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The situation in the north of Uganda along the Sudanese border and the areas adjoining the Democratic Republic of Congo remains tense as government troops continue their war with the ‘Lord’s Resistance Army’ and the flow of traumatised refugees make their way to ‘safer’ places. Among them are hundreds of young mothers and children for whom the future is grim. Many of the pregnant girls among them have been raped, abused and abandoned. The Wakisa Centre, run by Vivian Kityo and her staff in Kampala, provides a safe haven where these young women – some girls as young as twelve – can find accommodation, medical services, emotional support and valuable skills. They find reasons to hope and build a future for themselves and their babies.

The Wesley Institute Graduate School of Counselling, in partnership with the Wakisa Centre, has assisted these victims by training hundreds of NGO aid workers, nurses and ministry personnel, providing skills in appropriate responses to victims of trauma in these war-torn areas.

When Wesley Institute enters semester break in July, Dr Graham Barker and Ms Barb Wilkinson will be taking another team of students and lay educators on a further trip to Uganda. This trip will expand its usual focus to include the support and education of female inmates in the largest of Uganda’s prison, as well as the young residents of the Wakisa crisis pregnancy centre, providing skills for developing self worth and healthy relationships. Vivian Kityo believes these issues are critical to break the cycle of abuse and marginalisation experienced by these young women.

Accompanying this year’s team of faculty and students will be Ms. Caroline Pemberton, the current Miss Australia and Mr. Matt Smeal, a photo journalist, who aim to produce a documentary on the ministries of the Wakisa Project and the Wesley Institute team. Please pray for this significant ministry effort.

Dr. Graham Barker
Wesley Institute Graduate School of Counselling
Team Leader