Kamwokya Child Support Centre changing lives of orphans

Until October 31, New Vision will devote space to highlighting the plight of slum dwellers in Uganda. Today, ESTHER NAMIRIMU and ANDREW MASINDE bring you the efforts of Child Support Centre to help orphans in Green Valley slums, Kamwokya

 

“When my parents died all hope for a better future was gone. I thought I would never have a life again. No one was willing to take me in because I was in a remote village in Busia,” Esther Nyadoi says.

 

She adds that with no help, her last resort was to go on the streets but Child Support Centre came to her rescue. “Now I have a home and hope for a better future,” she says excitedly.

 

Nyadoi is one of the 100 destitute children being taken care of by Child Support Centre. The centre is a non-governmental organisation working to improve the lives of orphans, disadvantaged children and needy mothers in Green Valley slums, Kamwokya. 

 

Green Valley is no different from many slums in Uganda. It is characterised by filth, shanty structures, poor sanitation, lack of health facilities and education. Set in a wetland, flooding is the order of the day whenever it rains. Most households lack toilet facilities and piped water. 

 

Like in Green Valley, up to two million of the 3.2 million urban dwellers in Uganda live in slums according to the 2002 population and housing census report. Like their parents, the majority of children at Green Valley are a real personification of poverty. 

 

With a high dependency ratio, many of them have a bleak future. But in this sea of hopelessness, is also hope, though for a few.

 

Hope comes

 

One day in 2010, Anthony Onyango, the managing director of Child Support Uganda (CSU), after hearing of funny stories about the area, decided to take a walk. That is when he saw a number of helpless children in Kamwokya. 

 

He also noticed that there was no NGO offering critical skills in the area. 

 

Onyango says the area had got a bad reputation for harbouring drug addicts and thugs. “We wanted to offer life skills and vocational training that could enable the people start income generating projects, thereby changing their lives,” he explains. 

 

In July the same year, his team approached the Local council 1 chairperson, James Kakooza who bought the idea. They rented a room and started offering computer lessons alongside art and craft and talent development in music, dance and drama. Today, the centre offers certificate as well as diploma courses in the same fields. 

 

 

Being a Christian organisation, Onyango says CSU does not only provide spiritual nourishment, but a wide range of support including giving food, shelter, clothing and healthcare.

 

He adds that they support two sets of children; those without relatives stay at CSU premises and those with relatives stay home. Altogether the organisation supports 100 children aged between two and 17 years as well as widows.

 

“We endeavour to meet physical, emotional, social, psychological, and spiritual needs of all children and youth under our care,” Onyango says. 

 

He adds that in addition to their internally generated income through skills training, CSU 

 

is blessed to have benefactors from abroad that sponsor up to 20 children. 

 

“When a sponsor gives a little more money, we divide it equally to cater for the other children as well,” Onyango says.

 

 

 

 

Onyango adds that heavy reliance on foreign donors is risky and more sustainable sources of local funding needs to be explored. At sh1.2m a month, he says rent is too expensive. 

 

“Another challenge is paying medical bills for the in-house children as you know children fall sick every other day raising our medical bills,” he laments.

 

Onyango adds that they want to partner with individuals, families, churches, communities and organisations that benefit vulnerable children and youth. This is regardless of gender, race and religion.

 

 

James Omarwan from Tororo whose parents died when he was an infant had this to say:

 

“I never knew things would be fine for me as they are now. I get food, clothing and education for free. I will study very hard to become an engineer.” 

 

Nina Nanyonozi, a resident of Kamwokya, says CSU is a blessing to the community: 

 

“The organisation pays school fees for unprivileged children in different schools. This is very beneficial for those who love education but cannot afford it.”

 

Josephina Nakato another resident commends the organisation for providing shelter for orphanages.