Charis means "grace" in Greek --
as in the merciful kindness that saves and restores.

The orphaned children of the Makindye Community of Kampala, capital of Uganda, may not know Greek, but they do understand the miracle of a hot meal and someone who cares - which is what they receive at Charis Center. The Center provides a daily hot meal, clothing, health care and education to some 400 abandoned children, most of whose parents have died from HIV/AIDS.

Children's Hunger Relief Fund has been supporting Charis Center since the early days of its founding by the Reverend John Obokech, whose heart was moved to action over the plight of the hundreds of AIDS orphans he saw wandering the streets of his city. However, Charis Center has remained a dream in process since, until recently, there has been no facility to house the children at night. Most have been forced to return to the streets to sleep, where they are highly vulnerable to disease and exploitation.

In 2004 we moved one step closer to fulfilling the dream of providing a permanent "home of grace" to these precious children. A building was made available in Namataba, about 22 km outside of Kampala, and 54 of Makindye's children are now housed there fulltime. Another 16 orphans from the local community come to the Center during the day.

We are still dreaming, though.

The next project is a school for the Namataba community. Revered John has been asked to spearhead the effort, and a property has been identified. However, the needs remain great: for building and school supplies, teachers' salaries, other basic hygiene and medical supplies, and housing for the other 266 orphaned children still at the Makindye Center in Kampala.

 

	Children's Hunger Relief Fund also sponsors other children's homes and programs in Uganda, including New Hope Academy.