Iganga, (UG):- Okoa Hero’s Child Ministries Wednesday celebrated 2024 Christmas with at least 300 street children in Iganga town as a way of sharing joy and hope with the kids. The ministry organized a special Christmas meal, offering not just food but a sense of dignity and belonging to children who often face neglect and hardship.
Mr Teven Kibumba, the team leader of Okoa Hero’s Child Ministries, highlighted the challenging realities faced by street children, particularly during festive seasons when most families indulge in lavish celebrations.
“On Christmas Eve, families invest much in feeding their children, buying luxurious clothing, and taking trips to national parks or abroad but there is a forgotten cluster in society, the street kids. Their status is not by choice,” Mr. Kibumba said.
At the event, which provided meals, clothing, and a joyous community atmosphere, was a collaborative effort supported by local volunteers and international partners, including Michael Koch, the team leader of Okoa Child Ministries in Germany, Mr Kibumba painted a picture of the challenges these children endure, emphasising the injustices they face daily.

“None of these 300 street kids wished to find themselves on the street. They, too, wished for a good meal with their parents. But unfortunately, they are not there. Their relatives have abandoned them, and some don’t even know if their families are still out there. Despite their hardships, society often perceives them as thugs. It’s a sad reality,” he added.
Mr. Koch stressed the emotional toll of street life on children saying, “Seeing street kids yawning on Christmas Day while watching others enjoy meals with their loved ones deepens their grief and deprives them of hope”, adding that “feeding them today gives them hope, restores their confidence, and reminds them that their future can be bright.”
Volunteers worked tirelessly to ensure the day was a success, demonstrating that small acts of kindness can profoundly impact lives by extending the event beyond the Christmas meal but serving as a reminder of the collective responsibility to care for vulnerable children.

At the event that drew attention to the systemic challenges that lead children to the streets, including poverty, family instability, and a lack of social services, Kibumba emphasized the ministry’s ongoing commitment to these children, stating that, “this is just one day, but we hope these children will know they are loved and not invisible. We will continue to support them, not just at Christmas, but every day.”
“The streets of Uganda are no different from those in other parts of the world regarding the plight of vulnerable children. As a global community, we have a responsibility to lift them up. While the Christmas meal provided a temporary reprieve, it also underscored the need for long-term solutions to address the root causes of street life in Uganda,” Koch remarked.
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