Location
Kijura, Masindi District, Uganda
Community Description
Kijura is a suburb of Masindi town, located in western Uganda, and consists of a main trading centre and several rural villages.
Kijura has been plagued with turmoil for many years. It is a congested area, with many disadvantaged families which produce many children. Kijura is known around Masindi for its disproportionate number of pubs, residents’ drug abuse, and crime rates. Under these stressful conditions, children are often ignored or even fully abandoned by their families and left to fend for themselves on the streets, too often turning to such demonstrated lifestyles that perpetuate poverty. Abandoned children are sometimes heard to be abducted and sacrificed by local witch doctors.
Blessed Day Care was founded in 2009 to take underprivileged, HIV-positive, disabled, and orphaned children into an environment that encourages learning and positive socializing. It is an early child development center designed to prepare them for higher education. Children who have left Blessed and have gone on to primary school have reportedly been doing very well in their studies.
The 60 children who are currently enrolled in the school are divided into three classes: Baby Class, for 2-3 year-olds; Middle Class, for 3-4 year-olds; and Top Class, for 5-6 year-olds.
Those who live in the centre are seen after by willing caretakers in the area as well as the unpaid volunteers who serve as their teachers. These caring teachers educate the children on health issues including nutrition, sanitation, hygiene, and HIV status management, as well as basic English skills.
“By bringing these children together, with education and playing with friends, we are keeping them out of trouble and out of the street. Even when we don’t have much to give them beyond 10:00 porridge, it is enough to keep them believing that there is a good future ahead,” says Jimmy Angondia, director and founder of Blessed Day Care.
The centre currently shares the community latrine, which serves over six families in the area, in addition to the children and staff of Blessed; this is over 120 people.
Project Description
The project is to dig and build a 3-stall latrine on the property of Blessed Day Care for the use of children and staff.
A pit 8 feet deep was dug before financial restraints halted progress. When finished, the pit itself will be 9′ x 40′ x 3′.
The surrounding structure is to be constructed with locally-sourced bricks, cement, iron, and other materials by experts in the area. It will consist of a stall each for boys, girls, and staff. The staff stall will include accommodations for disabled individuals.
A tippy tap and soap for handwashing will be located immediately near the latrine.
Educational lessons on latrine use, handwashing, and sanitation will be introduced and the teachers will incorporate these into all future curriculums.
The school plans a follow-up project that will include water pipe installation and a more permanent handwashing station.
Project Impact
This project will benefit the 60 children enrolled in the school, many of whom live in or near the centre. Also to be served will be the 3 caregivers, 2 staff members, and 4 teachers/caregivers.
Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Emily Clouse
Comments
This is a critically-needed project for this organization that serves an extremely vulnerable segment of the population.
Dollar Amount of Project
$555.00
Donations Collected to Date
$555.00
Dollar Amount Needed
$0.00 – This project has now been fully funded through the generosity of the congregation of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Coldwater, Ohio.
We encourage others to continue to donate using the Donate button below, and we will notify Peace Corps Volunteer Emily Clouse of your donation. Additional funds will be used to fund the next project by Emily and/or those of other PCVs in the country of service.
This project has been finished. To read about the conclusion of the project, CLICK HERE.