On our second day in Kampala, we arrived at Uganda Juvenile Rehabilitation Center to visit with the children that were staying there for various reasons. We learned that the children were not all juveniles who had committed crimes, but also could be taken there by parents and other family members if they were “stubborn”. Some of the children will never see visitors other than groups of volunteers like us. Their families will never come and their only friends are their bunk mates.
Some will spend the rest of their days at the facility until they age out at 18 and move on to an adult jail or are released for good behavior. Uganda looks at their rehabilitation center differently than we do in America. The children are taught vocational skills such as mechanics, woodworking, and farming. Each child sleeps in a 3 person bunk on a 3 inch mattress and only one child had a mosquito net. David called this child ‘the king of the center’ to be able to have the net when others did not. The facility can hold 60-100 children at any given time. Stories were shared of how some stubborn children could be rounded up from the streets and taken there, with their families never knowing.
After our time in the rehabilitation center, we took a trip to the slum of Katwe. If you have not read or seen the preview for ‘Queen of Katwe’, then you must do so immediately. Robert was very helpful in describing the story of the Sports Outreach Ministries Chess Academy. He taught us about Phiona's story, the story of the three students who were given the opportunity to come from the slums and win in the Chess championship. He talked about the production of the movie and the pride he had when the film crew was in Katwe filming the scenes and using the people for extras and some of the children as actors.
Three of the staff and previous members of SOI as children, gave their testimonies and told us how life had changed for them with Sports Outreach. They talked of their goals and dreams, their education and university majors, and their desire to finish school to help the people in Katwe. The children came to greet us and express such gratitude for our mere presence. They enjoyed many times of Matt picking them up, sitting in Brittany's lap, taking Craig, Alex, and Nicole's sunglasses, looking at all the pictures Chase was taking, and enjoying ‘sweets’ distributed by Amy.
One thing we all agreed on as we reflected through the day, was the significance that Robert was playing in this community. Robert exudes a confidence and faith in God that we can only imagine. He has strong beliefs about what will happen for his community and all of the possibilities are going to come to fruition with faith in God. Robert has a gentle presence, one that makes you want to sit and learn from him all day. He has helped make this trip fulfilling with all of his encouragement and wise words. One thing is certain, when you look at Robert, you get a glimpse of Gods love.
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