Building Hope, Healing Lives, and Creating a Loving Family for Every Child a shelter where transformation begins and continues throughout their lives.
Throughout the month of April, we conducted three street outreach programs, while the remaining time was dedicated to collaborating with other street work organizations in preparation for the International Day for Street Children, which is observed on the 12th of every month. The first weeks of April were primarily focused on mobilization efforts and fundraising to support the event. This involved engaging with various organizations to secure resources such as food supplies, T-shirts, sports materials, tents, and medical essentials, as the program runs from morning to evening.
The day is designed to bring together children, stakeholders, and partner organizations for awareness activities, performances, and engagement with relevant institutions. Our aim is to continue strengthening advocacy for meaningful and lasting support systems for street children beyond commemorative events.
A positive outcome from the street groups we organized, where children were structured into specific groups to support effective coordination and mobilization, was that a few organizations identified and engaged boys with particular talents, especially in sports, and integrated them into their respective development and training programs, including emerging band groups they are building. Additionally, one boy from our Street Youth Group Counseling Initiative was also selected and supported through one of these opportunities.
Various games were organized for the children, creating an engaging and supportive environment for interaction, recreation, and teamwork. All the children were provided with meals, ensuring they were well-fed throughout the activities. In addition, medical attention was offered to those who were unwell, and they received the necessary treatment and care to support their recovery and well-being.
The past month, together with the current one, has brought many medical challenges for the children under our care. On three different occasions, more than six children had to be sent home from school for medical treatment after the schoolβs first aid and basic care failed to improve their conditions.
After the first group recovered, another group also became sick with similar illnesses, mainly malaria, cough, and flu. Some of the children were unable to return to school for more than a week and a half until they regained enough strength.
In addition, one girl was involved in an accident. Thankfully, after undergoing an X-ray examination, doctors confirmed that there was no serious injury. She received treatment and is recovering well, which brought us great relief.
The children who require monthly medication refills successfully received their medicines and continue to make good progress. However, we recently became concerned because many of the medications being provided free of charge through state health facilities were either close to expiration or already expired.
Although medical professionals assured us that the medicines were still safe for use, we chose to purchase some medications from pharmacies to ensure the childrenβs safety and peace of mind.
Recently, many children reached through the street ministry have been arriving with severe wounds and injuries, which often become infected and require costly treatment.
Apart from these cases, the most common illnesses treated during this period have been malaria, typhoid, and three reported cases of tuberculosis.
We remain thankful for Godβs protection and for everyone who continues to support the health and well-being of these children.
We are certain that without education, we would not have witnessed the level of transformation we see in the lives of all the children today. Every day continues to reflect growth and progress. The children, both boys and girls, performed very well overall, although the girls outperformed the boys in academic performance. The overall midterm examination results were encouraging. However, the Grade Two boys are still developing their reading and writing skills.
Although there was an initial suggestion that they repeat Grade One, their age and physical development made it more appropriate for them to remain in Grade Two so that they can continue learning and adapting alongside their peers. Reading and writing remain their greatest challenges, but there is strong hope that holiday studies will help improve their performance.
In general, the childrenβs academic performance has been promising, although there is still significant work ahead for some. A few children resumed school late, while others are still struggling to adjust to their current classes. As a result, some may need to be moved to lower classes where they can better cope academically and build stronger foundations. Behaviorally, there has been noticeable improvement among most of the children, although some challenges still remain among the secondary school boys. Overall, the primary school children are progressing very well and showing strong improvement.
For candidates, vocational trainees, and university students, priority was given during school fee payments due to their significantly higher educational costs compared to other children. We are grateful that all university fees for the past term have now been fully cleared. Most of the children have also been fully registered for their national examinations, except for Enock, whose registration is still being finalized.
Although the term came with several challenges, the situation has generally remained manageable, particularly for those in critical classes. The most difficult aspect was the transfer of children to new schools, as this significantly increased expenses. However, the two schools that accepted the transferred children kindly allowed uniforms, sportswear, and tracksuits to be paid for in installments or postponed to the second term, since many children were enrolling at once. This flexibility was very helpful, especially as many schools in Kampala do not allow children to attend classes for a full term without the required uniforms.
This is Isaiah, our nursing student at the university.
Despite all these challenges, we remain deeply grateful for the strength and guidance that have helped us overcome the setbacks experienced throughout this term. The school transfers were especially difficult and emotionally draining, but we have continued moving forward.
Primary Schools:
- Primary School 1: $1000
- Primary School 2: $300
- Primary School 3: $300
Secondary Schools:
- Secondary School 1: $700
- Secondary School 2: $350
The Street Youth Group Counseling Initiative has continued to make meaningful progress, although challenges with inconsistent attendance among the older street boys still affect overall stability within the program. The primary goal of the initiative is to support and encourage boys to leave street life, particularly the older youth who are more vulnerable to arrest, involvement in theft, forced recruitment into gang groups, and the dangers of mob justice, which continue to claim many young lives.
To improve accessibility and participation, we conduct counseling sessions twice a week in the evenings at different locations, including restaurants and open fields, depending on what is most suitable for a three-hour engagement session. While some boys remain committed and consistent in attendance, others continue to struggle with regular participation due to previous experiences with other programs where they felt younger children received more attention and opportunities. This has contributed to reduced trust and engagement among some of the older boys.
Through this process, we realized that larger street outreach sessions do not always allow enough individualized attention for the older youth. As a result, the initiative now focuses on a smaller group of 15 boys who have demonstrated willingness and readiness to begin transitioning away from street life.
The program serves as an important first step toward long-term rehabilitation by preparing participants for resettlement, enrollment into six-month vocational training programs, and eventual placement into our independent living house program.
Our counseling approach intentionally separates the older boys from the younger children after the general outreach sessions. This allows for deeper engagement and more focused discussions tailored to the unique realities, emotional struggles, and challenges faced by older youth preparing for transition. During these sessions, we take time to listen to each boyβs personal story, assess his emotional and practical needs, and better understand his readiness for rehabilitation.
One young boy currently participating in the initiative has shown particularly encouraging progress throughout the counseling process. Since joining the sessions, he has demonstrated remarkable consistency, commitment, and openness to guidance. Unlike many who initially struggle with trust and structure, he has gradually become more engaged, communicative, and cooperative during group discussions and mentorship sessions.
Over time, we have witnessed significant positive changes in his attitude, behavior, and sense of responsibility. He has become more receptive to guidance, more respectful of structure and boundaries, and increasingly motivated toward building a stable future for himself. His participation reflects a growing sense of hope, self-worth, and determination to leave street life behind. Although we are beginning to observe positive transformation during these sessions, there is still much more to understand about his personal journey and rehabilitation needs.
Through regular counseling, mentorship, and careful observation, it has become evident that he is developing the emotional and practical readiness necessary for the next phase of rehabilitation within the next two months. As a result, he is now among the boys being considered for placement into our independent living house program and is expected to become the first from this group of 15 boys to transition into the program. There, he will continue receiving guidance, emotional support, vocational preparation, and life skills training toward independent living.
As part of the ongoing transition process, we will continue sharing updates as these young boys progress through placement into the independent living program. These updates will include their living arrangements, room setup, vocational pathways, and continued growth toward stability, self-reliance, and independence.
During the past fourteen days, advocacy activities were conducted across different community centers and organizational offices with the aim of addressing the challenges affecting street children and vulnerable youth. The outreach focused on child protection, community awareness, rehabilitation approaches, and engagement with authorities and organizations working within communities.
Engagements with the police during the fourteen-day period created opportunities for discussions around child protection, safety, and rehabilitation. Police officers acknowledged that many children on the streets are victims of poverty, family breakdown, neglect, abuse, and lack of support systems rather than hardened criminals.
However, one of the major challenges was that many organizations
were not willing to take responsibility for the medical care of
sick children living on the streets. Many children were found
suffering from severe illnesses and other serious health
complications without proper medical support.
Overall, the advocacy outreach created important awareness and provided an opportunity for vulnerable children to speak out about the realities they face daily on the streets. While progress was made through community engagement, police cooperation, and support donations, significant gaps still remain, especially in medical care and long-term rehabilitation for vulnerable children.
We are trusting God for provision of $4,000 to establish a safe sanctuary for street children. Pray for protection, healing, and restoration for every child who enters.
Pray for discernment as we guide children wishing to return. Each case requires wisdom, safety, and careful decision-making.
Pray for integrity and unity in managing resources and caring for the childrenβs well-being.
Pray for safety, peace, and emotional strength for all children under our care.
Pray for the outsanding balance $2,650 and this upcoming term fees, provision for school fees and materials so every child can thrive academically.
Pray for consistent monthly partners to sustain all centres and ensure long-term stability.