Pastor George Wilson Kanyike is the Pastor for Kabimbiri Evangel Church in Mukono District of Uganda. Kabimbiri is on Kayunga road, about 68 km from the city of Kampala. After attending a Vision Conference, Pastor George together with Church members initiated a program in the community to care for the people living with and/or affected by HIV and AIDS. This care is provided regardless of their religious affiliation or ethnic origin. The program provides food items, and funds for buying medicines among other things. Members of the church that are medical professionals have also helped to provide medical care.

         

Later on they found out that when any of the people they supported died, the children were rendered more vulnerable and destitute by relatives who took away the property left behind by the deceased. The Church then took up advocacy activities to defend the rights and promote the welfare of the children. As a result a significant number of orphans have recovered property that was taken away by inconsiderate relatives. The community now trusts the Church in the area of advocacy and child protection. Indeed if there is a case of child abuse in the area, they often run to tell the Church before reporting cases to the Police.

In addition, the Church initiated another program called ‘Keep Kabimbiri Clean’ which involves cleaning up the environment in the Trading Centre by picking up garbage and removing discarded polythene bags. They do this at least once every six months.

Another program is helping the marginalized Girls in the community, like those who have dropped out of school even for minor reasons! While some of them stop going to school because of a lack of school fees, some drop out due to cases of misconduct while at school. The Church has started a Rehabilitation Centre where the Girls are provided with accommodation for 3 – 6 months. While in the Centre they are given training in vocational skills like plaiting hair, tailoring and making necklaces for sale. After the third or sixth month in the Centre, many of the Girls have gone back to school. Those who got pregnant and became mothers have also been able to continue with their education. Their parents have commended the Centre for the role it has played in the rehabilitation of their Daughters. Once you rehabilitate a young Girl, it is expected that in about 15 or so years they shall become responsible adults in the community. They will be good role models for their children because of the transforming experience in their formative years.

The programs described above are all carried out with resources that the Church has raised from the contributions and volunteer work of the Church members themselves. They just have a heart for the community in its most urgent needs.