Popular radio station Power 104.1 fm, has met the team giving special attention to children of inmates across Uganda.
The station presenters, listeners and well wishers met with the team from Wells of Hope Ministries, a Christian non-profit organization responding to needs of prisoners and their families regardless of their religious belief, ethnicity and race.
“We want to know them so that we can better relate with the cause they are after.” Ms Priscilla, a presenter at Power 104.1 fm and in-charge of Power partners said.
Wells of Hope Ministries reaches out to prisoners condemned to suffer death and those on life sentence.
“We talk to them, they fill a form, they give us directions to their families. We go tracing them – this is how we get the children and have them enrolled. Priority is set on those serving long term sentences.” Mrs Kyomuhendo Ssuubi, the director of Wells of Hope told the Power fm team on arrival to the head offices.
“In court, of course no one listens to the criminal to know about the family he/she has left behind. The greatest fear any inmate has is that of their child left with no care taker. The inmate knows that if that child is not helped, they will follow them to prison,” Mrs Kyomuhendo said. “That is their greatest fear. They are so appreciative of Wells of Hope and the people that have joined us to help their children not to follow them in prison.
Mrs Kyomuhendo revealed that by the time the organisation connects with children, they find out some have been abused in the communities they have been living.
“When we trace the children with what ever information we have been given. Sometimes we do not find them, other times we find them under no care giver, no support structure. In most cases, we find the child in a sick devastating state. We make assessment of their health and well being. We work with any available guardian to bring them in.”
“They are shunned by the community and friends . People do not want to associate with them, blaming them for the crimes their parents did. They are used for child labour – turning them into housemaids. Many revert to crime and others forced into early marriages.” Mrs Kyomuhendo said.
Wells of Hope Ministries was founded in 2002 in Murchison bay Prison Luzira, Kampala by Mrs Kyomuhendo’s husband, Francis Ssuubi where he was an inmate on remand for a period of 68 days. He was later acquitted after the charges were dropped.
While in prison, he wrote the Wells of Hope concept. He discovered the inmates’ biggest worry is the situation of their families that they left behind especially their children.
Francis, accompanied by some volunteers then started going to prison to preach. They started by preaching to inmates in Luzira Upper prison. Through the sessions they shared with the inmates, the inmates’ hope was restored.
In December 2011, the Wells of Hope Ministries purchased land in Kyajinjja, Semuto -Wakiso district. Construction work kicked off and at the moment, the ministry has a school called Wells of Hope Junior School which is a primary school.
“We hold monthly birthday parties, most of these children have never had their birthdays celebrated. Some of them don’t even know exact dates to their birthdays. Its a great excitement and life changing time.” Mrs Ssubi said, adding that they offer them continuous support to the university level.
“I would like to thank Power 104.1 fm for recognizing Wells of Hope. We have been partnering with the station through ‘Easter in prison’ for some time now. It has not left the inmates the same. They always appreciate. They get to know about Jesus, and many have come to give their lives to him. We thank the station and pray that we will have an even stronger relationship and the listener-ship.” Mrs Ssubi added.
It’s only through Wells of Hope where children get direct access to inmates with no barriers or confinement. This is because of the trust and good will the organisation has established over the years with the prisons authorities.
They take these children to visit their parents in prison, 3 time a year .
Power fm was joined by popular singer Holy Keane, who recommended Wells of Hope on team work.
Wells of hope is promoted and supported by a team of volunteers, well wishers and partners; locally and internationally.
“Working with children of prisoners is quite tricky – it is a calling – if you do not have a heart of serving – because some people are imprisoned when they have done terrible crimes – so if you do not have Christ you might call it quits. You might be forced to condemn and judge them. We serve with love which over looks all these things.” One of the child care takers told UG Christian News.
This visit comes at a time the station is making due prepares for its annual ‘Easter in Prison’ love call. They peach and take along several essential commodities collected by the station staff and listeners.
aaron@ugchristiannews.com
