Although in her forties, Noarh had an infectious child-like excitement and energy as we toured the playground equipment at the daycare she’d founded in a village near Kampala, Uganda.
A couple of days later, while visiting her growing church of over one-hundred fifty congregants, I could barely keep pace with the flood of information and stories related to Noarh's work, as I listened through her interpreter. I would have loved to tour the primary school she started, take food to the struggling families her church assisted, and visit with the elderly and handicapped people her church regularly supported.
(L - R) Noarh's daughters & grandchildren, her interpreter(back), Pastor Noarh, me (Sharlene G.), my husband (Aaron)
Organizations like Noarh’s were not represented well in literature, as I researched African efforts to meet the needs of the most underprivileged people. Although I discovered a strong support for a community engagement approach in poverty alleviation research, other research, like a book by Susan Dicklitch, spoke of hinderances (political, and others) to the work of the numerous and varied NGOs in Uganda that failed to produce the intended outcomes for those on the fringes – orphans, single mothers, elderly, disabled, and so on.
There’s a fair amount of skepticism out there toward the legitimacy, effectiveness, and integrity of indigenous, grassroots organizations in Africa. However, the time I spent with several Christian-based organizations in Uganda left a lasting mark on me. The level of compassion and self-sacrifice that I witnessed seldom makes the news. l observed organization founders and staff praying for the sick, taking in the pregnant young teenage girls abandoned by their husbands or boyfriends, carrying by foot or boda-boda to the nearest clinic the burned child or debilitated staff member, tending sympathetically to the aging woman with bedsores.
The folks I spent significant time with who are running the organizations have developed relationships with local governments, as well as with people in high positions, such as attorney general, and prime minister of refugees.
I met people fighting for the future of Uganda by laying the groundwork for a university. Ugandan tribal leaders were tackling critical issues like gender-based violence and domestic violence. Folks living with HIV/AIDS, who, yes, without legal status as a CBO or NGO, were building income generating projects, so those living with HIV/AIDS – abandoned and ostracized by society – are able to earn an income to care for themselves, their families, and strengthen their community.
Angel's Care medical clinic - Kyaka II Refugee Settlement Camp
Angel's Care - Food for the elderly - Kyaka II Refugee Settlement Camp
Angel's Care - Food for community - Kyaka II Refugee Settlement Camp
Community water tap - Kyaka II Refugee Settlement Camp
What nonprofit is without limitations? The organizations I encountered have their share of them, but oh so many strengths. All those I met demonstrated their commitment to their communities and the people they served. They were driven by their belief in the sacredness of the life of each person, which comes from God. They worked tirelessly and selflessly to meet the needs of those they served: the children, elderly, disabled, sick, alone or abandoned, and those without the familiarity of their homeland.
The poorest children were getting an education; orphans were in homes and surrounded by a family and had meals and clothing; some of the most severe health concerns were being addressed; those rejected by society had the strength and support of their own community; elderly were receiving food and medical care; teen mothers were finding support for their education and their child(ren), or were learning skills to earn an income; teachers, though often underpaid, generally had long-term vision for their service; developmentally disabled, rejected by family found a new family and were finding their place in society.
Lt. Agustus Tumwebazi"s Honey Gift - from Beekeeping Project
1 of 8 fish ponds - Kyanjuki, AIDS Village
Piggery Project - Kyanjuki, AIDS Village
Kilembe - AIDS Village - community members
Over the next few weeks, I want to share with you in greater detail some of the stories I mentioned above. I am sure you will be awed by the strength, determination, and indomitable spirit I witnessed in so many of the people who founded these organizations and succeed on so many levels in serving the most underprivileged in Uganda. (J.I.L)
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