Kassanda Children's Aid

The absence of fathers who are primary providers in society creates tremendous hardship for many women and children who are also left defenseless and impoverished. Throughout Uganda, many elderly and disabled persons are too marginalized, and are considered vulnerable to challenges that require consistent intervention and care. Kassanda Children’s Aid was birthed out of concern to improve the lives of others. In 2012 the organization was formed and received certificates of operations as a nonprofit, faith and community-based organization operating in the Kassanda District of Central Uganda. In 2014 our organization became registered as a NGO. The objectives of KCA are as follows; · fight ignorance and diseases through educational training, counseling and by providing medical assistance, offer parental coverage, guidance and the support to orphaned and other vulnerable children in the community and Kassanda District, equip and expose children to a comprehensive, wide range of technical knowledge, skills and attitudes, to bring awareness of social evils faced by the orphans affected by HIV and AIDS offer solace and a home of comfort to the vulnerable children, who are homeless in our communities build a foundation of knowledge and skills that enables children to continue to learn and adapt to change throughout their lives, Create an environment conducive for the survival growth, development and participation of vulnerable children and households. enhance the capacity of households, communities and other implementing agents and agencies to deliver integrated, equitable and quality services for children households and Create an environment for youth where mental, spiritual, and physical needs are met. Kassanda Children’s Aid executive management consists of a Board of Directors comprising a Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary, and five Patrons. To date our operation is managed by four full time staff and a host of committed field volunteers who support our initiatives by efficiently working throughout the community on behalf of KCA. Funding for our organization is derived from international donors, local generated income projects, and local government agencies. Key partners of Kassanda Children’s Aid are Mild may Uganda, KASSANDA local government and healthcare volunteers. OUR VISION & MISSION Kassanda Children’s Aid vision is to be an Organization that will serve as a beacon of hope in the Kassanda District. We endeavor to pave a path to a bright future for children affected by HIV and AIDS, to provide educational training, medical assistance and counseling to impoverished groups and abused women. It is also our mission mandate to provide skills and economic development programs for youths, and to assist with scholastic materials and school sponsorships. OUR ORGANIZATION GOALS The goals of Kassanda Children’s Aid are geared to fulfilling our mission. Thorough daily interaction with the community at large, we are intentional about the objectives we pursue to shape and to create a healthy and productive society. The following are some of our long, short and immediate goals; To help eradicate poverty among the impoverished groups of people in our community through generated income projects. To partner with local healthcare providers and institution in offering health and medical services to orphans and vulnerable children, the elderly and persons with disabilities. To provide residence, parental care and guidance for homeless orphans. To promote literacy and raise awareness through educational forums. To provide vocational and technical training through skills development programs. To promote the rights and liberties of marginalized groups in the community. To become better equipped with necessary resources and skilled personnel. KCA Programs/ what we do. Support for orphans and other vulnerable children (OVC) We identify positive children 0-14years and adolescents 15-19years, link them to health centers and make a follow up to ensure that they are retained into care (Antiretroviral treatment) We give education support to OVC. We identify and support critically vulnerable children that require mandatory school requirements to enable them enroll and attend school. We use our limited resources and give those items like book, pens, geometry sets, school uniforms, shoes, bags, beddings and other logistics like sanitary wear for adolescent girls. We struggle to pay for them meals at school and registration fees etc. we truck enrolment, attendance and academic progression of the supported children Most of these children that we support are HIV positive as well as their care giver. We economically empower OVC households; we support them with stimulation funds/ capital to enable them actively engage in income generating activities (IGAs) of their choice. Priority is normally given to the poverty stricken OVC and their care givers We support malnourished children identified at the Healthy center. This package includes beans, maize flour, cooking oil and porridge etc. we monitor progress. N.B In all our OVC programs, we conduct home visits to make needs assessment and truck progress. We address gender issues associated with HIV/AIDS and stigma related issues. We run an annual “Bonnie Camp” for the vulnerable girls. This is a women empowerment initiative to address gender issues that accelerate HIV/AIDs infection and effects. The camp provides family strengthening environment where education, recreation and emotional support are intertwined The camp focuses on orphans, vulnerable children and women. The overall objective is to bring together orphans and vulnerable children (OVC), infected and affected by HIV. The camp lasts for a full weak. While at the camp, the girls participate in a number of activities including healthy education workshops entailing: issues of hygiene, HIV/AIDs prevention, self esteem, relationship building and root cause analysis of African poor cultural norms that belittle women. Outside the room, they play soccer, participate in sacker racing, musical choirs, decorate garments, learn the limbo, sing and dance both African tradition and western music styles. These girls while at camp spend a weak free of stress, responsibility and fear. Slowly they openly discuss issues and eventually laugh and joke with their counselors. We conduct community based voluntary HIV counseling and testing through which we identify HIV negative adolescent girls and young women 10-24 years. Form groups and establish youth friendly corners called safe spaces from where we give those services like family planning, skills training like hair dressing and tailoring. We empower them economically by helping them from savings and credit association. Some of these women 20-24 are in commercial and transactional sex due to economic hardships. We retest them after every three months to ensure that they are HIV free. Under this program we also address gender based violence through community mobilization and norms change campaigns. We host both local and international volunteers. Most of these are normally on internship and research. However, these have to apply and sign our volunteer contract; though these have to cater for their needs during the period of volunteerism.