Kids First Uganda

WE EMPOWER AND BENEFIT WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN THE SLUMS OF KAMPALA, UGANDA BY PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL SPONSORSHIPS FOR CHILDREN; BENEFIT WOMEN THROUGH DISCIPLESHIP AND ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT BY FINDING SOURCES TO SELL THEIR CRAFTS, AS WELL AS OFFER VOCATIONAL TRAINING AND MICRO-FINANCING; PROVIDE OUTREACH PROGRAMS (MUSIC AND SOCCER) FOR CHILDREN IN THE SLUMS OF GGABA.

CHILDREN'S SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM - WE WORK CLOSELY WITH LOCAL PRIVATE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS. WE ALSO SUPPORT STUDENTS WHO WISH TO FOLLOW A DIFFERENT CAREER PATH TO PURSUE VOCATIONAL TRAINING OPTIONS. WE CURRENTLY SPONSOR SIXTY-FIVE CHILDREN ENROLLED IN PRIMARY OR SECONDARY EDUCATION. IN ADDITION, WE HAVE VOCATIONAL GRADUATE STUDENTS WHO HAVE COMPLETED PROGRAMS IN TAILORING (10), CULINARY (5), COSMETOLOGY (2) AND AUTO-MECHANICS (2). TO NOTE: DUE TO THE 2020 COVID PANDEMIC, SCHOOLS TERMS 2 AND 3 WERE CANCELLED AND OUR PROGRAMS PLACED ON HOLD.

MUSIC AND DANCE - SIXTY STUDENTS ARE ENROLLED. OUR MUSIC DIRECTOR IS IVAN MUSINGUZI WHO HAS DEVELOPED A PROGRAM WHICH TEACHES DISCIPLINE, SELF- CONFIDENCE, CREATIVITY, FELLOWSHIP, BELONGING AND THE LOVE OF GOD. A MONTHLY PROGRAM FOR KFU KIDS INCLUDE DANCING, SINGING PRAYING COUNSELING AND GUIDANCE. A CHURCH PERFORMANCE IS HELD AT THE END OF EACH TERM. SOCCER - OUR COACH IS ALEX KAPYO WHO GRADUATED FROM UNIVERSITY AND IS IN THE 2ND DIVISION NATIONAL SOCCER LEAGUE. HE WORKS HARD TO SUPPORT OUR KFU KIDS AND OTHER CHILDREN LIVING IN THE SLUMS TO ACCOMPLISH THEIR DREAMS OF AN EDUCATION AND DEVELOP THEIR SOCCER TALENTS. HE MENTORS OVER 500 CHILDREN IN THE SLUMS OF KAMPALA THROUGH THE SOCCER PROGRAM. WHEN SCHOOL IS IN SESSION, TRAINING SESSIONS ARE HELD THREE TIMES A WEEK FOR KIDS RANGING IN AGES FROM 7 - 18, TRAINING APPROXIMATELY 200 OF OUR KFU KIDS. HIS GOAL IS TO BE A STEPPING STONE IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND PROMOTION OF SOCCER TALENTS TOGETHER WITH ELIMINATING HIGH ILLITERACY LEVELS BY ENCOURAGING KIDS TO GO TO SCHOOL WITH THE HELP OF KFU ORGANIZATION. FIFTEEN OF HIS SOCCER KIDS HAVE RECEIVED SOCCER SCHOLARSHIPS (6 IN PRIMARY SCHOOL LEVEL AND 9 IN SECONDARY). TO NOTE: DUE TO THE 2020 COVID PANDEMIC, SCHOOLS TERMS 2 AND 3 WERE CANCELLED AND OUR PROGRAMS PLACED ON HOLD.

BUILDING PROGRAM: IN LATE 2019 WE HAD PLANNED TO LAUNCH A YEAR-LONG FUND RAISING PROJECT AIMED AT FUNDING THE PURCHASE OF PROPERTY FOR KFU. THE CORONAVIRUS BROUGHT MANY CHALLENGES TO EVERY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD INCLUDING THE SLUMS OF KAMPALA. YET, DURING THIS TIME OF UNCERTAINTY OUR PRAYERS WERE ANSWERED WITH ONE INDIVIDUAL MAKING A 125,000 DONATION TO PURCHASE PROPERTY TO PROVIDE KFU A PERMANENT HOME. A PRIME PIECE OF PROPERTY WAS PURCHASED IN 2020 WHICH WILL ALLOW THE ORGANIZATION IN UGANDA A CHANCE TO BECOME SELF-SUSTAINING, BY LEGITIMIZING THEM WITH THE UGANDAN GOVERNMENT AND ALLOWING THE ORGANIZATION TO APPLY FOR GRANTS AND OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDING. IN 2021 WE HAVE FUNDED THE RENOVATION OF THIS PROPERTY, WHICH WILL INCLUDE A MEDIA CENTER, LIBRARY, OFFICE, AS WELL AS A GREENHOUSE AND ON-SITE GARDENS TO TEACH OUR FAMILIES HOW TO RAISE HEALTHY FOOD. THE HOUSE IS ALSO PLANNED TO BE USED AS A SAFE HOUSE FOR AT RISK WOMEN AND CHILDREN, PROVIDE SHELTER DURING FLOOD SEASON, AND A PLACE FOR VOCATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAMS.