New Mk Full
- 2. Mission and Vision MISSION To provide education, resources, health care, rehabilitation and hope to the War Orphans, and Former Child Soldiers; to build a strong foundation that will bring long-term change to benefit the war Orphans and former child soldiers of Uganda. Our aim is to rebuild, inspire, and change the nation. Fifty-seven percent of the Ugandan population is under the age of 15. VISION When we think about what the future holds for the people of Uganda, we envision a country of educated and self-sustained individuals, solid leadership, economic growth, improved health care, and decreased poverty rates. Through the implementation of various programs including education, vocational training, health care, rehabilitation, micro-lending, leadership, and community reconstruction, we hope to make a long-lasting difference in the lives of the caring, strong, and kind-hearted individuals. Aid the Nations will provide the children of Uganda with the appropriate coaching, development, and resources to become self-reliant and empowered leaders of tomorrow. These children need our voice to tell the world “We WILL be the leaders of tomorrow.”
- 3. Summary For more than twenty-three years, the Lord’s Resistance Army has been at war with the government of Uganda. There has been widespread human rights violation, systematic torture, and kidnapping of at least sixty-six thousand children who were forced to become child soldiers and/or sex slaves. Children were forced to terrorize their own villages in order to survive. The horrific events of this war have dramatically devastated the people of Uganda and have forced over four hundred thousand people to flee their homes and live in internally displaced camps, which are the breeding grounds for disease, malnutrition, and death. With the end of a gruesome and devastating 23-year civil war, NOW is the time to rebuild the nation. We envision the country of Uganda to be full of powerful and self-sufficient leaders of tomorrow. With your help, Aid the Nations can provide the means for education, health care, vocational training, and community reconstruction. Aid the Nations is determined to bring not just temporary but long-term change to Uganda and truly rebuild, inspire, and change the nation!
- 4. Current Projects Miracle Kids School – Kiwumu village, Uganda. There are currently sixty orphans enrolled in nursery level classes. There is a total of three classrooms equipped with books and school supplies, three professional teachers, a cook, a care taker, a security officer, and a volunteer. Sponsorship Program – Aid the Nations aims to find sponsors for specific children who are in need of immediate medical attention and vital resources. Currently, there are five children that have received medical attention, adequate food, and were (should this be “are”?) enrolled in our Miracle Kids School. PenPal Program – Aid the Nations began implementing a penpal exchange program between American students and orphans in Uganda. Children who will participate in this program are orphans who are living in the Miracle Kids Primary School, Miracle Kids Church, and the surrounding village of Kiwumu in Northern Uganda. All of the children are under the care of Pastor Alex Katongole, our regional coordinator. Currently there are over 200 children, ages 6 to 18 that are waiting to participate. The pen-pal program aims to connect these children to other children worldwide to establish cultural connections, increases acceptance of diversity, and a better understanding of a country so different from one’s own. Such an exchange promises to be an eye-opening experience, not only for the children in Uganda, but for the children in America as well. Malaria Prevention – malaria and respiratory infections are the main causes of death for children under the age of five. Aid the Nations aims to advocate change by raising funds for the distribution of mosquito nets which can prevent the spread of this deadly disease. Up to four people can sleep under one mosquito net for up to five years. Essentially, every four dollar donation in this program can save four lives. Peace FM Radio – Organized by Pastor David Livingstone, our Kitgum on-site coordinator. The goal is to broadcast a message of hope to over one million listeners in Uganda. The radio station advocates peace and reconciliation, and provides community education and outreach in the following areas: hygiene and health (malaria prevention, HIV/AIDS education, cholera, Ebola virus, and hepatitis), family planning, education, moral values, and world news.
- 5. What makes US different: We are NOT an aid agency. We do not believe in financial distributions that build dependence. We want to promote change and the only way to do so is by providing resources, tools, and education to the people of Uganda so that THEY can be the change makers. 100% of the public donations go directly to the region to fund specific projects. We are a mainly “youth agency” All of the volunteers in the US and in the region are close to or under 25 years old.
- 6. History of Uganda For more than 23 years, the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) has waged war against the government of Uganda. ( http://www.resolveuganda.org/history ) The complex war has claimed many innocent civilian lives, forcefully displaced over 400,000 people and destroyed schools and health centers. ( http://www.c-r.org/our-work/accord/northern-uganda/causes-dynamics.php ) LRA leader Joseph Kony created his army primarily through the violent abduction of children. An estimated 30,000 to 66,000 children have been kidnapped over the course of war. ( http://www.worldvision.org/content.nsf/learn/globalissues-uganda ) Upwards of 90 percent of LRA ranks are populated with abducted children. The children are forced to become laborers, soldiers, and sexual slaves. These children are forced to terrorize their own communities and other civilians by cutting off the hands, ears, or lips of individuals who are suspected of sympathizing with the government. To psychologically enslave both abducted children and the targeted population, the LRA uses spiritual rituals as a weapon of war. ( http://www.worldvision.org/content.nsf/learn/globalissues-uganda ) The war has been characterized by widespread and systematic violations of human rights, including rapes, abductions of men, women and children, torture, increased economic decay, and national and regional insecurity. ( http://www.c-r.org/our-work/accord/northern-uganda/causes-dynamics.php ) The horrific and prolonged consequences of this war have devastated the society – a society that has been reduced to ‘displaced camps’, where people languish without assistance and protection. ( http://www.c-r.org/our-work/accord/northern-uganda/causes-dynamics.php ) At the height of the conflict, (2002-2005), more than 1.8 million people — or 80 percent of the northern Uganda population — were forced to flee their homes and live in squalid displacement camps. An estimated 1,000 individuals died each week in the camps each week. ( http://www.worldvision.org/content.nsf/learn/globalissues-uganda ) Today, more than 430,000 people still remain in concentration camps. ( http://www.worldvision.org/content.nsf/learn/globalissues-uganda ) Displacement camps have become breeding grounds for malnutrition and death resulting from cholera, measles, and preventable diseases. It has caused severe destruction of Uganda’s infrastructures and decline in socio-economic growth. ( http://www.c-r.org/our-work/accord/northern-uganda/causes-dynamics.php )
- 7. A child’s voice James Nganda , Age 10 James's family was destroyed by the LRA in the civil war that has been going on in Uganda for the last 23 years. When the rebels raided his home and killed his whole family, James had gone to fetch water at the well two miles away from his home. When he returned to his home, he found a pool of blood and body parts. Afraid, he ran to his uncles house to find that his uncle had also had been slaughtered. He was unable to attend school and could not buy clothes and other necessary things needed for survival. The church has been trying to provide clothing and small basic needs for him, but more importantly we must show him that he’s not alone. James enjoys his time playing football and swimming.
- 8. A child’s voice Evelyn Akot , Age 12 Evelyn was born in a Kampala suburb called Soweto. Her father died from the Cholera epidemic when she was five years old. Her mother struggled to send her to school and provide her with her necessary needs but was unable to do so. When she turned to the streets, the church decided to adopt and support her and bring her up as a God fearing and responsible girl. Due to her inability to pay fees, she is not able to attend school. Evelyn is a jolly girl who enjoys singing, watching movies, and reading the bible and story books.
- 9. A child’s voice Emmanuel , Age 10 Emmanuel’s father is believed to have been kidnapped by the ADF rebels who terrorized Western Uganda in the 90’s. His mother lost their property and Emmanuel was left to be taken care of by greedy relatives who didn’t consider him to be part of their family. The mother was left helpless and struggled to support her child. Emmanuel is unable to attend school. Instead, he goes around the village fetching water for people to get a penny so that he can support his mother who is suffering from Tuberculosis. At times he carries sacks of garbage from peoples’ houses so that he can be paid. There are times where he doesn’t get paid for his work. Emmanuel is an obedient, hard-working, and God loving boy who preaches about God to the other children. He enjoys football and helping.
- 10. What YOU can do Go to our website: www.aidthenations.org to learn more about ATN and the situation in Uganda. Become an ATN ambassador! Find out how at http://www.aidthenations.org/volunteer.html Find us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/aidthenations http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=89362954895&