Jajja's Kids Photo Exhibition: HWFC Gallery

by Steve Kozlowski

The exhibit "Visions of a Country and Humanitarian Program" is currently hanging in HWFC’s rotating Gallery near the Teaching Kitchen & Community Rooms. It will be on display until July 31st. Check it out while you still can!!

It is presented by local photographer Connie Frisbee Houde, who also serves as Jajja's Kids’ Board President. She captured these images during her trip to Uganda last December with Diane Reiner, the organization’s executive director. The exhibit includes 20 of Connie's photos along with six paintings by three of Jajja's Kids. These images can be viewed during normal Co-op hours, through the end of July.

Jajja’s Kids is a local, volunteer-led non-profit organization working jointly with a team of employees in Uganda to support former street children there. Jajja’s Kids provides a safe and loving home and a supportive, nurturing community. The program provides food, shelter, counseling, educational opportunities, and medical care. Leadership and sustainability opportunities are encouraged.

From modest beginnings in 2006 as a community outreach program in the slums of Kampala, Uganda, the program has grown from a rented space in 2013 to a permanent home in 2019. Jajja’s Kids was established with twenty homeless children, ages 4 to 9.  Currently, there are eighteen children in the program: 2 in primary school, 11 in high school, and 5 in university and college.

The pictures in this blog post include a photo of artwork drawn by Nicholas, one of Jajja's Kids, a greeting by a group of Jajja's Kids in front of their house's property gate when Connie and Diane arrived for their visit, and a photo of the gallery at Honest Weight.

 For more information about Jajja’s Kids, visit their website or Facebook Page.