Shule Foundation
Watoto Mtaani Transitional Home
A place for healing, learning, and reconciliation…
Welcoming former street children from age 9 to 17, Shule's Watoto Mtaani Transitional Home serves as an interim boys' home and a bridge between street life and home life.
We believe that to help street-connected children in Uganda, they first need time to heal, and this children's home near Uganda's capital provides the time and space for them to begin healing from the trauma of street life and substance use.
Located in Bweyogerere, our children have lots of space to breathe, run around, and be children again.
The Watoto Mtaani Home provides a loving home environment for the children as they make the vital transition from street life back to home life.
The aim is always for the children to return to their homes, with their own families, through Shule's reconciliation and resettlement program.
Activities & Classes:
English & Math - Many of the children who come to the transitional home are between 11 and 16 and will not return to formal education but will pursue technical or vocational careers. We focus their learning on improving English and math skills to ensure success in their future careers.
Boxing - has a positive impact on children. It helps with self-discipline, determination, and focus and teaches them to control their anger and aggression. It enhances physical and mental health too.
Yoga & Meditation - A daily practice that has assisted in the development of balance, strength, endurance, and aerobic capability; yoga has also enhanced the children’s focus, memory, and academic performance. Self-esteem increases, and anxiety decreases when yoga is part of their daily lives.
Soccer is an activity that brings the children together and shows the importance of hard work and teamwork, and teaches valuable lessons about both success and disappointment.
Board Games - such as Scrabble, Chess, and Monopoly teach essential social skills such as verbal communication, sharing, waiting, and taking turns. These types of games also foster focus and lengthen attention spans, and they play a vital role in bringing children together at the end of each day.
Skill Building - We offer a range of vocational skills workshops such as liquid soap making, tailoring, leatherwork, baking, mechanics, farming, and computer training. Our aim is that through teaching these skills, many will start their businesses, becoming job creators rather than job seekers.
Physical & Mental Care:
Resettlement, Reconciliation
Family reconciliation and resettlement are integral to our program. Through family mapping and interviews, we identify the best caregivers for the child to ensure a safe and loving home after they leave us.
Emergency and Medical Care
The children we meet on the streets have often turned to substance misuse due to exposure to violent and traumatic situations. Doctors will organize minor surgeries to treat septic wounds, deep cuts, and chronic illnesses and all children receive HIV/AIDS testing and deworming.
Psychosocial/Physiological
Children that come and stay at our home can suffer from hopelessness, impulsivity, anxiety, and emotional instability. We aim to motivate, encourage and instill self-belief in all the children we care for.
Counseling and Rehabilitation
Our social workers spend time with the children while they are with us at our interim children’s home, providing counseling and guidance both in a group and individually. They discuss substance abuse, peer influence, HIV/AIDS, problems at home, and conflict resolution.
*all the above are offered at Shule's Transitional Home and Drop-In-Center.
Education Sponsorship –
Education is the cornerstone of our program because a lack of proper schooling keeps children on the streets. Our goal is to ignite a desire to learn within the children and build skills to carry them forward into a better future. When a child completes our program at the transitional home, we work with them to figure out their next step in education & training.
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