Building NOTDEC
The new NOTDEC Uganda orphanage is a miracle — or that's what the locals will tell you.
Before: Dorothy's Orphanage at Kisinga
Dorothy’s first orphanage was typical – a chaotic "old homestead" of a place that has seen better days, in run-down premises in Kisinga.
The old Kisinga orphanage
Here Dorothy first started looking after lots of babies & children.
It was an elderly building set amongst other down-at-heel old buildings with increasing numbers of boda-bodas (motorbikes) running close by — not the ideal place to bring up rapidaly increasing numbers of children. As the head-count rose, the lack of bedroom space meant sleeping several to a bed.
Towards the end, a few donors funded limited improvements like flush toilets. But in the Lord's providence, Kisinga had served its purpose: it was time to move on.
After: NOTDEC Uganda at Kabirizi
By contrast, the new orphanage is an attractive well-planned “village” of brick-built bungalows.
The new Kabirizi orphanage in 2015 - with trees for shade
Around NOTDEC, everywhere begins with "K". In all other respects, Kabirizi is exceptional. It is spacious and well-thought-out, with staff accommodation, an office/admin block, a nursery classroom, and a multi-use chapel; there’s a farm for food, a tractor and bowser for fetching water, and a bus to take the kids to school. In short, it's a purpose-built orphanage with lots of facilities — exactly what NOTDEC Uganda needed for the growing numbers of children in its care.
In the dry season, we Europeans sometimes see dusty paths and perennially dirty kids — and wonder if it's healthy. Locals say to lighten up — it's a miracle.
Praise the Lord, Kabirizi is a huge achievement. But that won't stop us consulting the health experts!
