JINJA — A charity in Uganda has commissioned three new homes for vulnerable families in the Jinja District. They were constructed by Community Girl Child Empowerment Network (CGCEN) with funding from Hiro Charity.
Moses Isanga, President of Hiro Charity, said the initiative was part of the organization’s efforts to provide safe and secure housing for vulnerable families.
“We recognized the urgent need for safe and secure housing in our community. Many families were living in dilapidated homes, exposing them to harsh weather conditions and other risks,” he said.
“As an organization focused on supporting vulnerable families, we recognized the urgent need for safe and secure housing. In our community, many families struggle to provide basic necessities, including shelter. We have been supporting these families with scholastic materials, but we realized that they were returning to dilapidated homes, exposing them to harsh weather conditions and other risks. Some families were living in structures so fragile that you could see their legs outside while they slept,” Isanga said.
Isanga explained that the demand for safe housing in the area is overwhelming, noting that many families headed by widows need such kind of support.
“These families are struggling to survive, living in homes that are barely habitable. We have families living in homes with ant hills, and others living in grass-thatched huts that are at risk of burning down.”
According to Robinson Mulindwa, the programs director at CGCEN, they identified families which were in the direst need of houses.
“Despite having many families headed by widows who need houses, we identified those who are badly off. We constructed houses for each of them. The houses are two bedroomed, with a bathroom, store, corridor and pantry. We hope these houses will help these families have a normal life,” Mulindwa said.
The three families who received the new homes were identified as being among the most vulnerable in the community. One of the beneficiaries, Ruth Nazziwa, a widow who is taking care of five grandchildren, expressed her gratitude for the new home.
“Life was bad. I had a small hut. I had five children. Sleeping with both girls and boys. I could sleep in the middle,” she said.
The new homes, which include two bedrooms, a sitting room, and a bathroom, have brought a sense of dignity and security to the families.
“This house has everything, and we are happy. The children are also able to read their books,” Nazziwa said.
CGCEN, which has been providing scholastic materials and essential commodities to vulnerable families in the community, identified the need for safe housing and partnered with Hiro Charity to make it a reality.
Moses Isanga said the organization’s mission is to empower and safeguard vulnerable children and families in the community.
“We’ve been providing scholastic materials and essential commodities to sustain homes and keep children in school for over 10 years. However, we realized that helping children with education wasn’t enough. Many families struggled to provide food, affecting the children’s ability to learn,” he said.
The construction of the new homes is part of a larger initiative by CGCEN and Hiro Charity to provide safe and secure housing for vulnerable families in Uganda. The charity plans to construct more homes, depending on the availability of funding.
The demand for safe housing in the community is overwhelming, with at least seven more families in dire need of support.
