African Orphanage Care Association was formed in March 2008 as a Non Governmental and Community Based Organization with a focus for a national coverage, but currently it is operating in Kawempe Division, Kampala District. The founders are a team of Christians and Church Ministers that have sympathized with the lots of Orphans and needy children that are in and around their communities. Many of the
se children have lost their beloved parents due to the deadly scourge of HIV / AIDS and as a result, they do lack the basic necessities of life. Some are not orphans but needy and disadvantaged due to the prevailing poverty as millions of Ugandans do live below the poverty line and others are a result of broken homes and marriages due several issues including domestic violence. The children have little or no education (even when there is free Universal Primary Education), they are homeless and do end up on the streets, they are abused by some of their care takers, some are forced into odd jobs to earn a living (like being paraded on the streets to beg, not for themselves but for their care takers, engaging in prostitution, drugs and many other illegal activities yet they are supposed to be in school and have a right to good life). Over the years, many children (ages 5 to 17 yrs majority of whom are orphans) from all parts of the country have been running to the city streets and slums around the city yet not much has been done to alleviate the situation. The situation however has become worse as these children engage in early sexual activities and today you find even babies of months on the streets! The children are turning into criminals as they face the tough times, can not make ends meet and they too are being exposed to the deadly HIV AIDS virus. Before the founding of African Orphanage Care Association - AOCA, individual founding members had been reaching out to some of these disadvantaged children by feeding them, clothing them, paying school fees, providing school requirements ( such as books, pens, pencils, shoes etc ), looking out for their hygiene, health and medical support as and when they could afford. However, in August 2011, the founders of AOCA decided to make this children support formal by registering it with the government of Uganda through the Ministry of Internal Affairs as a Non Government Organization (NGO) Registration no S. 5914 / 9217 based in Mulago -Kiwonvu Zone, Kawempe Division, Kampala District. It is an association incorporated with in the republic of Uganda with no share capital and limited by guarantee. AOCA is therefore providing some but limited support towards the children’s education, clothing, feeding, health, hygiene and medical help, but it all leaves a lot to be done for the situation is quite alarming. Thus, AOCA is still in its infancy and has had a limited impact hence the need for financial assistance, donations, partnerships and volunteering. Much as the founders are Christians, AOCA does not discriminate in its activities, its non political, sectarian or racist and it is gender sensitive.
