This post is about my second volunteering experience in Uganda for a small NGO at Kaihura village, and the important work this NGO carries out for the community
My second volunteering experience in Uganda has taken place in Kaihura, a small rural village to be found on the main road that goes from Fort Portal to Kampala, surrounded by the most amazing greenery. I have been helping an organisation called Bringing Hope to the Family.
Just like for the previous two weeks in Hoima, I have just tried to help out with some communication-related issues, I tried to train a dedicated person on the use of social media, give some advises here and there, and I have made a thank you video for their donors (uploaded on Instagram and Facebook if you want to check it out), most of which are from the US. My first ever video by the way, it was a very useful learning process for me too.
Not much, from my point of view. But I have understood that in places like Uganda, and for small NGOs that focus their work on helping others, these kind of skills are rare and very much appreciated.
The big difference with the previous experience is that Bringing Hope to the Family is a somewhat better organised, bigger organisation. The activities they carry out are more clear and visible too.
There’s a medical clinic which offers advise and treatment to the local community, and free treatment to all HIV positive orphans and free HIV testing and counselling to all. They also organise regular fun days for the kids with some educational activities, essential to teach them how to live as HIV positive person, how to be self-aware and communicate with their family and the rest of society.
There’s a vocational training centre with about 120 students living on the premises. They help underprivileged boys and girls with 2 years long skills development school that will allow them to get a job. For some people places like this literally means salvation. For example, if a girl remains pregnant in Uganda she is kicked out from the family and from school. She is literally abandoned, left on her own in the world. Vocational training centres like this one give people in such situations an opportunity to have an income, take care of themselves and their children.
There is an orphanage with almost 200 kids of all ages, from babies to teenagers. In Uganda there are so many orphan kids, and institutions like this one are so important to take care of them. I met some women who have been working in the orphanage for, well basically all their lives.
The big mamas who raise not only their kids but all the kids. These people are just incredible to me, their dedication is deeply touching, they are a real revolution.
All these kids, along with others from the village, attend one of the two schools managed by the organisation. In order to make the thank you video above mentioned I have been visiting the schools and the orphanage often in the two weeks I spent in Kaihura.
For me, this was all new, like visiting kids that have no parents and live all together in common rooms, in a very little space. They have a tough life, but to them that’s normality, that’s reality, and they are so joyful, and smiling, and playful. They look for attention, of course, they need so much of that which they never had or could have, and yet they are so respectful and well mannered.
It’s heart-melting, these kids they were just amazing. I couldn’t, and maybe I wouldn’t stay too long. I admire those who dedicate more time of their life to people in need, they are the silent heroes of our world, but I, at least for now, couldn’t do more.
Yet, there’s no doubt in my mind that organization like Bringing Hope to the Family are necessary to this world.
For more information about the organization, I have provided the link to the website in the article. Here is their Instagram profile @bhtf_uganda or a Facebook page carries the same name of the organisation.
