On Friday 17th and Saturday 18th September 2021, bus-loads of well-wishers from the Rotary Club of Kampala South paid a visit to Grace Villa, in Kabale. Nestled in a cove within Makanga Hill is this warm, loving home for girls who are rescued from abuse, abandonment, early marriages, child trafficking, and more. The mantra they inspire with is: “We Rise by Lifting Others” That motto seemed to resonate perfectly with the visitors led by their President Charles “CO” Odaga. Introducing the family of Kampala South, (one by one by name!!!) CO expressed the support that is embedded at the very core of Rotary, which is about making our communities better.
The club donated an array of items to support the efforts being made to give the Grace Villa family a decent living. The items included an assortment of clothes, sacks of rice, maize flour and sugar, cooking oil, boxes of milk, laundry powder and bar soap, sanitary wear and toilet paper. They also donated text books, liquid sanitizer, tennis balls and rotary vests to boost the sporting teams at Grace Villa.
The excitement of the girls could not be hidden as they expressed they joy in song and dance, joined by the Rotarians. The Chairperson of the Home, Rev. Canon Grace Ndyabahika thanked Rotary for standing with them; supporting the dream started by the founder / CEO, Ms. Ruth Kendegye Ndyabahika, a child psychologist by training. Ruth was away in the US, fundraising for the Home.
Grace Villa first opened its doors to three girls in 2013. Today, 28 girls live within the main house, while more than 200 children have been resettled to live with extended family - mostly grandmothers - through whom Grace Villa provides support.
One of the girls, Doreen narrated the circumstances that led her to run away from a dysfunctional child-led family in search of refuge at Grace Villa; and hers was just one of several stories showing the vulnerabilities of the girl child in Kabale.
All of the girls, ranging from 4 – 22 years, were brought in by local police, probation officers and concerned community members.
Grace Villa is trusted in the community as one of the NGOs that helps girls who wish to escape from early marriages and all forms of abuse. Amazingly, ALL girls in the community have access to this safe space even just for the day. Here they find support and a warm meal. They find a book library, computers with internet, and help with tutoring, mentoring and counseling, and a gender-responsive social protection system. Girls are taught about their rights and equipped to express themselves through the Debate, Writers and Book Clubs.
Grace Villa is steered by a Board of Directors and overseen by a committee of volunteers called the Grace Villa Dream Team. This Dream Team donates of their time and resources (UGX 50K per month) to ensure that the girls continue to have an assured future.
All of the school-age children affiliated to Grace Villa are currently enrolled in school; 11 girls are in pre-primary, 107 in primary, 87 girls in high school while 7 girls are in University.
The home also has strong, structured programs in vocational skills, music and dance, sports, counseling, and mentoring and life skills programs that promote positive values and healthy habits. Some of their programs are income generating for the home.
These achievements are made possible by donations, partners, volunteers and the Grace Villa sustainability projects.
For more, please visit their page on: www.linktr.ee/grace.villa.kabale
The home also has strong, structured programs in vocational skills, music and dance, sports, counseling, and mentoring and life skills programs that promote positive values and healthy habits. Some of their programs are income generating for the home.
These achievements are made possible by donations, partners, volunteers and the Grace Villa sustainability projects.
For more, please visit their page on: www.linktr.ee/grace.villa.kabale
