILDHOOD SUFFERING IS ALWAYS HARD TO NARRATE.

It is very painful to tell Angela’s story. She is one of our clients at Amasiko Street children’s project [AAU] aged 12 years Mukiga by origin; born to late Kanyankore of Kagarama and mother Kyarisiima Edessa of Kabale district. Currently staying with her paternal aunt Kyarikunda Kehoda of Kihaha cell, Kirigime village southern Division.

On 28-7-2016 AAU, as part of the routine Amasiko custom, Archimede and I decided to pay a visit to Angella’s aunt’s home and get first-hand information. However it was shocking news to know that Angela – at the age of only 9 years -she had been abandoned by her mother with whom she was staying. After her father’s death – the mother woke up early in the morning left her in a rented room and has never been seen since! It was very unfortunate for the young girl because her father was already deceased so she was left by herself.

In the nearby village there lived her paternal aunt whom the parents had originally introduced to Angela as a relative [now Kehoda]. After several days under the care of Good Samaritans; she was out of shock and back to her senses; she remembered her Aunt stays in the nearby village and off went to stay with her till now. As poor as her aunt is, she managed to educate her up to primary four.

When we asked Kehoda why her niece dropped out of school, with tears of sadness rolling in her eyes she said: her husband abandoned her and the family of three kids. This made it hard for her to keep Angela in school and provide other basic necessities of life. Kehoda has two kids a girl of four years and ten month old baby; herself very malnourished. With folded stomach muscles and protruding ribs, sunken eyes, this shows constant hunger. The four year-old was recently sick and admitted at Rugarama hospital; but Angela was left home with no food not even a drink she would wait for a neighbor to give her something; if not she would go to bed on an empty stomach. For the whole week her aunt spent in hospital, there was no money to cater for her food. The aunt said she requested to go back home before hospital authorities would discharge her baby because they never had food to eat in the hospital.

Feeling touched we asked how she went to a private hospital when there was free government hospitals. She said Compassion International caters for the payments of only that baby. Back to Angela she is in puberty; growing breasts starting to protrude; lives in a slummy area. God help her and preserve her; ensuring she does not become a sheep living among famished wolves.

We are now calling you to help!

Angela is need of a committed sponsor who is willing to help with £25 per month. This will help Angela get back into education and be in good care. To help please visit our sponsor page or get into contact with us.

AJ BORN IN STINKING POVERTY AND MISERY

July 11, 2016 by Lawrance Titterton Leave a Comment

At the age of 9 years AJ has not had a happy moment to cherish in her child hood. With not only poverty being a hindering factor, her Father was a victim of the HIV/AIDS pandemic when his wife was only four months pregnant with AJ. Being the youngest in the family, she and her siblings like many others have been unable to finish primary school. We all know that education should be part of every child’s life. But unfortunately AJ like many others do not have this opportunity we ourselves may take for granted.

Her mother a 47 year old resident of Nyakabungo cell, Nyakambu-Mugabe village Southern division. AJ first reported to Amasiko street children project on 20^th April 2016. Like we usually do after some time, we decided to visit he home to get some more information and look at the home situation. When arriving, we were immediately saddened as we saw her busy digging in the scorching sun at 2pm, with rags tied to her head. As soon as she saw us se hurried to welcome us, with a smiling face that we could see was hiding her pain and exhaustion.

She narrated how hard it has been to raise the family of five children [orphans] single-handedly for the last ten years. She lives in a sickly life characterised by vicious cycle of poverty. She says being HIV positive, the medical personnel ordered her not to dig nor do other straining work because it reduces her CD4 count (immunity level). Instead, she added, she was cautioned to always eat a balanced diet with at least a fruit, vegetables and have enough rest every day. But she often goes to cultivate in other people’s gardens, carry bricks and sand on construction sites to make ends meet.

Mary is evidently sick of full-blown AIDS (in a clinical state) looking so bonny, with protruding ankles, elbows and sunken eyes. She looks malnourished and weak; she worries a lot about how her children will survive if she passes away especially AJ who is only nine years old. The attached pictures are AJ and her mother in front of their house which was constructed by her husband before they were married. Those standing poles were put in place to act as a kitchen; any time it rains heavily or the wind blows them away they are likely to fall and cause an accident. She told us that cooking is also a hard task since the fire flames are always destabilized by both wind and rain. What a life!

Great news is that people like you and me can help.

If you would like to help please visit our page:

https://cafdonate.cafonline.org/4564#/DonationDetails

Or simply click donate now.

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