Ebenezer January Update

Jan 05 2017 By Hope Grafted In

Background

Ebenezer children’s ministry is a nonprofit making organization with faith based foundation which was conceived as a result of the existing vulnerability of orphans and vulnerable children with the mission of giving care and protection to orphans and disadvantaged children by identifying, nurturing and parenting the HIV infected and affected child. It envisions creating a Just and fair Society where an HIV infected and affected Ugandan child will be safe, healthy in a loving home and have their aspirations fulfilled.

The ministry operates an Orphanage as a core project based on the values of spiritual, physical, educational, emotional, and social needs. So far the programs in place include institutional development, education services, food security and livelihood, chapel and community outreach

Children Home

The rented Ebenezer children home accommodates 69 children of which 31 are Females and 38 males. Seven are living with HIV. The sponsored children are 39 of which 19 are females and 20 are
males. Initially we had three rooms whereupon each room had a caretaker/foster parent. However when the number of children increased we had to renovate the chicken hoop into a dormitory. For this we appreciate everyone who donated towards this project. We now have space for the current population to each have their own bed.

Health/Medical Care

The children attend a nearby medical health centre when they fall sick and also those living with HIV access their medication from there. Although we had some complicated case during the year we are so grateful that they were managed. Thanks to everyone for the sacrifice you did in prayer and financially to have our children healthy, especially Muhammed and Shakur

Staff

The Ebenezer children’s home has ten staff members totaling to 10 of which 7 women and 3 are men. All staff working for the institution are qualified, caring and professionals. They need additional training that will provide them with skills on cultural diversity awareness, HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention, emergency and safety procedures and hygiene awareness. This will provide them with skills to teach, communicate and build relationships with the children as well as the volunteers within their placement.

Education

All school going Ebenezer children were able to attend school this year. Thank you. We are grateful for the children sponsored both at Ebenezer home and at school; the tuition contributed is of great value to them that they are stable in class. Continue to pray that God gives them knowledge, wisdom and understanding so that they all excel,

Farming

Throughout the year 2016 Ebenezer has carried out farming, With regard to farming being the backbone of the country’s economy; the ministry tried to adopt farming as a key intervention for sustainability. However prolonged drought which started in the month of June 2016, has affected the second season where most of the crops dried up like maize, g/nuts, beans, and other crops like cassava affected with some pests and diseases , this situation has generated a threat to food security and lively hood at household and community level.

Achievements

Land—one and half acres was purchased and surveyed meant for construction of children home under family set up

Rent for Orphanage and Directors accommodation was paid

All sponsored children were facilitated

Some scholastic material like shoes and books were provided with the visiting teams.

Shakur health has greatly been improved due to support from partners.

Hosted different partners and visitors

Sixty bicycles were supported through MAN up which has helped to ease transport of children to attend classes

Increased enrollment from 57 to 69.

200 poultry was reared, utilized for feeding of children and sold to supplement on nutrition program.

Celebrated both Easter and Christmas parties with the children

Completion of the kitchen at school at school completed

One bore hole was constructed at the school compound.

Started construction of temporal structural for Ebenezer Christian center.

Increase in the number of believers as a result of planting Ebenezer Christian Center.

Public address system was purchased for church

Increased conferences and overnight prayer meetings have been conducted to strengthen spiritual growth and development of believers

Increased networking with different NGOs and CBOS we are mentoring Saints Revival Ministry to enhance on their children project interventions

Challenges

The bore-hole dried up due to deep available water table. This has affected the day to day need of water for children at school.

There is increased prices of food and beverages due to prolonged drought which started in July to date. Generally there is serious famine in the district

There was poor fees payment due to poor Agricultural production which is economic bark borne of the family. The cause has been the drought.

There is realized gap of unsponsored children which affect the expenditure of meeting the basic needs of all the children.

Inadequate space for the children affects their health and general social interactions.

Inadequate funding for planned programs of 2016 affected the commencement of the initiatives

Recommendations

Ebenezer is still working with the company to have another borehole constructed on a different site. Water harvesting from the school roof would be another diversified strategy for water availability

Purchase of land for initiation of sustainable agricultural intervention

Enhance on school cost sharing fees sponsorship program

Construction of family units would increase on the space and health of the children

Increase on the number of children sponsorship

Provision of transport facility

Current Needs

We hope the construction of the temporal church will contribute to increased space as a result of increased number of believers who have massively responded due to greater commissions undertaken. This will be coupled with the initiatives of church programs like youth children women which will enhance on the behaviors change, increased motivation to prayers among others. We have begun the structure with gifts to date of $1000 from Hope Grafted In and $300 from Man Up. The balance needed for completion of the structure is estimated to $2700.

The rent on the children’s home is $1400 and is due soon.

School Uniforms, these are used for identification and avoid discrimination among the pupils, the old uniforms are worn out because during the school times they are washed about twice a week. Because of the big number of un-sponsored children it is expensive for us to provide a new uniform for all the children we are calling out for help as this is concern, today we have about 50 kids that need uniform and each is sold at $6. $300 for each child have a new pair of uniforms.

Beddings it important to remember that every time we get a new child, there is need for new beddings; currently we need new mattress, blanket, bed sheet. last year we had 12 new children recruited that are in need for the above to have all these will cost about $ 388

Thank you for your commitment, which has enabled Ebenezer to not only survive these challenging economic times but to grow and expand in our ministry to children. Together, let’s watch and be utterly amazed by what God, will do in the future.

In Christ

Pastor George Kooli

Child Sponsorship

We are so thankful for our sponsors. We have many children that still need a sponsor. Email us for more info.

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