MANGO TREE KIDS

MANGO TREE KIDS

PARENTS CONCERN

Kamwenge Orphanage (Mango Tree Kids) Concept Paper

The “mango tree kids” are orphaned children living in a slum village in the outskirt of Kamwenge town along Kabuga road whose parents died of HIV/AIDS and other natural causes and were left helpless and vulnerable without any assistance. Some of these children live with single parents/widows in small rented rooms in poor living conditions without clear sources of income and livelihood. Some of their parents and caretakers earn a living from practicing prostitution. Others deal in selling local brew and fresh foods whereas others have no any source of income. These families can not even afford meeting the children’s school needs such as books, pens, pencils and school uniforms for their education resulting into early school dropouts at the age of 9 years. The ultimate results from early school dropout make the children susceptible to early pregnancies, drug abuse and defilement, child labor and stealing. Kids brought up under these circumstances end up being criminals and wrong doers in the community and end up having miserable life.

Parents Concern took special interest and managed to single out a few whom we have placed in reasonable schools and foster homes and are doing well. Our intention is to get as many as we can out of this dangerous environment and empower them for better future.

The children are attached to foster families who take care of them, feed them and provide accommodation.

Parents Concern mobilizes support from well-wishers and individual supporters who get touched to the plight of orphans and other vulnerable children with special consideration to supporting the child headed families, children living with HIV/AIDS, children with mental and physical disabilities, street children, child laborers, the neglected and the needy. Apparently we have a large number of orphans on the waiting list for sponsorship and in urgent need for school fees, scholastic material, clothes, school uniforms, shoes, blankets and mattresses. They were carefully selected in Kamwenge town council using a criterion tool and verification with local leaders including church leaders, elders, civil and political leaders was done.

The basic needs of life for the orphans today are not optional but a right and are better alleviated when all the socio-economic spheres are addressed adequately. In their absence, there is a likelihood of negative cascading effects on personal and family life of the orphans, as well as the social and economic wellbeing of the country.

At the moment we are only providing exercise books, pens, pencils, playing materials, used clothes, love and comfort. As much as they are important but they are not a cure. We may achieve a significant impact if we targeted their parents and caretakers as well.

The significance of targeting this group is that, when the caretaker families are empowered to be economically independent with sustainable income, then the children will be able to receive better education, medical care, shelter, clothing and feeding. Providing relevant skills and knowledge in various respects like agriculture and business training, income generating activities such as poultry, piggery, running telephone booths, small restaurants and tea rooms, selling second hand clothes and selling food stuff, tailoring and design, tie & dye, cookery and simple accounting will enable them venture in related business opportunities and ultimate improvement of the overall welfare of the entire household.

Parents Concern has an overall goal of constructing an orphanage centre at Kakyinga with an objective of bringing together the orphans, street children, needy and the abandoned children in one big family. This will create opportunity for ensuring proper child growth, better parenting, psychological comfort and love. The children will have access to services like playing materials and equipments, education, medical care, clean water, counseling and career guidance, spiritual and emotional development. This orphanage will be a window of hope for the orphans.

Back in the USA- My Letter to Uganda

Dear Uganda,

I just wanted to let you know how you have changed my life in ways that you will never know. You have been my teacher, my friend, my sister, my brother, my father, my mother, YOU have captured my heart. YOU have taken my heart broke it to pieces and then you rebuild it again. Over and over you place this cycle in the days that I spent with you.

I fell in love with your children, I fell in love with your widows, and I fell in love with your beauty that is in you Uganda.

You have taught me a great lesson. I have no control and it is foolish to think that I have any say so in who you are Uganda. There are no words that can be places on this paper to explain to anyone the magnitude of pure love and faith that is in you.

I did not understand! How can you laugh? How can you smile? How can you have joy? WHY are you not in the pit of sorrow, in the pit of hopelessness?

But you looked at my eyes, in my soul and you said………..understand one thing……. GOD is in Control.

And you said to me……….

“So we laugh, we dance, we sing, whistle, we rejoice because you are here because God is in Control. HE has the power of today and tomorrow. HE is in control, we are nothing without Him. Live in the Moment right NOW… because that is what matters Now …… and God is in Control.”

To you Dear Uganda I thank you from my soul. Thank you for showing me that God is in Control.

Your Sister in Christ.

Renata.

Pictures take 2

JJ having a chat with the head pig...

Kaitlin having fun with the family.


Michelle found her cutie pie!

Namyoya Church looking good!!

Ah.......... TRAFFIC

Just the Pictures

Hi ALL, while waiting for Team 3 I thought it would be best to send over some of my fav pictures....... what to pick..... what to pick

Chris and Deb passing out gifts to widows in Busia

Gene and Luke meeting their family.

JJ just adding one more thing on her resume;
"weed puller"


Sing it JJ!

The reality of the poor. AIDS!!!

It’s me Blogless Renata!

I know it has been a while since I blogged. So much has happened. You know that Willy Nelson Song…. “ On the Road Again” well that is what we did on the Road. To Fort Portal, Kamwenge, Gulu, Paraa downtown Kampala, Mukono….. etc etc etc. Team 1 you are a GREAT group of people! I miss each one of you! “doesn’t everybody” J)))

“Just can’t wait to get on the Road again.” I will never look at bus traveling the same again. J

My favorite on bus travel is the kids yelling out MZUNGO!!! (white people) and waving at us with big bright smiles.

People in the villages are so welcoming, so inviting, they share with you all they have. They gave to Dan, Bill, Kaitlin gifts, it just amazed me how appreciative they are with the little they have.

And to hear the kids laughing, it is beautiful music to my ear. They are so precious and amazing. The heartbreak comes and goes here. You see the poverty and you want to help but there are so many people. I am so inspired by Idah the Uganda Directo,r she goes to the villages see the people cares and loves them and then she goes back and does again and again! I don’t know how she does it. Her strength comes from God she says. She is my Hero!!

I will be back to blog some more and PICTURES!!! WOWOWO!!! But know I have to go and get ready to get TEAM 2!!! From the airport!!!!

QUESTION????????????

How many men does it take to replace a light bulb?





Answer:
2 Ugandians and a Mzungu!!!!! (white man)

Kira Village Building Home for Widow.

It is Thursday 4 in the morning and I cannot sleep. Team 1 has arrived today after leaving the states on Saturday they are finally here. I felt so bad for them and their long journey. They came in took their luggage to their rooms, ate a little and off we went to Kira. They are troopers but ready to go …….

We met Nawanga the window with 17 children; 2 of the children are hers and the rest are either her grandchildren and orphans she took in. She is sponsored by the Brodas Family back home. The Brodas Family purchased a home for Nawanga and we were there to help with the building it. So we moved brinks from the roadside and sand to where the house was being built. We went to get water for the sand to make into cement. The same water they use for drinking, washing their cloths and washing themselves. The kids went with us to get the water. As you see they can carry more then us adults……. (note to self…..lift weights before coming to Uganda)

Team 1 is here!

On Wednesday, we gave the school teacher 2 footballs (soccerballs)one for the boys and one for the girls and the kids loved it. Soccer balls where donated by Bill Butler. THANK YOU BILL!!! The best part was going to the field by the school and playing with them. Kaitlin was in her glory. One of the school teachers was impressed by the way she played and kept up with the boys. And they sure can play football.

Here are some pictures from Tuesday and Wednesday .

Bricks for the House. Jamie and Lee passing the bricks to the
other side of the property.



Beautiful in Pink

Carry water to the building site
about 2 miles away. (20 liters)
I tried.... but could not do it.
But look at these children.... they are amazing!!!



This is the water they use to cook, drink, use to build,
wash cloths, themselves.

Question;
Would you use it???? Would you let your children drink from it? Would you drink from it??




Okay again !!!! Isn't she beautiful!!




Kaitlin showing the kids their pictures on her camera.



The Widow GFR is building home.



















Kaitlin in her element.... FINALLY some football time... (soccerball back home)

Waiting.................

When Melody told us remember you are on Uganda time she was not kidding........ Team 1 will be arriving on Wednesday Morning.... Can't wait to see them. They had a plane delay from Chicago to NY so they had to stay their...... but from what I read on their blogs; their adventure has begun.

We are going out today to one of the families where we will be starting to build a home. Can't wait....... well okay I am waiting for everyone to get here.

Hope to have pictures.......

Luggage is here.......

Kaitlin, Lee and Michelle's luggage came in today !!! We all went to the Airport to pick it up. My one bag is still not here. :(( I hope it comes in tomorrow. They said they would call.

But at least I packed my cloths in by carry on..... so it is good. The other bag had the soccer balls and some medical supplies, kids’ cloths. But it’s all good. So the Ladies and Gentleman are unpacking their luggage.

The drive to Entebbe was an adventure. Lots of people on the roads, in cars and walking and riding the on BODA's!!!.. (Motorcycles) more like scooters to me- This is fastest and cheapest way to get around town on the BODA.... have not tried it..... yet!!! And driving here ..... Well let's just say! the objective is to get to the destination...... the fastest way you can on a two lane road.......... that should say a lot. In other words passing cars and playing “Chicken” is the norm.

to be continues........

American In Uganda!!

Here is Lee and Kaitlin!!! Got love it..... THANK GOD FOR LAPTOPS!!!

HI! EVERYONE!!!

I made it. Thank God!! It has been an adventure! It started with my ride to O’Hare….. Got stuck on I88; so we got to Terminal 5, Jen dropped me off and she left. So there I was at Terminal 5 looking for United Airlines…. Thinking since I was leaving the States I am at the International Terminal looking for United Airlines….. NOPE!..... wrong terminal so I had to drag my luggage and get on the train to terminal 1!!!! Got to terminal one at 5pm!!! AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO GET ON!! The gentleman…. And I say this kindly would not let me on and because it was past the cut of time!!! UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So half an hour later!! I got a flight and was in England 2 and half hours later!!!

WOOHOOOO!!! The flight was nice, could not sleep, a cute baby did not like the flight and she let everyone know on the plane …. Oh well. So when I got to Heathrow I ventured around and then when to check in at Kenya airways. And had the most expensive STARBUCKS $8.00 I EVERY HAD IN MY LIFE!!! UGH!! I was too tired to explore London so I just stayed at Heathrow.

I met up with Kaitlin, Michelle and Lee and the gates to Kenya. It was good to see them. We got on and off we went to Kenya ……… 10 hours later we were in KENYA!!! Busy airport I have to say …. Many, many , many little stores. We had to switch flights to Entebbe. But the plane was delayed so we waited……… and off we went about 2 hours later!! WE WHERE IN ENTEBBE!!!! WOWOWOWOWOW!!!!

Checked in immigration… NO PROBLEM….

Went to get out luggage and ops !!! PROBLEM!! NO LUGGAGE …. It was left behind… UGH!!!! THANK GOODNESS I PACKED MY CARRY ON WITH CLOTHS! And one of my bags showed up. Yahy!!

Jerome was there to pick us up and off we went again an hours or so later!!! WE MADE IT AT THE HOUSE!!! WOW!! Greeted by Ben and Ida and Bosko and Kharm!!! It was about 2 pm !!! IT IS SUNNY AND BEAUTIFUL!!! AHHHH!!! SO are goal is to stay up all day and crash at night…………… to be continued!!

Packing ...UGH!!

Packing..... one suitcase packed 1 plus carry on to go... I rather just to get in my car and go.... LOL not a packing person. But I hope to have it all complete by Sunday. HOPE the is the operative word..... so off I go..... Thank GOD for washer machines and dryers. :)

Hello, So I am beginning a blog..... hmmm interesting. I stayed away from the blog world; LOL I was the blog reader. So more to come....... :)