About CALM
Calm Africa is a charitable organisation, focusing on the promotion,
observance and protection of the rights of the child in general,
and concerned with the plight of vulnerable children in particular.
CALM Africa first started as a self help group in Kifamba sub county, Rakai District to support children affected by AIDS way back in 1985. this idea was conceived in the family of James Kimera Ssekiwanuka whose grand mother was a herbalist with a women group called Munno Mukabi (a friend in Need). Initially the group was to support children within one extended family system. In 1990, after completing a degree course at Makerere University, James ssekiwanuka persuaded family members to turn the group into a Community Based Group to cater for more disadvantaged children from other extended families. This was accepted, though efforts were not made to register the group until a later date. At the down of the new millennium, James Sekiwanuka had series of discussions with family members and friends on the future of the charity and the strategic need to formally register it. The charity subsequently became a local organisation, informally though with a mission to sensitize communities on the rights of children . In 2004 CALM Africa was registered as a Local Non Governmental Organisation
(LNGO) in the Rakai and Sembabule districts to enable children move to reach their full potential.
in essence CALM Africa was founded by James Kimera Ssekiwanuka and was later assisted by the following to reorganise and run it effectively; Joseph Luganda,
Juliet Kimera, Sarah Ndagire, Martin Kateregga Ronald Mpangaand Simon Ssenkaayi. CALM Africa started with a small membership of 24 people and this number has grown up to over 96 people with a governing board of 12 members. Out of 96 members,
only 18 are able to make financial and other contributions. Members
include young people who have the organisation at heart, struggle to lobby for the disadvantaged children as well as advocating their rights in a pragmatic way. Being a member does not necessarily require one to make a financial contribution. What is most important is to understand the vision and the mission of the organisation and fight to see to it that every child matters.
Realising
the importance of observance of the rights of children and appreciating
the vision of CALM Africa, leaders at different levels, persuaded
the leadership of CALM Africa to expand their vision and scope of operation. Subsequently,
CALM Africa extended to Wakiso and Kampala districts establishing head offices in wakiso district, 14 kilometers from kampala City Centre.
CALM's
activities are funded from member contributions, income generated
by Funvubira Demonstration Farm, donations from well wishers from Uganda,
our UK partners, donations from Friends of CALM and international
volunteers.
To date, CALM Africa's activities have changed the lives of more
than 500 children through the provision of formal education, vocational
skills training, constructing houses, providing relief aid and
advocating for their rights. It is estimated that the number of
children who will directly benefit from CALM Africa programs within
the next three years will exceed 2000.
CALM
Africa is fighting for the rights of all children especially the
disadvantaged, in order for them to reach their full potential.
It operates to meet children's rights to education, to food and
to clothing but very much on the basis of promoting sustainability
rather than simply meeting immediate needs. CALM Africa employs
a Rights Based Approach which is premised on conviction, to build
a sustainable future for Uganda. It does not operate on the basis
of emotions which only leads to meeting the short term needs of
communities. Its philosophy is that educating
and training children and young adults to look after themselves,
to learn how to farm, to trade their produce and to become tradesmen
and women, are the keys to empowerment, prosperity and national
development.
CALM Africa is very ambitious for its Ugandan projects and ultimately
would like to establish its operations more widely in the Great
Lakes Region of East Africa - Tanzania, Kenya, Sudan, Burundi and Rwanda.
Objectives
• To work with local governments and communities to promote the observance and protection
of children's rights .
• To raise awareness and advocate for the rights of the
child using Human Rights Based Approach
• To give disadvantaged children an opportunity to access
primary and secondary education.
• To enable young people acquire vocational as well as enterprise skills
• Establish categories of children living in difficult circumstances
and design appropriate interventions.
• To support vulnerable families improve thier food security systems and protect the environment
• To mobilse resource in order to improve service delivery of CALM Africa
Our
Approach
Rights Based Approach: CALM Africa operates on a rights-based
approach, whereby we believe that all children must enjoy rights
as enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
We further believe that children are Rights Claimers and leaders
and service providers at different levels are Duty Bearers with
responsibilities to ensure that whatever is done is in the best
interest of the child. CALM Africa, strives to advocate and lobby
for children to have access to basic and essential services including
provision of food, medical services, shelter, security/protection
and education.
How we achieve our objectives
CALM has created the 6-Step Scheme in assessing and delivering
services to these families...
Read more>>
Our Board & Structure
CALM Africa a non-profit organisation. The
Board of Directors of CALM Africa includes:
-
James K. Ssekiwanuka
- Harriet Kisaakye
- Juliet Kimera
- Martin Kateregga
- Sarah Ndagire
- Paulo Kaganda
-
Ronald Mpanga
- Sincere Nambejja
- Dr. Richard Ssonko
- Joseph Luganda
- Simon Ssenkaayi |
|
Management
On a day-to- day basis, our management team comprises of the following
personnel:
James Kimera Ssekiwanuka – Team Leader/Director
Joseph Luganda – Programme Manager
John Ssentongo - Advisor Education Sector
Benedict Anguyo – Operations Manager/Accountant
Sarah Ndagire – Secretary
Martin Kateregga – Asst. Coordinator
Deous Mugisha - Farm Manager
Israel Ssekanjako - Manager Field Operations
Anthony Bateman - Patron
Anthony Bateman
Anthony Bateman (Tony) has been the Patron of CALM Africa since early 2008. He has taught in CALM Africa Schools and has worked closely with the CALM Africa Executive to bring the Charity to a more professional footing. He was instrumental in the creation of Children First Uganda of which he is now one of the Directors. Tony provides that essential link between CALM Africa and Children First Uganda. He is also the point of contact for enquiries from the UK (and indeed the rest of the world) regarding CALM Africa. He is also the conduit for volunteers who wish to link directly with the Charity for a period of attachment.
Tony is a Retired British Army Officer and a Member of the British Empire (MBE). |
Anthony Bateman
|
James
Kimera Ssekiwanuka
| James
Kimera Ssekiwanuka worked on the Uganda/Sudan Programme for
the Lutheran World Federation for ten years in senior key
positions and was responsible for strategic programme development.
He was responsible for management and coordination in both
emergency contexts and environments benefiting from longer-term
stability and growth. Close collaboration with both NGOs and
governments through appropriate partnerships has always been
critical to this programming. Between 1991 and 1995, James
gained considerable experience from substantial periods of
work with ‘Save the Children Fund UK’ in both
West and East Africa (Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Cost, Tanzania
and Uganda). James holds a BA in Social Work and Social Administration
from Makerere University (Kampala); an MA in International
Child welfare from the University of East Anglia in the U.K;
two Higher Diplomas in Development Studies and Modern Management
with a focus on Food Security and Leadership from the University
of Cambridge. In August 2008, James successfully completed
a PhD Programme with the Washington International University.
This followed a two-year study and presentation of the following
thesis; “Using Education and Natural Means to Protect
Vulnerable Children in Uganda: a Case Study of Children Growing
up Alone in Rakai District, Uganda”. |
 |
|
Joseph
Luganda
|
Joseph Luganda is a professional teacher with a Bachelor of
Arts Degree in Education and presently pursuing a Master’s
degree in Education Administration. As a teacher Joseph has
been introduced to a variety of professions and chose to use
education skills in a more broad sense to reach out to more
vulnerable children and fight for their rights and ensure
their protection. Joseph is the programme Coordinator and
initiator of a number of CALM Africa’s many projects.
He also works as a consultant in areas of Education, youth,
poverty eradication and child development. In addition to
coordinating CALM activities, Joseph oversees the Volunteers
Programme in Uganda supported by Real Gap Experience Agency
based in the UK. |
 |
Joseph
Luganda |
Key
Achievements
Since its foundation, CALM has registered many significant achievements
including:
- Constitution, Business Plan, Policies, Website and Audited Reports
- Registering with the authorities
- Supported 118 orphaned vulnerable children in primary
schools until 2008
- Supported 212 students at secondary level until 2009
- Supported 128 students in vocational skills training
centres until 2009
- Supported 15 students at the university and other skills
training institutions until 2010
- Presently we are supporting 47 children in primary schools and 16 in secondary schools and 1 at the University
- Sensitising communities on the rights of vulnerable children
and the need for the community to participate in
- addressing the
plight of child-headed-households
- Supporting 55 child-headed households with food security
interventions
- Operating Kiganda Vocational Skills Centre with a Day
Care Centre wing which was set up by ZEFAD
- Establishing a livelihood programme where vulnerable families
are given seeds and domestic animals which are eventually passed
on to other families
- Establishing an international volunteer programme with
Real Gap Experience (UK) and hosting 97 volunteers to date
- Supporting St. James Secondary School Kyotera with career
guidance programmes, sourcing local teachers and donating educational
materials through the supply of international volunteers.
- The Prossy Nakachwa success story...Read
More>>
