Help Ugandan Orphanage (URGENT AUGUST 2022)

UPDATE AUGUST 2022: A FIRE HAS BURNED THROUGH THE SLUM THAT THE FAITH CARE ORPHANAGE RESIDES IN, THE UCARE ORPHANAGE IS NOW WILLING TO TAKE IN THE CHILDREN, BUT IT WILL REQUIRE 5,000 USD TO DO SO. This money will go to transferring the 34 children 2 hours to Kampala, medical checks, beds, linens, clothing, shoes (since its been 2 years since we got them shoes), school uniforms, and school enrollment.

ORIGINAL POST: "Hey Everyone! My name is Alexia Johnson (@californiaskyes), and I am raising money for an orphanage in Uganda. 

Subject: RAISING MONEY ASAP FOR FOOD/HEALTHCARE/WATER

Our Story:

In late summer of 2020, I connected with an orphanage in Uganda that had put itself on social media (@faith_orphans_care_africa) in hopes that they might be able to reach the general public. I connected via direct message, we spoke. I found out that this orphanage was kinda make shift, and a younger gentleman about 25 named Bwambale has been running it with his auntie simply because there was a need. He was doing his best and knew it wasn't what it can be, or what these children do in fact need. I looked into shipping and quite frankly shipping supplies to Uganda is very difficult and very expensive. To give you an idea, it is cheaper and easier to access a cell phone than it is clean water.

As you can imagine, I had an initial hesitancy as there is truly no way to "vet" an orphanage like this, but I could not forget them. I looked up alternative shipping options, I reached out to SEVERAL notable international non profits that work in that area of Africa to no avail. After hitting a wall so to speak when it came to my efforts, I went about my life, with this orphanage heavy on my mind and heart. As I watched from my phone, this orphanage began to grow in number. (As of Feb 2021, there are 34 children, -16 girls, and 18 boys (originally 20 boys) all under the age of 18.)

Several months later, in Feb of 2021, a friend of mine, and my editor for @Topshelfmusicmag, Kristy and her boyfriend got a "Happy Birthday," from a separate orphanage in Uganda. I decided to click on the post and I immediately saw a HUGE difference in the condition of the children at this facility vs. the other. I decided to look up this orphanage, and I found out they were registered with the Ugandan government and as an International non- profit. These children receive adequate medical care, a balanced diet, clean water, a safe place to sleep, etc. 

I decided to send them a message (@Ucare_International) and I connected with one of their on the group representatives Darius. After explaining the situation, I asked them if they might be willing to connect with the other (@Faith_orphans_care_africa) and go see their situation. (I am located all the way in California) I sent them some money for gas and the next day (Feb 23rd 2021) Ucare international drove the 2.5 hours to the Faith Care Orphanage. 

Their team was able to connect in real time on the ground. They called me via instagram and I met everyone. The team at Ucare took a census of the children, and took photo and video to report on the Faith Care Orphanage. We found out that many of these children have never seen a doctor, and that they are eating one meal a day, -if that. These children do not eat vegetables or fruits regularly which puts them at risk for gout and other disease. Malaria, Typhus, and worms are common in the region, and were all treated by the Ucare doctors.

After assessing this situation, we have best determined that our FIRST PRIORITY NEEDS ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. Medicine -These children need a doctor to come see them, and administer medicine appropriately to those in need. The children all must get on multivitamins and de-worming medicine ASAP.

2. FRESH CLEAN WATER - The children need fresh clean water, our first priority is getting them the water, our second is getting a well built. 

3. FOOD -These children have not have vegetables in several months. They primarily eat rice, and a flour based bread. We need to get them vegetables in their diet first, and then our second priority will be seeing if the land is capable of sowing vegetables.

4. CLOTHING / SANITATION SUPPLIES - These children need some new clothes, shoes, hygiene supplies. 

AFTER these immediate needs are met, we are going to look to see what our next steps logistically and realistically can be. MUCH of that depends on how much financial support we can get. UCare International's team in Uganda has generously agreed to donate their time and facilitate and distribute the funds appropriately. We have agreed to an extensive record accountability process to make sure that this money is distributed in the most efficient way possible. Before we can address growing food, we must see if the ground is capable. Before we can fix the housing situation, we need to asses how that would be best. Before we can address the long term water issue, we need to get these kids clean water in the mean time. 

I have personally never felt such a powerful calling to help. I truly feel that if we all come together, we can make this orphanage a healthy, happy, safe place to live while these children grow, or go onto find homes. 

Stay tuned for the youtube video I will be uploading in the next 24-28 hours with their story, along with some videos of the kids, and photos. Thank you for taking the time to read our story, and thank you for your support! 

FOLLOW OUR STORY through the following instagram accounts: 

@Faith_Orphans_Care_Africa (Orphanage in IMMEDIATE NEED)

@Californiaskyes (I created the go fund me)

@Ucare_International (Also an orphanage in need, but these are the ones more equipped with facilitating medical care - International registered)

“Everybody can be great...because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.”

Martin Luther King Jr.