Highlights from the Field Vol. II
Fall 2021
EDUCATION
DCM CHILDREN GRADUATE WITH FLYING COLOURS!
Some of the graduates at their graduation party.
Totti Sophie graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Rights & Ethics.
As Divine Care Ministries celebrated the graduation of 35 children, after years of raising and grooming them, it was a very joyous occasion. DCM is glad to help these young potentials enter their dream professional careers like Fashion and Design, Nursery Teaching, Water Engineering, Human Rights and Ethics, Catering and Hotel Management.
For Divine Care Ministries, this meant more than any other graduation because it means more children were released from generational poverty and illiteracy to a new world full of possibilities.
Our never-ending appreciation goes to our partners who make it possible for these children to reach their dreams ! God bless you abundantly!
Brenda graduated in Water Engineering.
Molly graduated in Secretarial Studies.
Ssemambo Patrick graduated in Hotel Management.
EDUCATION: Divine Care Ministries Embarked On Community Outreach
Just like any other sector, Ugandan schools were put on hold when the government issued a second lockdown due to Covid-19. As a result, children were exposed to domestic violence, all forms of abuse, depression, which led to some cases of early marriages and pregnancies. The situation worsened every day, thus there was a dire need for intervention.
With Divine Care Ministries serving in these communities, her staff moved into action to rescue children from these situations. Together, with local leaders and parents, DCM set up education centers where children from the same village were to join together for community outreach programs.
DCM staff distributing teaching materials to the children at one of the teaching centers.
Aunt Enid, one of DCM staff, guiding children through a lesson at their home.
Months later, hundreds of children are receiving wholistic education, counseling through the word of God, and tremendous discipleship in the areas where Divine Care Ministries and her branches are established. By the Grace of God, all children, counselors, teachers and social workers who are involved in this community outreach program are protected and well. We thank God for revealing such fundamental ideas to our leaders. DCM appreciates all the counselors, teachers, and social workers for having a heart for these children. We also appreciate our partners who make all this possible. May God richly bless you!
Children enjoying their class at one of the homeschooling centers.
KARAMOJA MISSION:
DCM LEADERS EQUIPPED WITH BICYCLES & MOTORCYCLES
Leaders receiving means of transportation to ease their travel to work.
In February of this year, Divine Care Ministries had a mission to Karamoja and at the end of the mission, many leaders raised the concern for the long distances they were traveling on foot while preaching the gospel and planting churches deep inside the Karamoja region. There was a big need for bicycles and motor bicycles so further villages could be reached.
Through her partners, DCM raised money to buy 26 bicycles and 4 motorcycles. We bless the Lord that these were handed over to the Karamajong leaders during the last mission held in September and more are going to be given during the next mission scheduled for November. The leaders were encouraged to go out and expand God’s Kingdom. We bless God for his providence!
Children showing excitement at Divine Church after receiving blankets and bedsheets.
With the whole region is facing cattle rustling, bloodshed, and increased insecurity, the objective of the mission was to encourage and train leaders that DCM has partnered with and raised over time. The team held trainings about prayer and fasting, missions, praise, worship, discipleship and obedience to God’s calling, conflict resolution, repentance, for- giveness and children outreach.
By the end of the meeting, the leaders were encouraged and stronger in faith. Glory to God for the successful mission!
Thanksgiving: Feeding the Hungry
DCM leaders happily spearheading in the activity with excitement
We thank God who enabled Divine Care Ministries to provide food to over 500 families in the community with food, such as posho, beans, rice, and sugar. The relief was intended to serve as an aid to the families that are struggling to have one meal a day during the second country lock-down as a result of COVID-19.
As Divine Care Ministries, we believe reaching out with the gospel and giving to the vulnerable is one way of proclaiming good news to the poor.
We thank God for his providence through our generous and selfless partners. God bless you beyond measure.
What a joy to see people receiving with a smile at Head Office.
Divine Grace Center excitedly participating in the activities.
Divine Hope Center was also enthusiastic about helping the hungry.
It was a blessing providing relief at our center in Karamoja.
SKILLING: Transformation Through Wholistic & Hands-On Skilling
With the world taking different turns, it is important for the children to have additional skills that will enable them to be multipurpose and dynamic in the fast-changing world. As Divine Care Ministries, it is our mandate to make sure our children are groomed well to be competent enough in the world once the right time comes.
During their holidays off school, we sent our children off to vocational institutes to receive training in different areas like tailoring, farming, and baking.
The children in a tailoring class.
Some of the children while training at the St. Jude Institute.
It is the organization’s belief that when acquired and put to the right use, these skills will enable our children to earn a living as they wait to find jobs in the long run.
Children happily posing for a picture after completing a training course.
These different trainings have equipped our children with skills for farming, baking and cooking (poultry), and tailoring skills. Some of our children are anticipating to establish their own projects and businesses to support their families and communities in the future. Transformation comes in so many ways and hands-on training has proved to be one of them.
“Being at St. Jude Vocational Institute has empowered us with life skills. I feel I can do something to support myself now.” Edward Miro, one of the beneficiaries of the training said.
We thank the leaders of DCM for their initiative dedicated to training these children wholistically in various ways to help them breakfree from poverty.
divine homes: “Accepted, Loved & Given A Family!”
Ssemakalu Nicholas, a child under DCM care.
We thank God for the Divine Farm that has served as a safe haven to many children that have gone through our Divine Care Ministries’ program.
Nicholas started staying at Divine Homes after his mother’s death. After she passed, he faced opposition from his uncles who saw him as a potential competitor for their inheritance. Nicholas was under his grandmother’s protection, but no matter how much his grandmother tried to protect him, Nicholas was at risk of losing his life as threats and harassment from his uncles grew stronger.
Ssemakalu Nicholas taking a picture with his grandmother on his last visit.
By then, Nicholas had already joined Divine Care Ministries program and his grandmother requested the organisation to take him up. Assessing the dire situation, the organisation rescued him. Nicholas joined other children at the Divine Homes where he joined a family that accepted and loved him in a transformational way. From then on, Nicholas’ life took on a different turn. He has pursued his education goals and visits his grandmother periodically. He has now finished grade 11 and is excited to join grade 12 in anticipation to achieve his dream of being a lawyer.
DCM has rescued many more children from dangerous situations and has helped them have hope for a future they never imagined they would have. We thank our partners across the world who enable us to protect and give a hope to the hurting. God bless your work!
success story
Halima Nakalema at her graduation day.
Today, we celebrate Halima Nakalema, one of DCM’s children who graduated in Fashion and Design this year.
Halima, now 19 years old, joined DCM’s sponsorship program at a young age. Staying with her mother in a slummy area surrounded by bars and drunkard people of which her mother was among, Halima not only didn't have a role model to look up to but was also at high risk of being abused as a child. That’s when DCM rescued her from the area and put her in a boarding school. Like every other child in DCM, Halima was supported through school and she finished primary seven (grade 7) successfully. In an effort to keep her from trouble, Divine Care Ministries protected her from the community by sheltering her at the Children’s home.
“Living at Divine Children’s Home was a safe haven for me. I felt safe, protected, and happy to be around people who loved me with no intentions to hurt me” Halima narrates. “I am grateful to DCM for how far they have brought me. Maybe I could be a mother of 4 children by now if they hadn't come to my rescue.” Now, ten years later, Halima has finished her studies in Fashion and Design and has big plans to be one of the most wellknown fashion designers around the world.
We bless God for such children whose lives are rescued and transformed for his glory! Special appreciation to Pat Conner, Halima’s sponsor, and all our partners who make sure children like Halima are rescued from safe spaces. God bless you!
Staff Capacity Building
As Divine Care Ministries, we believe in serving and when we serve, we want to do it the best. A reason why our staff members are undergoing workshop training is to develop their leadership skills while they minister to the children and communities.
The workshops are intended to boost the capability of maximizing their effort to have a great output. The staff is happy and grateful for the initiative. They find the trainings very helpful. A special thanks to the leaders of DCM for such an initiative and for providing this experience.
STAFF PROJECTS: More lives transformed Through Divine Investment Fund.
Juliet tending to her chicks which were 4 days old.
Juliet Nampala is one of DCM’s social workers stationed at Divine Hope Joggo. She is one among the many that have benefited from the Divine Investment Fund. A fund project that was set in place by the leaders and partners of DCM to support the staff of Divine Care Ministries amidst the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nampala had always wanted to grow her poultry business, which she had started with her savings. When she heard of the Divine Investment Fund, she saw it as an opportunity and a blessing from the Lord. She requested money to invest in her project and gladly the money was granted to her. With a million Ugandan shillings (270 USD), Juliet increased the size of her poultry project from 150 birds to 250 broiler hens. She used the rest of the money to feed and vaccinate the birds.
Juliet feeding her grown hens months later.
In a period of two months, Juliet had already sold off all the hens, returned the money with interest, and was still able to make huge profits off her project. Now Juliet’s poultry project has grown to 350 hens with a target to hit 1000 hens before the end of the year.
Juliet testifies that support from the Divine Investment Fund stabilized her project and because of that she is able to build an income without depending on salary since schools have been closed for a while. “Now, I easily support my siblings and my mother. I am also able to buy clothes and household items without waiting for my monthly salary.”
Thanksgiving & Celebrations
It was a day of joy as DCM celebrated her staff members’ academic achievement. The duo, Namuwonge Sophie and Muzaki Sharon graduated in childcare and development after years of studying hard alongside their busy work schedule. On the day, the director, Mummy Phoebe, encouraged all staff members to continue following their career dreams and soaring higher in their professional life. The two thanked their families, the DCM family and God above everyone else who enabled them to find success in their studies. The celebrations were held at Divine Farm with shouts of joy and victory. Praise be to God!
thanksgiving: healing the sick
DCM is grateful to God for the life of Ssekyanzi Denis who recovered from surgery.
Denis was discovered to be having difficulty walking by one of DCM’s children’s workers. When DCM took him to the hospital, the doctor realized he had a hernia of the testicles.
They set him up for surgery and treated him with Divine Care Ministries covering all the costs. We thank God for his healing power, Denis is now completely healed.
We thank God for Divine Care Ministries staff who care about the welfare of these children and all our partners who support DCM to make sure such children have access to quality health services. God bless you abundantly.
thanksgiving: partnerships
Some of the teaching materials donated by CRANE to DCM.
Divine Care is grateful to one of her partners, CRANE, for being of great help during the COVID-19 lockdown. CRANE has supported DCM on a regular basis with teaching materials to help in the community outreach program while schools have been closed. CRANE also provided two sewing machines to train girls who are in school with skills like tailoring and sewing sweaters for day-to-day income generation. DCM deeply appreciates the great help rendered. God bless you!
Tailoring machines donated to DCM by CRANE .
Construction and Renovation Projects - Divine Grace
The old staff quarters undergoing renovations.
Glory to God for the projects that are happening at Divine Grace. With children in a break from school, we thank God that we have been able renovate the floor of their dormitories which had started cracking. We have also been able renovate the old staff quarters. A new latrine is also being constructed as the old one was always affected and risky for children to use during rainy seasons. We thank God who is providing all these funds to make things new at Divine Grace center. God’s name be blessed.
The dormitory floor after being renovated.
A new toilet being constructed at Divine Grace.
Prayer Requests - When We Pray, Mountains Move
Pray for our children’s safety and protection from community challenges like early pregnancies and early marriages, child abuse especially during this period of lockdown.
Pray for peace upon DCM children, parents, and staff members.
Pray for God’s providence and protection upon vulnerable families during this second phase of lockdown.
Pray for good health and life over the DCM staff and her partners as they reach out to the communities.
Pray for stability and peace over the Karamoja region.
GOD BLESS YOU!