Miss Tourism Karamoja donates to fellow Karamajongs in Katwe

CHARITY

KAMPALA -  When she won the Miss Tourism Karamoja crown last year, Emily Ayen was tasked to come up with a project befitting of her crown as a responsibility. But as it turns out, she already knew what to do with her crown to impact the community.

Her first stop was in the dingy Katwe suburbia recently, where many of her tribemates continue to wallow in such poverty and destitution. Ayen, with help from Bring A Smile, donated food, clothes, sanitary pads, and soap, among other essential items to the street kids of Katwe.

Emily Ayen handing over the donations

 
Ayen said the outreach is the first, but only the start. "We plan to extend this charity campaign to the people back home, to ensure that they have the basic needs. I believe that supporting the Karamojongs back home will give them no reason to come to the city to beg. While the ones begging in the city, after noticing that help has arrived at the home, will be propelled them to go back home and leave the streets in Kampala where they are living in destitution."

She added that in the long run, she wants to support the young ladies to take part in craft making. "The Karamajong beads are so beautiful, and as a cultural asset, they hold a lot of value.  If made well can help them earn a real living. That way, their minds will be too occupied to think of commercial sex or begging," explained Ayen.

Street kids elated after receiving their gifts

 
Lomongin Saif, one of the street kid beneficiaries, the community of Karamajong street beggars in Katwe is big, yet the help they receive is little.

"We are very proud that our own is reaching out to us. She understands our struggle and our language. Through her, we hope more help will come. Otherwise, we thank Miss Tourism Emily Ayen for the help she has brought to us, and call upon Ugandans to support her," explained Saif.