Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Children with dissabilities in Buganda Kingdom

By: Maria Theresa Maan Bešić
NDF, May 2010
 
 
The Nnabagereka Development Foundation is a registered Non-Government Organization founded in 2000 by Her Royal Highness the Nnabagereka (Queen) of Buganda, Sylvia Nagginda Luswata. NDF’s mandate is to restore the vitality of Uganda by marshalling community and household human resources for social and economic development.

Through the vehicle of the Nnabagereka Development Foundation (NDF) an NGO registered as a corporate entity, the Nnabagereka as the patron is committed to activities that help people’s efforts in uplifting their well-being through poverty reduction initiatives.

The Nnabagereka has initiated various programmes geared towards promoting cultural morals,education, health and community empowerment. The Foundation undertakes activities under seven programme areas and has projects in each of them namely:
• Child Welfare
• Education, literacy and community development
• Economic empowerment of women
• Employment creation for the youth
• Health, water, sanitation and environmental protection
• Modern and traditional agriculture for food security
• Traditional cultural endowment

People and children with disabilities are among the most disadvantaged in the country. They lack appropriate education services and skills training, and cannot easily access employment. There has been little attempt to integrate people with disabilities into the community and there is limited information to help families and communities to understand and overcome the challenges they face related to disability. There are also limited specialised health and rehabilitation services and appropriate physical infrastructure available to cater for the different needs of people with disabilities.

NDF complements the poverty eradication efforts of the Buganda kingdom, Central Government, Local Governments and the communities themselves with particular emphasis on promoting the welfare of children, youth and women.

The Nnabagereka has on many occasions supported several institutions working with children as
an advocacy tool to promote the rights of children. The Nnabagereka has continuously called on
the general public, the private sector, the Government, and the donor community to be more sensitive to the needs of children especially those with disabilities by designing and implementing programmes inclusive of their needs. The Kampala School for the physically handicapped is one of those schools that the Nnabagereka has supported by building a 50 bed dormitory and donating wheel chairs to the disabled children.
The Nnabagereka, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, is carrying out a program on advocacy and social mobilization to increase demand and utilization for immunization and safe motherhood services in Buganda in particular, and Uganda in general. The Nnabagereka is also working with international organizations such as the United Nations Fund for Population activities to contribute to increased commitment of cultural, religious, community and clan leaders, policy and decision-makers on matters of the girl-child, gender issues, adolescent reproductive, HIV/AIDS and manageable family size.

Through the Heart Foundation fund raising concert that was sponsored by MTN, Her Royal Highness helped to raise over 20 million Uganda shillings towards acquiring a heart equipment to treat heart patients at Mulago Hospital.

Support to Orphans and the abandoned. NDF supported the expansion of a classroom block and toilet facilities and a playground at Sanyu babies Home, at a cost of US$ 20,000. The Centre will have a capacity of 30 children on a revolving basis.

NDF managed to secure a bursary at Greenhill  Academy for one disadvantaged girl.

Support to the disabled. NDF Constructed a US$ 30,000 50-bed dormitory for the physically handicapped children at Kampala School for the Physically Handicapped.

Through a bursary arrangement, the Nnabagereka provides scholastic materials and personal care items provided the mentally and physically handicapped children in Makindye Hill primary school, Salaama school for the Blind and the Kampala School for the Physically Handicapped.

NDF organised a fundraising party from which one million shillings (1,000,000/=) was raised towards the rehabilitation of the disabled children at katalemwa Cheshire home for the disabled.


No comments:

Post a Comment