PROJECT-SUPPORT UGANDA

Foundation Light for Forgotten Children, Zug, Switzerland

Country / Place

Uganda, Chopalwor

Uganda is a landlocked country in East Africa. It borders South Sudan to the north, Kenya to the east, Tanzania to the south, Rwanda to the southwest and the Democratic Republic of Congo to the west. The borders with Kenya and Tanzania run partly through Lake Victoria and the equator runs through the south of the country. The capital and largest city is Kampala.

In Uganda, over 60 ethnic tribes live together, each with their own languages, cultures, customs, and religions. More than half of the population, 60% in total, belong to the Bantu tribe, who lives in the areas south and west of Lake Kioga. The largest Bantu group are the Baganda. The country name Uganda refers to their kingdom of Buganda.

General

The purpose of the Foundation Light for Forgotten Children is to support orphans and abandoned or distressed children in Switzerland and abroad. Currently, the foundation supports projects in India and Uganda. After completing two projects to support orphans in Uganda, the foundation was looking for a new project in 2014. They evaluated various options and decided on the "Home of Joy" project in the city of Masindi. Then in 2018, the move to the village of Chopalwor took place.

Beneficiaries

In 2014, the foundation opened the orphanage “Home of Joy” in an existing church infrastructure in the town Masindi with six children. The project continued to develop, more children have been given a home, and in 2018 the opportunity arose to build a brand new facility in a neighbouring village. In Chopalwor, the foundation was able to build a new orphanage with space for 40 children on its own plot of land. In addition, they support a small primary school, a corn mill, and a tailor shop, with a clothing shop in the immediate vicinity. By the end of 2020, 30 children were already living in the orphanage.

Project-support

Year 2022 / 2023
In January 2022 schools reopened, but far fewer children attended classes than before the lockdown. During the Corona pandemic, many young people had to take up jobs to support their families. Many of them have not returned to the schools because of this, or because of the higher school fees. School fees have increased massively, as schools simply charge the cost of running the school among the remaining students.

Hunger and poverty have continued to increase in the country, and it is still difficult to provide for basic daily needs. The children and staff of the orphanage "Home of Joy" are well taken care of thanks to versatile support. The aim is to obtain a large part of the food from its own fields and from neighbours, thereby reducing the cost of food.