The birth of HOCRAM was as a result of several challenging personal experiences of the founding members and other burns survivors while in and out of hospital. These challenges have been a result of gender based violence that usually manifests as intentional use of acid, hot liquids, petrol to end one’s life and other natural and accidental events that happen in the lives of people. These challenging experiences do not start and end in hospital but also extend in society where the reality of life is seen and felt. The numerous challenges faced by the underserved groups of people include; (1) high cost of medication, surgeries and scar creams, (2) high cost of physiotherapy equipments and materials (3) lack of basic needs (4) lack of legal representation in courts of law, (5) unemployment, (6) lack of rehabilitation services, (7)social stigmatization, (8)trauma and anxiety which lead to su***de. HOCRAM specializes in areas of advocacy, palliative care, social- economic and empowerment, rehabilitation, Human rights, Education, Health, Child care support, Home based care support, Disability, research, emergency intervention, Domestic violence among others
WHO WE TARGET
Hope Care Rescue Mission (HOCRAM) Is a non- profit organization that targets the most underserved population in different communities such as acid and burns survivors and their care givers, people who get disabled due certain events in life, women who are victims of domestic violence, orphans, Albinos, people with disabilities, elderly households, people living with HIV and orphans. The organization has a bank account in Equity Bank, Kawempe branch. Since its conception, Hope Care Rescue Mission has carried out many activities and acquisition of professional staff. Activities of Hope Care Rescue Mission cover the whole country and we have regional coordinators who help in identification and assessment of the needs of the various underserved groups of people and also offer them psychosocial support. The organisation has a general assembly, Board of Trustees, Board of directors, management and staff plus volunteers at different levels and has membership of 250. The office opens from Monday to Friday where different services are offered. The office is located off Mpererwe Town on Tula Road near Vegas Chill out Kawempe Division Kampala District. GOAL OF THE ORGANISATION
To improve the living conditions of the underserved groups of people and to contribute to the reduction and prevention of burns violence, domestic violence, gender based violence, social stigmatization and to promote their social -economic empowerment and human rights. VISION
A society where the human rights of the underserved groups of people are recognized and respected. MISSION
To bring hope, empowerment and improved living conditions of the underserved groups of people
OBJECTIVES
To provide palliative care support including physiological, psychological, medical and spiritual guidance to burns survivors, people with disabilities, those people who develop disabilities later in life, orphans, albinos, people living with HIV and women victims of domestic violence ( underserved population) in order to enable them live positively in their societies.
To advocate for the full implementation of specific laws such as acid laws, work safety laws, rights and inclusion of underserved population to ensure they are respected, compensated and considered so as to bring about a desired change in all discriminating laws, policies, practices and attitudes
To provide emergency response support to rescue people involved in fire accidents, those involved in intentional burns and support the underserved with basic needs, food, medical support in emergency situations.
To create awareness and increase knowledge on burns prevention and HIV/AIDS prevention services among the more at risk populations (Truckers, Zero discordant couples, fisher folk, boda boda riders, out of school youth, PLWHA’s OVC on terms of sexual relationships through promotion of behavioral change approaches.
To provide rehabilitation services and education tailored to the needs of people who developed disabilities later in life.
To partner with human rights organization, research institutions, civil society organization, relevant ministries, key stake holders, policy makers to ensure the underserved populations are considered, their views heard and fair policies put in places to ensure their well-being.
To improve the standard of living of the underserved groups of people and the community through provision of like skills, creating income generating activities, and provide care and support to them.
To reduce stigma and discrimination among the underserved groups of people through regular sensitization, Psychosocial and spiritual support. MEMBERSHIP
Membership is free to the underserved groups of people such as burns survivors, people who become disabled as a result of certain events in life, albinos, orphans, women victims of domestic violence and people with disabilities (direct beneficiaries). People not mentioned above such as volunteers, internees among others are encouraged to pay a membership fee of 20,000 Ugandan shillings. ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION FEE
Members are supposed to pay annual subscription fee of 10,000sh (ten thousand shillings only)
FUNDING
Hope Care Rescue Mission is not a profit making organization it depends on donor funding, individual donations and contributions from various activities which have enabled the organization to implement its activities. Every receipt of donation is kept in the organization records for transparency issues. These include mobile money receipts, money gram and western union receipt or bank receipts. ADMINISTRATION
The organization structure of this membership has an Executive committee or decision making body who transact business on behalf of the members and this body reports to the general assembly. Each executive member plays a unique role in the management of the organization. ACHIEVEMENTS
The organization is legally registered with Uganda Registration Services Bureau.
We have managed to put up a survivors support center where we have a rescue home, an office with office equipments for example computers, printers, post office address, website, social media accounts, Books of accounts and an administrator among others.
The organization has a bank account in Equity Bank Kawempe Branch.
During Lockdown the organization supported over 50 survivors with food relief and financial support to enable them put a plate of food on their tables as part of our emergency response program.
The organization has supported over 120 people in hospital with nutritional support, medical dressings and orthopedic items and also supported 8 survivors with reconstructive surgeries since 2017.
We have reached out to over 150 people in their homes through our home based care support and supported them with spiritual counseling, psychosocial support and basic needs.
We have sensitized the public about the problem of burns violence in our various advocacy programs on TVs, radios, in newspaper and also engaged key stakeholders such as Uganda Human Rights Commission, UN office of Human Rights, Women Rights Defenders, NGO’s, Higher Institutions of learning and churches to fight against domestic violence and gender based violence.
We have partnered with two organizations that is Mercy Link Foundation Africa and Life Empowerment Foundation who have supported us to uplift the lives of underserved population to with nutritional support and basic needs. CHALLENGES
Limited funds: we have been constrained financially and this has affected our activities.
The government has failed to put into consideration the needs of underserved groups of people. FUTURE PLAN
The organization plans to continue Sensitizing the community on burns prevention, HIV prevention through use of radios, Televisions, and other behavioral communication approaches to reduce stigma and influence law makers to pass laws to that put into consideration the needs of the underserved population.
The organization will continue providing psychosocial, legal advice and relief support to the underserved to enable them live a positive life.
The organization plans to continue engaging different stake holders at different levels to achieve its mission of bringing hope, empowerment, improved living conditions and dignity to the underserved groups of people.
We have been so much constrained by limited funds and we plan to continue writing proposals to funding agencies and individual funders to enables us implement our activities in time.
We would like to amend a specific acid bill and we plan to continue working with human rights organizations and policy makers to achieve this.
