"We are shaped and fashioned by what we love."

This involves the African Hearts children in a range of activities that promote self esteem, social and cultural awareness and teamwork, including Sports, their Band, Music Dance and Drama, Art and Crafts, and Farming among others, and a comprehensive program for psychosocial support and the promotion of discipline. Brighter Smiles Africa Faculty and team members contribute in many ways to these activities.

Sport

Sports are mainly activities for weekends and school holidays. The major sport in Uganda is soccer, though at AH children are encouraged to pursue other sports also. Sports help all the children to improve their physical fitness, but also foster team work and better behavior, and are helpful in the process of social rehabilitation required after living on the street.  AH children have taken part in soccer camps where they enjoy competing with other teams, and ther is now a tradition of an annual Christmas match between the boys in the AH Kampala house and a team from the Kiseyni slum which is always a big success.

Band

The African Hearts Royalle brass band continues to grow and improve (See the MUSIC section), which reflects the hard work of many individuals and the boys’ efforts to practice, learn, and develop new repertoire. Our band trainer Asher provides great leadership and he and the work of others have helped to raise the level of performance. The shift from playing by ear to trying to read music is a great improvement. The boys are now being trained to study music in a way which helps to develop their personal talents but also improves the way they play music together.

The band is now able to put on concerts and attract all sorts of people to come and listen to their music. As a result of the quality and scope of their repertoire the band has been able to increase the fees paid for concert admission meaning that this important source of self-generated income for African Hearts has also increased. The band has performed at important functions organized by the government and local districts. Highlights have included playing for the President, at national celebrations, and a Christmas carol concert performed for a large audience at the near by Miracle Centre church.

The Acrobatic display that goes along with the band’s music develops and showcases other skills the AH boys learn, and make the Royalle Brass band stand out as a unique entertainment group.

Arts and Crafts

This project also falls under the Life Skills program, and mainly involves making bead necklaces, bracelets, and earrings. The skills and creativity of the art and crafts team are getting better and better.  The leaders at AH are exploring means of finding a market for these products locally as another potential source of income.

Farming

African Hearts children are involved in caring for the increasing number of cows, goats, pigs and chickens being introduced into the Ssenge community, and learn valuable practical skills and a sense of responsibility by doing so. The Ssenge children also have small garden plots of their own, and help care for the trees and other crops that  have been planted. These activities represent a positive contribution to the environment, but are also an important source of food for the children, and a growing source of income.

Psychosocial support, counseling, and discipline

Psychosocial support is also an important component of care at African Hearts. It is provided for resident and non-resident children, and as part of the street outreach program where it is available in parallel with medical care and nutritional support for these particularly vulnerable children. (See the STREET OUTREACH section).

The leaders regard instilling discipline and social responsibility among the children under their care as one of the main responsibilities for their Organization. These leaders and other volunteer staff are central to this challenge, and must work with school teachers, guardians and other adults in the community. Senior boys are relied on to lead by example, mentor younger children, and several take on administrative responsibilities related to the day to day running and activities of African Hearts. Consistency, fairness, and team work are central to every one’s efforts to have a positive influence on the behaviors of children under AH care. Every child cared for comes with their own set of talents and characteristics, behaviors, problems, and coping mechanisms; and each is coloured by their life experience and the influence of family and/or peers. Coping effectively and consistently under these circumstances is never without difficulty, and in some cases the traumas children have experienced result in them being significantly disturbed, depressed, or angry when they first come into care.  Most of them soon benefit from individual counselling; sometimes however, suspension or individualized punishments are required, and very occasionally dismissal is the only final option, and required in consideration for the well being and stability of the ‘family’ group as a whole.