Location:Busia in eastern
Uganda and Gulu in northern Uganda
Mission:
ChildReach
Africa is dedicated to the assistance of care-givers for orphaned and
vulnerable children affected by HIV/AIDS and war in rural Uganda (i.e., to reach the children through their care-givers).
Who they serve:The mothers and other female care-givers of orphans
and destitute children in eastern and northern Uganda.
What they do:
Market crafts made by care-givers to generate
income for families
Clinic to care for HIV infected children and
families
Sports equipment and teaching materials (e.g.,
crayons, blackboard, books)
Markets for cards, crochet work and tea towels
made by the mothers.
Their story:
Catherine
Piwang was one of 13 children raised in a village called Busia on the border of
Uganda and Kenya. She lost
11 of her brothers and sisters to AIDS. Witnessing how her mother cared for her
grandchildren until the day of her own death, Catherine sought opportunities to
care for people like her mother, and in dong so to care for AIDS orphans and
other traumatized children.
Ironically,
she did this in part by helping the care-givers to encourage other mothers
struggling with the load of care-giving. She taught the women in Busia to
crochet baby blankets to give to the mothers of children affected by the war in
northern Uganda.
A visiting American
church group donated sewing machines and taught the women in Busia how to sew.
As a result, the women were able to start and run an independent group business.
The new source of income improved the quality of life for children in their
families. Several other independently run mothers groups have formed as a
result.
ChildReach then turned its focus to education and health care for the orphans and
vulnerable children. They support four pre-schools in Busia and a scholarship
program in Gulu. The Child Reach staff also provides counseling and family
visits.
