Underwear Is A Luxury Street Boys Can’t Afford

The Forgotten Ones: The Impact of Street Boys Lacking Access to Underwear It is not uncommon to see young boys living on the streets in worn-out or tattered clothes that are either too big or too small and are mismatched. However, one crucial detail often goes unnoticed: the lack of underwear. Boys living on the streets face many challenges, and one of the most significant is their inability to access underwear. This… Read More

I can’t believe 2018 is almost over. And what a year it’s been for Shule and our kids! Thank you for playing a big part in changing the lives of so many children who otherwise would be forgotten. This year, your support has helped us: – Maintain our programs at our skills training center in Kisneyi Slum, along with our outreaches in Mbale, making a difference in the lives of hundreds of… Read More

What About The Girls?

Shule Foundation, Jackie Wolfson, Blog, blogger, Uganda, Global Alliance for Girls, Street kids, education

In honor of International Day of the Girl Child, I have decided to publicly address a question I am constantly asked about our Watoto Mtaani project. “What about girls?” When it comes to our work with children living on the streets, we never set out to NOT help girls. Actually, when we moved the first group of kids off the streets, there was one girl in the group. Her name was Shadia…. Read More

Celebrating One Year of Making A Difference for Street Kids

Shule Foundation, Jackie Wolfson, street kids, Uganda, Kisenyi, education, family

Can you believe it’s been one year since we first opened the doors of Shule’s first transitional home in Uganda? Neither can we. But in the last 12 months, we’ve made incredible progress in helping street children take the first steps toward a brighter future – and it’s all thanks to generous supporters like you! Here’s a look at our first year.

Giving Street Kids A Safe Place To Go

Shule Foundation, Jackie Wolfson, street kids, Uganda, Kisenyi, education, drop in center, rehabilitation

We constantly ask ourselves, “How can we better serve the children living on the streets? Are we making the best use our resources? Are we truly making an impact?” A friend of mine kept telling me I needed to open a Drop-In Center, suggesting that it would help in identifying the kids who are really serious about leaving street life behind. Aware of what a huge undertaking it would be, both when… Read More

The Six That Got Away

Shule Foundation, Jackie Wolfson, street kids, Uganda, Kisenyi, education, drop in center, rehabilitation, blog, blogger,

When we began the Watoto Mtaani Project, I knew it wasn’t going to be easy and I’ve known that I wouldn’t be able to save them all, but losing six was tough – especially when I’d managed to lose four in the first three weeks.  I constantly ask myself was it my fault?  Could I have done things differently?     After the kids had finished detoxing and were able to think clearly, I… Read More

Watoto Mtaani Update

Twins in Uganda, Street kids of Kisenyi

I would like to begin by thanking everyone who has donating to our Watoto Mtaani campaign. The money we have raised so far will cover the cost to purchase the provisions needed for each child we will move out of the slum and into our rehab center – including a bed, mattress and sheets; mosquito netting; new clothing; and bathroom supplies. We are so grateful to you for making this happen for the… Read More

“A mind is a terrible thing to waste”

street kids of Kisenyi, Uganda

I witnessed something that reminded me of the public service marketing slogan, “A mind is terrible thing to waste,” which was adopted by the United Negro College Fund in 1972. The brilliance of the campaign at the time was that these seven words helped change the “public perception of young black men in the media from angry, troubled and dangerous to being thought of as minds; encouraging respect rather than indignation or… Read More

Shadia’s life changed the day her mother died.

From what I can tell, Shadia grew up in a loving home; she attended school and was taken care of by her mother. But when her mother passed due to complications from AIDS, everything changed. Now 17, Shadia has been on the streets of Kisenyi for more than 2 years. She says she left home because her grandmother was not nice to her, she tells me she was forced to leave school… Read More

Sleeping In A Bed Is A Luxury Many Children Don’t Have.

People always say to me, “How do you do what you do?” “I couldn’t do it. It’s so sad. So, depressing.” From the moment I stepped foot on the continent of Africa more than 8 years ago, I don’t recall ever being overcome by sadness or getting depressed by the encounters I have. I believe that is a testament to the African people. They innately accept the lives they were born into, which to… Read More