RACHO UGANDA

Photo Gallery

connie — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 21:24:41 +0000

Coming soon

Victims

connie — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 18:22:38 +0000

Allan Sembatya, aged 7 Years old.

Allan was brutally attacked in an attempted ritual sacrifice. First they tried to cut off his penis, leaving his left testicle irreparably damaged- they then tried to hack out his brain, leaving him a 1/4 brain dead, before they finally began to chop his head off. Allan is one of the lucky ones, he survived.

The attack on his brain has left him with what is termed “Petite Mons Epilepsy”- which causes him to become disconnected to reality, unaware of his surroundings for long periods of time. This occurs, according to the father at least 3 times a week and presents itself with the additional symptom of bleeding through the nose and ears. He will have to take epilepsy medicine for the rest of his life.

He has equally been left with a 4cm wide hole in his skull where his brain is left unprotected. He desperately needs surgery to prevent further damage to his brain. And as if this was not bad enough, the muscle in his penis has been severed, meaning that Allan will never have a normal sex life. In a country where pride in masculinity rules, how will he cope with the social stigma of such an attack.

When RACHO met Allan, he did not play with other children, and was kept in virtual social exclusion by his father who was fearful that he may be attacked again.

RACHO has given Allan the opportunity to regain some semblance of normality back in his life, and provided the family with the money to pay for medical bills.

Allan has received physiotherapy-therapy to help him regain the use of his left arm and leg, that were rendered immobile following the attack on his brain. He has also received counselling by our team of trained professionals, who through art and play therapy are helping him come to terms with the trauma he has suffered, and will continue to help him through his life to deal with the lasting scars of the attack and its aftermath.

Since RACHO have met Allan, he has turned into a different boy; He now laughs, smiles and plays with other children his age. We as an organisation will continue to support Allan and his family and provide them with the building blocks they need for a stable future.

We desperately need help to fund Allan’s continuing medical and therapeutic expenses. He is in need of brain surgery to re-build the part of his skull that is missing. If this was done in Uganda, it would cost £1500.

But Allan is really just one of many children that need our help. Please help us to help them and donate today.

Mukono Project

admin — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 10:51:09 +0000

Prospective Projects

The Mukono Campaign

The district of Mukono covers an area of 12, 438kmⁿ, there are a total of 143 registered schools within this district. We intend to visit each school within Mukono, to offer an educative workshop, with the aim of interactive learning in mind. We feel that this is vital, to keep the children engaged in what we are saying, whilst at the same time being able to offer advice and information concerning the dangers involved with the belief in traditional healers. The children will then be able to gain the support they need from our staff members, if they themselves have already become victimised by such a belief system.

We as an organisation, passionately belief that children are the future, and it is therefore fundamental, that this group of the demographic secure our particular attention. Not only due to the fact that they are at an age where they are still forming their views of the world. But also more often than not, they are decidedly more vulnerable, to the more abusive aspects within the rituals of the “healing” process.

We hope that by embarking on this project, we are able to not only offer support to those that need it, but take a step towards a safer future for the people of Uganda. This project is absolutely vital within the realms of our work, and once this project is underway, we would like to continue with proposed projects in other districts. We really believe that this is the only way forward with this problem. It is very difficult to try and change views of people once they have reached adulthood, unless they have become victims themselves. However, if we are able to reach a younger audience and offer them a fun, interactive lesson in how to avoid these dangers then maybe the future will be a better place for them in which to live.

The field work will be conducted by total of two teams each containing four trained members of staff. For strategic coherence and cost saving, each team will visit two schools per day, remaining close to one another in proximity so that we are able to share resources.

We propose to begin this initiative in October providing we are able to acquire the funds desperately needed to fund it.

We are in desperate need of vital equipment to make this project a reality: Please see the list below to assess whether it is something you are able to donate.

Stationary- pens, pencils, paper, ink cartridges
A camera, so that we are able to take photos of the work that we do and keep people involved. (Long-term)
A Mobile generator (Long-term)
Photocopier (Long-term)
Two Projectors to allow our team to show their material, these do not need to be digital, but they do need to be transportable (Long-term)
Accommodation costs for 8 members of staff for the two months it will take to embark on this project (estimated at £36.82 per person per night. The problem within Uganda is that there are very few cheaper hostels or hotels outside of Kampala, driving up the costs of accommodation.)
Guides and security guards (estimated at £24 per day) –This is essential to getting around safely.
Petrol- (estimated 40 litres of petrol per day are needed costing £36p/d or £1438 for the whole two months)
Transport is also desperately needed. Ideally we would like to raise the funds to buy the cars we need in order for our fundraising to be sustainable. However, given the terrain within Uganda we would need 1 or 2 4×4’s and until we can obtain an appropriate grant we are having to hire these cars (estimated total of £6687 for the whole two months) (Long-term or Short-term)

Past projects

admin — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 18:43:48 +0000

Racho has until recently, mostly embarked on projects within Kampala, due to financial constraints. However, we have a regular radio presence and this has been somewhat, surprisingly beneficial to the general public. We have been inundated with emails and phone calls following such radio events, asking for both advice and support.

We have also embarked upon awareness projects, setting up conferences and seminars in regions around Uganda and also embarked on door to door campaigns in particularly badly affected areas.

In February 2009, the team went to a district called Mpigi spending a month going to schools and offering free workshops and support groups for residents.

Outcomes of past projects:

Increased awareness of the dangers of traditional healers
A reduced number of people intimidated into following the advice of the traditional healers
Slight reduction in the rate of people being branded “witches” and thus being sacrificed
Increased knowledge of what RACHO is as an organisation and how it can help victims
Victims brought together in support groups
Financial hardship reduced, as people have stopped giving money to the traditional conmen
Reduction in the spread of HIV
Community leaders trained to offer support and guidance for their residents
Documentaries produced
Literature produced

The Mukono District Charity Walk- Launch of the Mukono Campaign

RACHO’s main objective is to sensitize the community about traditionalism that will enable it take action deemed redemptive rotating around culture and traditions. This is aimed at curbing the acts of human sacrifice, HIV/Aids spread, money robbery and many unveiled evils that are rampant in African Countries. Generally committed by the rogue elements within the fraternity of traditional healer’s and culturally poor perceptions.

The walk will start at Step by Step Nursery and Primary School, on 3rd October 2009. This starting point bears significance to our campaign, as this nursery was where a 5 year old boy, who was sacrificed in 2006 went to school.

It will be a 6km walk from Kasubi – Nakulabye – Makerere – Wandegeya – Mulago round about – garden city – Nsambya via Electoral commission premises and finally at the final destination freedom square.

If you would like to sponsor us during the walk, please email c_flude@hotmail.com with your proposed donation.

If you would like any more information about the walk itself, or in fact any other matter regarding RACHO, please do not hesitate to ask a member of our team.

We will upload photos of the walk, as and when it is completed.

We thank you for your support as it is invaluable to us and our survival.