Streets To Success Foundation
August 2020 Update!
By Annabelle Brigandi September 2020
Michael and some of the boys learning B-Boy style dance with the help of the Imagination Circle.General Updates
If you have been reading our previous posts, you may notice this format for our updates is a bit different. We are constantly trying to update our online presence and social media so we can be more accessible and helpful to anyone wanting to learn more about Streets To Success Foundation and how to help.
Over the course of the last 5 months we were lucky enough to work with the team at Imagination Circle to provide the boys with both dance and DJ classes. We were so happy to see the boys expand their knowledge in physical activity, creativity, and learn how important it is to work as a team.
With social distancing still in effect, we have had to change our daily schedule and add more games and activities that all take place at home. We have all gotten very good at card games, ludo, “bootcamp” style workouts, yoga, and there is lots and lots of dancing and singing everyday. In addition, we were also able to see the boys explore new ways of expressing themselves through various art mediums such as water color, acrylic paint, and pencil drawing.
Since our last update in March, we have expanded our garden immensely. Currently we have tomatoes, sugar cane, matooke (bananas), onion, cabbage, pumpkin, corn, avocado, and various other small plants we are trying to grow. We now have a chicken coop and a few goats as well. Both of these endeavors are to teach the boys the responsibility of caring for a living thing and the reward of being able to eat or sell what you’ve grown, as well as to teach them various trades and jobs they can carry on in their futures.
Paul painting eggs for Easter.
Covid-19 Updates
If you read our previous post here, you may be aware of the protocols and the guidelines we were following at the end of March 2020. As we are approaching September and the cases in Uganda are increasing, now is a good time to update you on what we are continuing to do to stay safe and prevent the spread of Covid-19.
We will start off by saying everyone who is a part of Streets To Success Foundation are safe, healthy, and happy.
We continue to social distance and quarantine as much as possible. The boys receive their haircuts once a month, in which they go to the salon while no other clients are present, and everyone wears masks and keeps their hands clean. Outside of the monthly haircuts, outings are minimal and only done within the neighborhood while wearing masks and continuing to social distance to the best of our ability. Similarly, the staff only leaves the house for necessities and going to their personal homes.
Due to Covid-19, we have not had a typical outreach within Kisenyi. As we want to ensure we are doing our best to promote and actively taking part in social distancing. But luckily, we continue to have various Uncles go into Kisenyi to provide food, water, shoes, and pay for medical treatment when needed.
School Updates
Luckily, a large majority of our boys are in primary and secondary schools who are able to remotely continue their learning now. Although the schools are closed at the time all the children are taking part in online/remote learning for the rest of the calendar year. We have class at the house facilitated by Uncle Paul and Auntie Anna every Monday and Tuesday for all the boys to take part in. We are continuously blown away by their eagerness to learn. We love to be able to watch the boys work together and help each other with their homework. We also try to integrate other ways for the boys to expand their knowledge through educational games, puzzles, and books.
If you are interested in helping us with the boys' education, but aren’t able to provide financial assistance please feel free to email us with any resources you may have. This includes but is not limited to worksheets, educational games, movies, tv shows etc, or any recommendation for things we can do on our side to continue to nurture and expand the boy's education.
Fundraising Updates
We are excited to announce that we have extended our group therapy with Wellness Psychological Services for another 6 weeks! The growth in the boys communication and emotional regulation abilities has been amazing to see over the past 6 weeks, and we can’t wait to see how they continue to grow and mature with these added sessions. We always welcome donations to provide individual or group therapy sessions at our website- just make sure you comment “counseling.”
If you saw this post we also began to expand our staff on the ground within our house. We currently have 3 “Uncles” or house directors and care staff for our boys. It’s very important to us that these boys have such responsible staff that the boys can look up to and get guidance from.
We are hopeful and excited for the future. The boys are dedicated to their education and their growth, and we are all blown away by the support of everyone to help us continue to provide these boys with the best life and future possible.
If you would like to donate to therapy, our new staff's wage, or general funding please feel free to donate here.
Streets To Success Foundation
Kampala, Uganda.
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