St. Veronica Hostel in Kakyeka

The foundation takes care of vulnerable children, including those that have been picked off the streets and have been taken care of at the Divine Babies home. As these babies grow into young adults, they generally join secondary and move onto higher institution.  During the holidays they need a place to call home.  In light of this, the St. Veronica hostel was acquired to cater for this transition period as early as 2000.  It's main purpose is to provide a temporary transitional home for vulerable children in the residential area of Kakyeka Mbarara.

During the holidays students flock into this shelter, and you can feel the activity from a distance with voices coming from different corners of the hostel.  The foundation has provided beddings, connected the hostel to water and electricity grids, and recently installed wall fencing with a security gate to cater for security issues for the children.  There is a caretaker to handle, monitor, and distribute their every day needs, and food is prepared and served as a family.   A counselor visits on a regular basis to oversee the children, as many of them are at an age of adolescence when they need the guidance of a parent or guardian as they transition into adulthood.  The counselor fills this parental role, and the results are outstanding.  The children remain focused, have their full education, and become respectable members of society.

The facility is equipped with basics but it needs more attention:
  • ​Indoor and outdoor game equipment to reduce redundancy during the holidays
  • They also require tutors to visit them and equip them with skills in computer, tailoring, crafts, carpentry to make their own seats and tables
  •  A mini library would help to improve on reading skills
  • A television set would allow the children to keep up to date with news around the world
  • Also, the hostel lacks of a proper kitchen. The one presently in "operation" is totally out of order with no doors, no cement flooring, and lacks proper cooking stoves and other utensils
  • The other area of concern is the lavatories and bathrooms which are very tiny and dark, these need to be upgraded to standard to allow a boys section that isseparate from the girls section 
  • The drainage of the whole facility needs uplifting, alternative water sources need to be installed, and proper storage for the community utensils and products

​There is space for expansion a storied building, with well spaced dormitories raised to cater for the children’s needs. These children are the future of the nation and we need to host them in a welcoming, and well stocked shelter.