About Bushfire

VISION

Our vision is to reconcile family dynamics through training and resource mobilisation to empower and equip families, children at risk and youth for better spiritual, social and economic growth and reduce poverty.

MISSION

Improve the livelihood of all families in our Bushfire project areas through community networks for growth and prosperity.

Optimise community networking and deliver efficient and sustainable solutions to the community in the areas of food production, health, education and economic well-being.

WHO WE ARE

Background

As a nation, Uganda has suffered much due to internal conflicts and wars in neighbouring countries in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, HIV/AIDS epidemic and dysfunctional families. As a consequence, it is estimated that there are about 2 million children who are without parents or a parent who cannot care for them.

Uganda Family Resource Link (UFRL) is a non-government organisation (NGO) registered in Uganda (Number S.5914/3698). This NGO was founded in 2002 by Samuel and Eva Kitalya to restore family dynamics and take care of children at risk, within a family setting. The organisation provides housing, food, clothing, health care and education to children in need. Bushfire is the name of the childcare project and the term used to refer to all work that has been developed around this core project.

There are currently almost 60 children living in foster homes at the Bushfire community in Bulange sub-county, Namutumba district of Eastern Uganda. The support we give to the children goes beyond the boundaries of the Bushfire community and extends to children living in the surrounding 37 villages of Bulange sub-county.

Our desire is to see individuals and families at Bushfire and surrounding areas turn their hearts to Jesus, grow strong in the Lord and walk in truth so that their lives are transformed in such a way that they impact future generations for the glory of God.

We are doing this through building the Community’s capacity in farming and agriculture, setting up schools and tree planting. The children and leadership of Bushfire are grateful for all the prayer, practical & financial support, guidance and encouragement from local and overseas supporters.

Where we are

The Bushfire Community is located approximately 50km North-East of Jinja (source of the Nile River at the north end of Lake Victoria).

What we do

Bushfire operates:

  • A Childrens Home with rooms separated for boys and girls, each approximately housing 50 children. Dedicated House Mothers for girls provide practical care and love for the children and the same with House Fathers. A wonderful feature is the way older children also care for the younger ones.
  • A Health Clinic comprising four nurses. Two work on 24/7 schedule, one is a ccommunity health worker and another, a general doctor from the Iganga  Government Main Hospital who regularly comes to supervise and carry out general medical check ups. These nurses provide basic health and emergency services, mainly to the Home and School children. Resources are stretched when providing assistance to people in the community.
  • A Kitchen which provides basic meals each day to the 300 children (day and boarders) and 50 staffs. Typically the meals comprise maize, sweet potato, cassava, beans, rice (if good season) and fruit such as mango, banana and pineapple (in season) plus vegetables which are grown by the children staying at the base. Typically a 100kgs of rice will last for a 3 day meal, supper or lunch and 100kgs of Maize Flour last for 2 days inclusive of porridge then 100kgs of Beans last for a week for the 300-400 people on site.
  • A Primary School which has a classroom and teacher for each grade. The teachers focus on literacy, numeracy and science whilst allowing for the students to have fun. Students are also trained into different skills; Computer, Bakery, Organic farming, Tailoring and Hairdressing. As with other Schools at Bushfire, children from local villages also attend. The students are also trained into Bible studies as well and having devotions everyday. Trainings where some are graduated and certified.
  • With Secondary, we have 23 students in secondary. 18 studying in a different school and 5 who completed their ordinary level. 10 are yet to join secondary in 2024. They are all in Boarding and they only stay at the base during holidays whereas some prefer going to their guardians.
  • A Library is open to all Students & Staffs.
  • A Vocational School was established to provide older students with basic training in such areas as woodwork, metalwork, tailoring, hairdressing, hospitality, and motor mechanics with part-time instructors. But was later closed and re-strategized to provide skills to the home children, boarding and those attending primary. They’re all trained with basic training though some are capable of being trained professionally. Since the vocational is still accredited by the Government in 2012 and offers Certificate level qualifications, Bushfire is still in position with training be it the primary or secondary students. In that case, solely focusing on Tailoring, Hairdressing, Bakery, Computer and Organic Farming for they are the most basic courses and easy courses to setup individually. Some staff interested in skills also participate in the training as well.
  • Farms are essential to provide food for the Bushfire Community. Crops such as maize, sweet potato, ground nuts, rice, pineapples, mangos are grown as well as raising animals such as goats, chickens and cows. The Farms cannot provide all Bushfire needs hence supplementary food purchases are normally required. This is a substantial problem when crops fail.
  • Church is the centre for many Christian ministries with several Pastors serving in satellite Churches. Besides Sunday Services, there are many Bible Studies, Prayer meetings and House Groups each week as well as evangelism, education, counselling and emergency support.
  • Bushfire graduates who have potential to undertake tertiary training in Jinja or Kampala and would have no other means may be sponsored and mentored through Bushfire.
  • Support Functions such as administration, finance and maintenance are conducted from Bushfire by a small team of dedicated and capable people.

How we do it

There is a strong reliance on God’s provision since there is often no certainty where the next food or funds will come from. Crops fail, students cannot pay even basic fees, teacher salaries and government fees must be paid, expenses for diesel generator and vehicle fuel must be met and of course medical emergencies. Bushfire Community relies on faith and the support of local and overseas people, Churches and organisations. There is no government financial support.