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Just Like My Child Founder, Vivian Glyck properly greets a little Ugandan angel at Bishop Asili Hospital.

The morning greeting goes something like this and is spoken very melodiously:

Friend A: Good morning; how was the night friend?

Friend B: Well, thank you.

Friend A: Mm (acknowledging the answer)

Friend B: Good morning, how was the night friend?

Friend A: Well, thank you.

Friend B: Mm

Friend A: Mm

Same greeting in local language:

Friend A: wasuzotyanno mkwano

Friend B: bulungi mkwano

Friend A: Mm

Friend B: wasuzotyanno mkwano

Friend A: bulungi mkwano

Friend B: Mm

Friend A: Mm (this Mm gets sung at a very high pitch)

The afternoon greeting would include “how was your day” or “how did you spend the day,” “thank you for your work.” It’s a very pleasant, happy and optimistic culture despite the extreme poverty.

Written By Sara Todd, JLMC Country Director

Rachel Namirimu

Having grown up timid and indecisive in character, 19 year old, Racheal Namirimu says she can now speak her mind assertively and confidently, a quality she lacked before. The teenager also owes her talents in music and drama to Just Like My Child’s (JLMC) Girl Power Project, in Katikamu, Luweero district.

“I joined a music and drama club to avoid idleness and bad company”. She adds that the idea of joining constructive groups in her village was initiated by JLMC. In the next empowerment session, Rachael hopes to learn the effectiveness of condom use in HIV/AIDS reduction since it is an issue she hardly understands.

Rachael suggests that young men should be taught that pulling the Labia, a cherished culture practiced by females in the Central part of Uganda, is not important. This is because a woman can still give birth regardless of the act. Pulling of genitals among teenage girls in rural areas has at times led to an increase in school drop outs since most girls believe that they are ready for marriage.

Namayanja Joan, 17 years old, just completed her senior year at Springfield high school in Matugga. Her favorite subjects are English and fine arts. She comes from a big family of about 16 children of which she is the last born. Joan lost her father in 2008, and now lives with her mother who is unemployed.

Joan has had difficulties following her father’s death. Since her father died intestate, her sister is claiming to be the sole heir, seizing the only source of family income from the primary and secondary school that their father built. It is due to these family wrangles that getting school fees for Joan and other basic necessities like food and rent is a struggle, as all income has to come to Joan and her other siblings through court orders.

Despite this struggle, Joan is part of a football team that plays in Katikamu [a community where JLMC has built the CACH Primary School through its Project Universal Education]. She plays positions of midfield and winger. In the future she would like to play professional football and study law, after being inspired by the young attorneys that have helped her family over time.

Talking about the Girl Power trainings, she says they have been of much help especially on the issue of ‘pulling’. Pulling is the local term used for elongating the labia. This is a practice that is based on an assumption that it helps women during childbirth and also for sexual pleasure. Through the trainings, she has learned that it is not a good practice because all it does is expose young girls to sexual activities at a young age.

According to her, the training has been a blessing because they never gave them empowerment training at school.

She believes that a similar training given to boys will be equally helpful. And she suggests that if and when that happens, the two groups should be joined and information shared.

Be a part of creating an enabling environment for the full empowerment of our girl power participants by supporting Just Like My Child to pilot a necessary boys component to The Girl Power Project.

Written by Doreen Asio, JLMC Volunteer Journalist & Audrey Kanyesigye, JLMC Program Coordinator.

This was the catchy message given to 31 girls living in the town of Katikamu this past Saturday as part of the Just Like My Child Foundation’s Girl Power Project.

Girl power helps build self-confidence in girls and teaches them about sex education and life skills like personal empowerment, communication, social survival skills and how to avoid peer pressure.

I think the 7B’s is a funny sounding message, but an important one, since girls are not always encouraged to focus on education, but on preparing for marriage and having children.

One cultural practice young girls are pressured to do is labia pulling, what Ugandans call “pulling,” so named because girls pull the labia minora regularly to lengthen the labia. There are strongly believed myths that a woman will not be able to find a husband or get pregnant without long labia. Long labia are also believed to give the man and woman more pleasure during sex. Who knows, maybe it’s true?

Girls as young as 12 are pressured at home and during school breaks to go off into the bushes and pull on their labia. One concern about pulling is that it increases the girls’ interest in sex at a very young age, possibly increasing their risk of contracting HIV/AIDs, because they may not have received sex and reproductive health education to protect themselves. JLMC’s Girl Power Project facilitator, Monica, teaches the girls that it is important to focus on education first and remember the 7 B’s. She doesn’t say pulling is good or bad, just that a girl should wait to make that decision when she is much older.

Every culture has their beliefs that put pressure on girls to want to modify their appearances to reach the dominant culture’s ideal beauty, like breast implants, Botox, laser hair removal, hair dye, anti-wrinkle cream, diets to reach a certain weight, etc. So, this is not an issue uniquely Ugandan. If girls are educated, they can make informed decisions for themselves like whether or not they want to engage in certain cultural practices.

Be a part of empowering girls in Uganda to make informed decisions about their bodies by supporting the Just Like My Child’s Girl Power Project.

Written by Sara Todd, JLMC Country Director

JLMC Program Director, Tessa Davis standing next to a humungous anthill in Luweero. For the Record, Tessa is five foot tall and has eaten her fair share of ants and grasshoppers in Uganda.

Uganda has some humungous anthills, biggest I’ve ever seen. Some of the hills stand 4 to 5 feet tall. The Ugandans call the ants living in the hills white ants because of their large white wings. They have systems, which I have yet to see, to smoke out and capture the ants with mosquito netting to eat. They usually pluck the wings and eat the ants live or fried.

I’ve also seen fried, salted grasshoppers for sale in Kampala. Grasshoppers are considered a bit of a delicacy here and are expensive to buy.

There is also a culture tied to the grasshoppers. Traditionally, women would run around the field trying to catch grasshoppers, which is a difficult process. If a woman offered a man some grasshoppers, the man would have to buy the woman a dress to show her his appreciation.

I had decided that I might try to be brave and eat an ant or two, and maybe even a grasshopper, if I were offered such treats, and if it might seem like an offense if I refused my host’s hospitality.

A few months later….

I did it! I ate not one, but TWO fried grasshoppers! And, I kind of liked it, yet was quite disgusted at the same time. I had a bit of a gag reflex with the first one. After admitting to myself that I kind of liked it, I tried one more. They were salty, sweet and crispy. I think there was even a hint of chillies. Very interesting. Can’t say if I’ll ever try it again.

JLMC Country Director, Sara Todd takes the plunge and eats some tasty ... well ... sort of tasty ... grasshoppers!!!

 

Just Like My Child Operations Manager, Ruthie Espanol, munches on some delicious, fried, Luweero grasshoppers. Somebody better get this girl a dress!

 

After examining Norah, the doctors at Bishop Asili discovered the baby was in a breech position (feet pointed down in the uterus instead of head pointed down). Due to the prolonged labor and position of the baby, Norah’s uterus was about to rupture.

The medical team immediately prepped Norah for surgery and performed an emergency c-section. Hours into the surgery, she delivered a baby girl with an abnormally large head, a condition called hydrocephalous. Tragically, her daughter lived for only one day.

However, Norah survived her surgery with no more complications and was discharged four days later.

Norah and her daughter were the first patients to undergo surgery in the newly built and equipped surgical suite at BCA, which was funded by the Just Like My Child Foundation. Without this addition to the health centre and the new medical equipment, BCA may have been one more health care provider unable to care for Norah and her daughter, and Norah almost certainly would have also lost her life.

Just Like My Child Foundation has been supporting the BCA since 2006, ensuring the health and wellbeing of women and their children in the Luweero, Nakasangola, and Nakaseke Districts of Uganda by increasing their access to health care and health education.

In 2011, as part of the Keep A Mother Alive Program JLMC funded the construction of an ambitious operating center, complete with three individual operating rooms, equipment, electricity and air conditioning. Since the start of Project Keep a Mother Alive, countless women and newborns have beaten the odds of death in childbirth.

Irene, a Bishop Asili Counselor, Provides Life Saving Information to Mothers in Remote Villages During Community Outreach Activities.

Norah’s situation might have been avoided if she had access to pre-natal care. Many families like Norah’s cannot access health care due to the distance and transportation costs to reach health centers. In response, JLMC and BCA have began an outreach program where doctors and health care workers make “house calls” in the local communities – educating and treating patients who don’t have ready access to the hospital.

The medical team, funded by Just Like My Child, has been traveling to different remote villages on a weekly basis to provide much needed medical services such as immunizations, HIV/AIDs testing, volunteer counseling, TB and anti retroviral treatments, and health education.

For only $300, you can help keep mothers alive by giving a hand up to the Bishop Caesar Asili Health Centre medical team to conduct outreach services for 5 remote villages, helping save the lives of hundreds of deserving families.

 

Bishop Asili Hospital Dentist, Jane Mandera, pictured right with Puja Shah and Dental Beneficiaries

Dental care has always been something that I have taken for granted. My mother was adamant that we get our teeth cleaned and checked every six months, and we were lucky enough to always have the insurance to cover our dental care. At 35, I have never had a cavity or any other major problem with my teeth and am probably one of very few people who actually likes going to the dentist.

It’s a much different story for most people living in Uganda. As Jane Mandera, the dentist at the Bishop Caesar Asili Hospital told me, many people can’t afford dental care. She said her patients often shun her advice because they know they can’t afford basic treatment. Many say, “eh, just keep on removing the teeth,” which is much more affordable than receiving annual cleanings, fillings and restorative work.

Jane joined the staff at Bishop Asili in 2009 after completing her degree in public health and general dentistry at the Mulago Paramedical School. At that time, the hospital’s dental unit only had a hard wooden straight back chair for patients to sit in while Jane worked on their teeth and a wooden table for her meager equipment. In 2010 Jane met Vivian Glyck, Founder and Executive Director at Just Like My Child Foundation (JLMC). Accompanying Vivian was a pediatric dentist, Dr Puja Shah, who came to the hospital with her dental instruments and the intention of mentoring and helping Jane perform extractions and other dental work. However, Dr. Puja was unprepared for the poor condition of the hospital’s dental unit. Using the wooden chair and table she spent one week assisting Jane in the clinic. After her touching experience, Dr. Puja went back to the States with stories and photos to start raising money to upgrade the standard of the clinic.

 

Bishop Asili Dental Clinic Before .. and After

Dr. Puja and her colleague, Lidia Trainer, engaged their community and raised the funds to equip the dental unit with a proper dental chair and dental instruments so Jane can comfortably and effectively serve the needs of her patients.

Jane says, “Now with the chair and instruments I receive the greatest joy when clients come back for follow up care and I see that they are following the advice that I gave them.” She says she still faces many challenges. Material for dental fillings is very expensive. So the hospital often runs short of these materials. Jane says right now she doesn’t have any materials for restorative treatments, like fillings. The fillings cost a patient 20,000 Ugandan shillings, less than $10. The materials cost anywhere between $40 and $80 depending on the type of filling material. One package of material could last through 50 people needing fillings.

Jane always dreamed of being a dentist and delivering the best dental treatment. Relieving the clients of their pain and ensuring that they can have good dental hygiene is her ultimate goal. “Oral hygiene is really bad among my clients. I educate them how to maintain and take care of their teeth. I follow up with their care and see that they return for cleanings. They learn to take better care of their teeth,” says Jane. Before Dr. Puja,’s visit, Jane explained she was feeling discouraged working with so many inadequacies. “People needed so much, but we had so little; we couldn’t provide all the treatments. The visit with Dr. Puja, motivated me to reach out to the community and realize my dream again. They [JLMC and Dr. Puja] touched my life so much.”

She hopes in time the hospital will be able to afford a full dental unit. Currently, they do not have the resources to do dentures or crowns. She explains that people don’t like to be referred to Kampala for needed dental treatment. They feel discouraged because the transportation and stay in Kampala are additional expenses they cannot afford. “People come see me and they can’t even open their mouths the infection is so bad,” Jane says.

Contributions to the dental clinic are part of the Keep a Mother Alive program implemented by JLMC. A $100 contribution will help Jane and the Bishop Asili hospital purchase filling materials and other dental equipment for patients in dire need of dental work.

“I feel happiness now that I am in the first grade”, said Emma, one of the top students to graduate from the Children’s Academy of the Collective Heart in Katikamu, Uganda.  Lots of celebrating took place during the recent graduation of the kindergarten class. The entire school was present with friends and family to join in this lively and exciting celebration, marking the transition to first grade for these happy students.

The first through fourth grade classes sang and danced to the beat of roaring drums played by the teaching staff. Teachers and students performed short plays, illustrating the importance of studying well and respecting both parents and peers. The kindergarteners sang while proudly wearing their caps and gowns before sitting down to delicious cake.

Three graduating students were given particular honors for performing at the top of their class.

Just two and half years ago this academy was but a community dream. Students walked across a dangerous highway to get to school, which for some was over six miles away. But today, through motivation and ownership and the help of www.JustLikeMyChild.org, the community built a school right next to their homes, brick by brick, and turned an empty lot of land into a flourishing learning environment.

Through Just Like My Child’s Foundation’s “Project Universal Education” thousands of students like these attend clean, bright, and safe schools like the Collective Heart Academy that they previously would never have access to. Just $100 helps provide a Ugandan student with his or her own desk, school supplies and textbooks for an entire year. You can help support our efforts by making a tax-deductible gift donation here.

Gyriadda Girls Participate in a Girls Empowerment Workshop 2/12

One of those communities, St. Kizito, Gyriadda faced several struggles over the past two years, which initially had delayed the building of their school. A major challenge was the discovery of a defilement case right before their project was to begin. JLMC found out through its Girl Power Program that the nursery school teacher was sexually abusing his girl students, and had been for several years. When the community members learned of the abuse, they felt they had no recourse since corruption is so rampant within the local justice system and the teacher was so well known within the community.

Another struggle facing the community has been impoverishment. Because of the high poverty in the area, the community members struggled to gather local resources: sand, stones, and clay bricks required as a co-investment by JLMC to construct the school building. In cases like Gyriadda, JLMC must exercise patience and provide encouragement as communities together find solutions to issues that delay their progress. Community contributions are critical to deep development; it builds community ownership over a project, ensuring the community will maintain the project well into the future.

With the help of JLMC, the Gyriadda community has overcome many of their struggles one by one and has made great progress in 2011. Through JLMC’s Project Justice, a human rights workshop was held for community members to promote the rights of women and children and to prevent more cases of sexual abuse. As a result of the workshop, the community was successful in chasing the teacher involved in the defilement out of town with the help of local police.

As of November 2011, the construction of the school is back on track. The roof has just been added to the building, which will have three classrooms and an office for the principal. JLMC also contributed to the construction of a latrine for teachers and students.

Skilled Labourers Work to Add Roofing to St. Kizito, Gyriadda’s School Building 2/12

Teachers, school board members and PTA members received two professional development workshops to improve the learning environment of the school and to help increase student performance.

63 girls participated in three Girl Power workshops to increase their capacities for self-empowerment, leadership potential and social survival skills. When asked during the first Girl Power workshop of 2012, girls reported no cases of defilement since the sensitization campaign. A major success!

Yet, despite these magnificent accomplishments, the Gyriadda community, as well as the four other school communities sponsored by JLMC, still have many challenges to overcome. Many of the schools lack chairs and desks, critical for a conducive learning environment. Instructional materials are also limited in many of the schools.

Access to health care and health education is limited, and income generation activities in the schools to support extracurricular activities like drama and sports is nonexistent.

In 2012, JLMC has exciting plans for its Universal Education Program, which hopes to address the aforementioned challenges.

JLMC will

• Provide furniture and instructional resources to improve learning environments
• Provide the opportunity for schools to generate income  to give students lunch and opportunities for extracurricular activities
• Increase student and teacher’s ability to deal with relevant health issues in their communities
• Increase the capacity of school management committees to manage operations, solve community problems and supervise education through capacity building workshops.
• Increase the capacity of teachers to deliver well planned lessons
• Ensure that schools meet national standards as laid out by Department of Education

However, JLMC cannot reach its goals without your support. Here are ways you can help:

For only $1,000 you can  furnish an entire classroom, so that children are not seated on the floor during lessons.

For only $100 you can help fund a much needed professional development workshop for teachers and school boards.

For only $200 you can help fund dental hygiene outreach.

Donate today to further improve the lives of the thousands of children that JLMC serves through its Project Universal Education.

Photo by Daniel Juare

This past October we celebrated our 5th Annual Gala: A Hand Up, Never A Hand Out at El Cortez in San Diego, California. We are happy to report that we were just shy of reaching our goal of $300,000.  We would love to reach this and even go beyond, please continue to read to see how you can help.

The evening could not have been made possible without the generosity of El Cortez for its fabulous space as well as all guests present. MBK Associates went above and beyond to ensure a beautiful event occurred and Jared Cohen, our keynote speaker and founder of Google Ideas was the icing on the cake.

Mr. Cohen spoke of the huge impact technology is having in Africa and how we will all benefit from the growth of entrepreneurship and creativity on the continent while embracing their innovation. Our Master of Ceremonies Joseph McClendon III was amazing and on fire. Our other guest speakers Brendon Burchard (Global Humanitarian Sponsor) and David Smotrich, MD (Donor of The Smotrich Kitchen) were fantastic and helped emphasize the importance of our Hand Up and Never A Hand Out philosophy in developing countries such as Uganda.

Photo by TRJ Photography

We honored three very talented and important women who have supported Just Like My Child extensively. Dr. Puja Shah was honored as a woman changing the world in the category of children’s health because of the tireless work and effort she has put forth at the Bisop Asili Hospital dental cllinic in Luwero, Uganda; we honored Monica Nyiraguhabwe for her work empowering girls who’s voice would often never be heard without her help; and we also honored Judith Akware, our extraordinary head teacher at The Children’s Academy for the Collective Heart. Judith has chosen, against all odds, to be different, we celebrate the life-saving differences she makes in our communities. We honored these women for their astounding work and contributions to The Just Like My Child Foundation.

Photo by Daniel Juare

Professional entertainment provided by Pro Motion Entertainment and Rezident Management was incredible and the food was memorable.  Fiscal Sponsors and donors of food and beverage include: The Burchard Group, The Collective Heart, Bert Lei Family Jewelers, The Lost Abbey, Bice, Magners Irish Cider, The Cosmopolitan Restaurant and Hotel, Solare, Culinary Concepts, searsucks, Mitch’s Seafood, Catalina Offshore Products, Coast Catering by Barry Layne, Stone Brewery Co., Twin Treats, Nika, Cien Anos, Cupcakes Squared, Sweet Thoughts, Todd Ichinaga, Green Beans Coffee, and Sushi James.

Photo by TRJ Photography

We had the best photographers in San Diego to capture the evening and make everlasting memories: Daniel Juare Photography, Christalle Clear Photography, and TRJ Photography.

I hope I didn’t forget anyone. Thank you everyone for the awesome turnout and supporting Just Like My Child Foundation. Also, please help us reach our final goal of $300,000 by donating here. Small or large amounts go a very long way in rural areas of Uganda and assist us with showing Ugandans how to create sustainable businesses, educate children and adults, and maintain healthcare, to name a few.

Wekembe!