WHY IS THIS PROJECT IMPORTANT
According to World Population Review 2016, the population of Uganda is estimated to be a little over forty million people. Out of that population 48.47% are 0-14 years old. This is problematic for the country because the majority of the population are young. 700,000 Ugandan children are out of school. The country is in danger of not meeting 2015 Millennium Development Goals on education for all. The majority of youth who are not in school are girls (15%) compared to boys (10%). Approximately 2 million are orphans.
This project is vital and urgent for the sake of those who are forgotten and have no other recourse or resources available to them. These youth are very vibrant and eager to learn. They don’t like handouts but they voiced their needs for someone to teach them skills that will help them become self-sufficient. We must take steps to eradicate the cycle of poverty, illiteracy and disease in order to give these youth a bright and promising future.
We hope that you can help us achieve our goal as stated in our mission statement. For a visual tour of the project a video is enclosed for your viewing. We would be ever grateful for your support so that this initiative can be brought to fruition.
Statistics & Facts
Uganda is most similar to the size of the state of Oregon. According to World Population Review, and Statista, 2019-20, there are over 45 million people living in Uganda. Of these about 46.5 % are under 15 years old, 28.34 percent are aged 15 to 64 years; 21.16% of the total population is dominated by the 15-24 year age group, and the remainder of the population is 65 years or older.
One third of Ugandans live at poverty level. Unfortunately, the children find themselves in a situation where the families cannot provide proper health care, education, and well-being. They may be forced into child labor and are susceptible to crime.
Male: 58.5 years old; Female: 60.5; Mortality rate of children below 5 years is high and life expectancy, in general, is very low.
An estimated 2.5 million children are orphaned and live in dismal conditions; 1.2 million of them are orphaned as a result of AIDS. Many orphans and children die from preventable diseases, such as malnutrition, malaria, cholera, and tuberculosis because medical expenses to treat these diseases is not affordable.
Uganda is still facing the challenge of HIV-AIDS, despite many responses from communities, government and non-profit organizations including families, however, resources and support services are limited. As a result, many people are not aware of what their HIV-AIDS status is. Not knowing their HIV-AIDS status is one of the biggest risk factors in spreading the disease.
People of Nakuwadde Village, Uganda
Nakuwadde Village, is one of 1,519 villages is in the Wakiso District.
Who are some of the people who cry out for our help? Sanyu is a widowed mother who takes care of 7 children. Only two of her children can go to school because of school fees. She is helped by her son and youngest daughter, but must often resort to asking neighbors for food.
Mike is a guardian for 11 orphans. One week before a visit of our Founder to the village, one of the girls from the family was raped and left dead in an adjacent field.
Mourine is 15 years old and living in a child-headed household with 4 siblings, the oldest is 18. Their dad died of AIDS. Their mother is alive, but abandoned the family when the husband became sick.
Kasaja and Namuli, husband and wife, tested positive for HIV last year.
Bukaidde makes bricks from mud he digs up in his front yard. The biggest household expense is sending the oldest daughter to school.
Nakayenga takes care of her blind grandmother and 3 siblings by selling fried fish on the roadside. She lived with her husband until he died of AIDS. She has not been tested, and suspects she is HIV+ because of constant sickness.
Kyolaba is a grandmother who along with her two daughters, takes care of 16 children, 9 of whom are single or double parent orphans. Some of the children attend government school, but were sent back home because they could not pay school fees.
Education is not only very vital to Ugandans, but to the world as a whole; it increases the chances of better life quality. It is the key to a better future, and ultimately breaking the poverty cycle. Health care is essential as life expectancy in Uganda is among the lowest across the globe, particularly in rural areas.
A major community need is the development of a multi-purpose Community Center for residents of Nakuwadde Village. These families and many others who suffer daily challenges and hardships will widely benefit from a facility that will provide access to resources, education and health care.
Our proposed facility, already in the construction phase, will house a library, community center, clinic, offices, chapel, and kindergarten through seventh grade education. It will help to provide small income opportunities to the villagers. The residents have already started building the Center under the inspiration and supervision of its founder, Elizabeth Nabeta, who died in 2018 and is greatly missed for her efficacy and dedication to the project and the residents of Nakuwadde Village, her native home. The dream has now passed into the hands of her daughter Vivian Nabeta who has embraced the project on behalf of her mother and residents of the Village. Your help is essential in completing this project for the welfare of the people of Nakuwadde Village. To donate to this vital cause.