In July this year, we were able to close Malaika Family Centre, our 8-bed transitional care centre. We have learnt over the last eight years that prolonged residential care can have adverse negative effects on the development of children.

First we transitioned our 25-bed babies’ home to an emergency 8-bed facility. By doing this, we wanted to demonstrate that it is possible to offer alternative care to a vulnerable child without needing residential care.

In order to do this we set up a community emergency foster care programme in Makindye Division, Kampala. We are happy to say that, so far, we have six trained emergency foster carers in the community.

Since the closure of Malaika, we have received three referrals of children in need of care. All three babies have been successfully placed into emergency foster care. Grace, Felix, and little Joan are thriving under the care of our community foster carers.

All foster carers have undergone professional training to prepare them to open their hearts and homes for foster placements. Our family support team and social workers conduct regular checks to ensure that all is well with the child and family.

Today three children have avoided entering into a residential care setting because of your generosity and support. Together, we are making families not orphans.

#FosterCare #AlternativeCare #FamiliesNotOrphans

Image above -Three-day-old Joan shortly after arrival at her foster home, September 2017