S.A.L.V.E International | Our Charity Partnership

In 2008, Nicola and Helen were working as teachers in Jinja and Mike was a trained councillor who was fully aware of the precarious position many street kids find themselves in. The passion of these 3 individuals with very little financial backing led to their first Halfway Home and since then through organic growth, they have purchased a small piece of land half an hour out of Jinja and created a sanctuary for children to thrive in, learn how to be children and allow them the time to heal, and in some cases support them as they come off the drugs they have become addicted to on the streets.

Retiring after 10 years, Mike handed the baton over to Alfred Ochaya who is now the Country Director and whom spent time with us up on the S.A.L.V.E hilltop showing us around. Nicola who has a Clore Social Leadership Fellowship specialising in Homelessness is now the CEO and Helen whose career is now in publishing remains a committed board member.

 

Upon visiting S.A.L.V.E, our co-founder, Bee, said; "My trip to S.A.L.V.E.'s hilltop sanctuary with its glorious green views of the rolling Ugandan countryside was tinged with sadness. I attended a lesson with the children who vary in ages and it was so heart warming to see them all contributing to the lesson and becoming involved – especially when we did the funky chicken dance! There was laughter and joy and a sense of unity.  It was only afterwards when I met one of the nurses, that the reality set in. Esther Ruth Kisame explained that most of the children who are addicted to glue and mafuta have also been subjected to prostitution from a very young age. The work that this small charity does is so paramount to the survival of these children. Giving them a space to be free from their troubles, be nurtured and supported, learn life skills and gain general knowledge in such beautiful surroundings is a little drop in the ocean but can be the main game changer for some of them."