Jenga | Community Development Outreach

Project Overview (Click on the images below to see more project photographs)

JENGA's ministry is focused in 3 key locations which represent the poorest communities within Mbale. These communities are; 2 slum areas, Namatala and Musoto and a mountainous rural area, Mooni. However, as we seek to daily fulfil our mission statement, to demonstrate God's Love in action, we are finding the breadth of God's calling on us in reality is much wider than these key areas.

Our main practical programmes are found in the following departments: WATER, GOATS, WOMEN, HEALTH, EDUCATION, MINISTRY, VULNERABLE PEOPLE GROUPS

Water Project, Mooni

We believe that clean, safe drinking water is a basic human right. With that in mind, JENGA fervently continues to work towards making uncontaminated water accessible for as many people as possible. The Gravity System Water Project commenced in March 2005 and has continued throughout 2009. It primarily involves the rehabilitation and expansion of the existing water distribution to the 6000 residents of Mooni.

This expansion includes:

Provision of gabion for mud filtration

Repair of 20 community stand taps and provision of 14 new ones

Repair of water tanks

3km of new water piping laid and repair of 150 leaks

2 schools are now connected to the water system

In partnership with PONT and The Rotary Club and the local Water Office, JENGA has secured a grant of £7000 for new water supply provision from 2 new water sources. Work to protect the springs has already begun in preparation for the main work to start late 2009, early 2010. The need for this has been punctuated by the recent Chorea outbreaks and deaths in this local community.

Mutoto Water Project

In response to the success in Mooni, The JENGA water program has expanded to Mututo. This includes:

Rehabilitation of a broken water system for approx 8000 people.

Taps and fitting have been replaced and water tanks repaired .

Rainwater Harvesting, Mooni

As a member of the Rainwater Harvesting Association of Uganda, JENGA has been building and supplying rainwater jars for nearly three years. Local community members in Mooni have been trained on how to build sustainable water containers made out of local materials. We are pleased that ‘Water Project Trainers’ can now move around neighbouring rural areas teaching other communities how to build this clean water collection facility.

Borehole, Musoto

In late 2008 JENGA was able to provide its first Borehole. Musoto has a very poor water supply due to marshy terrain and local distilleries infecting other water sources. Working in partnership with the only secondary school in the area, we were able to access and provide free uncontaminated water to this poor and deprived slum community.

Goat Project, Mooni

Since 2006 JENGA has given 250 goats to widows, orphans and other vulnerable members of the Mooni community.

Local goats are bred with JENGA male hybrids so that all recipients receive a healthy, cross- bred goat. The goats are used to support the family’s physical and financial needs. Once the goat has reproduced, the first female kid is returned to JENGA to give away again thus allowing the project to be sustainable.

In order to ensure that all recipients are effectively managing and maintaining their goats, JENGA hold monthly training sessions to offer care advice and veterinary attention. Due to the success of the Mooni Goat Project, a second project is planned in a new rural area for Autumn 2009.

Women's Ministry

Since 2006 JENGA has run women’s groups that provide education on health, family and lifestyle issues. We have 10 groups in Namatala and Mooni with up to 600 women attending each week. Every month a new topic is covered. 2009 saw subjects such as Personal and Domestic Hygiene, Disease prevention, Optometry and Natural Medicine.

One of JENGA’s Women’s Department recently completed an internationally acclaimed ‘Anamed’ course on natural medicine. This teaching has already been passed onto all of our women’s groups enabling the local communities to benefit from increased knowledge of indigenous healing remedies. This is particularly valuable to those who cannot afford pharmaceutical treatments.

Other projects within the women’s groups have included:

Over 600 treated Mosquito nets given out- a vital protection against Malaria, arguably the biggest killer in Uganda.

Assistance with income generating activities such as craft making- a Hand craft and Tailoring Workshop was held offering women the chance to learn skills that will potentially equip them to earn extra income.

Training in the production of natural fuel efficient stoves which reduce cost, injury & damage to the environment.

Literacy Training

A new literacy project was launched this July (2009) - enabling around 60 illiterate women to receive life transforming skills that will aid to bridge the gap between them and society.

Health

HIV Ministry

JENGA educates communities about HIV/Aids through training workshops. Nearly 600 men and women have been tested & counselled, an increase of 50 clients following the latest clinic held in June 2009. 34 HIV positive clients are visited regularly, encouraged and assisted with food, clothing and medicine. Our HIV department also hold monthly meetings for the clients to come together to receive extra support and pray for one another.

JENGA sponsors selected HIV counsellors to further their training on the The Aids Support Organisation’s (TASO) 6 month Aids Programme. This covers pre and post test counselling plus instruction on how to register for treatment.

Community Health

The Community Health Programme continues to be one of JENGA’s key ministry projects. The project aims at educating men and women to understand the basics of good primary healthcare, thus working towards the prevention of avoidable diseases and everyday health-affecting challenges.

Since 2007 JENGA in partnership with UK charity P.O.N.T., has trained 130 Community Health Promoters (CHPs) in both Mooni and Namatala, all of whom have in return been vital resources to their community. 2009 saw 40 CHPs complete a refresher course to further boost their knowledge and transferable skills.

In partnership with Joy Hospice, a local health clinic JENGA has provided for needy individuals to receive clinical tests, treatments and medicines.

Education

Child Sponsorship

JENGA currently has numerous donors who sponsor 122 children through primary education and 16 children in secondary education. Sponsorship covers school fees, uniform, school shoes, scholastic materials and a main meal each day.

So far three sponsored secondary students have been able to successfully complete their Advanced Level, one of whom has been blessed with a scholarship to attend University. Primary school partnerships have recently been introduced, linking two schools in the UK with two schools in Mbale.

JENGA also provides monthly trainings where the secondary school students meet together and receive lifestyle support in areas such as sexuality, personal hygiene and adolescent health among others. This also gives the students time to share personal stories, challenges and experiences with one another, a much needed time as many have little or no opportunity to do so elsewhere.

Ministry

While all of our work is Christ focused, the following programmes are more intentionally ministry based:

Children's Bible Club

The primary aim of the Bible Club Ministry is to support and nurture children of all tribes, religions and backgrounds to know the love of God and to grow in Christian values. JENGA’s 10 Bible Clubs provide a safe place for over 1200 children to learn together, play and gain a genuine sense of worth. The clubs meet every Saturday afternoon and are run in association with 9 local churches and street children ministry, CRO. JENGA also provides a shopping store each term for the children offering clothes, scholastic materials and teaching aids in reward for good behaviour, participation and hard work. This year a Youth Alpha Course has been launched within the Bible clubs - 600 children are taking part all of whom will receive new bibles upon completion.

Alpha, Uganda

Alpha is a pioneering discipleship programme sharing the basics of the Christian faith. JENGA is the Alpha Regional Coordinator for Eastern Uganda and has been recognised as Alpha Uganda’s leading contributor, we are currently managing more Alpha courses than any other church/organisation in Uganda.

In partnership with The Bible Association of Uganda, over 1200 Bibles have been distributed freely to delegates completing the Alpha Course.

JENGA hosts three Training Development Conferences per year and offers regular support to all those leading Alpha.

Church Ministry

JENGA strongly believes in unity amongst churches and ministries so that we can effectively reach our local communities. We understand the significance of bringing leaders together to support and work alongside one another. As often happens in ministry, most of Mbale’s local pastors and leaders are desperately overworked and undervalued, therefore we have introduced the following:

Quarterly meetings for Mbale pastors and local leaders of all denominations for fellowship, prayer, communion and food.

A focus on bring the Church together as one body of believers in unity. Promoting reconciliation, co-operation and good-will between believers.

Plans to purchase land in order to provide a retreat centre for Pastors and Leaders for their spiritual rehabilitation and healing.

All JENGA staff are active leaders within their churches and regularly contribute in many local fellowships.

Hospital Ministry

JENGA has been involved in hospital ministry since 2008 at the Mbale Regional Referral Hospital. Every two weeks, members visit patients to pray, share the Gospel and where the need allows, provide items such as medicines, soap, sugar and clothing. Through this ministry healing and hope has been restored to many desperate individuals and familes.

Prison Ministry JENGA is the largest partner of Prison Fellowship, Eastern Uganda. We support their work by ministering with them in prisons throughout Eastern Uganda, preaching the Gospel and by offering prayer. Where possible we assist with donations of essential items such as mats, soap, medicines and clothes

Men's Ministry

Because of the success of the women's training, men complained they were being neglected resulting in the provision of men's community training in Mooni! The men discuss topics such as health & hygiene, HIV & Aids, marriage, family planning and natural remedies for common diseases.

Youth and Sports Ministry

2008 saw the commencement of JENGA’s youth programme. This has continued through 2009 with an addition of a new 2/ 3 day conference during the holiday time. Sports activities and outreaches are mixed with education programmes and have been warmly welcomed with many youth participating.

Vulnerable People Groups:

Child Restoration Outreach (CRO)

Since January 2008 JENGA has partnered with the largest street children’s outreach programme in Mbale, Child Restoration Outreach (CRO), which cares for up to 600 needy street children. JENGA works alongside CRO staff assisting with the spiritual care, support and counselling of the children.

JENGA recently introduced a Youth Alpha Course and a Bible Club for the younger children, both of which are now thriving. Activities with the children include sports, evangelism and bible teaching.

Internally Displaced People's Camps

Facilitation of various income generating projects and donation of goods such as clothes, shoes, mosquito nets and scholastic materials

Ministry visits and donation of goods to the camps where hundreds of thousands of people live, having been driven from their rural homes

JENGA Partnerships

JENGA have a strong vision to partner with other charities in an attempt to build together in the local communities of Mbale and Eastern and Northern Uganda