AYA Projects-Uganda

Bethesda International

After the death of her siblings, Ruth Mimebre found herself caring for 11
of her nieces and nephews. This is how Bethesda International began.
Though she struggled to care for her nieces and nephews, the AIDS
pandemic continued to orphan Uganda's children, and Ruth was
determined to do all she could to help. Today, Bethesda provides care
and education for over 200 children through its foster program and
educates another 250 through Rapha Community School, located in a
rural area that previously had no access to education. AYA helps to
support Bethesda through funding for general needs, school
construction, and income-generating livestock projects.

Bringing Hope to the Family

Faith Kunihira founded Bringing Hope to the Family in 2000 in response
to the lack of orphan care, educational opportunities, and medical care in
her home village of Kuhura. BHTF houses 43 orphans and provides
support to another 1500 living in the community. They also provide
life-saving medical care to an area plagued by HIV, malaria and
malnutrition. AYA supports the BHTF medical clinic so that orphans can
access the medication and care they need to live long, happy lives. BHTF
sees a lot of success among their patients because they believe it is
important to take a holistic approach and provides close, personal care
such as providing emotional support, counseling, follow up services, and
home-based care when needed.

Christian Upliftment School

A civil war has been taking place in Northern Uganda for the last twenty
years. Members of a rebel group known as the Lord’s Resistance Army
have been fighting the Ugandan government for control of the region. As a
result, thousands of civilians have been murdered, 1.5 million have been
displaced, and children live in fear of being kidnapped and forced to fight for
the rebel army. Many families seek refuge in the capital city of Kampala.

Located near an informal settlement of northern refugees, Christian
Upliftment School provides education, food, and support to the children
displaced by the war. Many children have lost parents or family members
not only to war, but to AIDS and other diseases, compounding the extreme
poverty facing these families. Therefore, children served by Christian
Upliftment cannot access government schools where they are required to
wear uniforms and purchase other scholastic items. AYA assists Christian
Upliftment by providing textbooks, school-fee sponsorships, a feeding
program, and recently purchased a plot of land where the school can have a
permanent home to provide education and hope to these desperately-poor
children.

Fort Portal Micro-Grant and Sponsorships

Fort Portal is located in rural, western Uganda, an area that have been
deeply affected by the AIDS pandemic. AYA started the Fort Portal
Micro-Grant Program in July, 2001. Each year, forty of the neediest
guardians of orphans will receive a one-time $100 grant to start an
income-generating activity. The majority choose to purchase cows, which
they use for milk sales and producing additional offspring. Since the
program began, AYA has assisted over 200 families. In addition, up to
three orphans per guardian will be sponsored through primary school, and
the best two seventh grader students each year will receive full
scholarships through secondary school (grade 13). Community-wide
training in widow's rights, children's rights and basic health care is also
provided.

Many children in Fort Portal have lost one or both parents to AIDS and have
been taken in by relatives or neighbors within the community. AYA offers
the opportunity to help support these children through child sponsorships.
Not only do they receive money for their basic needs, but funds are set
aside until their us enough to start an income-generating project such as
raising livestock or starting a small business. This has been very
successful in Fort Portal whereby the guardian has the means to continue
supporting the child even if the sponsorship ceases. As well, Fort Portal's
brightest and neediest students are given the opportunity to continue their
education through secondary-school sponsorships.