Uganda Kampala
The “4UGKA – Uganda Kampala” project was launched in 1999 near Kampala, Uganda, by AFN in collaboration with the Ugandan non-governmental organization, Namungongo social services organization (NASSO), which operates in the health and education sectors to make basic services accessible to the most vulnerable sections of the local population. Through its centres – Arcobaleno(Rainbow) Nutrition Centre and Nursery School and the Zia Angelina Health Centre – the project welcomes children aged 3 to 5, providing them with nutritional and health care. In addition, students attending nursery school, primary, secondary and tertiary schools (vocational training) are accompanied by the payment of school fees and teaching materials. There are also interventions to support families.
DEFINITION OF THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CONTEXT
Uganda is a presidential republic with authoritarian overtones, whose president, Yoweri Museveni, has been in power continuously since 1985. The fight against terrorism launched by the president has succeeded in pacifying the north of the country, but at the cost of numerous human rights violations. Since 2000, Uganda has made significant progress in the economic and social spheres: since 2022, there has been steady growth, mainly due to oil and the agricultural sector.
In addition, Uganda has made significant improvements in the Human Development Index in the last two years and is now classified as a lower-middle-income country. However, more than 40% of the population live in poverty, half of whom are young people and children, with large differences between urban and rural areas (where the poverty rate is close to 80%). This poverty, which has deep roots in the country’s history, politics and economy, is related to the level of education of families. Despite progress in reducing infant mortality and access to primary school, the quality of educational and health services remains weak, due to the lack of qualified personnel and materials and infrastructure. This problem is also found in Kira, where the increase in the population aggravates the availability of the few resources and accessible services, exacerbating poverty and the spread of crime, especially considering that the school sector is dominated by very expensive private institutions.
GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION
Located in East Africa, Uganda is known as “the pearl of Africa” because it is home to the Great Lakes region. Currently, the population amounts to 47 million people and is characterized by a rich ethnic diversity. Namugongo is in the Kira Municipality, Wakiso District, about 12 km away from the capital, Kampala. In recent decades, the very strong growth of the population of Kira, in the absence of adequate urban planning, has led to pressure on existing infrastructure and the development of slums.
COMPOSITION AND STRUCTURE OF THE PROJECT
The project takes place at a structure in Namugongo, “Arcobaleno Nutrition Centre and Nursery School” which houses the nursery school, and consists of two administrative offices, a kitchen, a dining room, 3 classrooms, a multipurpose room and a play area. The centre is also used as a coordination centre for planning the activities of primary and secondary school students, in colleges and universities. The structure is part of the Focolare Movement of Uganda.
The project staff consists of 1 coordinator, 3 teachers, 3 auxiliaries, 1 accountant, 1 SAD contact person and 1 social worker.
In the “Zia Angelina Health Centre” – a structure belonging to the local Focolare Movement – health and nutritional assistance provided by the SAD program is dispensed through a staff composed of doctors and nurses.
IMPLEMENTED ACTIVITIES AND SERVICES
- · Nursery School for children aged 3 to 5, from 8 am to 1 pm
- · Distribution of pedagogical materials for nursery school children
- · Distribution of breakfast and lunch for nursery school children
- · Payment of school fees for minors from primary school to university
- · Psychological and human/moral accompaniment sessions for parents/guardians/children
- · Professional courses in tailoring, cooking, financial literacy, soap making, book binding for parents and computer science for staff and children
- · Refresher courses/training on new teaching methodologies (Montessori program, child protection, early childhood development) for teachers; on teamwork and values for all staff
- · 3 annual preventive health visits at the Zia Angelina Health Centre
- · Primary medical care as needed
- · Vaccination campaigns, deworming and periodic distribution of vitamins
BENEFICIARIES
The direct beneficiaries are 170 minors, of whom 53 children attend nursery school and 117 students attend higher grades in other schools. They are socio-economically vulnerable minors from the community of Namugongo and its surroundings; They include orphans, single mothers, and victims of abuse. In addition to these, 140 parents/guardians are direct beneficiaries.
The indirect beneficiaries are the communities of Namugongo and the villages of origin of the minors.
ACTIONS
- Support at a Distance
This is an ongoing commitment to support a food, school-training and sanitation programme aimed entirely at the individual minor and his or her family, both of which are part of the AFN project.
- Support for the project
This is an ongoing commitment to support a food, school-training and hygiene-health program aimed entirely at the individual minor and his family, both of which are part of the AFN project.
- Donations
This is an ongoing commitment to support the educational, nutritional and health program aimed at the entire group of minors and their families who are part of the AFN project.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Distance support for a child Contact the coordinators ; in your country for confirmation of the annual amount and payment details
Project support Contact the coordinators in your country to confirm the annual amount and payment details.
Donations – Reason of donation “Donation for Uganda project”