Ubumi Transit Home:
In the past, orphans and vulnerable children have been placed in large almost warehouse-like centers far outside community each child has known and loved. Surrounded by strangers, with little adult supervision, children encounter an enormous amount of stress after already dealing with the loss of their loved ones. Sometimes these children, who can have significant emotional scars and abandonment issues are forced to leave the orphanages immediately upon reaching adulthood and meet the community with few job skills, and fewer support links in the community. Hence, many are forced to return to the life of poverty from whence they came.
In the past, orphans and vulnerable children have been placed in large almost warehouse-like centers far outside community each child has known and loved. Surrounded by strangers, with little adult supervision, children encounter an enormous amount of stress after already dealing with the loss of their loved ones. Sometimes these children, who can have significant emotional scars and abandonment issues are forced to leave the orphanages immediately upon reaching adulthood and meet the community with few job skills, and fewer support links in the community. Hence, many are forced to return to the life of poverty from whence they came.
Ubumi Transit Home provides alternative care for children who face desperate living situations as identified by the Social Welfare Department and other community stake holders. Based on the Rainbow Model of Care (rainbow.com) staff at the center focus not only on caring for the child physically, but works diligently to foster proper emotional and social development. Children receive regular lessons in hygiene, manners, conflict-resolution and household maintenance. In this way, many of the former street children gain life skills necessary within a family and the community at large. Children are also able to attend local school, where they learn basic English, reading, writing and math skills, and perhaps most importantly, the value of education.
Reintegration back into the community is the goal for each child at Ubumi Transit Home. Though children enjoy living with Ubumi, they understand that it is a temporary living situation. Because Ubumi believes that children are best cared for by their family and community, Ubumi staff attempt to contact extended family members to find a stable and loving, permanent home for each child. Once a home is found, the child is placed back into the larger society, but maintains contact with the Transit Home through regular contributions for school and other basic necessities, and visits from a social worker. In this way, Ubumi strives to care not only for the victims of HIV/AIDS, but to empower communities to care for their own children and assist in ending the cycle of poverty and destitution.
Musonda Compound is a compound of 7,000 residents without power and little access to running water. Alcoholism and prostitution run rampant. Within these desperate conditions, men and women of the community struggle to improve live for themselves and their children. With the help of community leaders, Ubumi Project identifies children and families who struggle to obtain the most basic necessities for survival, and helps them with education and material support as a means to improve their living standards.
Ubumi Educational Support Program was founded on the belief that education is the key to improving the lives of destitute children. Unfortunately, because government schools require families to purchase of uniforms, shoes, bags, school supplies and give regular financial contributions, public education is out of reach for many Musonda residents. Ubumi Community School enables even the most destitute families to access education. Ubumi does not require a uniform or any financial contribution from families, and even provides school supplies for students. Furthermore, classroom enrollments are small and staffed by fully credentialed teachers. Those students who successfully pass through elementary school and wish to continue with their education are able to continue with support from Ubumi Bursary Program. Currently Ubumi is able to support up to 30 children to attend school beyond the Community School. In this way, Ubumi Educational Support Program gives children the tools to better life for themselves and their families.
Ubumi Nutrition Program helps single mothers and widows who are caring for sick children. By working with prominent local leaders, the program identifies families with undernourished infants and children and invites them into the program. As a member of the group, families receive monthly food rations, and attend bi-weekly health education seminars. During seminars, women cook food and share lessons on child nutrition, proper hygiene and reproductive health. Children are fed and weighed and their progress is measured. Leaders also visit participants in their homes to evaluate and counsel women privately. Once children and families seem to have stabilized, they graduate from the group, so that others may enjoy the benefits.
