Programs
The Lights Masaka Foundation supports street children and young people in Masaka through various coordinated programs:
Emergency aid
Outreach work with children and young people (street work)
An estimated 200 children and young people, aged between six and eighteen, live on the streets of Masaka — often without protection, safety, or prospects for the future. Many come from families affected by poverty, face violence, neglect, or substance abuse, or have lost their parents. This is where the Lights Masaka Foundation steps in. Through its outreach work — also referred to as Streetwork or the Outreach Program — the organization reaches children and youth exactly where they live and offers long-term support, safety, and guidance. Every week, different programs are carried out in Nyendo and Masaka Town, delivered by a core team consisting of a program coordinator, three staff members, three volunteers, and a trained medical professional (Aaron, a former project child). The programs regularly reach around 90 children and provide comprehensive support: psychosocial care, medical services, nutrition, recreational activities, and targeted life-skills training. A key element of the work is the weekly engagement directly on the streets. The Nyendo & Night Walk Program enables regular contact with around 100 homeless children and youth. They receive food, drinks, medical care, counseling, and guidance. Group games promote team spirit, while life-skills sessions and small financial support help them develop alternatives to crime and street survival behavior. Psychosocial support includes weekly topic-based group sessions as well as one-on-one counseling. Topics such as emotions, rights, and personal safety are discussed during Circle Talks, offering a protected space for expression and exchange. More than 200 individual counseling sessions were conducted in 2025, enabling the team to identify children with urgent needs and provide targeted support. Another vital component is the Street Youth Economic & Mentorship Empowerment Program, which in 2025 empowered 15 young people living on the streets in Nyendo to build sustainable livelihoods. Through a combination of training, mentoring, and initial financial support, they were able to start small businesses — 75% of which remained successful after ten months. This program not only equips youth with entrepreneurial skills but also strengthens their confidence, future outlook, and sense of belonging. Street-connected children in Masaka and Nyendo face numerous dangers every day: unsafe sleeping places, lack of medical care, food insecurity, violence, discrimination, and heavy psychological stress. Access to education and vocational opportunities is extremely limited, and restricted financial resources make long-term support more challenging. Environmental conditions such as poor water access and long distances add further barriers. A highlight of every year is the Lake Nabugabo Street Children Day. On this special day, children experience play, sports, and community in a safe environment. Swimming, football tournaments, dancing, and creative games strengthen team spirit and self-expression, while nutritious meals provide energy and well-being. The event gives the children joy, self-confidence, and the important message that they are seen and valued.
Regina Groot Bramel Emergency Shelter – Contact point for homeless children and young people
The shelter serves as a central hub for emergency care, transitional accommodation, and a safe meeting place for street-connected minors in Masaka. Open every day, it offers protection, warm meals, drinking water, sanitation facilities, and basic medical first aid for minor injuries. Up to six children can sleep at the shelter during acute emergencies, giving them a safe environment to rest, regain stability, and reflect on their situation. In addition, children receive psychosocial support, counseling sessions, group activities, and assistance in reconnecting with family members—opening pathways beyond life on the streets. Every week, around 87 children from Masaka Town visit the shelter twice. Besides essential services, they participate in community-building games, life-skills training, counseling, and transition programs that help them move toward a stable and independent future. Particular focus is placed on economic and social empowerment initiatives, such as small business schemes that enable youth to avoid criminal involvement and build their own livelihood. By 2025, after six years of continuous service, the facility urgently requires renovation and redesign in order to continue providing safe, dignified, and holistic care. The Lights Masaka Foundation is planning a comprehensive upgrade: sleeping, dining, play, and counseling areas will be clearly separated and properly furnished; sanitation will be improved; and lighting, ventilation, and safety will be enhanced. The outdoor area will be upgraded with paving, seating, and a washing line, while a memorial and prayer space will honor Regina Groot. Sustainability is a key priority: locally sourced materials, durable furnishings, an annual maintenance fund, and training for staff and youth will ensure long-term care and upkeep of the shelter. Larger spaces will be adapted for creative activities, group work, film screenings, and play, while private rooms will be dedicated to counseling and trauma support. The overarching goal of the Regina Groot Bramel Emergency Shelter is to provide a safe, welcoming, and resilient environment that offers physical care, psychosocial support, and sustainable pathways toward independence for children and youth experiencing homelessness.
Reside
Emma Dow Children's and Youth Home
Founded in 2012, the Emma Dow Children’s Home provides a safe and caring environment for boys aged six to eighteen who were once homeless or living without stable family support. Thanks to the ongoing commitment of sponsors and partners, the home was able to offer more than 25 children a secure place to stay during the school holidays in 2025. Its holistic mission focuses on rehabilitation, emotional wellbeing, psychosocial guidance, and successful reintegration into the community. Education, health, and life skills development form the core foundations of the program. Daily life at the home is shaped by a warm and family-like atmosphere: children cook together, help in the garden, read and learn in the small library, and enjoy football, music, and game nights. These shared routines strengthen social skills, confidence, and cognitive growth. Sports and recreational activities — especially regular football training — help reinforce physical health and mental resilience, supporting children as they rebuild stability and trust in themselves. The home provides three nutritious meals a day, along with clean drinking water available at all times. Proper nutrition plays a key role in boosting wellbeing, hygiene, and concentration, ensuring every child’s basic needs are met. Educational support is essential: Most children attend boarding schools throughout the school term. During holidays, they return to the Emma Dow Home for three to four weeks at a time — spending approximately four months per year in this nurturing environment. Additional tutoring and remedial classes are offered when needed, helping children overcome learning gaps. Social workers guide and support each child individually, allowing them to progress at their own pace and according to their unique strengths. For some, the home is a temporary step toward safely returning to their families or relatives. Others remain longer — until a stable, long-term perspective has been established. A dedicated foster family program complements the residential care structure, offering children who require more individual attention the chance to grow in a supportive family setting. The Emma Dow Children’s Home shows how a structured, loving, and empowering environment can transform the lives of formerly homeless children — giving them the opportunity to become healthy, educated, and confident young people with real hope for the future.
Foster family network
The Foster Family Network of the Lights Masaka Foundation provides a safe and nurturing environment for children in need — especially girls and younger children who, for various reasons, cannot or should not stay in the children’s home. Within carefully selected foster families, they receive individualized care, protection, emotional support, and personal attention — the essential foundations for healthy development. Several girls are currently living in different foster households, where they are welcomed either during school holidays or on a long-term basis as part of a loving family. The Foundation maintains close contact with each foster family to ensure the children’s wellbeing. Daily routines, school progress, and emotional development are monitored regularly to guarantee that every child receives the best possible support. Community connection and psychosocial development are considered just as important as safety and care. Therefore, during every school holiday, all foster children come together for group activities. These gatherings include playful “finding balance” techniques, psychosocial group support, and opportunities to build friendships and share positive experiences. The regular interaction strengthens their sense of belonging and helps them heal from traumatic past experiences. The Foster Family Network of the Lights Masaka Foundation builds stable and loving structures in which children can feel safe, develop trust, and regain hope for the future. It demonstrates how crucial family warmth and support are for children who have experienced neglect, violence, or the loss of their parents — and how a caring environment can restore dignity, confidence, and new possibilities.
Education
The Lights Masaka Foundation is committed to ensuring that homeless and vulnerable young people in Uganda gain access to quality education — from early childhood through to vocational training and university. Education lays the foundation for independence, social inclusion, and long-term protection from poverty.
As of November 2025, the Foundation is supporting 70 children and youth on their individual educational journeys — from preschool to university — with plans to increase this number to 85 by 2026.
Through education, new perspectives emerge for those who once had none:
Children should not only survive — they should learn, dream, shape their future, and one day transform their society.
School education
Children are supported from preschool and primary school to develop fundamental skills, self-confidence, and a love of learning. During school holidays, they stay at the Emma Dow Children’s Home or with foster families, where they receive safe care and guidance. As they grow older, the youth attend secondary schools to gain the best possible educational opportunities. Secondary education includes the option to complete the A-Level — equivalent to the German Abitur — which opens doors to higher education and professional career paths. School fees and living expenses are primarily covered through sponsorships and educational contributions, ensuring that every child has equal opportunities regardless of their background. As is common in Uganda, most of the children in the program attend boarding schools. During the school holidays, they return to the Emma Dow Children’s Home or live with their foster families, ensuring continuous support and care
Training and studies
Not all young people follow the traditional school path. For those who take on responsibility early or wish to work independently, the Lights Masaka Foundation provides vocational training in areas such as metalwork, carpentry, mechanics, agriculture, and plumbing. These programs equip youth with practical skills to earn an income and support their families. For some young people, the path even leads to university. A striking example is Bagira, who is now studying Applied Biological Science at Gulu University — a journey that would have been nearly impossible without financial support. His story demonstrates how quality education opens up a wide range of opportunities, even for children who were once homeless.
Aaron has seccessfully completed his training as a nurse
Finding Balance Program
Many children carry traumatic experiences. The Lights Masaka Foundation recognizes the importance of mental health and has implemented the Finding Balance Program, which includes regular counseling sessions, “Finding Balance” techniques, and yoga exercises. The goal is to strengthen the children’s mental resilience and provide them with strategies to manage stress and reduce anxiety. The program received additional support from a mentor based in Canada, who provides individual guidance both on-site and via video calls.
Sustainability
The Lights Masaka Foundation pursues its sustainability projects with the goal of promoting long-term self-sufficiency, financial independence, and practical skills for children and youth. Pig Project: A central element of this effort is the pig-rearing project, originally launched to secure the future sustainability of the Emma Dow Children’s Home. The project currently includes 13 pigs — seven young piglets and six adults. In addition to water, the pigs are fed processed feed, kitchen leftovers, and natural vegetation as a supplement. Regular vaccinations by a veterinarian ensure their health. Care and feeding of the pigs, as well as cleaning of the pens, are actively carried out by staff and the children themselves, teaching responsibility, animal care, and hygienic practices. A continuing challenge, however, is securing sufficient feed. Garden Project: The garden project grows staple crops such as maize, cassava, and matooke, alongside vegetables and other foods used directly in the children’s home kitchen. Investment in coffee plantations demonstrates the Foundation’s commitment to long-term economic stability. A dedicated irrigation system ensures a reliable water supply for the crops, even during sunny periods. The project provides children with agricultural knowledge and instills ecological responsibility. Goat Rearing: Goat farming complements the sustainability strategy by creating opportunities for income generation. With careful care and gradual expansion of the herd, goat husbandry can contribute to the financial stability of the Emma Dow Children’s Home. At the same time, children learn practical animal care, entrepreneurial skills, and resource management for future benefit. Additional Sustainability Initiatives: In addition to livestock and gardening, the Lights Masaka Foundation runs several other initiatives to promote self-reliance and independence: •Selling surplus produce from the children’s home garden •Poultry farming for eggs and meat •Rainwater harvesting tanks for safe water supply •Solar power systems for energy needs Long-Term Impact: The sustainability projects of the Lights Masaka Foundation go far beyond mere provision of food or resources. They combine practical education, responsibility, and economic development into a holistic approach. By integrating gardening, animal husbandry, and renewable energy, the projects strengthen the children’s self-sufficiency while laying the foundation for a financially stable and forward-looking environment in which they can grow, learn, and thrive.
The garden is located on the grounds of the children's home. Coffee, matooke, and cassava are among the crops grown here. After harvesting, these are used for self-sufficiency, as well as for processing and resale.
Health
The Lights Masaka Foundation places a strong emphasis on the health and wellbeing of homeless minors and project children in Masaka and Nyendo. The health program aims to provide all children — regardless of their social or financial situation — with access to basic medical care, health education, and psychosocial support. Through regular medical check-ups, counseling, and preventive measures, the program serves as a vital safety net for particularly vulnerable children. In 2025, the medical department of the Foundation’s street outreach program reached over 500 children through repeated examinations and follow-up visits. Weekly two-hour medical sessions included basic diagnoses, wound care, treatment of minor illnesses, and the distribution of essential medications such as antibiotics (Ampiclox, Amoxicillin), pain and fever relievers (Paracetamol, Dynapar), cold and flu remedies (Flurid), as well as supportive measures like rehydration salts and nutritional guidance. Across the year, more than 700 child-visits were recorded, and 34 children were referred to private and government health facilities for further examinations and advanced care. In addition to medical interventions, the Foundation regularly conducted health education and awareness sessions. Topics included personal hygiene, handwashing, safe drinking water, early detection of illnesses, nutrition, and prevention of communicable diseases. These workshops not only increased the children’s knowledge but also encouraged sustainable behavioral changes in their daily lives. Recognizing the importance of mental health, the Lights Masaka Foundation implemented the Finding Balance Program, which includes regular counseling sessions, “Finding Balance” techniques, and yoga exercises. The program aims to strengthen children’s mental resilience and provide strategies to manage stress and reduce anxiety. Special support was provided by a mentor from Canada, who offered individual guidance both on-site and via video calls. Common health issues documented during the 2025 outreach included coughs and flu (171 cases), wounds and injuries (86 cases), fevers (89 cases), typhoid (35 cases), and stomach ulcers (15 cases). Malaria remained a significant challenge but was consistently diagnosed and treated. The Lights Masaka Foundation’s health program goes beyond providing immediate medical care. It empowers children with knowledge of self-care, hygiene, and healthy living practices. Through regular workshops, individual counseling, and continuous medical support, children acquire the skills needed to protect their health in the long term. The combination of medical treatment and psychosocial support provides stability, promotes wellbeing, and significantly reduces the risks associated with life on the streets.
Support for girls
Girls living on the streets face heightened risks. Without a safe space, they are significantly more vulnerable to sexual assault, abuse, exploitation, and early pregnancy. Many experience violence, lack access to hygiene products, and are often forced into unsafe and degrading situations simply to survive. The Lights Masaka Foundation addresses these challenges through a dedicated protection framework for girls. As soon as a girl is encountered on the street, social workers — particularly a female staff member — engage with her and provide immediate support, always prioritizing her wellbeing. First, the family situation is carefully assessed. If safe family connections remain, reintegration may be possible. If this is not feasible or the home environment poses further risks, the girl is placed in a carefully selected foster family. There, she finds stability, care, and a safe space to rebuild trust. At the same time, the girls receive psychosocial support, medical care, and day-to-day guidance. When they are ready and resources are available, they are enabled to attend school. Education is a key component, providing them with the foundation for a self-determined life, free from dependency and poverty. This protection system ensures that vulnerable girls are not left alone, but are given the opportunity for safety, trauma recovery, and a hopeful future. Further information can be found under the programs Foster Family Network and Education.
