On this day, after church in Mukono, I went with the "Happy Child" group to visit a bunch of kids. Like I mentioned in previous posts, Happy Child in Mukono involves playing with a group of kids who are orphaned and/or who have gone through traumatic experiences in life. This group does not have money for school lunch so some of our volunteers go to play with them and distract them during lunch time.
On Sundays, after church in Mukono, some of us go and visit some of the kids. This was the last Sunday for several of our volunteers before they go back home. (Holly, Brianne)
Holly leading the kids in a song.
Brianne and the kids
Some of the Mukono Happy Child Team
Wednesday 20 June 2012
"More Happy Child"
Nomataba Village Orphanage
In a village about 15 minutes away from Lugazi, there is a concrete building which used to be a junior high but is now the location where a few saintly women run an orphanage for five children. The government does not aid orphanages in any way so if no one wants to make small orphanages, there is nowhere for the kids to go. A local man with a big heart helps fund this orphanage.
This picture shows the profiles of four of the five children when they first arrived at the orphanage.
Top Picture: This is Agessa. Before coming to the orphanage, he was severely beaten by his mother who had mental problems. In the picture, his face is bruised and his eyes are pretty much swollen shut.
Left Picture: This is Dina. She did not have parental supervision (One of her parents died of HIV if I remember correctly and the other could not care for her) Dina wandered the streets of her neighborhood begging for food. People in the village were afraid she would be raped so they took her to this orphanage.
Bottom Picture: This is Ketra. Ketra was born prematurely and was neglected. You can see the flies and sores on her face in the picture.
Right Picture: This is Betty. She was abandoned in a stone quarry where a worker found her took her to authorities.
Not Pictured above: Earnest was recently brought to the orphanage.
Chelsea holding Betty
Brianne holding Agessa (he really likes her) and Ketra in the white dress.
Earnest. he is the newest addition to the bunch
Betty in the black dress, Brianne holding Agessa. When we left, Agessa walked Brianne to the road and they both had a hard time saying goodbye. This was Brianne/Holly's last stop before heading to the airport to fly home. The kids have grown to really like them.
Brianne, Agessa, Ketra, Holly holding Dina
Julia in the background, Chelsea tickling Betty (According to the social worker, someone is currently working on papers to try and adopt Betty)
Holly and Dina having fun
Brianne, Agessa, Ketra
As a program evaluator, my job is to determine how well our programs are working and how we can improve them. Happy Child is going to be difficult in some ways because, if the mission of the program is to help distressed children find happiness and self-worth, it is difficult to find quantifiable measurements of those things. I am open to any suggestions if there are any social workers reading this. I asked the social worker who helps these kids if there was even any value in having us come and play with the kids. She said that that was exactly what they needed. She told me that the kids are very happy when our volunteers hold them and play with them.
I was very happy to see that these five kids are loved and cared for by so many people. Their "Mom" (a big lady who cares for them/ cooks for them) does not have much time to spend with them since cooking and cleaning here take pretty much all day.
Having spent some time in Russian orphanages, I see a pretty huge difference in the happiness level of these kids. I think there are many reasons for this, not the least of which is the personalized attention and physical contact that these kids receive. Just look at the before/after pictures and you can see a huge transformation in them. If only all orphans had people who love them.
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