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Current Be A HERO Project: continue the expansion of the Namugongo Children’s Home, in Namugongo, Uganda, adding dorms to house more orphans, in partnership with the Children’s Welfare Mission.
LOCATION
The Children’s Village Namugongo is situated in Namugongo. That is 12km to the northeast of Kampala off the Jinja road.
HISTORY OF THE HOME
In 1990 the first 25 hectares of land were bought in Namugongo. The idea was to build a complete village for orphans. 1n 1991 the construction of the children’s village was started. The whole plot of land was then bush. Trees had to make way for roads and buildings. It was all manual labor – there being no machines available at that time. There were shifts of 50 – 100 men at work. In 1992 we took in the first orphans. The biggest problem was the water supply and a well was bored and at a depth of 40 meters we found good, clean drinking water with a capacity of 6000 liters, enough to not only supply the children’s village with all they needed, but also the surrounding community who then didn’t need to get their water from the river any more. In 1993 a primary school was built - the ‘Samaritan Academy’. We then had 50 orphans living in the village. A start was made to set up an agricultural project. In the years 1994 and 1995, the village continued to develop and grow – a lot of work going into the infrastructure and the agricultural project, providing food for the children. The village became connected to the main electricity supply. In 1996 we decided to make a big extension to the children’s village in Namugongo. A First Aid center and a medical clinic were built and the construction of new housing accommodation for the children was started. In the years 1997 and 1998 the infrastructure was improved. More homes were built. The primary school was extended to 7 classes (P1 to P7). The kitchens were extended and the bathroom and washing facilities were improved. A new water tower was built, now with a capacity of 20.000 liters. The medical clinic was extended incorporating a maternity unit. At this point there were 8 people employed in the clinic. A start was made to build a community hall. A generator was placed so that there would be current in an emergency. At that time it was quite normal to have electricity cuts 30 – 40 hours each week. In 1999 the multi-functional community hall was completed. Fencing was put up around the whole plot. All the paths and roads and the school compound were paved. All the communal buildings, the homes and the clinic were repainted and where necessary repaired. A guesthouse was built and two houses to accommodate new members of staff. At the same time a start was made on the construction of a building to house the Vocational School and the necessary infrastructure. The preparation was started for the construction of new circles of homes. In 2001 a new plot of adjoining land was bought for the further extension of the Children’s Village and the first classrooms were built for the Namugongo Secondary & Vocational School (NSVS). In January 2002 the NSVS opened with 30 students. The new home circles were completed, so making room for an additional 150 children. In 2003 playing fields were laid out: volley ball, football and other ball games. Also changing rooms were built. The Vocational school was extended and the planning is that the construction will be completed in 2004 / 2005. In 2003 a two-floor office building was completed – housing offices for the director, administrator and meeting rooms for the school staff.
Children’s Welfare Mission in Namugongo (Kampala) has 40 hectares of land already in use:
- Homes – built in circles – housing 300 children.
- Two buildings for the primary school.
- A secondary school and a vocational school.
- Office building with six offices and a meeting room.
- Kitchen and storage room to supply for 300 children.
- A home, with office and garage for the project manager and a guesthouse.
- A water tower with a well.
- Generator building with generator and attachments.
- Houses for staff (23).
- Washing and toilet facilities.
- Medical clinic with First Aid and maternity ward.
- Community hall, which also houses the local church.
- Playing fields.
FINANCIAL SUPPORT
The Children’s Welfare Mission’s operational budget amount comes from individuals making donations or sponsoring children.
Money for building projects comes from individual donations, NGO’s (Non-Governmental Organizations), the government (which sometimes provides some sort of matching funds), and other charitable organizations.
SELF-SUSTAINABILITY
The High School and Vocational School have some students from outside the orphanage, who pay tuition, which provides some income. The clinic brings in some income. The students at the Vocational School are now starting to make things and sell them, such as tables and chairs. The Children’s Welfare Mission is working on developing other micro-enterprise that will bring in funds.
Namugongo, Uganda Children’s Welfare Mission
NEW Project
Be A HERO plans to build two dormitories, one for 160 boys, and another for 160 girls. Also planned are a fence and another septic tank. Each dorm will consist of 20 rooms, each housing 8 children, washrooms, and bedrooms for the house mothers.
Children’s Welfare Mission Dormitory Budget
First dorm for 160 children $ 76,825.00
Total $ 76,825.00
These new dormitories will allow the Children’s Welfare Mission to take more orphans and other children at risk off of the streets and into care, providing them with love, an education, training, and an opportunity to grow into productive leaders.
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.
You will be sent a receipt for income tax purposes early in the following year.
To view more photos of the Namugongo Children’s Home click here
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