Officially a resourceful fella!

The 24^th of March 2016 marked a great occasion in the lives of two of our leadership Academy young men – and therefore for all of us at River of Life!

First up to the plate is the one and only Sserunjogi Gerald, who recently graduated with a certificate in Human Resources.  He’s very special to River of Life, since not only has he been with us for a long time, but he is also the son of Mama Katende, our cook!  We met them after they had lost their father – and as if that wasn’t bad enough, relatives had thrown them out of their father’s house.  Mama Katende was really struggling to even feed them, since she didn’t have a job at the time, so as you can imagine, their arrival at River of Life was a big relief for her, and an opportunity for her kids to study! 

Sseru says: “Thank you so much ROL for running to my rescue during those times of need, it was hard for me to predict back then what the future might hold, but now it’s so exciting that I have made it to this step”.  Mama Kat adds: “a big thank you to this organisation for everything they have done for me and my two sons, and for giving me a chance to work with the young people and the White Eagle Project.”  Congratulations Sseru!

 

Sign to Sing!

Let it never be said that River of Life don’t get involved… and here’s a fantastic event that we were delighted to join in! It’s the Sign to Sing March, which is organised by Guinness World Records. This event was spear headed by Sign Health Uganda (the deaf health charity) in conjunction with Masaka Disability Network (of which River of Life is part).

The day starts with a triumphant march lead by the band, starting from the Post Office and leading through the busiest areas of Masaka town.
 

It’s a great opportunity to spread the word about honouring the rights of children with disabilities, and saying no to violence in homes. In particular, we talk about deaf or physically disabled children, since many parents in Uganda believe that having a child who can’t hear or can’t walk is “bad luck” and wouldn’t bother investing in such a child. These children then miss out on education, and many other essentials of life.
 

According to Elder Emily, “The marching was so good… it was so encouraging that many people came of their shops to see what was going on the streets. Those very people might have a disabled child at home that they treat badly – but hearing our message is the first step in changing minds and behaviours”