I CHILD RIGHT & PROTECTION: With JCA’s Ministries, an ever important approach guideline is “caring for the body and soul”. The organization changes children’s lives for the better, equally teaching then to read and write so that they can see the Bible stories themselves. It’s principle is that churches and Ministries have a future if they give a child an education. JCA ‘s Child Ministry works in close cooperation with thematic child protection stakeholders, among which are:
a) ANPCAN – Africa Network for Protection Against Child Abuse and Neglect
b) Save the Children
c) World Vision
d) War Child
e) Ministries of Gender, Labour, Education, Youth, Health and Community Development.
Furthermore, JCA in regards to Children’s Rights also network with several organizations locally and overseas. By this networking the agency is able to exchange information on best practices, policies on children’s rights, as well as effect child rights programmes that are locally, nationally, regionally and universally accepted, with codes of Ethics and Laws thereof. The standard international legal instrument on children which JCA promotes and adheres to is the United Nation Convention on Children’s Rights [UNCRC] ThChild Rights Convention [CRC].
Within this context, JCA engages in all forms of child protection and care , from education sponsorship to housing and shelter provision to healthcare, feeding clothing, spiritual, socio-cultural and economic development and well – being.
iii ENVIRONMENT: JCA strengthens Environmental Protection and Nature consernation by theological doctrinal integration that God created all things in Nature and all shock use it rationally and responsibly. The organisation programmes and gives free tree seeds for Community Urban and School Tree Nursery Development. Some 1,000 tree nurseries have been established in different parts of Uganda with the help of JCA, each raising 60,000-200,000 tree seedlings of woody trees and shrubs for planting to supply firewood, timber, poles or protect environment, olliers sold for cash by producers.
JCA’s Environmental Programme has boosted 10 Womens Group, 20 youth Associations and 50 Community Farmers Groups throughout Uganda who are members of various Christian Churches but are united in their common goal to plant trees for a livelihood as part of sustainable Agro-Forestry. Fifteen (15) schools are beneficiaries of the JCA tree planting packages, each has nature conservation and Environmental protection and Young Farmers Club comprizing 60-100 members in Primary and Secondary schools. They operate School Farms and School Gardens and Tree Nursery as part of science Education for the future conservationists, Farmers or Foresters and Agro-foresters.
HUMANITARIAN RELIEF programes of JCA enables it to respond promptly to needs in moments of Disasters whenever they happen to be –Natural or Manmade. Since its founding the organisation has mobilizes several tons of relief foodstuff and clothes for the IDPCs (Internally Displaced People Camps) in Nortern Uganda and food Victims in Teso sub-region of Eastern Uganda.
v. LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT component has been training devoted christians for Evangelical and Pastoral works and callings. Pastors and Teachers already in Missionary works have been equipped to empower their congregations to become each a leader in their neighborhood. JCA has initiated, partnered with and cooedinated many Trainning Seminars, Conferences, Workshops and Short Courses across Uganda and externally. The training events each of 50-500 participants or more, usually lasted from Half-Day (½ Day) non-Residential to Seven (7) Days or more which are Residental, cost per participant ranging from:
(a) Free-of-charge to participate with Meals, Transport Refund and Scholastic Materials provided.
(b) Nominal $US 20-100$US per participant payable as commitment and participation materials fees.
(c) $US 101 upwards for corporate Leadership development which the institutional excecutive pays often for venues ranging from $US 90/50 per night in High class hotels or move.
Vi HEALTH, WATER & SANITATION (WASH). In the WASH Programmes, JCA Constructs Boreholes, Water wells, Rain Water Harvesting Ferro-Cement Tanks, Valley Dams, among others in needy water –stressed communities. In other situations, the organisation builds and donates Bio Sand Water Filters for communities, plus teaching the communities to build their own, then form water committees for sustainability. Pit Latrines construction to elderly persons homes, schools and Landing sites on water bodies is a twin programme JCA provides.
Vii WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT has been a core part of JCA from the beginning; todate it has developed a comprehensive syllabus for Home Economics, for Womens Groups both with in churches and secular organisations for Women. The syllabus is worked out with generous support and cooperation of specialized training institutions making it useful in :
(a) Rural Training Centers
(b) Training Equipment Procurement
(c) Labour Organisations, Policy-Making.
(d) Women’s clubs and Associations.
(e) Community Development Centers
(f) District Training Centers. Among others.
2. Women’s Groups are taught income-Generation skills, including:
§ Handicrafts making Needle work, Knitting and Tailoring.
§ Catering, Bakery and Confectionely
§ Soap-making, candle-making, Food Processing and Sales.
§ Carpentry, Joinery & Masonry Works. Energy-Saving Stores production, use and sales.
§ Horticulture, Market Gardening,.
§ Livestock production and Animal Husbandry
§ Post-Harvets crops Handling and Management
§ Computer, Business and Secretarial life skills.
§ Leadership in entrepreneurship.
§ Soil Economics including composting and crops Rotation.
3. MICRO-LOANS ACCESS to micro finance bodies facilitated for Women as start-up capital out of poverty.
Viii COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT involvement of JCA is mostly by way of the above interrelated issue and aspects. The target beneficiaries include:
Þ People with Disabilities (PWDs)
Þ Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVCs)
Þ Widows, Single Mothers, Teenage Mothers.
Þ Farmers for food Production and food Security
Þ Training of Trainers (TOTs)
ix INTER-CHURCH COOPERATION is a programme which enables JCA to act as bridge for harmony amongst different Christian denominations. It also organizes various interfaith debates and conferences, in addition to distributing Christian Literature.
X VOLUNTEERISM JCA. The Joint Christian Association serves as central focal point for community volunteering recruitment and placement on worthy causs, irrespective of one’s faith or creed. In coming volunteers from overseas get assigned to church projects, Local schools, Health Centers, Orphanages, Community Counselling and information Centers, Youth and Women’s projects, among others. Individual and Group Volunteers are received throughout the year, including whole Classrooms with schools from abroad on Holidays of one-week up-to 2 months or more. Costs of maintenance and administration of this programme varies according to cases and individual needs from $US 600 - $US 1,000 per person, choice of residence in Homesteads, schools or Guest Houses, Hostels and Hotels. During volunteering time one may cook own food or choose to eat foodstuff prepared by assigned and attendant cook of native or foreign dishes. For volunteering less than one Month the cost is less than indicated.
EDUCATION forms the central building block of JCA’s operation, comprise primary Education, Senior Secondary formal education and Tertiary and Vocational Lifeskills learning. The organization supports existing facilities as well as builds new ones in rural and peri-urban areas where need is greatest. Additionally, it coordinates provision of school lunch and porridge for poor Kids. In Uganda, JCA is working with dozens of schools in each of the country’s Four geopoltical regions of North, East, Central and West, it also promotes development of school and community ICT Centers and Resource Centres, in addition to fundraising, planning, technical and Christian Education Programme provision. The partner schools are connected with each other and with other parts of the world by JCA’s programmes.
Xii YOUTH MINISTRY is based on JCA’s community and personal transformation concepts designed to equip youth as leader of the future; it avails counselling services, Education future; it avails counselling services, education and Learning programmes, meaning worklife and employment opportunities, along with healthy living styles and peaceful social interractions. The organisation has well developed and researched Human Resources Programmes and intercultural progress models which stand aside from the rest including camping programmes.
§ Training of peer Educators for youth, as well life-planning skills.
Xiii ICT- INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES constitute a very specific element in JCA’s operations as such the ministry is empowering youth , Pastors, Teachers, Women, Believers and communities by way of computer training, internet, information Kiosks and telecentres linkages for evangelism and missins, building on this strength, JCA solicits and provides used, reconditioned computers for connecting disadvantaged youth and Churches to the internet, while enhancing information Technologies and multimedia training across needy areas and target groups.
