By June 2020, just a few months after launching the Fecane Child Foundation, the team faced one of its biggest challenges—building trust within the community while providing essential support to vulnerable children.
With limited resources and no external funding, the foundation stepped up to feed children living on the streets, reinforcing its commitment to the well-being of vulnerable youths. However, this was not an easy journey. Many community members were skeptical, partnerships were difficult to secure, and logistical challenges threatened to derail the initiative.
This blog explores how Fecane Child Foundation overcame these obstacles, gained trust, formed key partnerships, and successfully launched its first feeding program despite financial and logistical constraints.
Understanding the Need: Why Feeding Street Children Was Crucial
As the COVID-19 pandemic spread across Uganda in 2020, many families struggled to afford basic needs. The lockdowns meant that children from already vulnerable backgrounds faced:
🔹 Hunger and malnutrition – With fewer people working and businesses closing, food security for many families collapsed.
🔹 Increased homelessness – Some children were forced to live on the streets after losing parental support.
🔹 Greater exposure to crime and exploitation – Hunger and desperation pushed many young people into risky behaviors, including petty crimes and drug use.
Recognizing the urgent need, Fecane Child Foundation stepped in to provide free meals to street children and other vulnerable youths in the Kawala and Bwaise areas of Wakiso District.
Challenges Faced in Gaining Community Trust
1. Skepticism from the Community
At first, many people doubted the foundation’s intentions. Some thought it was just another short-lived initiative that would disappear once funds ran out.
🛑 How We Overcame It:
✅ The foundation focused on consistent action rather than empty promises. The feeding program ran every week, gradually proving that the initiative was here to stay.
2. Financial Constraints
With no major donors or government support, funding the feeding program was a major hurdle. Where would the money come from to provide food consistently?
🛑 How We Overcame It:
✅ The team used personal savings and reached out to local businesses and small donors to contribute food supplies.
✅ Volunteers prepared cost-effective, nutritious meals such as porridge, rice, beans, and vegetables to stretch the limited budget.
✅ A social media awareness campaign attracted small individual donations from kind-hearted people.
3. Logistical and Safety Challenges
With large groups of hungry children gathering for food, the risk of chaos and disorder was high. The foundation also had to ensure COVID-19 safety protocols were followed.
🛑 How We Overcame It:
✅ Volunteers organized meal distribution in a structured manner, ensuring fairness and order.
✅ Children were encouraged to wash hands before meals, and seating arrangements were spaced out to promote safety.
Key Partnerships That Strengthened the Initiative
Despite the early challenges, several key partnerships played a vital role in the success of the feeding program:
1. Local Food Vendors and Farmers
🥦 What They Contributed:
- Local farmers and market vendors donated fresh vegetables, grains, and fruits to support the feeding initiative.
🤝 Impact:
- This lowered food costs and ensured a steady supply of nutritious meals for children.
2. Community Elders and Religious Leaders
🏡 What They Contributed:
- Helped spread awareness about the foundation’s work and encouraged parents and guardians to support the initiative.
🤝 Impact:
- The involvement of respected community members boosted credibility and encouraged more people to volunteer or donate.
3. Youth Volunteers and Coaches
⚽ What They Contributed:
- Young people helped with food preparation, meal distribution, and organizing sports activities after meals.
🤝 Impact:
- This built strong relationships between the children and the foundation, reinforcing the mission of holistic transformation.
The First Feeding Sessions: A Milestone in Community Trust
The first feeding sessions were a turning point.
🌍 Impact of the Program in the First Three Months (June – August 2020):
✅ Over 500 meals distributed to street children and vulnerable youths.
✅ Reduction in child hunger cases in key areas of Kawala and Bwaise.
✅ Increased trust from parents and local leaders, leading to better support for other foundation programs.
✅ New volunteers and community members joining the cause after witnessing the real impact of the initiative.
The most rewarding part? Seeing the smiles on the faces of children who had spent days without food. This simple act of kindness restored hope in many young lives.
Beyond Feeding: Expanding the Foundation’s Efforts
The success of the feeding program opened new doors for Fecane Child Foundation. With growing community support, the foundation began expanding its impact in three key areas:
1. Sports and Mentorship Programs
- After meals, children participated in football training sessions that taught teamwork, discipline, and goal-setting.
2. Educational Support
- The foundation provided basic school supplies and scholarships for children who wanted to return to school.
3. Family Reintegration
- Efforts were made to reunite street children with their families, offering support to struggling parents where possible.
Lessons Learned and the Road Ahead
Lessons from the Early Challenges:
🔹 Consistency builds trust – The community trusted Fecane Child Foundation because it consistently delivered on its promises.
🔹 Small actions can create big change – Even with limited funds, small feeding programs saved lives and created hope.
🔹 Collaboration is key – Working with farmers, local leaders, and volunteers helped sustain the initiative.
What’s Next?
The foundation aims to scale up feeding programs, reach more vulnerable children, and establish a dedicated community center to provide long-term support.
🌟 Join the Movement – Be part of the change. Support Fecane Child Foundation today!
📢 Spread Awareness! Share this story and help us inspire more people to take action.
Final Thoughts
June 2020 marked a turning point for Fecane Child Foundation. What started as a small initiative to feed street children became a symbol of hope and transformation. The foundation proved its commitment, gained the trust of the community, and laid the foundation for greater impact in the years to come.
This is just the beginning. With your support, we can feed more children, educate more youths, and build a brighter future.
