CHAIN OVC PROGRAM
JANUARY 2013
HOLIDAY PROGRAM REPORT
Introduction
Through education, children are given an increased understanding of the world,
both general and technical knowledge plus practical skills. They attain improved
confidence in their abilities and recognize their rights and opportunities, enabling
them to stand up for themselves and improve their lives.
By the end of the third academic term 2012, a total of 106 OVCs were benefitting
from the program of which 91 children were in the primary section, 8 children in
the secondary section and 7 children in Universities. One child from the secondary
level dropped out. A total of 14 children completed the primary level and sat their
Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) whereas 2 children completed senior four and
sat for the Uganda Certificate of Education exams (UCE) at the secondary level.
In January 2013, a holiday break program was organized for the OVCs at CHAIN
Offices. The OVC holiday break encompasses sharing, exploring, learning from
others and gaining confidence to face the future under a free atmosphere. Activities
included talent development and self esteem, importance of water, its usage and
safety, sports, counseling and mentorship, entrepreneurship skills, letter writing,
equipping children with information about Cancer, safe use of medicine and a
meeting with the parents/guardians.
1.0 Activities
1.1 Children’s third term recap.
Children were tasked to share what they have gone through during the term. That
is, life at school, home in their respective communities – both the challenges and
successes. Among the information uttered by the children were: Nakalisa Shalifa proudly uttered says that, “My fees are paid in time and I
am not sent back home for this – Bravo to my Sponsor”.
 “I have never imagined that my dream of joining University would ever come
true; a poor boy from a poverty stricken rural community with no father,
mother or relative to pay for my education. Every day I pray for my sponsor
and CHAIN because without them, I do not know where I would be”, Said
Benson Simiyu with a smile.
1.2 Review of school performance
Generally, children performance was good except in a few cases where children
were advised to repeat the classes. Seven (7) primary pupils were asked to repeat
the classes. One of the reasons given by the children for very poor performance
was that they go to school without breakfast and their guardians can not afford to
pay their lunch fees too.
1.2.1 THE GOOD NEWS!!
The session was coloured with Primary Leaving Examination Results that came out
when our children performed well, i.e 2 candidates were in first grade, 7 candidates
in second grade, 4 candidates in the 3rd grade and 1candidate in the forth grade.
Please note that Claire scored the fourth grade because she failed mathematics.
English and mathematics are essential subjects in our curriculum when grading.
Details are given in the table below.
2012 RESULTS FOR PLE CANDIDATES CHAIN OVC PROGRAM
No
.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
Name
Sponsor
Nalunga Daphine
Muttoni Addah
Kabiito Farouk
Nakalisa Shalifah
Nanyanzi Faith
Kisekka Godfrey
Jackson Sserumpanise
Brenda Nababinge
Nantayi Fatuma
Rose Namakula
Mbeyiganya Agatha
Lawrence Ssempijja
Zawedde Jane
Nakiyimba Claire
Igor Leschishin
Mike Zehnpfennig
Detlef Kortenbrede
Katharina Steucker
Jerry& Virginia Ladd
Sandra Dill
John & Sandy Ladd
Angela Naggayi
Bonnie Muheim
Sabrinia Mellor
Karla Bwert
Chris Ward
Sabrinia Mellor
Amanda Swenson
Grade
Eng
SC
SST
Math
Ttl
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
4
2
2
2
4
3
3
4
4
5
4
5
6
3
3
4
5
4
6
5
6
8
8
8
8
2
2
3
3
4
4
5
5
6
7
7
7
2
4
5
5
6
6
6
8
5
7
8
8
6
8
6
9
9
11
14
17
17
19
20
23
24
26
28
29
29
29
Regina posing with some of the best candidates during the holiday program; from left to
right is Jackson, Farouk, Addah and Daphine.
1.3 Session on Safe Water
A good number of communities in Uganda are exposed to contaminated sources of
water. Yet in life, water is one of the most important essentials for human beings,
thus water is life. Given the prevailing circumstances that our children face in their
communities, it is important for them to learn how safe water could be attained at
low costs using friendly technologies of the current century.
Discussions were majorly on uses of water, its sources and how safe water is got.
Different energies that could be used to purify water were also explored, not
forgetting their advantages and disadvantages. Solar energy and the Solvatten unit
were introduced as an alternative, what it is, how to use it and a demonstration
was practically carried out. It was concluded that the Solvatten unit is an energy
efficient and environmental friendly technology.
Children were grouped according to their classes and discussions were held on uses
of water, its sources and how water is purified. Thereafter each group made a
presentation of what they had come up with.
One of the group discussions.
Ziwa, CHAIN volunteer demonstrating the use of a Solvatten to the children and right is
children trying out the Solvatten.
1.4 Letter writing Session
Being a holiday of festive season, children shared with their sponsors the activities
that they engaged in through letter writing.
Children drew and coloured drawings of their interest accordingly.
Children communicating to their sponsors through letter writing.
1.5
Psychosocial counseling and Mentorship
Mentoring is a powerful method of inspiring, guiding and supporting individual
pupils. This could focus on a holistic mentoring approach which covers the academic
and social elements. Studies have also proved that mentoring has helped to
increase pupil concentration and interest in school and hence improve their
performance. It spices the “Go to school, back to school and stay in school’
campaign and the child is enabled to achieve his/her education targets.
This activity was carried out by University students who are also beneficiaries of
this program, sponsors from Germany. Children confronted them with questions
and the following are some of the key notes that were made by the respective
mentors.
 Alex Magezi
“Do not mind what is taking place around you but how you get out of it is more
important”.
“What is your dream”, asked Irene Nabakooza?
“Achieving a position that will enable me to help many vulnerable children like us,”
answered Alex.
 Konstantin (a sponsor from Germany)
“Not all sponsors can afford to come and visit you but they are doing their level
best out there to ensure that you are educated. So I urge you to work harder”.

Simiyu Benson
“Challenges will ever be with us. I used to walk 5 miles from home to the
primary school in the village but this did not stop me to get a first grade. To
date no one has ever got aggregate 4 in that school 8 years ago. So amidst
all challenges, we have to stick to our goals and dream. You too can make
it”.
1.6 Visitors
Children get delighted to interact physically with their sponsors whenever possible.
This time the children were happy to receive sponsors from Germany. It was a
valuable and memorable time for CHAIN children and particularly to Timothy,
Vincent and Cissy. Special thanks go to our dear sponsors who took their time to
come down and visit the children. The timing was perfect as it coincided with the
holiday program.
Konstantin with his friend Tatiana pose with the children.
A group photo with the visitors.
1.7 Sports
Children love to play. It was a great moment for the children to play with
Konstantin and Tatiana. The gift of balls also caused a lot of excitement.
Konstantin and the children getting ready for a game.
1.8 Entrepreneurship skills
Children need to be exposed to new technologies and skills whenever chances arise
as no one can predict what the future holds for them. Baking skills were imparted
to the children and they were practically involved in mixing the ingredients and
baking the cakes. Children were also exposed to an energy saving rocket oven that
is used for commercial purposes to bake cakes and other confectionaries. These
ovens are environmentally friendly as they use less firewood and CHAIN has
supported community groups with these Ovens.
Irene – CHAIN Staff giving children tips on how to mix the ingredients.
Addah mixing the ingredients as per the instructions while the rest of the children watch.
Kasim lighting the energy saving rocket oven.
“We have baked cakes!” screamed the children with excitement.
1.9 Parents / Guardians meeting.
Being the end and beginning of year program, it is imperative that CHAIN meets
with parents and guardians to review what the past year has brought fourth and
forge a way forward for the New Year. At least 46 guardians attended the meeting
and resolutions for the past year’s meeting were revisited to prove whether they
were followed and if not what could have been the barriers plus the possible
solutions.
Discussions about OVC challenges, information about the children’s welfare at home
and in the community were discussed. Guardians also shared the positive changes
that they have observed in their children.
Testimonies
“Jackson Sserumpanise is hard working, participatory and eager to learn and he
leads and shares with other children”.
“Shalifah Nakalisa and Rehema Nakawungu – being in school have exposed them to
so many things and they have fully explored their talents in MDD, composing
poems and they also want to learn from others, “said their mother.
Swalik Ssenyonyi– a beneficiary of OVC program sharing with the guardians his academic
journey,” I am delighted to tell you that am somewhere, your children will also be
able to make it if you support them. I would not be where I am now if it was not
for my dear sponsors and CHAIN”.
Nalunga Daphne’s mum said that her child normally reminds her – “I have to work
hard so as to make my sponsor and CHAIN proud of me besides, they are there for
me, so mum stop worrying about me”.
Swaib Lutakome is ever boasting to his siblings at home that, “Am so proud that
my sponsor has enabled me to go to school – I will be in position to employ my
siblings in future”.
Children interacted with their parents and guardians by sharing drinks and the
cakes that they baked during the program. Parents were also entertained by the
children through poems, dancing and talent show.
2.0 Gifts and Donations
“The kids love the clothing and it shows even on their faces. It is a vivid
gesture that they are important and not forgotten”, said Christine Namakula one of the guardians.
Special thanks go to our dear sponsors who donate to clothe our children.
Children with smiles on their faces after receiving their clothes.
Children receiving gifts which were donated by the children of SW. ANNA
Kindergarten & SW. ANNA, Lodz Church.
Left is Nambassa Sanyu and right - Kiggundu Jonathan appreciating the fitting of the
clothes they had received.
3.0 Health issues – more interesting activities that children got involved in.
3.1 Safe Use of Medicine
It is imperative that children get to know the right and safe medicines and its usage
given the prevailing unsafe manner in which medicine is sold to the consumer in
our country. Consumers also are commonly in the habit of prescribing medicines for
themselves so as to dodge the expenses involved in securing prescriptions from
qualified health personnel.
During the session the CHAIN Community Safe Medicines Advocates' tool was used
to train the children on the safe and unsafe medicine and how they too can become
safe medicines advocates in their communities.
The children also got an opportunity to visit one of the legal sources of medicine in
the community; a Pharmacy, where they interacted and asked questions about
what they had earlier learnt in the discussion. (An upload on same could be got on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nV3EatphsdA)
The visit to the pharmacy made the session very thrilling to the children as it was
now very practical to see what they had discussed and leant. Topics of discussion
included:-





What are medicines?
Common sources of medicine.
Features of illegal source of medicines and prescribers.
Safe use of medicine.
Proper use of medicines.
The children were later on tasked to share the information they got from the tool
and also talk about their experience from their communities about what they know
in regard to use of medicines. The session was very interesting as children were
now very aware about the safe and use of medicines and also how to transform
their communities with the knowledge they received.
3.2 CHILDREN CARING ABOUT CANCER
This is another activity that children were involved in. 3C (Children Caring about
Cancer) was put in place for children and young persons to interact and form
strategies and solutions in order to control and manage cancer in their own
communities. 3C clubs are formed in schools – secondary and primary. The
objective of 3C is to empower children to create awareness on cancer – hence the
CHAIN 3C. Children were equipped with knowledge on cancer by the 3C mentor.
The session was aimed at helping them understand cancer, and be able to create
awareness among their peers, family and other people in their respective
communities. The issues discussed during the session included;
 What is cancer?
 How does cancer develop?
 Cancer in children
 What factors increase the risk of developing cancer?
 What are the common cancers in children, women and men in Uganda?
 How cancer is treated
 How to prevent cancer
The children were shown pictures of some of the children suffering from Burkitts
sarcoma and Karposis sarcoma which are the common cancers in children. Given
the discussion, the children were asked to mention some of the activities they will
engage in as a way of increasing awareness on childhood cancer.
Among the answers they gave include;



Buwembo Andrew articulated, “Visiting the children at the cancer institute
could be a good gesture.”
“I will talk to my teacher so that we can start up a 3C club in our school,”
said Daphine Nalunga.
Kabito Farouk, with a lot of concern said, “I will mobilize my friends at school
to collect money that will be used to buy food staff and presents for the
children suffering from cancer in hospitals.
4.0 Challenges
Being a long holiday with festive seasons, a good number of the children were
taken to their home villages and they did not attend the program. At least 45
children managed to attend the program. This automatically leads to interrupting
the children’s school attendance for they will have to visit CHAIN offices so as to
write to their sponsors.
4.1 Conclusion
Generally, children shared and learnt a lot from each other.
Special thanks go to the sponsors who have dedicated more of their time to
respond to the children’s letters.
This year 2013, we have 11 candidates at the primary level. Details are given in the
table below.
No
Name
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Namwanje Mastula
Babirye Noe
Nakawooya Dorothy
Kirumira Ivan
Munyigwa Asafu
Nakayenga Sandra
Arnold Anguzu Alex
8
9
Buwembo Andrew
Mutebi Kasim
10
11
Kasumba Brian
Ndagano Sylvia
School
GOAF
Kitettika P.S
Aidan P.S
Bombo mixed P.S
Volcano P.S
Wampeewo P.S
Mpererwe P.S
Godwins P.S
MAYANJA
St. Enock schools
St. Enock Schools
GERMANY
Glory P.S
Sponsors
Marie Cino
Sue & Karen Pepper
Jerry & Virginia Ladd
Ken Chess
Sandra Dill
General fund
Mayanja
Mayanja
Brigitte Jacob
Katharina Steucker
With continued cooperation and support from our dear sponsors and guardians,
CHAIN will be able to register a difference in the children lives.
An upload for the CHAIN OVC Holiday program was made on the YouTube and the
link is as follows:https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTQiWKPffrXxu33m7H1iPSV9wNsyx9OZ&feature=view_all
Many people ask us,” isn’t it depressing, isn’t it hard, what drives
you?”
But I always think of the 105 children we are supporting today.
Bravo to our Sponsors, GOAF and GERMANY who have made this
possible through their generous support.
And the answer is - knowing that you have made a difference in the
vulnerable children’s life warms our hearts and makes our day.
Hence the reason to jubilate.
CHAIN OVC PROGRAM
Community Health And Information Network-CHAIN Uganda
Community House, Plot No 809 Kanyanya, Gayaza Road
P.O. Box 16051 Kampala Uganda.
Web: www.chainproject.co.ug