Ray of Hope Children's Project

The idea of this project developed as a result of several challenges met by Monique the Director Ray of Hope Ministries as far back as 1982 immediately she got married.

The overwhelming problems in the community like HIV/AIDS scourge, poverty, moral decadence, civil wars especially in the northern part of the country. The effects however have spread to most of the regions in the country especially the central where Kampala the capital city is situated.

Uganda also compounded by the growing number of parents and guardians faced with the AIDS scourge has resulted into orphaned, abandoned, often malnourished children and of course the struggling low income guardians who are often single or elderly are always helpless.

Monique and her husband John inevitably started caring for the orphans of relatives, community and church members who died mostly to HIV/AIDS and wars. When Monique and her husband John planted a church in their Ntinda community the challenge grew bigger. A number of children and teenagers still suffer abuse and abandonment by parents and caretakers due to a number of reasons but poverty being the major cause. Over the years to date they have had to share their home and other resources with these needy children.

Many have been educated and grown to be self supporting others have married and are raising their own families. We thank all the people that have been touched to lend a hand by providing for the children various needs. The program was finally named Ray of Hope Children Project, under the Ray of Hope Ministries which is a registered NGO in 2004. The offices are located next to Christ Centered Church at Ntinda Kalinabiri UEB zone in Nakawa Division Kampala District with an area of average population of 400,000 people. Currently the project caters for 600 children, of whom 200 are sponsored and 400 are not. The management has future plans to put up orphanage homes, schools and Vocational training centers.

VISION

To see happy, healthier and educated children of the nation.
GOAL
Provide hope to the disadvantaged, orphaned children in both rural and urban areas of Uganda by empowering them morally, spiritually, economically and socially.

OBJECTIVES

• Improving the academic and intellectual potential of the children
• To monitor and intentionally influence the academic development of the children for a brighter future.
• Training children in vocational skills like baking, catering, art and craft, farming, etc.
• Develop the practical creative skills.
• To make children develop a self- sustaining/ independent attitude.
• Improving the social, physical and mental health of the children and the youth.
• Improving the general welfare of the children and the youth for a favourable and nourishable future.
• To make children develop into agents of change with primary health, sanitation and first aid skills in their homes and community.
• To train children on prevention measures for STDs like HIV/AIDS, syphilis, etc.
• To raise the self-esteem of the children and the youth through participative activities like sports, music, dance and drama.
• To see the positive integration of the children and the youth in their communities through responsive character/behavior.
• To raise the moral standards of the children through improved social etiquette/manners.
• To enable children and caregivers overcome traumatic situations/experience through counseling.

The Project Coordinator Moses Bogere works together with a staff of 4 teachers

Sarah Byamigisha, Immerculate Ssali, Edward Damba and Emmanuel Wandera who are doing a wonderful job. Edward is one those who went through our sponsorship Program (you can read more in Edward’s testimony)

We not only pay school fees but we believe our children need to receive spiritual, mental and moral support in order to develop into good citizens.

Saturday gatherings, holiday programs and camps have been put in place for the sponsored and other community children to be able to receive these teachings.

Activities on Saturdays include

Studying the Bible which is the Word of God,

Tutoring for children that need help with their studies

Vocational training like cookery, tailoring, Art and designing, farming, is taught according to age so that after school our children will be able to face financial challenges and earn a living.

We plan to introduce more activities as room, skills and finances allow

Feeding the children.

After a good survey we realized that most families were not getting enough to feed their children and besides the time that we spend with them is very long and therefore food would be a very good icing cream on our fellowship cake. Jesus would not send away hungry crowds after spending time with them. Food is one the things children enjoy most in our programs it triggers their learning senses.