A day at Saturday Program

Many of you have heard about the Amazima Saturday Program for our sponsored children.  

But what really goes on every Saturday over here in Uganda?

 As early as eight o’clock in the morning, staff members are working hard to bag different types of food for the children to take home to their family for the week.  

 On average there are 420 bags given out every Saturday.

Each bag contains one kilogram of beans, one kilogram of rice, one kilogram of posho (a type of flour made from maize/corn), and one very long bar of soap!

These food bags go towards alleviating the everyday costs for the families in our program.  It can make such a difference to a family to be able to save a little money in order to buy clothes or other necessities for their children. Since many of our children live with grandparents or older relatives who are unable to "dig" or farm for their food, feeding large families can be a huge burden.

Around ten o'clock kids start trickling in through the program gates.  Some walk from down the road, others have over an hour's hike to the program.  While they wait for the program to begin, they all enjoy playing on the playground, swinging from the swings and climbing all over the equipment. It is definitely a good way to burn off some extra energy before Bible study!

Right before Bible study begins, everyone receives one hardboiled egg.  It’s difficult to listen on an empty stomach and these eggs help to remedy that problem.

Eleven o’clock and it is time for Bible study.  All of the kids gather under the pavilion and begin worship by singing songs lead by our youth director, Raoul.  

Around one o'clock, it is finally lunchtime!  Everyone lines up and washes their hands.  Each child is then given a heaping plate of beans, rice, and chicken.  Oh how these kids love their chicken!

Saturday is directed towards Amazima children and the Bible study that takes place.  It is, however, a wonderful time for staff to touch base, discuss issues that may have come up over the week, and reach a group consensus about any problems.  And of course, it is just a great time to build staff relationships.

The kids are free to play and spend time with their friends until it is time to go home around five o'clock.  It is important to us that the children leave early enough to make it home before dark.

At the end of it, as tired as everyone is, we all look forward to next week!