Founded in 1958, the Child Welfare and Adoption Society has been devoted to its mission of providing temporary shelter for lost, abandoned, or rescued children with nowhere else to go.
Based in Nsambya, the organization operates Nsambya Babies Home, its main facility, alongside two other homes: Kankobe Babies Home and Nateete Family Group, where older children between the ages of 15 and 17 transition as they prepare for the next stage of their lives.
Nsambya Babies Home accommodates up to 30 children at a time, with over 120 children passing through its doors each year. However, ensuring consistent care remains a challenge, as different caretakers work morning and evening shifts.
“We do our best to provide a nurturing environment, but maintaining continuity in care can be difficult. Because our staff work in shifts, it is hard to maintain consistency in the relationships between the children and their caretakers for a full day, but we try to keep them connected for as long as possible,” says Sister Sarah Nnaamala, the Society’s director.
Children arrive at the home through referrals from probation and social welfare officers, in collaboration with the ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, as well as the police. Given the unpredictable nature of their arrivals and varying circumstances, the home relies heavily on support from well-wishers and donors.
“It is very hard to predict what kind of children you will get and the stories behind them; so, our work is to provide a welcoming and nurturing environment for them to feel at home as much as possible when they arrive,” Sr Nnaamala emphasizes.
Some of these children are victims of abuse or neglect, while others are survivors of traffick- ing, and some are orphans. The home provides a temporary structure for these children before they are moved to either their families or foster homes.
The irregularity with which children come in and out of the home means that it requires substantial financial support to sustain its operations.
“Most of our funding comes from well-wishers, whose donations vary and come in the form of cash, food items, and other necessities. We also have sustainable income-generating activities that help us raise funds to run the home. Currently, we have a rental property that we lease to tenants, a children’s goods shop where we sell shoes and clothing for both children and adults, and a tent, chair, and mattress hire business for those in the hospitality industry who enjoy camping adventures.”
One of such donors is Centenary bank, which has played a crucial role in sustaining the home’s operations. In 2022, the bank became a key partner in the annual Nsambya Babies Walk fundraiser, where it committed financial support to strengthen the home’s capacity.
During this year’s Nsambya Babies Home charity walk, Centenary bank donated Shs 20 million towards the home to support the vulnerable children. The walk is organized annually in a bid to raise funds for the welfare of children under the Home’s care.