The children were overwhelmed by the love their parents showed to them. They hugged and laughed as they received each other. The children talked about their academics, school and home and how Christmas was last year in December 2014. The children presented letters to their parents who were inundated who in return also gave letters of encouragement to their children.
Teachers and social workers showed and explained the children’s results to the inmates; they were happy to see the results and delighted because their children had performed well.
Highlights in different prisons.
Luzira upper prison
We took a total number of 59 children, 39 having their fathers in Boma section with 20 having their fathers on death row.
Unlike the other visits, children were taken to Boma in shifts because of limited space. While there the children prayed, played, interacted and shared a meal with their parents, this gave an opportunity to parents to access their children’s performance through the mid term exam results which were shown to them .They prayed and encouraged their children to work harder for better grades. Below are the highlights
Asia 6 years old was looking forward to meeting her father and have him carry her, wow when she saw him, she ran and gave him a hug and he carried her on his laps and offered her the gift of ear rings he had bought for her .On her way back she had everyone see the earrings saying, “you see my father loves me he even gave me a gift”.
Godfrey who had spent two years without seeing his son had this to say, “Allan son, you’re now grown up and any decision or choice you make is going to affect your future, be careful with your life, obey your mother and adherse to her counsel.”
Gadaffi whose son happens to have graduated from primary to secondary shared with his son saying, “Am so excited seeing you move from one level to another, your now dressing up in a trouser like a man, now be careful with the way you live your life because you are now at a dangerous stage (adolescence), control yourself because good things are ahead of you”.
John Bosco father to Agnes and Joseph encouraged his children to work harder because one of his children had performed poorly in social studies and argued him to balance the subjects, he said, “Joseph you can do better than this, you’re so bright you just have to utilize God’s wisdom that He gave to you, stop giving excuses and concentrate”.
Children visiting Luzira Women Prison
Five children from Wells of Hope Academy visited their mothers in prison. Three mothers were visited. The children carried their school results and past papers for their mothers to see. The teacher discussed the pupils discipline and academic performance with the mothers of the children at the academy. The mothers who were very excited to see their children served lunch to the children and gave snacks to the staff.
The mothers also packed several items for the children to take to school. They were very happy and thanked Wells of Hope Ministries for their continued support to the children of inmates and the inmates.
The highlights of the day were:
- The way parents showed parental responsibility; the fact that the parents were inmates did not stop them from providing basic necessities to their children. The parents had prepared food and drinks for the children with they shared together. They also gave scholastic materials to the children to use while at school. In this the parental responsibility was not neglected.
- Love; this was showed by the hugs and laughter that the parents gave to the children. Additionally, they gave children gifts like bracelets hence strengthening the bond not only with the child but also with the relatives at home. When this child gets home for holidays she/he will show the gift to the relatives who will in turn visit the inmate. Sharing eatables with the children and more importantly giving them some eatables to eat while at school.
Special thanks go to Gina, Steve and East Pointe Church who facilitated the visit.