Jericho Road Children’s Project in Mbarara, Uganda
(Pat has sent an update, which can be found here: Trailnotes – JR Children’s Project – Mar. 2010)
Jericho Road Youth Project is based in the poorest section of Mbarara, Uganda. It provides a first step up for young boys who for one reason or another have resorted to living on the streets of Kampala or Mbarara as their only hope.
At present JRYP is home to 23 boys who live together in a very basic compound. They attend school and some have now been involved with the project for five years.
Jericho Road Youth Project emerged from the vision and passion of Pat Kokura, a retired teacher from Port Alberni, Vancouver Island. Pat travelled to Uganda in the mid 1990′s and wanted to serve the Lord in some capacity amongst those in need. Eventually she responded to the plight of many young boys wandering the streets and sleeping by the roadside – some who were very young indeed. Through a process of trial and error she finally linked up with a number of people in Umbarara – specifically Nick (runs a catering business) and George (a Full Gospel pastor).Together they began the process of finding a location and providing a place where streetkids could begin a journey back to hope and building a future. The vision was to provide a safe haven for them, with regular meals, clean clothes, and the chance to re-integrate into school.
