Gymnastics Club
Our gymnastics club has 35 members (18 girls and 17 boys), and is home to one of the country’s leading programs. We are thrilled that our gymnastics team recently performed in an exhibition that took place at the MTN Arena. The fun filled special performance was arranged by the Ugandan President of Gymnastics, Aya Harriet ,and included a meet and greet with the World President of Gymnastics Morinari Wantabe.
Mr. Wantabe was at the performance to promote his development plan for gymnastics in Uganda. M-LISADA is poised to be a star performer in the development of Ugandan gymnastics. Our gymnastics club is now officially registered with the gymnastics association of Uganda and is now able to enter and compete in different events and competitions around the world. We are even more proud of our trailblazing accomplishments because our program is homegrown. M-LISADA’s own Yiga Mustafa and Nakyejjwe Sylvia are not just passionate gold medal coaches, they are also relatable role models for their students.
Bridge Education Program
M-LISADA’s Bridge Education Program (BEP), launched in March, is a free one-year program that gives vulnerable children the opportunity to learn the skills and behavior they need to transition successfully into school. Most of the children who join this program have never had any type of formal education and would struggle to adapt to the behavior demands and learning skills that are required to succeed in school. When possible, the children progress into M-LISADA’s Passion Primary School at the conclusion of the program.
This year’s BEP has 15 boys and 12 girls, aged 8 to 14. The children come from the nearby slum of Katwe to M-LISADA Monday to Saturday from 8:30 to 5:00. Our comprehensive and robust program includes M-LISADA’s Reading to the Rescue literacy program, and classes in health, physio-social, and life skills.
Music is an essential part of the program. The children discover their hidden talents and their love for music by playing in our brass band and learning cultural dances and gymnastics. The children are also served breakfast and lunch. This is a very important part of the program because most of the children don’t have enough food to eat at home.
The program teaches children important foundational skills like listening, discipline, responsibility, respect, teamwork, confidence, and hard work. M-LISADA’s center also gives them a safe space to play and accessibility to positive role models.
This year’s group was picked using M-LISADA’s vulnerability assessments tools. Meetings with parents and guardians were also held to ensure their support and participation. Many of the children in the program are orphans living with vulnerable guardians. Others are living with impoverished parents or overwhelmed single mothers who are unable to support their education.
M-LISADA Camp
On April 25th 2022, the M-LISADA Organization held its first annual empowerment camp at M-LISADA Passion Primary School. The intensive week-long camp brought children from all M-LISADA’s programs together. The 159 participants (61 boys, 74 girls and 24 staff members) came from M-LISADA’s Kalangala island center, Kampala home, and Passion Primary School. The historic camp, which was part of our 25th anniversary celebration, was the first-time children from the different centers had an opportunity to meet and learn from each other.
The empowerment camp focused on M-LISADA’s core programs and values. Each day was comprised of morning physical exercises, a core program group session, and workshops in music, dance, and gymnastics.
Child Protection: Our Child Protection session discussed different types of child abuse, with a focus on sexual abuse and its lasting psychological trauma.
Psycho-Social Support & Life Skills: Our Psycho-Social Support session identified prevailing issues of trauma. Grief and bereavement stood out as two issues which affected all ages and communities. The teachers and students shared ideas and ways of dealing with loss, grief and bereavement. The session also talked about the importance of knowing which adults to disclose sensitive information to. Our Psycho-Social Support session identified prevailing issues of trauma. Grief and bereavement stood out as two issues which affected all ages and communities. The teachers and students shared ideas and ways of dealing with loss, grief and bereavement. The session also talked about the importance of knowing which adults to disclose sensitive information to. Our Psycho-Social Support session identified prevailing issues of trauma. Grief and bereavement stood out as two issues which affected all ages and communities. The teachers and students shared ideas and ways of dealing with loss, grief and bereavement. The session also talked about the importance of knowing which adults to disclose sensitive information to.
Community Empowerment: Our Community Empowerment session focused on nature and conservation. The day included a talk about environmental protection by a special guest from Green World Organization. Other activities included creating nursery beds and planting vegetables and fruit bearing trees. The day also included a nature walk through the nearby forest. Local plants were identified and the children learned about their different uses.
Health: We held a menstruation health class for girls and young women. Menstrual health management kits were given to 40 girls who recently started menstruation. We also tested for malaria, did health screenings, and treated UTI’s, malaria, the flu, and other ailments.
In Partnership with Viva Con Agua, we held a Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) program. Different sports games, drawing, art, and dancing were used to learn about and promote healthy sanitation and hygiene practices.
The week culminated with a joyous end of camp concert for parents, guardians, and special guests including M-LISADA African Foundation’s president Rochelle Zabarkes. The fun-filled concert combined gymnastics, traditional dances, singing, and jazz and brass music.
OUR MISSION
To protect, heal, empower, and support vulnerable children and youth through music, life skills, and education.
OUR VISION
To be a leading organization in transforming the lives of Uganda’s new generations.
OUR STORY, OUR MUSIC
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Dreams Do Come True!
We are proud to say that at M-LISADA, with hard work and the right support, dreams do come true. We are overjoyed that last week one of those dreams came to fruition.
Kabuye Ronald graduated with a Bachelor-in-Law degree from Uganda Christian University, which is the most expensive and most prestigious law school in Uganda. Ronald came to M-LISADA from the streets when he was just 4 years old. For 15 years, he called M-LISADA home.
Ronald’s dream to become a lawyer took shape when he was at M-LISADA. Growing up, he was the chairman, junior staff and chief judge in M-LISADA’s Children’s Court. He also became thoroughly engaged in music and he plans to continue playing. He is looking forward to joining the Law Development Center and pursing a post graduate diploma in law, which will certify him as an advocate. In the future, he wants to help people by practicing public interest law.
Exams During COVID
The Ugandan Government recently announced that primary and secondary schools will officially open again in early January. This is great news. Other than graduating classes schools have essentially been closed since March 2020. The loss of close to two years of education has had a devastating impact on the future of Uganda’s youth.
School closings have resulted in a significant increase in teenage pregnancy, as well as an increase in prostitution and in mental, physical, and sexual child abuse. While the news that schools will open again was urgently needed, the reality is that many children will struggle to return to school. The financial impact of COVID-19 has plunged millions of families into poverty. The schools that are opening again are raising fees and asking for the payment of old fees.
A recent article in the New York Times quotes Uganda’s National Planning Authority as saying, “30% of learners are likely not to return to school” and that “3,507 primary and 832 secondary schools will never open again.” Having been unemployed for close to two years, thousands of qualified and experienced teachers have also left the profession.
Thankfully M-LISADA was able to adapt our education program and keep our teachers employed. In the last few weeks, we even managed to give end of year assessment exams to 102 students. (81 Primary and 21 Secondary). The students that pass these tests will be able to move into the next year of schooling when schools reopen in January. We are extremely proud of this accomplishment.
We are asking for your support to help us send as many children back to school as possible. If you are interested in sponsoring a child, or would like more information, please email: edu.mlisada@gmail.com
M-LISADA's Work on Kalangala Island
Kalangala Island has one of the highest HIV-positive rates in the world and is one of the most impoverished parts of Uganda. M-LISADA has been working on Kalangala island for more than six years. We are one of the only organizations to have a permanent-on-the ground presence on the island.
M-LISADA’s main management team recently visited Kalangala to oversee existing projects, which include staff training and capacity building, and to look at other ways we can expand our scope and impact on the island. Our team met with local government officials to discuss the possibility of working together to provide shelter and safe space for sexually abused children and young mothers during investigations and court trials.
M-LISADA has been chosen to implement a project on gender-based sexual violence. Our team met with the organization that is giving us the project grant.
In the past few years, the government’s restrictions on fishing has had a devastating impact on the fishing-dependent island. Our team met with a women’s group that is supported by M-LISADA’s partner, Masomo. The women were given a donation of 3 million shillings ($845USD) which they will invest in fish farms.
Food on Kalangala is currently very expensive and food is not being transported to the island because of low market sales. Our team spearheaded Masomo’s food relief distribution to over 100 families.
OUR MISSION
To protect, heal, empower, and support vulnerable children and youth through music, life skills, and education.
OUR VISION
To be a leading organization in transforming the lives of Uganda’s new generations.