When Segawa Bosco was a 12-year-old orphan living on the streets of Kampala, he saw a private school’s brass band play and he persuaded the schools instructors to teach him to play. Soon he was able to support himself and a few others by playing his instrument. Wanting a better life for other street children, he opened his home to other desperate children, and M-Lisada was born.
Today M-Lisada, which stands for Music, Life Skills, and Destitution Alleviation, is a highly regarded orphanage in Nsambya Parish, and has reclaimed over 400 children from the streets. The organization houses 75 children, ranging in age from 7 to 17. Another 80 children come in from the streets every day, for showers, food, counseling, music lessons, a safe place to play, and support. But each night, because of insufficient finances and space, they must return to the streets.
M-Lisada works to reduce the number of children living on the streets in by providing them with a home, an education, and protection. They strive to restore dignity and self-confidence through the teaching of life skills, music, and the arts, thereby improving the lives of vulnerable children, and their chances for the future.
The U.S. Mission Uganda, through the PEPFAR Community Grants Office, partnered with M-Lisada in September of 2012. Through the community grant, the organization was able to begin or expand various outreach programs to street children throughout Kampala. Along with musical and art training for these children, M-Lisada also organized soccer tournaments, vocational and skills training, Health care support, as well as programs that re-united children with families.
Through the year-long grant, M-Lisada was able to provide outreach and support to over 300 street children, teach 38 children a musical instrument, and reunite 14 former street children with family members. U.S. Mission Uganda is thrilled with M-Lisada’s success and proud that M-Lisada continues to flourish with their outreach for vulnerable children. You can learn more about their programs at http://www.mlisada.org/.
