PROJECT SHALOM (U) LTD P.O.BOX 1019, JINJA (U)

ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT FOR 2012

Maureen Birungi graduates James Kiiza Graduates staff/foster parent’s seminars

Community visits Community Foster Parents Home children enjoy

lunch New Land being cleared and plants growing New office block finished

Christmas gifts All beneficiaries’ end of year’s Christmas party

In reference to our mission, vision & goals, we covered the following:Education (through fees payments, scholastics), health care & social responsibilities to all beneficiaries

On average, 75% of the planned activities for the year 2012 were achieved, so we praise God our Father for that!

Re-integration program: Re-integrating helps children to learn to live in the community other than being confined in a home environment to help them adapt to different community situations. We started on this program at the beginning of 2012 and we are fairly progressing. Out of the 5 who we targeted to settle, 3 of them were settled (Joel Kakolwa, Margaret Bulamu and Jacqueline Mwebaza) and they are all copying well with the society in which they live.Jane Namukwaba & Brain Ssekatawa had also selected for re-integration but have not fully adapted to the new situation of life. However, the organization is making it a point to coun-sel them, visit their families and will be re-united at the right time.Community fostering:At the beginning of the year 2011, the gov’t of Uganda through the line ministry for children came out with a policy encouraging community fostering as the best form of care for chil-dren instead of institutionalized care. Project shalom responded well to this call and started on the program of looking for relatives of some children who do not know their people, iden-tifying foster parents and churches that can minister to these children. Penetrating society on such has not been easy but we can strongly say that we are almost there as some few foster parents & churches are already identified. Psycho-social support:This is intended to help both parents and children through counseling and training. As planned in the year 2012, we managed to conduct three workshops for parents, children and staff on child growth and development and proper health care. The results are so-far good. Some of those who have completed have received their certifi-cates of attendance.Child Education As one of the core objectives of Shalom, the organization has continued to support children studying from different institutions at different levels. We have seen all the children com-plete the year in school and graduating from one level to another, two beneficiaries Maureen Birungi and James Kiiza respectively have completed their studies. 6 Beneficiaries in H.E Derrick-(Medical), Joseph-(Law), Jane-(BBA), Dennis- (Education), David-(Electrical), and James Gitta (Animal Husbandry).

Health: Children are generally okay but obviously we can’t fail to mention about malaria being that Uganda is part of Africa, very vulnerable to malaria. Many of the children suffered from malaria despite sleeping under treated mosquito nets. Major health issues: Derrick- had a successful operation Elijah fully recovered from the bro-ken hand and David Mwima (house parent) recovery from life threatening disease which was thought to be cancerous.Administration: Project Shalom now operates as None Government Organization NGO.

Capital developments:3 acres of land procured for Agricultural projects and office/ cancelling facility to create more space for the social work team with the parenting seminars and other administrative activi-ties.Spiritual welfare department:This has been one of the most difficulty areas of operation but there is a registered break through as many children and other beneficiaries have started opening up and can now share their wellbeing with the social work team because of the frequent visits and constant prayers by the team. Most of the beneficiaries now acknowledge and worship God and are now practicing Christians. Challenges:Some guardians still struggle with the re-integration/ community foster program because of the poor living conditions and luck of basic needs to cater for their own families. This makes it difficult for us to place children into foster homes especially with those who aren’t blood relatives (Christians) respectively because of their financial constraints.b) Our budget is limited to the meager resource envelope which we raise in one single year. Therefore at the moment, we can’t provide the startup capital to boost the economic status of our prospective foster families to enhance the nuclear family’s basic needs.c) Transportation to the field work is a great challenge because Boda bodas (Motorbikes) are risky, due to muddy roads in the rainy season, and unbearable dust during the dry seasons. This makes our field workers prone to accidents and other fever & flu related infections.d) Funding of capital developments is a challenge because our sponsorship is directed on in-dividual beneficiaries.e) High costs of education especially in higher institutions of learning, has proved expensive for the organization to support beneficiaries who are joining such levels.Insights of 2013In the 2013, project shalom is set to carry out quite a number of things.Soliciting for more sponsorsFundraising Hold 10 years anniversary celebrations.Fence the already acquired land (3 Acres)Set up of Agricultural projects (vegetables, fruits, poultry and animal husbandry. God willing!