UGANDA :: Welcoming Jackie into the Shelter

Update from Missy, Women’s Advocacy Coordinator and Director, Refuge and Hope International - Uganda

Recently, we welcomed Jackie into the shelter. Jackie is a fifteen-year-old girl from the Democratic Republic of Congo. At the age of seven, she woke up one evening to find her father murdered and her mother and siblings missing. Rebel soldiers had ransacked their home and she was the only person remaining. Margaret, A neighbor who was fleeing to Uganda invited Jackie to come with her and her family. Unfortunately, Jackie was not treated as a child in the home, but immediately forced to work inside of the home. While the woman’s other children attended school, Jackie was forced to work from morning to night- cooking and cleaning for the woman and her family. Meanwhile, she deeply missed her family and dreamed of being in school, like other children her age.

When Jackie turned 14, the family moved next to a bar. Within the first few weeks of the family’s move, Margaret pressured Jackie to prostitute herself at the bar in order to earn her keep within their home. Jackie refused. She was beaten, forced to sleep outside and food was withheld. Over the next few months, Margaret continued to do these things in order to pressure Jackie. She refused.

One morning, Jackie woke up to find that she was alone in the house. Margaret and her family abandoned her. Within a few hours the landlord came to collect rent and immediately threw Jackie out of the house. At the age of 15, she was homeless and without a place to go. In Kampala, the trafficking and exploitation of young refugee girls like Jackie is all too common.

Tonight, however, Jackie is sleeping soundly in a safe and loving environment. She is getting the counseling, education, vocational training and housing that she needs. Additionally, thanks to Red Thread's partnership with Refuge and Hope Int’l, Jackie is able to access desperately needed medical care which she has not been able to access since leaving her country in 2006. This medical care is a pivotal part of her healing and empowerment. 

Thank you, Red Thread Promise for your partnership in assisting girls like Jackie within our community who have experienced violence and exploitation. Your support is making a BIG difference in their lives!   

UGANDA :: What's new in Uganda?

Missy and one of the girls in Kampala

Something BIG! 

We are pleased to share that the new temporary shelter for women and girls in Kampala, Uganda is open and operational, the first of its kind in the city! What a blessing for sexually abused, battered and traumatized refugee women to have a safe place to go, sheltered from their oppressors, where they can begin to heal, both inside and out. 

Did you know… The United Nations (UNFPA) estimates that 1 in 3 women, worldwide will be affected by violence in their lifetime. One in THREE daughters of God will be violated, abused, oppressed. For refugee women and girls, this reality is much harsher because this violence is compounded by war, the loss of family members and friends, inadequate food, shelter, access to medical care or education.

Our partners at Refuge and Hope worked tirelessly throughout the summer to find the perfect property to house these victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking. This safe haven will be where the girls live, eat, sleep and learn trades; receive medical care (physical and gynecological exams, lab test and medications funded by The Red Thread Promise); have access to legal assistance, counseling and other critical services. 

But more importantly…

It is where they will take their first steps to leaving their past behind.
It is where they begin to move forward with their lives.
It is where they will learn to hope again. 

As we consider the dire circumstances these women and children endure, we begin to have a better understanding of the shelter’s importance. The Red Thread is proud to be a part of this ministry. 

A word of thanks from Missy in Uganda:

“Thank you [Red Thread] for tangibly assisting these women and girls in their healing process by providing medical care for these residents. It is absolutely crucial! The physical ailments that they are experiencing are also triggers and painful reminders of the traumas that they have endured. It is difficult to focus on receiving training, education or counseling when one is physically in pain.” 

The emergency shelter

Living room

Classroom

Community center

UGANDA :: Helping exploited women and girls

The Red Thread Promise recently began a partnership with Refuge and Hope International to assist refugee women and girls who are experiencing violence and exploitation in Uganda. Refuge and Hope is developing a new program in Kampala to holistically assist these female refugees by:

• providing temporary safe shelter 
• offering education and vocational training
• conducting community self-help groups

Our support provides full physical and gynecological exams, lab tests and medications for medical issues that arise from these horrid circumstances. 

Missy (center), Women's Advocacy Coordinator and
Director of Refuge and Hope in Kampala

Together we will rebuild lives following such profound abuse and restore dignity to these women and girls.