Economic & Practical Skills

ECONOMIC AND PRACTICAL SKILLS DEVELOPMENT

(a) Land for homes and offices

JMCM has been renting in different areas of the country since its establishment in 2000. This is to meet the needs of the vulnerable children. We rent houses for offices and drop-in centres that act as temporary homes to accommodate homeless children that JMCM  supports. 

As of 2023, JMCM owns a 1 acre piece of land in Mpigi, Kampala. At this stage, it’s a vacant block. On this land, as funding allows, JMCM will build: administration offices, class rooms, a main hall, library, staff room, dining hall, washrooms, and play room.

There will also be a home for children who have no home, as well as a guest house, and a medical centre facility.

JMCM will provide bible study classes, recreation,  education, medical, theatre (music, dance, and drama), play area with books, social, medical and psychological assistance, tutoring, IT skills, and sports for vulnerable and refugee children. 

We are looking at acquiring land in the five districts we are operating in namely Wakiso, Kampala, Tororo, Fort Portal and Busia districts in Uganda.

We have the following resources:

  • 1 acre land in Kampala

We would appreciate gifts of the following resources

  • Funds to progress the buildings planned for the land in Kampala
  • Van for transportation of people and resources
  • Balls and sports equipment
  • Land in Wakiso, Kampala, Tororo, Fort Portal and Busia districts in Uganda

(b) The Children are acquiring knowledge and skills in cookery and bakery

JMCM volunteers/teachers/instructors are teaching cookery and bakery skills to Children. Despite limited resources, Children are taught safe practices in the kitchen, including how to safely and correctly:

  • Make different cakes
  • Lay the tables and prepare different dishes
  • Prepare mocktail juices
  • Make dough and prepare African mandazi, bread, cookies, doughnuts, and biscuits
  • Make and prepare meals and dishes
  • Make flavored tea and juice
  • Clean pans and utensils
  • Make mushroom soup and other soups
  • Make samosa pockets and pack them with cooked minced meat or peas, rice, or cabbages as may be necessary
  • Kneed flour, sugar, baking powder and milk with prepared eggs
  • Make different milkshakes
  • Make salads

We have the following resources:

  • Volunteers/teachers/instructors
  • Oven and saucepans for Kampala only

We would appreciate gifts of the following resources: 

  • Cooking oil
  • Ovens for other districts
  • Food items such as salt, cabbages, meat, peas, rice, seasonings, baking powder, butter, bananas
  • Facilitation for volunteers/teachers/instructors
  • Equipment such as blenders, mixers, baking tins, turning tables, whisks, timber boards, rollers, rackets
  • Cooking fuel such as charcoal, sigiris (charcoal stove)

(c) The Children will acquire knowledge and skills in tailoring and crocheting

Prior to JMCM’s tailoring machine breaking down, the Children were learning how to: 

  • Read the art of crocheting
  • Crotchet set items
  • Attend sewing lessons
  • Collect big size paper (like news paper, cement packs) for use in learning to cut out materials from final materials
  • Cut papers with scissors according to required shapes and sew them using needles, machines, and thread.
  • Make simple demonstration clothes using cheap cloth materials
  • Older children will learn to make school uniforms for themselves and for other children

We have the following resources:

  • The Children
  • Volunteers/teachers/instructors
  • Some used newspapers

We would appreciate gifts of the following resources: 

  • Tailoring machines (2,500,000UGX each)(US$670)
  • Scissors, tape measures, needles
  • Material
  • Thread

(d) The Children are acquiring knowledge and skills in farming

Most households where JMCM works have a very low or no income. Agriculture and livestock can provide food security, income enhancement and employment, even for small scale farmers. Though there’s opportunity for farming, most households do not consider smallholder framing feasible due to its challenges. 

As reflected in our Strategic Plan 2021-2026, JMCM will be working with 50 targeted households to a) Improve food production and productivity for nutrition including ensuring year-round access to sufficient food, b) Improve household income by 10% through selected agricultural enterprises and savings groups, c) Improve households’ ability to prepare for community and natural disasters. 

We have the following resources:

  • The Children

We would appreciate gifts of the following resources: 

  • Funds to facilitate the instructors
  • Vehicles for transportation within the five districts where we are operating namely; Kampala Capital City, Wakiso District, Tororo District, Fort Portal Tourist City and Busia District.

(e) The Children are acquiring knowledge and skills through “Art for a Cause”

Supported by donors, the “Art for a Cause” program combines creativity with community service, allowing local children to create artwork that is sold to raise funds for ministry projects. 

A generous donor, an art enthusiast and business owner, funded the creation of an art studio at the ministry’s headquarters. Children engage in art classes and workshops to produce paintings, drawings, and crafts. The artwork is sold at community events, online auctions, and local galleries, raising significant funds for the ministry.

The program not only raises funds but empowers children by providing them with the opportunity to showcase their creativity. The donor also offers mentorship, teaching life lessons about giving back to the community. 

Over time, the program has grown in popularity, and the proceeds from the sales support various projects such as after-school programs, scholarships, and holiday gifts for families in need. This partnership has helped expand the ministry’s impact, providing children with both immediate needs and a sense of purpose.