Jesus and Me Children's Ministries

1. Donate.  JMCM  operates with individual donations of people just like you. We’ve set up a variety of giving options, including credit cards, money gram, bank drafts and monthly payments to make contributing easy and convenient for you.

2. Sign up for our newsletter.  We send updates a few times a month, keeping you up-to-date on what we’re doing and the most immediate needs currently facing the children of Uganda. We’ll never abuse your email address.

3. Join our Facebook group.  Friends of Jesus and Me Children’s Ministries is a Face book group where members interact with other fans from around the globe. By joining the group, you’ll learn about upcoming events, immediate needs, good news and volunteer opportunities. You can also follow us on Twitter!

4. Visit our blog.

5. Shop from our store.  JMCM T-Shirts, totes and a variety of other products in creative designs let you show your support for JMCM. All the proceeds from the Official Jesus and Me Children’s Ministries Store go to promote food security and sustainability of Uganda’s children under JMCM care.

6. Share at church, school or work or family and friends. You can download our brochure, print a few copies and share them with others during your regular daily activities. Tell your friends and colleagues that you learned about an organization getting help to some of God’s most vulnerable children, and you want to tell them about it. You don’t have to hold their attention or give a speech, just hand out our brochure.

7. Volunteer!  Jesus and me children’s ministries is always accepting applications for new volunteers to help in a variety of capacities.

CHRISTMAS 2011 

It was yet again a beautiful time to celebrate Christmas with our Volunteers from Germany -Ben Bond and Kirsty. 

For the first time ever in the history of JMCM, we had children come for service at 10am and we had Ben and Kirsty share the Word. This was fun time and creative way to teach the children.  Right after praise and worship, we had Ben and Kirsty share in a Christmas play with the children’s participation. It was  a good,  memorable and very interesting play, indeed.  Afterwards, Ben and Kirsty served food and all the children got to eat and drink . 

FAREWELL FOR 2011 VOLUNTEERS 

After having Ben and Kirsty  from Germany as volunteer at JMCM from the 17th to 28th December 2011, it was so hard to say good bye.  Goodbye is a hard thing to say especially after being with people who have become part of you. We will always be grateful to them for the time and all the resources that they put together for about 2 weeks. 

TO ALL PEOPLE INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING WITH JMCM

We would like to bring this to the attention of all people who are interested to come and volunteer with JMCM. As you may know, JMCM survives because of the support of special individuals such as the volunteers, who help us complete our mission and run programs for the children. Therefore, we humbly request anyone considering coming to volunteer with us to put the following into consideration;

1.       Transport-airport pick-up fee of $75 per person – You are advised to send this money to simplify things for us. Once you are done with booking your flight, please send the $75 to help us pick you up from the airport. We do not like to make this appear as a bill and bother you a lot, but we would like you to understand.

2.       Accommodation – We would like you also to help and contribute $200 per person a month towards accommodation. We do not have our own permanent facilities. All facilities are rented and that is why we would need some contribution as well.

3.       Food – We would like you to contribute $200 per person towards food as a result of current prevailing conditions in the market. 

Prizes have gone very crazy and this is why we are effecting the new changes so that we can be able to cope with the prevailing conditions.

 

 

Speech day went well. My speech went well. I had to make it in a way that could capture the children and as well as the parents.  At the end, they had to call the boys because the audience wanted to know them. Joel Drummed so well and Ronnie danced so well.

They were given certificates of merit: Joel - Deputy Sports prefect, Ronnie - Deputy Head boy and Stephen - Deputy head monitor. Ronnie got a basin as a gift for good academic excellence and Stephen got a plate and 2 pens and the funny part of it. Stephen together with 5 more children were given each a bar of soap to wash their uniforms and bathe because they over play  at school and get very dirty. Both adults and their fellow pupils busted into laughter.

DAVID KNOWLTON

 How is the situation in Uganda?

Uganda is a beautiful country and known as the pearl of Africa known for its beautiful hospitality. Deaths caused by poverty have contributed a lot to an increased number of orphans and forced many of them to the streets. The Lord’s Resistance Army has been operating outside of northern Uganda in South Sudan, Central African Republic, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. However, displacement and the looming threat of a return to war in Uganda have hindered any major progress towards normalcy in the north and have deepened the high levels of poverty throughout northern, central, eastern, southern and western Uganda.

Can I volunteer with JMCM in Uganda?

JMCM is an open organization. We appreciate and understand your eagerness to serve overseas, and JMCM   volunteer program abroad is very flexible and will allow you to volunteer and serve as you desire in a way that will be pleasing to God. As we’ve developed as an organization, we’ve seen how a large influx of people with a specific purpose can be a blessing to a small community. As a result, the programs we have developed on the ground focus on helping the children of Uganda.

If I’m already going to be in Uganda, can I volunteer?

If you are already going to be in Uganda you are more than welcome to make an appointment to visit our office and hear about our programs on the ground. However, we will not be able to facilitate you as a volunteer because JMCM depends on gifts and donations from friends and well wishers.

Can you recommend other organizations that will allow me to work in Uganda short-term?

There are many organizations that offer short-term trips to all areas of Uganda. At this point there are no organizations JMCM directly partners with. We suggest you seek out these organizations personally to establish your own connection. However, should you want to volunteer with JMCM, the doors are open.

Can I donate my clothes, blankets, shoes, etc. for the children in Uganda?

You are welcome to donate as it pleases you, however, JMCM instead seeks to address the causes of symptoms of poverty by creating jobs and providing education to empower Ugandans to provide for their own families, rather than rely on handouts for support. Books and assets like computers and so on may be donated to JMCM.

Do I need permission to show JMCM films?

We at JMCM make every effort to spread the word about the plight of those in east and Central Africa, and we realize that having access to JMCM’s films is vital to helping this movement to grow. As we pass the torch to you, we ask you use the documentary and JMCM logo responsibly – only to raise awareness and benefit JMCM, Inc

Is JMCM, Inc. a 501C3 charity?

JMCM is registered in Uganda and registration number is S.5914/3951 under going registration process in the small state of Washington DC   501(c) 3 public charity. All donations made are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. A donation received through the mail or online will be followed up shortly with a thank you note and tax receipt for your records.

Where does money donated to JMCM, Inc. go?

JMCM has taken a unique approach to the situation in Uganda. Consequently, 50% of our programming budget is utilized in bringing awareness to the situation facing the children and promoting international support. At the same time, there is a dire need for relief in northern Uganda and other parts of Uganda where help is badly needed, especially when it comes to the region’s youth. The remaining 50% of our budget provides top-notch programming for affected children and their families.

Our focus on the ground is developing a new generation of God fearing responsible leaders in Uganda, and this is accomplished through the provision of educational scholarships, mentorship, and the rebuilding of primary and secondary academic institutions. Our hope is that, by focusing partially on immediate relief in northern Uganda and highly affected parts as well as long-term change in the region, we can have the most positive effect with the resources provided.

When it comes to accountability, we have the highest standards, and our media and websites excel in informing donors as to the impact of their support.

For donors looking for an opportunity to give directly to programming in northern Uganda, the Schools for Schools program pledges at least 90% of donations will be used in the rebuilding of our partner schools, with less than 10% reserved to implement these funds.

Whether you are interested in having your donation support both the effort to raise awareness and provide relief in affected parts of Uganda, or you simply want to support educational programming in the region, we appreciate your consideration of donating to JMCM.

What is JMCM political stance?

JMCM, Inc. is nonpartisan, non-profit Christian organization that is committed to exposing atrocities around the world and developing the necessary solutions to ending conflicts that plague the lives of disadvantaged people. As world leaders are failing to make the necessary commitment to end the crisis in Central Africa, JMCM is dedicated to revealing the truth to a generation of young people, who can, in turn, advocate for changed policies and action from their government. JMCM believes that changing perceptions in the western world is equally important to changing the lives of people in underprivileged regions.

Is JMCM affiliated with any religious organization(s)?

JMCM is a Christian organization, but not affiliated with any organization. It is independent. We feel that our role in the community is best spent on education and development program.

How can I donate to JMCM?

You may send financial gifts to Our US JMCM account or Directly to Uganda through money Gram. Please get in touch and we will give you full details.

If you would like to set up a recurring donation, you can join. For $50 a month your donation will sustain JMCM programs that are transforming lives in Uganda. 

How can I get involved?

 “What can I do?” You can help with film making, praying, playing with the children, helping with office work and other work within JMCM tirelessly to improve the quality of life for Ugandans through the media of education, health care, and employment.

The best thing you can do to help is start by telling others about JMCM. Use your sphere of influence to create lasting change. Raising awareness is the key, and our documentaries are currently the best ways to shed light on the situation in Uganda. By simply passing it on and educating others, you are making a difference.

I don’t live in the U.S. Can I still help?

We are truly amazed and humbled that JMCM is getting known across the globe and is now in your hands. It’s exciting to know the movement has spread so far and is now gaining much needed international interest. At this time, we are currently working on expanding internationally. We are known quite in Uganda and quite a bit the United States Germany, Canada and Australia, but we pray God to make JMCM to get to be known in other countries. We realize that we need all the help we can get; there is so much to do in Uganda and surrounding areas- and we cannot do it alone.

 DAVID KNOWLTON

This is our call to reach out in love to the children who are orphaned, poorest of the poor, and those who are living on the streets to share the love of Jesus in real, lasting and tangible ways. 

I would like to thank and extend my sincere gratitude to all people of God with great heart and love for JMCM for their commitment in advancing JMCM vision of preventing and protecting children against child abuse and neglect through strengthening the organization and implementation of activities in the areas of research, advocacy, service delivery, working with children and communities for sustainable impact.

As we strive for a society that upholds the rights of children and is free of abuse and neglect, I appeal for your continued support and commitment in this colossal but worthwhile task. It is only through collective action that we shall be in position to overcome this social mayhem.  

A double “thank you” to Jennifer  Kesterson and Larry from US  who are sponsoring  Stephen Batte,  Carrie from US who is sponsoring Ronnie Matovu ,Troy and family from Canada and the Lumsden family fron USA who have committed with prayers and financial assistance, the Zita family from Australia  committed with prayers and website assistance, and Sandy Crow-US committed with prayers and assistance. 

A double “thank you” also  to our new friends -Joe Lindsey Barth USA who are having such an inspirational commitment to serve God at JMCM for the rest of their lives with commitment to pray, and financial assistance and other efforts to promote JMCM and help bring more financial help for JMCM. 

We would like to extend our thanks, love and gratitude to friends who God directed, and who expressed interest to come to Uganda and volunteer with JMCM for a couple of weeks and months according to God’s call. Ben and Kirsty from Germany, Danielle Linzel & Jessica-Rae  from Canada, Mackenzie Knox-Canada and Felicitas Fröhlich from Berlin Germany. 

Also friends like Petyovszkiné Imre Maria from Budapest -Hungary, Gvidas Urkis Lithuania (Europe) and Magdalena Scheschy, you are all of great significance to JMCM and thank you for all the words of encouragements and loving JMCM. 

Friends, JMCM are a network of friends that connects people with common interest –like minded and each one is free to join and serve God. The desire to come to volunteer or get involved in JMCM must come deep from one’s heart and reverence for God. This is a bigger commitment that requires one to seek proper guidance from God before getting involved. 

All are welcome to join and we serve God together.

DAVID KNOWLTON

 

Jesus and Me Children’s Ministries (JMCM), is a Christian NGO that cares for the welfare of children (orphans, hopeless, poor, destitute, needy, homeless, street and vulnerable children), and promotes reconciliation and peace by providing hope to  traumatized hearts caused by ethnic wars, death and diseases, and social injustice. It is also committed to working with people to overcome poverty through integrated self-development and relief programs regardless of their religious beliefs, gender, or ethnic background.

As the saying goes and I quote “the struggle continues”.  We have moved into a new office premises at the Roadside on the Road going to Makindye right from St.Francis hospital Nsambya and on the slope towards Military Barracks Makindye.  This is a wonderful new location, very convenient and easily accessible. Though we are renting, the place is now purely and specifically for JMCM activities and we will now be able to accommodate as many volunteers as possible as Volunteers are very important to Jesus and Me Children’s Ministries. They help us strengthen the work and goals and objectives that we have with the children and families we work with. Our program would allow volunteers to have a special positive experience, and provide exposure to a different reality. As a volunteer at our Organization, you will have the opportunity of participating in the development of new strategies when working with high-risk children, program planning, development and evaluation. JMCM  allows volunteers to become a part of the process of program development and implementation. What we ask in return is that volunteers be flexible and responsible when working with the children. We welcome volunteers from all over the world with the minimum age of 17.  The minimum time to volunteer is a week or so.

For Just Only USD $100 per month!!! You can stay in Uganda and contribute to the development of this wonderful project. No Hidden Fees!

Are you looking to do something more meaningful on your travels? JMCM recruits volunteers for locally-run community, conservation, teaching, building and sports projects around Uganda. Volunteers are an integral part of everything that happens at JMCM. We couldn’t do it without them. There are many ways to volunteer your time, as well as your skills, to help out. Depending on the season, we always have a list of much needed services of volunteers within our projects around Uganda. If you would prefer to make any financial contribution, Please contact us AND we will be happy to respond.

 Who can volunteer? Adults of both sexes 17+ and with appropriate skills

Commitment: 1 week minimum or so

Languages: English

Cost: Volunteers must cover the costs of their own travel to and from Uganda and airport pickup fees of USD$50, placement booking of USD $65 and a monthly contribution of USD$100 for your food. No other hidden costs! After arrival you are provided with basic accommodation, shower, and toilet for free.

Health: Volunteers must be in good health and must cover their own medical insurances

Our Volunteer Program is an immersion program customized for travellers, students, professionals, families, groups, or anyone with the desire to serve in rural villages or in Kampala city in Uganda. The timetable you travel, your village destination, and the projects you may be involved with are all geared to your skills and interests, and the villages’ needs. 

The program is run by JMCM and the under-served rural villages of Tororo, eastern Uganda and Wakiso District where we serve. We are committed to meeting the needs of our communities, and to placing developmental volunteers in worthy programs that provide safe and meaningful experiences in real life. 

If you are interested in participating in our program, write to us and we will work with you to identify your best placement options. There is no obligation or fee to apply. You only have to confirm your coming with a commitment of USD $65 by booking a placement. 

Because it is an immersion experience, days will allow for a variety of opportunities. And whether you work in a clinic, school, or orphan home, participate in building or agricultural projects, or simply assist in the day-to-day tasks. JMCM works closely with each volunteer to ensure comprehensive preparation, including both an understanding of the people with whom you will be working, and all considerations necessary for travel overseas. 

Are you interested in being a volunteer, but would like more information? Contact our team and let us know what your hopes are for your volunteer experience, and we will assist you in planning a meaningful and fulfilling journey. Apply now! 

Develop yourself, Develop an individual, Develop a Community, Develop Africa- Develop Uganda Now! We can not do great things, but we can do things with great love and passion.

Be the change you want to see in the world!

WHAT TO EXPECT UPON ARRIVAL  

§  Be met at Entebbe airport By David Knowlton himself and taken to  JMCM in Kampala, the capital city of Uganda, here you would stay with JMCM family in a truly Ugandan life style and get exposed to great interaction with the children and local dish.

§  The facilities would be a little different to those you are used to in that you will have to use a latrine not a WC and the ’shower’ facilities consisting of jerry cans of water and some plastic bowls the Ugandan way.

§  You will however be well fed and made feel welcome more than any you have experienced before, and this home will be your base for your stay.

§  From here you will visit some of the JMCM projects in villages. To do this you will probably use local transport and you will go by taxis known as a Matatu and Boda Boda and this will just be the start of your adventure.

§  You may camp overnight or stay in a local house, and during your stay you may be asked to join in a debate at the school, check on some of the many Income Generating Initiatives JMCM has there, or even work on the land that we are now developing to enable the school to become self supporting. You will also get to meet many of the locals and certainly learn a great deal about different cultures in Uganda African life.

§  Another activity that you will certainly take part in will be to help at one of the remote projects runs; here you will certainly be going well off the beaten track into some of the very remote areas. In this case you will go by car, you may even have to push it some of the way, into some of the more remote villages, some are only accessible by what looks like a footpath and probably the vehicle you are in will be one of the very few that ever goes that way. Do not be surprised here if some of the children seem a little afraid of you as you may well be the first white person that they have seen. 

§  Here once more you make a contribution by helping with the administration of the projects, work with sick people-binding wounds, visit schools and teach children, dispensing the drugs the nurse has prescribed, helping at seminars from those about HIV awareness, counseling and demonstrating how important it is to wash hands. Once again you can actually see for yourself just how much help you are to a really remote community and just how little other help they receive.

§  Here again you will generally camp although some time we get offered a stay in a village house Working with JMCM shows just how working together with us you can make a difference you can not only help some of the poorest people in the world, you also get to have an adventure of a lifetime and real life experience which can be a testimony and blessing to many.  To get involved please email JMCM for more details. 

Volunteer with JMCM

JMCM is supported by a network of Volunteers that visit the projects and provide help and support. Volunteering is a great experience which makes a positive impact on the lives of all parties involved.

 How to Help

With the increasing discontent with giving blind to a charity with little knowledge of where your donation goes; JMCM is able to offer a way to ensure your money ends up as intended. You choose your project, and visit it to ensure that the money has been spent the way you wanted. Through limited red tape and administration costs your money in full goes to the people that need it.

 How It Works

1.   Contact JMCM Trustee in the Uganda and choose a suitable project (e.g. a water well, school funding, school outreaches, sponsoring children, community outreaches or JMCM General Development Fund)

2.      Finalize your donation budget and intended project.

3.      Send the funds and arrange a field trip to review the success.

4.     Travel to Uganda and see what difference you have made staying with the people you have helped (you can combine your field trip with a holiday too)

 Visit JMCM

Visit JMCM and volunteer your skills whilst contributing to the projects. JMCM has hosted many volunteers over the past few years and offers and exceptional experience at grass roots level. An important goal of Jesus and me children’s ministries is to help people get directly involved in making positive change.   We welcome anyone who comes with a kind heart, open mind and sharing attitude. 

JMCM is a small organization so all volunteers must cover their own expenses. The children absolutely love meeting new people and their sweet personalities will almost certainly put a smile in your heart. Volunteering is such a wonderful experience; you have the opportunity to teach and learn at the same time!

Get Involved Now!

Each and every Volunteer is special to JMCM and helps keep the charity moving forward, we need your help now! We are ready to answer your questions about becoming a volunteer by email at any time. If you would like to volunteer and share your time with us would like to make any financial contribution and would like more information about our programs contact us at:  jesusandmecm@yahoo.com

Answering Children’s Questions

Children form families in many ways though some of them may not get a family that they can belong to which can lead to lonely and fearful life. Children of today are very sensitive to issues. Almost every issue is their concern. They do ask a lot of questions across all areas especially sexuality, family and so on and they need clear and straight forward answers!

Isn’t keeping secrets better for the child? Why look for problems? This is the only family she has ever known, and no one else has to know the details of how she was born. Why tell if the child doesn’t ask?

 In the long run, not telling leads to more problems than telling. Telling early avoids the betrayal children may experience if they find out when they’re older. The current opinion that the child has a right to know represents a shift from 20 years ago when people were advised not to tell. It is a sensitive area that can affect the child for the rest of his or her life. 

When do you tell a child? What’s the best time?

 Child development experts recommend that the child be told as early as possible and this is why we engage them as early as possible. Even at the age of three children the idea can be planted, for example, by reading a story book. (One example: Mommy was your tummy big?  In this way, the story becomes part of the child’s reality from an early age, and she won’t be able to recall a time when she didn’t know this aspect of her history. 

Isn’t the concept hard for young children to understand?

 Not if it’s presented in simple language and is not too detailed. By age four or five, most children will ask questions about how babies are born, so parents can take advantage of their natural curiosity. Don’t tell young children more than they can absorb or more than they’re asking. Telling doesn’t happen in just one session, it is process, so remain open for ongoing conversations as questions will keep changing. Young children usually don’t regard the topic as a big deal and quickly move on to something else. 

How do you tell? How much information is appropriate?

Keep the child’s developmental stage in mind. The specific information should be tailored to the age of the child in language he can understand. For young children, it’s okay to use terms that may be somewhat inaccurate but familiar: for example, you might say tummy for uterus, or egg for ovum, and then correct it later on. Whenever possible whoever has parental responsibility should tell the child. Don’t tell too much; just answer the child’s questions. Keep the communication honest, open and age-appropriate. 

With adolescents, keep several issues in mind: adolescents are focused on themselves, and issues of trust and identity are prominent. They’re dealing with pubertal changes in their brains and in their hormonal systems. The immediate reaction of an adolescent can range from apathy to shock and anger. They may question why they haven’t been told before. As adolescents struggle to establish their identity and their independence, new knowledge about their genetic inheritance or other sensitive issues requires considerable adjustment on their part.

 

You can connect with us now through Facebook. Search for David Knowlton (JesusandMe-Ministries) and add us to your friends’ list.

On 12^th April 2011, Stephen Batte celebrated his 11^th birthday. So much has changed in Stephen’s life since he came to live at JMCM. It’s hard to imagine now that this was the same boy who once lived in the quarry just a few years ago. We pray that God will allow him to celebrate more birthdays in the years to come, and that Stephen would continue to grow in his personal relationship with the Lord. 

 It has also been a great blessing and honour to have Joan MacDonald on this very special day.