April 10, 2020
It is strange to launch a new beginning when the rest of the world feels like it is ending.
Over the last month, as we scrambled to provide emergency soap and information to combat COVID-19 in the slums of Wakiso, something shifted in us. We were walking the same paths we always walked. We saw the same corrugated iron roofs, smelt the same woodsmoke, and heard the same laughter of children playing with old tires.
But the global crisis acted like a magnifying glass. It exposed the deep, structural cracks in our community that were always there, just hidden beneath the surface of daily survival.
We realized that when a crisis hits—be it a pandemic, an economic downturn, or a personal family tragedy—the children here have no safety net. They are living on a tightrope without a harness.
We realized that “helping out occasionally” was no longer enough. We needed permanence. We needed structure. Today, we are drawing a line in the red earth.
The Gap Between Charity and Dignity
For years, many of us have been involved in informal giving. We have seen sporadic aid projects come and go. A truck arrives, hands out t-shirts or food, takes photos, and leaves. The children smile for a day, but their reality does not change.
We founded Fecane Child Foundation because we are tired of temporary fixes for permanent problems.
We believe there is a profound difference between charity and dignity. Charity is giving a child a pair of shoes because you feel sorry for their bare feet. Dignity is ensuring that child has an education so they can eventually buy their own shoes—and perhaps design better ones for their community.
“We are not here to be heroes for a day. We are here to be consistent partners for a lifetime. Our goal isn’t just survival; it is the restoration of the capacity to dream.”
Why “Fecane”? Why Now?
The name “Fecane” is more than just a label; it is a promise. It represents our commitment to rooting ourselves deeply in this community. We are not an outside organization looking in; we are neighbors looking out for neighbors.
Starting this foundation right now, amidst the fear of April 2020, is a declaration of faith in the future. While schools are closed and markets are quiet, we are building the infrastructure for what comes after.
We know the challenges are immense. We are facing poverty that is generational, infrastructure that is crumbling, and now, a health crisis that threatens the meager livelihoods of parents. But if we don’t start today, when will we?
The Road Ahead
We are not naive. We know that registering a foundation is the easy part. The hard work begins tomorrow.
Our initial focus must remain on immediate stability—ensuring our families can survive this current lockdown phase. But our eyes are already on the horizon. We are planning long-term educational support, mentorship programs, and health initiatives that go beyond emergency soap distribution.
We are building an organization that will still be here when the cameras are gone and the global news cycle has moved on. We are planting a tree today, knowing we might not sit in its shade, but knowing the children of Wakiso will.
Today is Day One of the Fecane Child Foundation. We are starting with nothing but vision and determination.
History is written by those who show up when it is hardest. Will you be a founding supporter and write this first chapter with us? Become a “Founding Donor” Today
