http://www.home-free.org/
"Breaking Away From Orphanages"
HomeFree is a registered Canadian Charity that keeps children out of orphanages by supporting families
The HomeFree (previously, Thrive's) Story:
Home Sweet Home Orphanage, Uganda 2009Just the other day I had the opportunity to catch up via phone with a nursing friend from undergrad. Near or far we have managed to keep in contact and stay good friends because of one very special vision which we share: to help those less fortunate.
During our chat she explained that the 25 children she has been supporting since 2009 are still under her care and she is planning to visit them early April. "Would you like to come?" she asks. I don't even think she had the opportunity to ask because I jumped in and told her that I want to be part of her grass-roots organization in any way possible.
Jenny's story:
Just as I was working away in public health, my friend Jenny was packing her bag and going to Rwanda and Uganda to work in orphanages. She planned to go for 6 months but her trip ended just after 5 months of being there. I think the hardship and what she has seen (as she told me) has finally took effect on her and she thought it was time to come home. But when we met post-travels she was eager to tell me what she has done.
25 children in an orphanage now was under her funding and care. "Jenny, how is this possible?" I asked confused. She tells me that the man who was watching over the children lived in a lavish home with TV and cabel and food for an entire community. However, the children who were supposed to be getting all that funding were eating maybe once a day, if that! So Jenny thought it would make more sense for her to come home ....work....and send the money for the kids to attend school, eat, and receive any of the health checks they need.
My skeptical self right away doubted that Jenny's good deed is arriving to these children however, now a year has gone and she was telling me that it is time to visit her children and get registered as one of the grass roots organizations. Her funding has been managed by trusted locals there and she now is ready to get the ball rolling.
So just on the phone I said: "Jenny, I want to come with you!"
And there you have it. My masters has prepared me for developing, implementing and evaluating grass-roots organizations just like the one my kind Jenny is trying to develop. We are going to get as much paper work done before April as possible and if everything work out for us we should be in Uganda by April 2011.
I am going to leave this as the introduction to the Uganda project and with time I hope to have a more detailed description for you available .... with 25 hopeful little stories !
Much love to all those who have support me in my blog so far!
xo
Renata :-)
