Night Commuters

Introduction & Overview

      Terrified of being abducted by the LRA at night, as many as 40,000 children leave their rural homes every evening. Known as "night commuters," these children walk up to 12 kilometres to neighbouring towns (including Gulu, Pader, and Kitgum). They sleep on the street or in public buildings. They hope there is safety in numbers.

      To sponsor a child-mother of Gulu, Uganda – click here
      To invest in building a home for child-mothers in Gulu, Uganda “Hope Village” – click here

The Child-Mothers of Uganda

      Mothers all over the world have hopes and dreams for their children. In ordinary circumstances, such hopes and dreams often come true. However, that cannot be said of the child-mothers in Northern Uganda. They were children themselves — now child-mothers, created by an 18-year-old war between President Museveni and the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) led by Joseph Kony.

      These young mothers are the epitome of the human tragedy of the war in the north of Uganda. They are victims of the most vicious circumstances.

      They have been abducted from their communities, and many were forced to kill relatives or neighbors.  They are often orphans, and are all victims of rape and torture.

      By some chance, they have escaped with their children from the LRA.

      These young women require much help to begin to integrate into new communities, to move on with their lives, and to raise their children.

      They are also OVERCOMERS.

      The majority of the children are double orphans, although some children may still have one parent living.  Children that are brought into the Homes of Love receive three meals a day, clothing, education, medical attention, and a good bed to sleep on in a loving and supportive home.

      Presently, each home, or family, has approximately 20 children.  A house matron lives with the children and has the aid of an assistant and two helpers who live in nearby huts. The on-site staff become like the children’s mothers, uncles and aunts who minister to and mentor the children’s needs.

      All the children benefit from attending an on-site school whose teacher also lives on-site and is able to tutor those that need extra help.  In addition, Homes of Love has an arts director who introduces the children to art, music, and drama. 

       VILLAGE OF HOPE – ‘CHILD/MOTHER’ HUTS:

      Village of Hope is located inside the municipality of Gulu and is separate from the Homes of Love property.  There are presently six homes on the property which will house women and children who have suffered under the LRA attacks.  These homes will offer mothers and their children a safe and supportive environment in which to live.  As many of these women are ill from HIV/AIDS, each family that is provided a home is also given a bicycle to help them with travel.  

      Phase I of the Village of Hope will have 80 homes. The 10-acre property is being fenced and will have government soldiers as security guards.

      The families that reside at Village of Hope will benefit from an on-site school and medical clinic.  In addition, Village of Hope endeavors to help give the women back a sense of their dignity and self respect through education and work projects.  To do this we have set up projects such as the craft skills program and the farm project.  These projects will help the mother’s to take a ‘hand up’ instead of a ‘hand out’.