Gulu | In a quiet corner of northern Uganda, a new wave of hope is stirring for malnourished children. The Santa Foundation, a community-based non-governmental organisation, has launched its second charity drive to combat child malnutrition and other social challenges in the Acholi sub-region.
The initiative, themed “Nourishing Hope, Restoring Smiles,” will officially take place on November 14, 2025, targeting vulnerable children and patients admitted to St. Mary’s Hospital Lacor.
According to Oliver Atim, the founder and executive director of Santa Foundation, the campaign seeks to address deep-rooted issues affecting children’s health and development — from poor nutrition and limited access to psychosocial support to low literacy levels and language barriers.
“For a long time, I have been thinking about how to bring hope, health, and love to needy, malnourished children in Acholi,” Atim said. “This charity drive is part of our effort to transform lives and restore dignity to children whose futures hang in the balance.”
Over the years, the Santa Foundation has struggled to implement several community programs, including early childhood development centres, youth mentorship and counselling camps, parental workshops, and language empowerment projects. The organisation now hopes to establish a permanent child care centre in the region.
“We are planning to create a transformative society where every individual thrives through inclusive education, emotional well-being, nutritional health, and economic empowerment,” Atim added.
Adding that, “It’s about restoring hope and creating opportunities that enable communities to thrive locally.”
Targeting 50 needy children
Atim revealed that the upcoming charity event will directly support 50 needy children — 30 of whom are malnourished and 20 classified as extremely vulnerable. The children will receive clothing, food items, hygiene supplies, toys, and small cash donations.
“Sometimes what saves a life is not something big,” Atim noted. “It could be as small as a cup of milk, a packet of sugar, or a bar of soap offered to someone in need.”
She emphasised the need to build a culture of giving within the Acholi community, saying it was time to move away from over-reliance on foreign donations.
“For so long, we’ve depended on aid from abroad. But those donations are decreasing,” Atim said. “We must teach our children the value of generosity to give even from the little they have.”
Local businesses join the cause
The campaign has attracted support from local institutions, including Waribe Company Limited, which has pledged to donate 20 kilograms of indigenous food items to support the identified children.
Winifred Adokorach, the company’s administrator, said many families in Acholi silently battle child malnutrition due to poor feeding practices and lack of balanced diets.
“Some parents can’t afford nutritious food, while others who have enough choose not to share; this drive is a platform for well-wishers to step in and make a difference.” She revealed.
She also urged rural households to make better use of available land to grow indigenous crops such as millet and soybeans, emphasising food security over cash crop farming.
“We need to start preserving our own food to feed our children. Parents should also serve the right portions overfeeding can lead to obesity, especially with processed foods that contain high fat levels.” Adokorach advised.
Partnering for mental health and awareness
The Tina Pakelle Sustainable Development Initiative (TPSDI) has also joined hands with Santa Foundation to strengthen the drive’s impact.
According to Watmon James, the founder of TPSDI, their focus will be on mental health awareness, psychosocial support, and community sensitisation.
“Every child matters. Each one needs love, care, and hope for the future; Our partnership is about mobilising resources and ensuring that vulnerable children in our communities are not left behind,” Watmon said.
Watmon further called on policymakers to review the Uganda Food and Nutrition Policy of 2003 and push for the long-delayed Food and Nutrition Bill (2009) to better address child malnutrition across the country.
Recent reports from District Health Offices (DHOs) in Acholi paint a grim picture. Viral load suppression among children and adolescents stands at 78–80 per cent, compared to 94 per cent among adults.
An analysis of ten districts in northern Uganda indicates that nearly 48,000 children aged 6–59 months suffer from acute malnutrition. Of these, 32,000 are moderately malnourished, while more than 15,000 are battling severe acute malnutrition.
As the Santa Foundation and its partners prepare for the upcoming charity drive, their message is simple but powerful: a single act of kindness can restore hope and a smile to a child’s face.
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