As the concrete slab is poured for the new rehabilitation centre in Kyampisi, it’s hard for workers on the ground not to become a little emotional.
It’s been many years of planning, dreaming and praying to reach this stage.
And finally, progress can be seen.
When it’s finished, St Pauls Rehabilitation Centre will be a safe place of healing for child sacrifice victims and other children who have faced different kinds of abuse. Currently, these children are cared for in a small rented house, but the need is so much greater than that.
For Brenda Mutesi, the construction Project Manager, it’s been a marvel to watch the building take shape and see all the provision along the way.
“Just when we think we’ve hit a financial setback, skilled personnel have come along just at the right time. And right now, as we prepare to leave the foundation stage, I am ever more excited that this vision is going to be a reality so soon,” she says.
The team are preparing to pour the concrete ground floor slab next week and this will be the last major activity before the building foundation is complete.
St Pauls will hopefully be finished by December 2020.
“Thank you to all those who have given generously to this project. Although we are continually working with the reality of limited funds, works are continuing slowly but steadily,” Brenda says.
“But the current funds are not enough to cover the whole project. In fact, St Pauls has only about two weeks of construction works to go before we run out of funds. But we trust provision will come. It always does.”
Looking at the children each day keeps the team motivated to keep going, especially children like Robert. With a new rehabilitation centre, his journey to healing would be improved greatly.
Robert, now 12 years old, was stabbed in the neck when he was 3 years old. Robert lived with his grandmother and his elder brother, and the day back on June 3rd, started like most. His grandmother was away for prayers when an unknown man attacked him.
Robert was found in a pool of blood and was taken to hospital. After some months in a coma, he was released from hospital but his nerves were severely damaged and he couldn’t walk, sit, move or feed himself. KCM came on board to help Robert and started him with physiotherapy to exercise his stiff muscles, but it wasn’t enough. So with its connections, funding and generous supporters, DIAS was able to bring Robert to Australia for surgery in 2017.
After receiving his life-changing surgery, Robert can now write, feed himself and walk on his own! He’s in school and is thriving! But he’s still undergoing physiotherapy and hydrotherapy because his muscles remain stiff.
“His story is still unfinished and his therapy continues,” says Brenda. “But we are excited for what this new building could mean for survivors like Robert.”
When the building is complete, KCM will have the capacity to care for more children and will have the space to offer all the rehabilitation services it needs to. Plus, all KCM departments will be together in the one place, which will only improve the way children are cared for.
“Trauma service providers are very limited in Uganda, so this building will become a key place of healing for survivors, both nationally and internationally,” Brenda says.
Thank you for helping to lay the foundation of this incredible building! If you want to find out more, or are passionate about the restoration of child sacrifice victims, email info@dropletsinastream.com.au to find out how you can get involved.