SOS FAMILIES SUPPORT FAMILIES IN THE COMMUNITY

SOS mothers in SOS Children's Village Gulu have gone an extra mile in embracing the new SOS Integrated Approach by supporting the FSP (Family Strengthening Programme) families in the community. Thanks are also due to the FSP social workers, who have initiated this good practice and linked SOS families to the FSP families in the community.

Mother Christine spearheaded this campaign when she mobilised children in her family and went to a working visit at Rebeka’s home. It was real excitement when the children in Christine’s house learnt that they were going to give a hand to Rebeka’s family. They exhibited a lot of eagerness and determination to help their counterparts in the community.

Rebeka is an HIV/AIDS positive mother of four children on the FSP programme, who at one time was at the verge of dying. She eventually recovered when SOS intervened and put her family on the programme. When Christine’s family visited her, they spent the whole day, together with Rebeka’s children, involved in various activities. They fetched water, washed clothes, cleared the compound, burnt the rubbish and smeared the wattle hut with mud to give it a new facelift. Rebeka could not hide her excitement and praises to the SOS children for their good spirit.

This is just the beginning and in future we intend to bring SOS families closer to the FSP families in the community, to share their knowledge and experiences in areas of child growth and development, child rights and education. A few FSP beneficiaries living nearer to the village are participating in the holiday programme as well.

Rebeka's name has been changed.