Teens Development Ministry

The Teens Development Ministry (TDM) is led by Mutegeki Wilson, who is a trained teacher.  The vision for this ministry is “to develop the teenagers through discipleship and its aim is to enhance and create a godly, sustainable and positive change in the lives of the teens and in the local community.”

An African Dream set up TDM in 2011 in partnership with Wilson and the local community. We support TDM through finance and prayer, and together with hard work and wisdom on the ground. The TDM project enables teenagers to receive, education in health, agricultural training, life skill development and spiritual support. (Photo is one of the teenagers)

Health

Health days are held at St Mark’s School twice a year during which pupils are screened for common diseases as well as having a dental check and given a new toothbrush and toothpaste. They also attend sessions on general health matters such as personal hygiene and disease prevention. Once a year the health day is extended to include parents and guardians who are offered health education sessions as well as given general advice.

For a few years AAD has funded the provision of washable sanitary towels to the school which are available for all girls who need them. Previously girls had been missing up to a quarter of their schooling and providing sanitary towels has proved successful in improving attendance rates. This year the sanitary towels were provided by a local co-operative whose training was funded by AAD. Managed by Wilson, the Teens Development Co-ordinator, they have developed Queen Confidence, a washable sanitary towel, and St Mark’s were their first major order.

Microenterprise

Supporting individuals to gain a skill is one of the best ways to see real change in their lives. Our tailoring project has trained 25 young women and a couple of young men too both in sewing skills and also business training. 9 have now left the project to set up their own businesses near to their homes.

Keeping animals is often another successful endeavour and AAD currently is working alongside Grace Piggery to help it to grow. The team led by Jesse and Precious are committed to building strong sties for the pigs and working towards each team member being supplied with a pig to help their household income through the breeding and sale of pigs.

Widows

Widows are particularly vulnerable in Uganda, although these women are also very resourceful, generous and often sharing their homes with other vulnerable people and orphans. In the region that AAD works the number of widows we have connection with through Rev Lumika is around 400.

Our support of the Widows has included, supplying them with pigs, attending conferences to encourage them in their Christian faith, and food parcels at Christmas.

We recognise that this work could be further developed, and we would ask you to pray for wisdom in how we best love and serve these amazing women.

Bible college

AAD started with a vision to provide Pastors with Bible training, although, as part of Mark’s original dream he had intended to provide this training himself, after his death the charity was established and this training began to be delivered by others in the region. AAD has enabled over 100 pastors, both men and women, to be trained since the first graduation in 2009.

In May 2023, 28 Pastors graduated. The training takes place over 3 years and the ‘pastors in training’ travel to St Marks school for a month 3 x per year in school holidays. Local Bible training is particularly important as many Pastors do not have the required qualifications, financial means or sufficient skills in English to be able to undertake training in Kampala.