A Catalyst for Change
In one of the slum areas in Kampala, Uganda, a remarkable transformation is taking place. Mama Ruth’s Home is a newly established sanctuary that has become a haven for five children, some of whom once wandered the streets of Kampala while others were abandoned or came from broken families.
This is the kind of work 92hands Uganda does.
The five children, all between three and ten years of age, arrived at the home carrying the heavy burden of their past. Each child had faced severe hardships, from hunger and neglect to the constant uncertainty of street life. At Mama Ruth’s Home, they found more than just a roof over their heads. They also found love and the stability they so desperately needed.
As these children now look forward to brighter futures, Mama Ruth’s Home is a testament to the power of love and the possibility of new beginnings. Thanks to Mama Ruth’s unwavering compassion and dedication, these children have found a place to call home.
A Safe Place for Children
“We believe the best way to change the life of a community is to change the lives of the children in it.”
The co-founders of 92hands, Sam Lucas Lubyogo (Levixone) and Emmanuel Nsabaanye (Trinity) both grew up in the slums of Kosovo, in Uganda. From a young age, they were faced with the crime, drugs, and violence that plagued their neighborhood. After running away from home, Lucas and Emmanuel learned the brutality of the streets the hard way. They stole food to survive and watched many of their friends die as a result of petty theft, suicide, or starvation.
Things changed when an organization called Fields of Life constructed a school in their neighborhood, managed by the Word of Life Community Church. After they were enrolled, Lucas and Emmanuel received the blessing of a faith-based education, which changed their lives forever. They learned quickly, sang in the church choir, and gave their lives to Jesus Christ. After graduating high school, they founded 92hands to give back what they had been given from God.
92hands coordinates a network of single moms to run an informal foster care system for kids like Lucas and Emmanuel. Each mother takes a vital training course before taking in five to eight children and raising them as her own.
The children in these homes are given opportunities they wouldn’t have had on their own. They receive educational support and therapy through 92hands, and a stable and loving home with these mamas.
Empowering Single Mothers
92hands empowers their network of moms through education, therapy, food assistance, and entrepreneurial skills. Through a program called US4Women, they train women in vocations like hairdressing, tailoring, make-up artistry, and baking. “We empower the women who are economically disadvantaged, who have little or no education, by training them in vocational skills so that they can gain [opportunities], economic independence, and self-esteem.”
This program has been vital for helping these single moms as they care for children and work toward a better future. In conjunction with vocational skills, 92hands also provides
- Literacy programs: basic skills in reading, writing, and business management
- Business loans: women borrow money to start businesses and pay back the loan after an agreed period of time.
Through a partnership with A Child’s Hope Foundation, 92hands participates in the Thrive Program. The Thrive Program includes tools like the Thrive Assessment and Improvement Roadmap, which help each mama identify and address challenges in their home.
Take the story of Kugonza (name changed for privacy), an 8-year-old girl. She joined Mama Patience’s home following the loss of her father and abandonment by her other relatives. She carried an immense burden of grief and rejection when she arrived.
During the first few months Kugonza lived in the home, Mama Patience noticed behaviors that concerned her. Kugonza struggled to connect with her peers, preferred isolation, and showed reluctance to eat or drink. In response, Mama Patience took proactive measures. She arranged one-on-one therapy sessions, engaged in mentorship conversations, and introduced various bonding activities.
Through these therapy sessions and the nurturing environment, Kugonza has made remarkable progress in her mental, emotional, and spiritual growth. The support provided has helped her to overcome challenges and develop deeper self-confidence. She now makes new friends, performs better in school, and participates eagerly in activities.
Innovation for the Children
The Thrive Assessment is built to help care providers understand the importance of addressing all aspects of a child’s development. Priorities like physical safety, nutrition, and clean water are evident, while living with family, education, and mental health can be overlooked. After A Child’s Hope helps care providers identify areas of improvement, it’s up to the care providers to achieve the results they hope for.
One of the greatest needs the caregivers have identified is trauma care. Many children experience trauma before coming to homes in the 92hands network. 92hands realized the need for therapy and actively looked for solutions that could help them provide this resource. They reached out to Makarere University about partnering to provide treatment for children in need. The students at the University agreed to work as therapists for the homes, which allows 92hands to have long-lasting local support for the children in their network.
This is just one of the many ways 92hands exemplifies what it means to elevate care for children in need. As one of the first Deployment Partners for A Child’s Hope, and one of the first to get involved with the Thrive Program, they work tirelessly to ensure that children on the streets become part of a loving home.
In all that 92hands does, their faith rings true.