Bukumbi Care Centre was built in the 1970’s as a joint venture between the Government and another NGO. The aim of the centre was to care for people suffering from leprosy and other disabilities who had been ostracised from their communities and were living on the streets of Mwanza and surrounding towns.
Sadly due to lack of resources and funding, over the years the centre has been badly maintained and the community forgotten about. Bridge2Aid are working closely with the government and community at Bukumbi to change this. Since 2004 B2A has been involved at Bukumbi focusing on several renovation projects, including buildings and water but mainly on empowering the community to become involved again in their day to day activities and to have a voice - there are now various income generation groups and committees run by the community members.
The future of B2A at Bukumbi is to work together with the community and government to assist with a reintegration programme – encouraging and facilitating people to live back in their villages with their families.
Six employees from Schülke UK have volunteered to travel out to Mwanza to help renovate a run down building, which is underused because of its bad condition, so that the community will have a clean and safe place to meet, chat, share stories, rest and work together. The building will include an area for the income generation groups to store their stock and use as a workshop are as well as a general meeting place.
This trip follows a programme of fundraising events by Schülke employees, including a dinner dance and sponsored skydive. Just £1 pays for medicines to help treat the effects of leprosy for a resident at Bukumbi. If you would like to make a donation, visit www.justgiving.com/team_schulke_uk
