Monday 31 May 2010

Local Committee makes plans

A Committee of twelve local people in Kasese have been meeting to plan for the future of the Kasese Street Kids Hostel. Three members are women, nine are men; all but two are Ugandans, and the other two are British missionaries. They represent various parts of the local community - the town Council, the Church, schools, orphanages, low-cost housing, and so on. Our Missionary contact, Alan, said they were "very diverse... a very strong group of people."
At the first meeting on 14th May they went to the site to view the building; they were very impressed and very vocal in their thanks to the donors for their contribution to the realisation of the vision. Alan said "It was particularly good to hear positive statements made for the use of this particular piece of land, as there had been doubt about its position so far from town."
The Chairman, Emmanuel Maate, was described to us by Alan as "A major asset to the SKILL Project" (SKILL is Street Kids Information and Training for Life - the name used for the Project in Kasese.) "He has knowledge of navigating the waters of project proposals and their implementation; he has also many useful contacts."
A brochure is to be sent to key people in the town to sensitise them to the project; these include key Council members and Community Officers, the Catholic and Anglican Bishops, the Muslim Imam, leaders of other denominations, the Health Department Head, Education Department Head, Chairman of Lions and of Rotary, and other NGOs.
They are planning an Event at the Centre on 1st August, with seats and food for 200 people, where the vision will be shared with all the guests, and pledge forms would be available for donations.

Tuesday 25 May 2010

Copyright © Carol Allen Storey
Members of the Dustbin Tribe gather under a tree where they spend nearly all of the day. Most of the boys have lost their parents to the HIV virus or have been abandoned. They live rough and by their wits to survive. There are nearly 17 members ranging in age from 6 months to 14. All are addicted to drugs, engage in petty theft and are depressed. Ali, the "chief", said:
"I became an orphan a long time ago; both my parents died of AIDS. I had no other family, there wasn't any money so I had to leave school. I was an excellent student and hoped to study medicine and become a doctor. That will never happen now. I cannot access education. I am hungry every day. I know I will never realise my dream, and am doomed to an empty life, depressed. I want to be normal."

If you would like to help Ali and his tribe, and other groups of Street Kids in Kasese, email kskjenkin@hotmail.co.uk
Already a hostel is partially built, but a lot more money is needed to finish and equip it. Even small gifts are very welcome!

Thursday 20 May 2010

Some pictures of the Street Kids

Pictures (c) Carol Allen Storey
A tiny 6-month old baby is held lovingly by Muzarimu, one of the younger members of the Dustbin tribe. The baby's mother is a sex worker but predictably, like so many women in her profession, has acquired the HIV/AIDS virus, is dying of the disease and can no longer care for her child. The boys have adopted him.

Muzarimu is 10 years old, a runaway. His parents have separated because his father threatened the family with knives and beatings. Muzarimu ran away from the abuse anfd has been a member of the tribe since he was 5. He has no idea where his parents are now and does not care.



Wednesday 5 May 2010

Committee formed


A Committee of 12 people has been formed in Kasese, who will be meeting on 14th May to discuss moving the project forward.

Here are the original "three wise men" who have been supervising things so far: Alan Parrett (missionary with Emmanuel International - http://www.eiuk.org.uk/cms), Rev. Captain James Tumwesigye (Missioner of the Diocese of South Rwenzori, Church of Uganda), and Enos Kyibibi, Director of the Project.

As we suspected, the hope of Charles The Builder (seen in the centre, with Enos, and Mary and me - taken in February) that the roof would be on by the end of April has proved over-optimistic; but some of the Ring Beam has been put on around the outside walls. The next step after this will be to put a further course of bricks and then the roof beams will go on. These will need to be quite big in order to span the building so it might be quite interesting to see how they do it!!!!


Saturday 1 May 2010

The building progresses



We have just had an email from people who were in Uganda in mid-April, attaching some photographs of the progress of our Street Kids' hostel.

These were taken on the 12th April, so no doubt (well, we hope!) it has progressed further since then.

Charles the Builder (no relation of Bob) told us in early March that he hoped the roof would be on by the end of April.

This is Africa, of course, but I think he's a good guy, so barring serious hold-ups, I hope that the roof is nearing completion.

Here's another of the April 12th photos:-