Meet My Daughters from the House of Jjajja Don in Kampala Uganda

Meet the new Business Manager for Diakonia Products

Welcome Nassolo Diana who is the new Business Manager for my daughters Diakonia Products. I have known Diana since my first trip to Uganda in 2007. Another Plymouth family helped her through her college studies in Accounting. She is currently studying for the CPA certification in Uganda. She will be responsible for helping the girls develop cost analysis for production and sales and a variety of budgets.

New Sales and Marketing Manager for my Daughters Diakonia Products

Welcome to Nandango Cissy who is the new Sales and Marketing Manager for my daughters Diakonia Products in Kampala, Uganda. She was a student at the International Technical College when I traveled to Uganda two years ago. She graduated and has not been able to find work in the Uganda market place. We brought her on board to help the girls sell their products and find contracts for sewing goods sales.

Update from my June 2013 trip to the House of Jjajja Don

Deacon Don Leach’s Visit to Uganda 10^th – 19^th 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 – 06^th 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 30^th September 2013.

The girls started using this home on 14^th 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 23^rd 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 01^st 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 30^th 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.