Working with AFFCAD to empower young people in Kampala’s slums
Since former JAGS teacher Liz Parker shared her experience of seeing the poverty of life and self-belief in Bwaise’s slums, and the inspiration gleaned from those determined to change things for the better, our vision has been to actively connect students at JAGS with the children and young people there.
We raise funds, yes, but also awareness of a very different existence. For example, the Gospel Choir took part in recording a song called Challenges with AFFCAD which got to no. 1 in the iTunes world music charts. Each year we have 15-18 Year 12 students go out to Uganda to work on development projects directly in Bwaise, together with the people who live there and benefit most. Last year students helped plaster and paint a block of toilets and two small huts where a single mother and village elder lived.
Aims
The aim is to support the AFFCAD charity to improve education and health in Bwaise, while also encouraging our students to consider and reflect upon the similarities and differences between how they live and how many others around the world live.
We offer AFFCAD both financial support and imaginative practical support, (such as getting a chicken farm built to provide the children at the primary school with lunch, sustainably). Everyone benefits. Currently, AFFCAD is building a school for over 200 children in Bwaise, many of whom have been orphaned due to AIDS.
Background
You can’t always know what will happen on holiday. Exploring the poorest slums on a tour of Kampala, Liz Parker stumbled across four young men who had resolved to stay in Bwaise and to try to transform their community. Inspired by their selflessness and determination to succeed, she set up the AFFCAD UK charity in 2014 and spread the word far and wide, not only at JAGS, but beyond, winning a National Citizen Award for her efforts.
Resources
Energy and enthusiasm are the core of this partnership. We use facilities at school here to rehearse, make, bake, sell, perform and so on. Each year, students who sign up to go to Uganda set up an AFFCAD team to lead school wide initiatives to raise awareness and support. They meet weekly to initiate new projects.
Impact
over the past three years JAGS has raised almost £10k for AFFCAD. We have sent a school bus to Bwaise, donated sports kit, books and school supplies, and sent student ambassadors to Bwaise to work on community projects.
Imagine the pride of knowing that our idea and fundraising for Project Chicken Feed means that there’s a farmer and a chicken farm which can provide lunch sustainably so the children don’t go hungry and can learn more effectively. With Give a Girl a Future, imagine how humbling it is to know that fundraising as little as £250 has transformed the life of a desperate young girl, lifting her from prostitution and into vocational training, giving her hope, dignity and independence. We can see for ourselves where almost every penny goes.
Pupil Involvement
When Liz took a straw survey in a senior school assembly recently, and asked who had been involved with AFFCAD UK in some capacity, every girl put up her hand. That’s a result. We’re working with primary age boys and girls and young people in Bwaise.
When Liz took a straw survey in a senior school assembly recently, and asked who had been involved with AFFCAD UK in some capacity, every girl put up her hand. That’s a result. We’re working with primary age boys and girls and young people in Bwaise.
Frequency
Our commitment to supporting the work of AFFCAD and learning from the experience is ongoing. Each year JAGS students who visit Bwaise return with new understanding and commitment to the value of development work. It is undoubtable life-changing for the girls who go; life-changing for those with whom they work.