NFSC Clinic Sign
6am: The porridge is ready for children
Focus group facilitators leading a group of community leaders. (The event was supposed to occur inside nearby building but were asked to leave so that the village could hold a court hearing.)
“F” is a nine year old girl who attends Breakfast Center “B.” Her home is literally steps away. Her breakfast center volunteer walked this reporter and his Ugandan translator to her house in order to gain insight into the living situation of beneficiaries of the NFSC breakfast program.
We cut through the schoolyard, which had drawn silent as classes had begun for the day. Approaching the house we were greeted outside by F’s mother. The volunteer kindly explained the purpose of the visit. While they were talking, I could not help but notice the rancid smell in the air. Looking down, flies surrounded my feet and slightly to my left, near the front porch appeared there was indeed what appeared to be where someone had recently urinated, likely from the front porch. Behind me was a dark pool of greenish feces that seemed too big to belong to any animal surrounding the house, which included two goats and a cat.
Three structures appeared on the property. The residential structure looked to be approximately 14’x 10’ and the mother informed us that over ten people lived inside, including three adults and six of her brothers and sisters. (Her husband does not live there.) The house is constructed with what appeared to be a dirt or mud base, which the translator termed a “not for blocks,” semi-permanent structure; though, it did have a tin roof. A second mud brick structure stood adjacent to the house. It was not readily apparent whether the building was in the process of being built or whether it had collapsed, but the mother informed that it was, in fact, being constructed. In addition, a kiosk stood in front of both of the buildings, similar to the kind lining the streets of the nearby village. F’s mother said that at one time, this kiosk was used as an income generating activity to support her family by selling tomatoes. However, the kiosk had collapsed and currently is unusable. F’s mother (and the rest of her family) have no steady source of income. Fortunately, she owns her own house and property, so her main concerns and responsibilities center on looking after her children, feeding them, and providing education. She mentioned that occasionally she is able to do part-time jobs such as laundry (which the translator estimated would bring in about $1.25 for several hours’ work) or occasionally bake.
It is baffling to think the project has been on the ground for nine days now. It is true, life in Uganda feels slower in many ways (At this moment it is the speed of the Internet in this cafe). Yet, I realized that other than a lunchtime nap I had been on the go from 5:15am to 11:00pm last night. Seven interviews have been completed since Wednesday; three focus group training sessions have been conducted; I’ve attended an all-day antiretroviral adherence workshop (conducted full in the local language) for the Namugongo Village; a translator and I conducted a home visit (see following blog entry); witnesses the NFSC version of an after school program (the kids show up as early as 8am on a Saturday to learn math and English); observed breakfast center volunteers faithfully serving a hundred children, many of whom would not eat again until dinner (if at all). The level of poverty and sickness can overwhelm at times, and the images and conversations I have had with so many people give voice to that fact that “one dollar a day” is not just a fancy slogan but a reality for so many in this world.
The image below is from the NFSC After School Program that takes place each Saturday. 
I walking down the dirty roam toward my home yesterday afternoon, I met a young woman. She looked about 18 years old or so. Noticing that I was not from around here, she greeted me “hello” in my native tongue. I did my best to respond with the very little Luganda I know but she said she didn’t understand this language. She and her family had recently moved from the northern region of Uganda (where they speak a different language) to escape the ongoing war waged by the Lord’s Resistance Army.
Greetings from Namugongo Village, Uganda! The assessment is up and running. As a previous blog entry mentioned, we are focused on gaining a fuller, more in-depth understanding of the NFSC program in order to improve and expands its services to orphans and vulnerable children. We are also collecting qualitative and ethnographic data in order to better understand the needs and perceptions of children and their families. We have made significant progress after 5 days on the ground. A focus group facilitators (FGF) occurred on-site in order for Luganda-speaking group interview leaders to review the protocol including scripts and informed consents. This picture shows some of the FGFs in the training session. In addition, on site observations have occurred at the NFSC clinic, after school facility, and breakfast center "B." Thanks for reading and I will try to keep you updated as best I can. Tim
NFSC currently has three job opportunities available for Uganda-based positions. 1. Treating the Program population as outlined by the Board.
1. NFSC Program Manager
2. Coordinator for NFSC After School Program
3. NFSC Program Nurse
To apply for any of the positions described below, please send cover letter, three references and salary requirements to:
The Search Committee, NFSC
P.O Box 10634 Kampala, Uganda
- or -
email: info@nfschildren.org
NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE
PROGRAM MANAGER The Program Manager is a key position in the Namugongo Fund for Special Children (NFSC) that requires a thoughtful approach to organizational development, community relationships, and the mobilization of both financial and human resources. The Manager will oversee the programs; hire, supervise and develop the paid and volunteer staff and provide leadership in creation of service models. The position will also represent NFSC at government, community and funding meetings. S/he will work closely with collaborating agencies both in Uganda and outside of the country. The most suitable person for this job is a self starter, creative, an excellent spoken and written communicator able to write grants and contracts, reports and solicitations. This position reports to the NFSC Director and Board members. Duties will include but are not limited to:
1. Overall management of NFSC programs;
2. Promoting NFSC mission inside and outside the community;
3. Establishing and maintaining collaboration between NFSC and other organizations with similar objectives;
4. Proposal writing and presentation to potential funding organizations and individuals;
5. Prepare Monthly, Quarterly & Annual Reports and submit to the NFSC board;
6. Ensuring proper record keeping;
7. Advocating for promotion of children’s human rights;
8. Implementation of programs/projects that promote NFSC mission and vision;
9. Supervision of the Program Staff and Volunteers;
10. Liaison with consultants;
11. Writing reports on individual children for sponsors;
12. Hold community meetings at least three times a year;
13. Other duties as may be assigned by the Board from time to time;
14. Banking cash/checks & reconciliation of NFSC local and foreign bank accounts.
AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM COORDINATOR The NFSC – ASP has been designed to engage children in Extracurricular Activities, Educational Support Activities, Psychosocial needs, Life Skills Training and Personal Development. We are looking for a dynamic individual to coordinate activities of this exciting program. This position reports to the program Manager. The duties include but not limited to:
1. Overall coordination of the After School Program (ASP) activities
2. Promoting NFSC-ASP goals and objectives inside and outside the community.
3. Establishing and maintaining collaboration between NFSC and other organizations with similar objectives.
4. Resource Mobilization for the ASP
5. Prepare and submit Monthly reports to the Program Manager.
6. Ensuring proper record keeping.
7. Supervision of the ASP Volunteers.
8. Liaison with consultants and representatives from other organizations
9. Hold community meetings at least once a term for each center.
10. Other duties as may be assigned by the Program Manager and/or Board from time to time.
PROGRAM NURSE NFSC operates a daily clinic at Kyaliwajjala - Namugongo for all the children on the program and their care givers. The clinic staff also operates an outreach clinic twice a month in program villages far away from Kyaliwajjala. In addition to that, NFSC in partnership with the Joint Clinical Research Center (JCRC) operates a weekly HIV/AIDS clinic through JCRC’s TREAT program. This clinic is open to every one who needs to be tested for HIV and HIV management including the provision of Anti Retro Viral (ARV) treatment. The Clinic Nurse is responsible for the day to day running and management of the Clinic. The duties include but are not limited to:
2. Referring complex cases to specialized and/or bigger medical institutions.
3. Do home visits as the need may arise.
4. Community health education.
5. Supervise volunteers.
6. Work with visiting consultants.
7. Order supplies for the clinic in conjunction with the Program Manager.
8. Maintain updated records of all children on the Program.
9. Keep records on all services provided.
10. Write monthly reports.
11. Supervise breakfast centres in conjunction with the Program Manager.
12. Liaise with the community committees and the Board.
13. Any other duties as requested by the Program Manager and/or the Board from time to time.
The breakfast program: Crossing the legs at the knee. Wow, these kids are silly.
