15/2/2024 - CRO

It was a real privilege to visit the Child Restoration organisation (CRO) again this year. CRO is a Non-Government Organisation whose main work is with Street Children, some are 100% on the streets and others may have homes but are sent out daily to earn or beg for money to support their families. We were met by Noah, the Jinja team leader, who shared the project's work and that since we visited in 2023, 247 children and young people have been restored to their families or found foster placements and are not longer on the streets. This was amazing to hear. They are currently supporting 100 more children and seeking placements for them which will enable them to acces schooling too. 

Noah and his team have started a new project since last year with teenage mothers which gives them hairdressing or tailoring skills. These young mothers are encourged to use their skills during training in their communities and save any money earned at CRO. This is then given to them as a lump sum when they leave to help them set up a small business to support themselves and their child. They are also given life skills to help them stay safe when the leave the project. This is an amazing piece of work which is having a real impact on this involved.

Noah shared with us about other work they do, including visiting children on the streets at night to befriend them, provide food and make sure they are safe. We also heard from a partner organisation who provide therapeutic support for the children once placed in a home, to help them process and manage the many traumatic experiences they have been through. This was new for all of us who didn't know such services existed in Uganda.

We joined the main project group for lunch which is provided for all CRO children. Those at local schools are given a daily meal as part of ongoing support for the families who care for them, those living on the streets are also fed at this time. We were made very welcome and some of the chidlren remembered the Muzugus (white people) from last year. We handed out their lunch and talked to them while they ate. Afterwards were then entertained with singing which we all thoroughly enjoyed. We were asked to share a song with them and they seemed to like joining in with the actions!

We were all bowled over by the smiles and enjoyement shown by the children as they shared this time together with each other and us. These are the most vulnerable in Ugandan society, they have so little by our western standards and the stories we heard moved many of us to tears. These are children whose young lives have started in a way we can only imagine. However, the love shown by the CRO team brings hope to every one of them and they are grasping the opportunities presented with both hands. There are still an estimated 22 0000 children on the streets of Uganda so much work still to be done by CRO and other projects. But if what we saw today is anything the go by, positive steps are being taken in the right direction.