The Child Care Project supports three families with disabled children. They receive regular medical checkups, medicine, food packages and hygiene items. Furthermore, they can also be helped by a personal sponsorship.
Disabled children have a hard time in Uganda, especially in socially deprived families. Mostly it is, due to lack of vaccinations, to the extinct polio in our country. With the birth of the child, both parents can no longer work, making the family even poorer. Unfortunately, there is no social help from the state in Uganda.
Date of birth: 2010
Disease: Cerebral Malaria, Epilepsy
Consequences: Stiff limbs, can not run alone
Joel’s situation was very critical when we first visited him. He was very neglected and hardly responded to external influences. Living together with his over 90-year-old ill grandmother, he did not get the attention and care he needed. Due to the advanced age of his great-grandmother, she was unable to lift him, for example, to wash him, to practice running with him, let alone to care for him properly. Where his parents are is unknown. They have violated their son and have nothing to do with their disabled child.
Joel’s legs can be moved without pain by another person. Leaning against a wall, he can even walk with outstretched, stiff legs as well as moving on all fours. His disability only affects his body, so he would eventually be able to attend school.
Joel also got a new mattress, new clothes, food and soap. The things he and his great-grandmother get are used very sparingly by her. We also managed to go with him to the hospital in Kampala, where he now goes to physiotherapy together with his great aunt. He also has a walker with whom he can practice running and get a stool. The more love and affection Joel got, the more he blossomed and took more part in his environment. You could see how happy he was about the new developments.
Meanwhile, Joel is with his great aunt and has the opportunity to walk with the help of walking and standing help.
Date of birth: 03.07.2001
Illness: poliomyelitis
Consequences: Deformed and shortened left leg, deformed back due to the too-small wooden crutch
When we met Sharifa for the first time, she could only do so with the help of a simple one Move wooden crutch. The crutch, however, had become too short and unstable for her, forcing her into dislocations. This resulted in an extraordinary strain on her hand and a malposition of her back. In addition to two new, height-adjustable crutches designed to ensure even shoulders, we also bought her a new backpack for the school in her favorite blue color to help her transport school supplies, and a new mattress, a new School uniform, food and toiletries. Currently, she lives with her grandmother, Namboze Topsta. Her mother has four more children and lives in the capital Kampala. Since she has only a small job as a waitress, she is not able to visit Sharifa regularly and financially support her.
Sharifa is currently in grade 6 at a nearby elementary school and will be attending classes 7 through 7. Then she comes to a secondary school. The next one, however, is far away. Here we have to find a solution, as Sharifah can not walk for such a long distance and we need to allow her to go to school and back so that we can continue to fulfill her wish to go to school.
Due to a lack of financial resources, we have not been able to get Sharifah a much needed, custom shoe and a daily supply.
We feel truly privileged to have been a part of these children’s lives for several years, as it allowed us to forge deep connections and make lasting impacts. Throughout our journey together, we tirelessly worked to enhance the quality of their lives, striving to provide them with support, guidance, and opportunities for growth.
During our time with these remarkable individuals, we witnessed moments of triumph and resilience, as they overcame adversities that would have daunted even the most seasoned adults. We celebrated their achievements, no matter how small they may have seemed, and watched with pride as they learned, grew, and flourished.
Regrettably, despite our collective efforts, we also bore witness to the relentless challenges these children faced, including complex social issues and pressing health concerns. Tragically, they have left us at different points over the years, their absence leaving an indelible void in our hearts.
Their passing reminds us of the importance of continuing our work, of striving to create a world where no child has to endure such hardships alone. We honor their memory by dedicating ourselves to the betterment of children’s lives, knowing that each effort we make can contribute to a brighter future for those who need it most.
Date of birth: 2011
Disease: Infantile cerebral palsy
Consequences: Movement disorders as a result of brain damage, deafness
When Daphine was three days old, she got yellow fever and was hospitalized for a month. A few weeks later she was diagnosed with meningitis. As a result of these diseases, she is now suffering from severe malpositions and dysfunctions of the head and limbs. Her head is constantly overstretched, resulting in respiratory problems and pain, and her legs are twisted. Her situation has not changed for quite some time and so we found her on our first visit to her and her grandmother, who lovingly cared for her disabled grandchild. Daphine’s mother was 14 years old when she became pregnant. She met her father at school. After the birth, the mother was taken away from her parents and Daphine’s father took her to the grandmother, who has been looking after her since. He sends money when he can, but this is not often the case, as he deals with odd jobs. So the grandmother, Nassozi Hariet, is completely on her own with many more children.
Also Daphine got a new mattress from us as well as food and soap. Daphine desperately needs a new, big chair that also supports her head, because she has grown out of the old one long ago. Daphine’s grandmother wishes she would get this one soon, so that Daphine can also sit outside in the sun. But at the moment we can not fulfill your wish.
Another great wish of the grandmother we could realize. We took Daphine to a hospital and had her examined by a doctor. Daphine is now getting medication to relieve her pain and once a month physiotherapy, which she had to stop a few years ago due to lack of funds. Her grandmother will now do the physiotherapist’s daily exercises with Daphine and hopefully her condition will improve at least a little bit soon.
Daphine’s grandmother owns a piece of land that she can not order alone. Our goal is to set up a plan so that they can use it properly to provide for themselves and the many children and especially Daphine.
