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Current Be A HERO Project: A Baby & Toddler Nursery for young children so that the child-mothers can attend school in the Gulu,
Uganda.
Summary of the situation in Gulu
The situation is desperate in this part of Africa. The Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) has been terrorizing Northern Uganda for 20 years, led by Joseph Kony. (see sidebar for further info) In a recent article in Christianity Today, J. Carter Johnson describes him in this manner:
“Kony, 41, envisions an Acholiland (the territory of northern Uganda) ruled by a warped interpretation of the Ten Commandments. He uses passages from the Pentateuch to justify mutilation and murder. He promotes a demonic spirituality crafted from an eclectic mix of Christianity, Islam, and African witchcraft.”
Thanks to people like Jerry and Candis Bingham, who spearhead our work in Gulu, many of these children are receiving help for all of the urgent care that they need.
Each night 20,000 “night commuter” children, who come to Gulu fearful of being kidnapped by the Kony terrorists, travel for hours to sleep in the city. (see sidebar for further information) When captured, the girls are made child wives for the rebel army and both boys and girls, through horrible atrocities, are made into killing machines in the rebel children’s army. The Binghams also founded a trauma center for children who have been rescued. Many have been terribly mutilated, assaulted and abused.
Village of Hope:
Village of Hope will provide a home and a start to a new life for the “Child-mothers” of Gulu. These mothers are teenagers who, while still little girls, were abducted from their beds at gunpoint, and forced to “serve” the Lord’s Resistance Army rebel forces soldiers. They have been rescued, or escaped with their children, and are in desperate need of a safe place to live and raise their children, obtain healing, become educated, and learn a trade.
This project in Gulu will provide homes for 100 of these families, and a medical clinic, a school, a training facility and equipment, and farm animals. The project will provide an opportunity for these girls and children, who have so tragically had their lives and childhood brutally ripped from them, to start a new life.
Child Mothers
During the years of civil war in Uganda, little girls were abducted from their beds at gunpoint in the night. These children were forced to cook, clean, run errands etc until they came “of age” to be given to a soldier as his property, used for sex and other service. (See sidebar for information on Joseph Kony and the Lord’s Resistance Army) Most of these young girls have at least two children, essentially becoming orphans with orphans. Some have been rescued, others have escaped. They are desperate for some stability, love, a safe place to live and raise their families, education, emotional and physical healing, and training in a trade.
A couple by the name of Jerry and Candis Bingham have been helping these young mothers and have formed a support group for them called, “The Butterfly Club” which represents these young lives being transformed into beauty. The Butterfly Club is for girls who have escaped or been rescued after having children borne by rebel soldiers. They are rejected by Ugandan society, but the government gives them amnesty and Action International provides them with the skills and opportunity for re-entry into society, through literacy, life-skills and child rearing programs, and opportunities to learn handicrafts and other income-generating skills.
Village of Hope
The fenced site includes:
- 100 traditional, individual huts for the child mothers and their families. Our research has indicated that this is the type of housing they would prefer to live in.
- Latrines and bathing facilities (2 units)
- Vocational training facility and factory to train the young ladies and the orphans in sewing, carpentry, masonry, and handicrafts. This facility will also double as a meeting hall.
- Medical Clinic in child mother’s village (will benefit surrounding community also)
- Primary school for the children of the child mothers.
- Farm animals and their shelter (hogs, goats, cows, poultry) – for food, and training in animal husbandry.
- The army has promised to have soldiers patrol around this village to keep the young women and their children safe.
- A Nursery for the babies and toddlers so mothers can attend school.
Much of the work has been completed at the Village of Hope – the land was purchased and fenced, the vocational training facility has been built, latrines and bathing facilities are finished, and water is on site. 25 huts have been built and are now occupied by child-mother families. The funds have been raised for the medical clinic and construction will begin soon.
The Upcoming Project: Baby & Toddler Nursery
- There is a need for a safe and caring place for babies and toddlers as the child mothers attend school.
- Supplies to clothe and feed these young ones.
- Supplies for the teachers to give these children a start in life.
- Equipment for play areas.
- Wages & provision for teachers.
Budget and Opportunities
You can raise funds for a particular part of the project as a group or individually. For instance, a youth group or sports team can raise money for ten huts at $500.00 each or raise $5,000.00 for the purchase of animals for the child mother’s village or nearly $10,000.00 for a baby & toddler nursery.
| Be A HERO Gulu, Uganda Project - Nursery |
| all figures USD |
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| Based on 100 children & 2 teachers |
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| Playground Equipment |
$ 672.00 |
| Play Room Furnishings |
$ 2417.00 |
| Teacher & Children Supplies |
$ 470.00 |
| Cups for Porridge |
$ 46.00 |
| Clothing and Supplies |
$ 1540.00 |
| Transportation for teachers |
$ 306.00 |
| Metal Sign Posts |
$ 150.00 |
| Breakfast |
$ 1980.00 |
| Teachers Wages |
$ 2118.00 |
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| Total |
$ 9699.00 |
100% of all funds donated for this project will be applied directly to the project. Be A HERO does not keep anything for administration. Be A HERO is able to do this because the Hero Partnership and Pillar Program participants designate their donations specifically for administration. If you would like to invest in this project, we accept donations by cheque or by credit card. Click here to donate.
If you wish to sponsor one of these children click here.
You will be sent a receipt for income tax purposes early in the following year.
To view more photos of the House of Love children and site, and the Village of Hope click here.
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