Help Us Provide Supplies to Kids in Uganda

Hi! We (Abbey and Kayla) created this GoFundMe on behalf of our friend Timothy Lwakatende. Tim lives in Uganda and runs an art charity called AboAba Kids Art. We are raising money to provide art supplies for kids in his community and cover other various financial needs that arise from running an art program. We have already seen amazing things from Tim with art supplies we have sent from the USA, but there is still a greater need for financial assistance. Here’s what Tim has to say about his mission and purpose behind AboAba:

Hello everyone, I'm Tim, an abstract artist from Uganda. My dream is to create a safe space for children in my community to express themselves.

A number of kids in Uganda today are facing lot of domestic violence which forces many to turn to the streets, leading to homelessness and suffering.

I’m doing my best to share art around my community to change lives, break the cycle of violence, and bring creativity plus joy to as many kids as I can. By keeping art available for every child that doesn't have access to art supplies and by providing them with the materials to create art, we can make a very big difference in their lives. Promoting self-love, joy, and healing in an environment where anything feels possible. In a user-friendly environment where young people will interact with and learn from each other, to recognize and achieve their fullest potential, and enable them to make a smooth transition to productive adulthood. Art can save these pure souls from child labor/exploitation and can keep them away from the violence.

I want them to grow up in a life where they can speak for themselves. In a number of homes here, children experience child abuse and they don’t get to talk about it. Plus, some of these children don’t get the chance to go to school like other kids so within our classes (besides art) I teach them English, Reading, and Writing, they are adapting to these subjects comfortably.

I’m humbly calling out fellow artists, mothers, fathers, dear friends, and family out there. Please join me on this journey and together we can bring art to children in need. Your support can do a whole big difference for kids out here!

Loads of love from the AboAba family,

~Tim

TIM’S WORDS ABOUT CHILDREN IN UGANDA:

Art Can Save These Pure Souls From Child Labor And Exploitation!

In Uganda, work is an everyday reality for many children. They are compelled to find an activity that will improve their families’ financial resources, or, if they are orphans that will enable them to survive.

Certain children leave the land of their birth and become servants, or work in agricultural sectors in neighboring countries. Child trafficking is also equally prevalent throughout the territory. Children are exploited in a variety of ways; some become the pawns of sex merchants, while others end up in the drug trade.

Uganda is unfortunately one of the principal sources and destinations of child trafficking and children have the worst forms of child labor and commercial sexual exploitation in this region.

Children are also working at gold mines under dangerous conditions. When I captured these photos of these little kids and have started to bond with them, they have completely captured my heart. I’ll not stop my mission until we make a big difference for unprivileged kids like Kamenyo, and many other children out there who fall victim for such scenarios.

Every child deserves to live a normal life, every child deserves the right to education. We can’t let them be exploited to this extent, somebody’s gotta stand up and raise voices, create a podium for kids to express themselves, and pull them from the endless slavery.

Let’s bring art to kids in need. Question still remains… “WHO’S WITH ME”?

A Note From The Fundraisers:

Tim started these classes with his own money, buying art supplies locally for the kids to use. The kids in his neighborhood all know him and look forward to his art classes after school and on the weekends. They all meet up together and focus their time on playing, learning, and creating art. For a while, Tim was working with very limited supplies, until he reached out to artist Bri Fitzpatrick on Instagram. Bri donated some art supplies to Tim and since then started a "snowball effect". Artists from all over the world, including myself (Abbey), began sending Tim supplies. Tim has been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from fellow artists who all believe in his mission.

When receiving packages internationally, the Ugandan post office workers have added additional fees for Tim to pickup these packages. (About $60 USD per package) We were able to raise some funds to cover some of these import fees, but there is still a package waiting at the post office for Tim to pickup. Tim currently uses a friend’s post office box to receive deliveries, and it takes him a day to get to the post office and return with the packages on a BodaBoda (motorcycle). Getting these packages to the village is a big undertaking and is currently the NUMBER ONE thing we need donations to cover!

WHERE YOUR DONATIONS WILL BE GOING:

1. Import Fees for current packages waiting in Uganda.

2. Import Fees for future packages that are ready to ship.

3. Costs associated with transportation to the post office.

4. $30 so Tim can obtain his own personal post address so he doesn’t have to coordinate with his friend.

5. Replacement Supplies. Certain supplies like paper will be needed to purchased locally in Uganda

6. Shipping costs associated with technology. We want to upgrade Tim’s tech so he can take more pictures and videos to share with the world about what he is doing in Uganda. Tim is currently playing “musical phones” with his and his friend’s phones to record videos of AboAba kids using the art supplies. We already have a donated phone, laptop, and camera available to ship to Tim. The shipping and import costs for these items will be high and we need assistance to send them.

7. Clothes. Several of the children Tim works with could use some new clothing as they only have a couple outfits that are falling apart.

8. Various expenses. Tim donates all his free time to this project and we want to make things easier for him as different issues or supply needs arise.

Thank you for taking time to read about this mission! We hope this story touches your heart the way it has touched ours! Let’s work together to bring the joy of art to this awesome kids in Uganda!!!