When the mountains collapsed in Bududa, Shekhinah Orphanage immediately deployed rescue teams to locate children who had lost everything. We found 12-year-old David clinging to a banana tree after watching the mud swallow his home and family – traumatized and malnourished after weeks of fending for himself. Today, through our specialized trauma recovery program, David receives daily counseling, attends our onsite school, and has found healing by caring for the orphanage’s rabbits. His drawings of that horrific day have gradually been replaced by sketches of his new friends and the house parents he now calls “Uncle” and “Auntie.”
Shekhinah’s comprehensive care model addresses both visible and invisible wounds. Each Bududa survivor undergoes nutritional rehabilitation to counter months of starvation, with 98% achieving healthy weight within six months. Our “Healing Through Hands” vocational program teaches practical skills like carpentry and sewing, helping children like 15-year-old Prossy process grief while building futures. “When I made my first dress,” Prossy shares, “I finally believed I could create beauty again after so much destruction.”
The transformation extends beyond physical needs. Through nightly Bible studies and mentorship, these children are discovering that their lives have divine purpose despite their tragic beginnings. Former landslide orphans now lead worship services, mentor newer arrivals, and several aspire to become social workers. Your support makes this redemption possible – for just $40/month, you can sponsor a Bududa child’s complete restoration.
