During the celebration, the visitors  and the children shared a lovely meal.

The children and Wells of Hope staff were left in astonishment; they were extremely amazed at the trucks of donations at the school premises. "It is like heaven has physically come down!" one of the children exclaimed. The visitors donated a water tank, jerrycans, basins, cups, sanitary pads, clothes, soya porridge, Bibles, cleaning & washing detergent, soap, cooking oil, spices, sodas, clothes, scholastic materials like books, pens, pencils, pencils, paper, rulers.

We thank 104.1 Power FM and the entire Love Family for their continued support for the children; thank you for your love and generosity towards children with a parent in prison.

​We are glad to report that Rebecca Ginsburg, a friend of Wells of Hope from the University of Illinois, USA conducted a research on a prospective Reentry Guide for Uganda; the research was held from from 19th to 23rd 2018. It was a very interactive and educative week. Rebecca interacted with the Advisory Committee (AC), inmates and formerly incarcerated individuals; where they addressed their hopes and concerns about the guide.

The Advisory Committee will provide support to the creation of the Guide. The members expressed their delight about the idea and expressed their willingness to create the guide as well as offering any support related to the Reentry. The AC comprises members of the Uganda Prisons Service, Religious leaders, formerly incarcerated people, relatives of currently incarcerated people and representatives of social service organizations.

During the visit, Rebecca interacted with inmates on death row at Luzira prison; she had met most of them in July 2017 when she last visited to discuss the possible creation of a Uganda Reentry Guide. The purpose of the follow-up meeting was to keep them informed about the progress on this initiative and to continue the process of consulting with them. ​The highlight of this visit was the openness of the inmates as they shared their hopes and concerns about the guide. Their hopes for the guide (for example that it should help others to better accept formerly incarcerated individuals) were touching, and their critique (for example related to funding sources and administrative structure) insightful. They expressed their excitement regarding what they hope to see in the guide; especially for the inmates soon to be released.
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Rebecca held a meeting with formerly incarcerated individuals about the need for a national reentry guide and what they would like to see in it. Most shared about how they felt isolated and highly vulnerable. They shared about how they still face stigma in the communities they used to stay; and how difficult it is for them to meet as they did that day. There's suspicion and lack of structure to support continued communication, not to mention difficulty in locating one another in the first place. In prison, there’s no form of communication with the outside world except through visits from relatives or friends. We learnt that some of them even feared to accept the invitation to attend the meeting; in suspicion that they'd be arrested and sent back to prison if they showed up. However, because of the trust they have developed in Wells of Hope, they made it to the venue. "If the meeting had been called by anybody other than Wells of Hope, I wouldn't have come," one explained. We are delighted that they decided to continue meeting on their own and form an organization of formerly incarcerated people in Uganda. 

We thank Rebecca for this initiative of coming up with a guide to help inmates and formerly incarcerated individuals in Uganda to reintegrate in the community. We extend our sincere gratitude to everyone she worked with to make the trip a success. 
We thank all the members of the Advisory Committee for their support.

In addition to that, they were encouraged to have good role models, those that are constructive and to have mentors. The students were asked to always talk to their teachers, their elders and talk to the staff at head quarters for direction, guidance and counseling. They were encouraged to always be optimistic.

She concluded by encouraging them to put God first in everything they do. To seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and the rest shall be added unto them.
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The second phase of the topic, Goal Setting was led by Joseph. The session was very interactive. He explained the topic through many illustrations that got the students participating. He talked to them about the advantages of setting goals, how to set goals that can be easily achieved and why some goals are not achieved. He encouraged the students to set goals that are clear and can be achieved; and to focus and stay determined. He also asked the students to pray because after all we as humans make plans, the final plan is from the Lord. He shared with them the bible verse from proverbs 16:3 and encouraged them to trust in God.

Ellen Eva Ssuubi encouraged the students to put into action what had been talked about. And encouraged the children to always remember they are loved and everyone is willing to mentor and guide them to achieve their goals and dreams. She also encouraged them to never give up on prayer. ​

​On 24th February 2018, 80 children were reviewed by a team of 5 doctors from Mulago Hospital; they were all volunteers from Christ at Heart Church. The team comprised: Dr Elsie Birungi, a Dentist and the team leader; Dr Edrine Kalule, a doctor; Hillary Mutungi, a Pharmacist; Jane Nabuwufu, a dental attendant and Joseph kintu, a dentist. 
The aim of the activity was to conduct a thorough medical checkup for all the children such that those identified with any illnesses be attended to.
 
Activity One
On arrival at the school the team met with all the children and explained to them what they do after they encouraged them to work hard in order to become what they want to be. The dentists illustrated to them the proper ways of brushing and how it is necessary to brush their teeth every after a meal, they also taught them a song on keeping the teeth clean.
Dr Edrine taught the children about ways of keeping healthy that is bathing, washing their hands after using a toilet and before eating food. He explained to the children about the effects of being dirty and the different infections and diseases that would breakout due to not taking care of themselves.
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Activity Two
The children had a one on one session with both the medical and dental doctors.  The sessions catered for one class at a time. The dental team carried out teeth extraction, fillings, oral health education, screening of the children and referrals for the children who needed further management.

We thank Dr. Elsie, her team and everyone they worked with for their continued care and support for the children with parents in prison.

​Olivia Shank and Tyler Steppe from Olivet Nazarene University, USA visited the children with parents in prison under Wells of Hope care on 17th February 2018. They interacted with the children in primary and secondary level at Wells of Hope Junior School and Wells of Hope High School respectively. The children shared their testimonies with the visitors; they shared about how their lives had been transformed after joining Wells of Hope. Olivia and Tyler had a wonderful time with the children as they were engaged in games, tree planting, among others. We thank Olivia and Tyler for their love for the children.

​Wells of Hope conducted a two days (24th and 25th January 2018) refresher course for teachers at Wells of Hope Junior School under the theme Operation Best Grades. In attendance were both the teaching and the support staff; the staff were taken through topics like child protection, self-esteem, roles and responsibilities of a teacher.

DAY ONE 
Vincent Lwanga from Vine International School facilitated about viewing a child as an end product; he urged the teachers to always ask themselves the kind of products they are giving to the country. He motivated the teachers to see children as future doctors, lawyers, among others. “What a teacher imparts to his/ her pupils determines what they will turn out to be in future,” Vincent added.

Alex Ssozi and Barungi Ayesigye, Team Leaders Watoto Children’s Management facilitated about child protection. They took the teachers through what protection is, who a child is, what child protection is, the forms of child abuse and how to protect children from abuse. ​

The children were thrilled to see their teachers entertaining them during the party.

Together with all the staff from head office, the children joyfully cut their Christmas cake which they happily shared.

We thank all our sponsors and friends for your continued support.

Annually, we conduct a Christmas party for the children at Wells of Hope. While at home, children with parents in prison never feel the joy that comes with the festive season. At Wells of Hope, they are able to exploit the immense love and happiness of the season through the Christmas party. This year’s party was held on 2nd December 2017. 

The children had fun as they were engaged in games like jumping the rope, playing on the bouncing castle, among others. The children presented colorful Christmas carols and a skit about the birth of Jesus Christ. They later cut one Christmas cake and every child got a share. They were later gifted with Christmas gifts; and were extremely excited to receive them. Upon opening their presents, the children expressed their happiness with shouts of joy.

During the party, the children who graduated from kindergarten to primary were congratulated.

We are glad to report that on 25th November 2017, Wells of Hope Junior School hosted 86 children and 4 staff from Watoto Ssuubi Home. The children happily mingled with their friends at Wells of Hope; with whom they were engaged in chores like sweeping, mopping , fetching water and digging. 

The children entertained each other in mimes and dance. ​

The children were later engaged in Devotion which was led by their friends from Watoto; Matthew and Pastor Chris both from Watoto encouraged the children to continue trusting God for He'll never forsake them. ​

On 9th November 2017, Ellen Eva Ssuubi conducted counseling with the children at Wells of Hope Junior School. The topics she handled included; self-worth, keeping up with positive discipline, working on negative habits, importance of obedience, personal and surrounding hygiene. The younger children were also taught about food etiquette; respecting their friends and their elders. The children were encouraged to embrace honesty in everything they do; to be remorseful; to forgive one another; and to be prayerful.