Orphaned children in Africa are most often taken in by relatives into their families. Depending on the circumstances, these children and young people in extended families (“enlarged families”) are well cared for and almost treated as normal family members. However, sometimes they are simply tolerated, have to do a lot of work, may not be able to attend school, and are exploited as cheep labourers.
Services
FEP is the abbreviation for Family Encouragement Program. In the cities of Kampala and Lira, it supports needy foster parents who, in addition to their often numerous own children, have taken in children of their deceased relatives. God Helps Uganda relieves them of the additional financial burden of paying for school fees or medical care. With targeted material aid, such as a food parcel, the foster family receives a boost that benefits the entire extended family.
The foster parents have a point of contact among the staff of God Helps Uganda and are invited to regular training sessions on topics such as child-rearing, hygiene, AIDS, or career choices. This helps to strengthen them in their role and to recognise their work. The FEP also monitors the development of around 180 children, who are regularly visited at home and at school. This constant oversight of the child's well-being is a significant and challenging task. It also involves safeguarding the rights of these often still underage children. Often, it concerns land they have inherited, and whose ownership must be protected.
How Children come into the FEP
Requests for the admission of a child into the FEP either come from local authorities or directly from the environment of an orphaned child. During the admission process, the background and social environment are thoroughly examined, and the fulfilment of the admission criteria is checked. Additionally, children from the orphanage are admitted into the FEP after completing primary school.
Hope Story of former FEP child Atworo Justine
I am very grateful to God for the opportunity to share my story here with God Helps Uganda. It all began in 2013 – I was just 13 years old and attending the 6th year of primary school. Up to that point, my school fees had been paid by my grandfather.
However, he became very ill and was no longer able to support me. I had to leave school and started making and selling clay bricks to earn a living. Thanks to the money I earned, I was able to return to school.
One day, on a Friday afternoon, a team from God Helps Uganda visited our school to pay the school fees for some children supported by the FEP. One of these students knew about my hardship and gave me the address of God Helps Uganda.
My grandfather then travelled to Lira and explained my difficult situation to the officials at GHU. Our joy and relief were immense when, after some discussions and the presentation of the necessary documents, I was assured of admission into the Family Encouragement Programme (FEP). A heavy burden was lifted from our shoulders, and the future looked bright.
I was able to complete the 7th year of primary school and, thanks to good results in the final exams, I progressed to secondary school. In 2019, I was accepted into a nursing school, which was an important step towards my dream profession of becoming a nurse. I recently completed my training successfully and am now waiting to receive my diploma.
God Helps Uganda has had a positive impact on my life. Without this support and God's help, I would never be where I am today. In the months following my training, I worked in a clinic to apply and deepen what I had learned. At the same time, I was able to support my brothers and sisters financially.
Recently, I decided to start my own business and opened a small pharmacy. I sell medicines and am able to serve my customers independently, offering wound care and treating minor illnesses. The income is enough to lead an independent and responsible life.
I hope that the trust between myself and the community, as well as my customer base, will continue to grow, and that my business will establish a stable foundation. My dream is also to pursue further training someday. I thank God from the bottom of my heart for my incredible life journey. I am grateful to have had people by my side who helped shape my character. Thanks to them, I am now able to make decisions and take personal responsibility for myself and for the lives of others, especially within my family.
It is my greatest wish that God Helps Uganda will continue to support many more children in need. May God bless you all!