This story is about how two twins, Gloria and Scovia, go from losing their mother the day they were born to living at our CCI for three years to being happily reunited with their relatives.
Background
Babies Gloria and Scovia lost their mother while giving birth in 2017. Their father, Mr. Deogratius, could not care for them alone. He was an orphan who grew up under his maternal aunt's care. A senior probation officer guided Mr. Deogratius to refer the newborn girls to Ibanda Babies for care and protection.
Ibanda Babies Home enrolled the children and provided care, legal support, health services, shelter, protection, and welfare until the girls turned three years of age.
Pursuing Kinship care
When the girls turned three, their father, Mr. Deogratius, was not ready to take them back because he had no one to help him take care of them.
He had been visiting his daughters regularly while they were in our care despite not having anything to give them; he loved them and wanted to see them. He was penniless, and he would begin crying whenever we could tell him about taking his twin daughters home.
Our counselors at Holy Innocent Ibanda counseled him and helped him identify the good people in his life who could help him care for these children. The goal was to support the children through kinship care to be prepared to begin schooling.
Twin girls, Gloria and Scovia, excited to be reunited with their family (this photo shows them with their family after one year of resettlement during a home visit)
A family reunited
The same Maternal Aunt who cared for Mr. Deogratius as a child approached him, willing to help raise the girls with him. With our support, he could finally look after and raise the daughters he loved so dearly.
We prepared the girls' family with guidance and parenting education, and when they were ready, we reunited Gloria and Scovia with their father and great aunt. As a result, their loving father can now be a daily part of his daughters' lives.
Conducting follow-up visits
Gloria and Scovia are still happy and doing well. The twin girls are now predominantly living with their grandmother, as was discovered during a routine follow-up visit conducted by one of our social workers in June 2021. However, their family still needs help and support for follow-up visits, family counseling, referrals, and advocacy for services from other service providers.
Thanks to our hardworking CCI (Child Care Institution) staff and our donors for their efforts to see that Gloria and Scovia grow up successfully reunited with their relatives.
Getting involved
If you feel called to join us on our mission of pursuing sustainable family-based care, consider donating to help us better follow-up and provide family-strengthening services to reunited families.
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