Deacon Don Leach’s
Visit to Uganda
10th – 19th June 2013
Some Developments of the
Members: Rehabilitation Home 13.06.2013
Dear
Deacon Don and all distinguished friends of this Rehabilitation Home.
Memorable
visit:
This
home was established after the wonderful and memorable visit of the great team
of friends from Our Lady of Good Counsel, Plymouth
–Michigan in the United
States of America to St Kizito Bwayiise Parish (Kampala - Uganda)
from 25th April – 06th May 2011. They had come to consolidate the
family of God (Parish) partnership, between St Kizito and Our Lady of Good
Counsel, thus St Kizito and Our Lady of Good Counsel Family (SKOLGC) that was
led by Deacon Don, in the company of Ms. Delay Kristin and Mr. Bill Tulloch,
delegated by Fr. John Riccardo, their Parish Pastor.
A pastoral
tour/visit was organized and guided by Fr. Gerald Yiga (then the Parish Priest)
and his team (members of SKOLGC) throughout St Kizito Bwayiise Parish including
the slums of Bwayiise. Deacon Don and his team were so much touched with and by
the lives of vulnerable young girls sacrificed at the altar of Satan engaging
them in prostitution, at the detriment of their lives.
The
girls in the slums were invited at St Kizito Bwayiise Parish for an interaction
and discussion with the team. Only 14 girls from among the many in the slums
turned up. A number of views were expressed by both parties to enable the girls
live positively, in a decent and dignified way of life from the business of
selling their bodies as mere commodities, notwithstanding the risks involved.
Some girls wanted to acquire vocational skills, while others needed support to
get back to school. With the above in mind, these girls promised the team to
stop doing the business of prostitution. On this note, Deacon Don suggested to
the girls that if they were ready to abandon their business, he would like to
see them living as a family, each girl supporting the other, by putting up a
home for them. The 14 girls, at their tender age, while some of them had
already acquired fatherless children, assented to the proposal. Gerald Yiga was
charged with the responsibility of founding this Rehabilitation Home.
Infancy:
This home/hostel was acquired with the help of
Deacon Don Leach, who solicited for the first 12 months rental fee to house
some 14 girls from the streets of slums of Bwayiise. An agreement was signed
with the Land-lord (Hadji Ahammad Ntambara), on 20 September 2011, but the
house had to undergo some major repairs first. The tenancy agreement was later renewed
for the next 12 months to end on 30th September 2013.
The girls started using this home on 14th
October 2011, assisted by SKOLGC members. It was put under the guidance of
Kawempe Caring Support Centre (KCSC) headed by Ms. Olive Bwana, for one had to
consider their vulnerability and rehabilitation not withstanding their
reproductive health, which is under the supervision of Ms. Maria Gorette Musoke
in KCSC. Andrew Yong did a lot in identifying a number of these girls from the
streets, and some other people have been giving this home spiritual and moral
support for a difference.
In case I am away, as the coordinator and as the
in-charge, Ms. Gorrete K. Musoke and Mr. Sammy Musoke are always available to
do the needful.
For proper accounting and smooth administration of funds,
Deacon Don’s Fund account was opened in Centenary Bank – Bwayiise Branch on 23rd
October 2012, separated from the KCSC general account:
Account Name:
Deacon Don’s Fund with the following signatories:
1- Ms. Maria Gorret Kigongo Musoke
2- Mr.
Sammy Musoke
3- Fr.
Gerald Yiga.
Sewing
and Spinning Projects:
·
All girls have taken on these two projects with a keen interest and
enthusiasm since the 26th November 2012, after acquiring the sewing machines
and on the 01st March 2013 after buying the Spinning machine. It
occupies some of their considerable time and concentration.
·
Ms. Flavia Nabukalu is in charge of the sewing project, while Ms. Maria
Auma is busy with the Sweater making skill. They instruct (teach them sewing
and spinning skills) the girls 3 days in a week: 1) Mondays; 2) Wednesdays and
3) Fridays.
·
It was hoped that the girls would be in position to produce something
tangible on their own within a period of 6 months. But it seems to be proving
otherwise!
·
Each instructor charges Ug. Shs. 50,000/= per head monthly, i.e. 2
Instructors x 6 girls x 6 months x Ug.
Shs. 50,000/= i.e. total amount required for the Instructor will be Ug. Shs.
3,600,000/= (an equivalent of Us. $ 1458).
·
This project will also require the girls to solicit for some money
and be able to buy some roles or pieces of cloths plus other materials
for the various designs, styles, attires, models, etc…
Shoe Making Project:
The shoes making project has
come in recently, but it appears to be fetching more money and interest than
any other projects in the house done by the girls.
Challenges:
Chips, Candles, and Catering Services, etc…
·
The girls had acquired splendid skills of making crisps or chips and other
stuffs; but the marketing skills are still inadequate, packaging, expiry dates,
labeling, etc… plus appropriate accountability for both products and proceeds
need to be put in place.
·
Some girls are proving to be lazy, with a lot of self-pity for themselves,
lacking self-esteem; as they await to be provided with almost everything while
others are irresponsible. Maintenance becomes an issue. Their input is still negligible. Value for work is still wanting. Perhaps, an employment of (a)
“Foster-parent(s)” could be of help..! But this requires some facilitation.
Some of the money that was supposed to pay for their
girls’ school dues in the subsequent terms has been used for their house
supplies and upkeep.
·
Fluctuation or inflation of the Uganda shilling on the market is
another disturbing issue
·
Unfortunately, a number of people in the community, who would have been of
great help and supportive to both these girls and their activities after
abandoning the streets, still look at them with a low opinion, discriminated
upon, despised and calling them names of
their former livelihood: “… you prostitutes, who can eat your… etc… “,
publicly. This does not make it an
easy deal for the girls to carry out their business (candles, chips and
catering services, etc…) transactions smoothly, effectively and profitably.
·
Perhaps one might end up putting in place a stall or a lock-up, where the
girls’ products will be easily exhibited from for easy accessibility and
marketing.
·
With the introduction of the Shoe making project, there is a need to employ
a third Instructor to assist the girls acquire these skills. Facilitation is
very important here.
·
Some girls (commercial sex workers), who remained on the streets in the
slums of Bwayiise, envy their friends now in the Rehabilitation Home, and wish
to acquire the skills Don’s god-daughters have achieved since they quit the
business. Is there a possibility of giving those girls a second chance as well?
·
House rental fee expiry is 30th September 2013. This would be a
wonderful blessing, in case there is a possibility of attaining a permanent
home for these vulnerable girls. The owner of the House has given us another
chance to rent his property (house) for another 12 months, before selling it off,
pending land title deed verification.
Conclusion:
Deacon Don, on behalf of the Managing Committee, the
Instructors and all House members, we have been so much humbled by your
distinguished tour to our struggling land. You were transferred from OLGC – Plymouth to another Parish of St. Aloysius – Detroit. You are admired
for your perpetual and unbroken touch commitment for the partnership you had
initiated from the very beginning of your first visit to Uganda. Thanks for your concern and valuable presence
to the cause of humanity!
“Support for a
difference!”
God bless!
Gerald.
