About
Overview
Formally established in 2009, Biojemmss is a Christian charity based in Uganda that works with vulnerable children and young people. As well as offering residential care for the most at-risk, we aim to prevent abuse, educate parents and members of the community, and help young people transition into adulthood.
Our Story
Back in 2007, Biojemmss was formed to provide crisis care for 18 vulnerable children and young people who were experiencing significant abuse in an unregulated residential facility. These children were moved to a new home in Rukungiri where they would be safe, nurtured and developed into healthy adults.
The organisation was officially established in 2009 when it was registered as a foreign NGO in Uganda. It partnered with Elim International Missions the same year which established its UK presence. In 2018, Biojemmss became an independent UK registered charity under registered charity number 1177603.
Our name
People often ask us where the name ‘Biojemmss’ came from. When the first young people were rescued from their abusive care home, many had been forced to give up their own Christian names and were known by the name of their abuser.
At the new home, the children’s names and identities were re-established. They were also asked what they would like to be called collectively and the name "Biojemmss" was born. Each of their names was represented in this name (for example ‘m’ for Muwanguzi, ‘B’ for Brian), with the final ‘s’ acting as a tribute to Siân who was instrumental in their rescue. To them, the name means togetherness
or family
.
Our mission, vision and values
Mission
Our passion is to equip families and communities to identify cycles of children at risk by addressing root causes and creating safe spaces for children to thrive and successfully transition into adulthood. We do this by delivering several initiatives that identify, address and prevent child abuse.
We operate with a focus on long-term sustainable change through a relationship-based model, employing and working with existing family and community strategies to reduce the risk of children to abuse and exploitation.
Vision
To build a culture that empowers children and families to thrive in Uganda and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Our focus areas therefore include rescuing and keeping children safe, meeting basic needs, providing access to education for children and caregivers, and transforming communities.
Values
- CHILD-CENTRED: We put children first in everything we do
- SERVANT-LED: We seek collaboration and partnership with the people and organisations of Uganda, respecting their diverse cultures
- RESPONSIBLE: We will exercise the highest levels of integrity, professionalism and accountability in our work
- UNASHAMEDLY CHRISTIAN: We believe in the transformative and restorative love of God
- UNIQUE: We will remain true to our roots and history
- ADAPTABLE: We embrace learning and positive change
- FUTURE FOCUSED: We will promote an organisation that is self-sustainable, and are committed to building sustainable change for others
Where we work
Rukungiri
Our current family home is in Rukungiri, western Uganda. This home provides a loving and safe environment to children and young people. They attend good schools and have a place they can call home; a place where basic rights such as medical care, food and developmental opportunities are guaranteed. Biojemmss also delivers a number of community-based and preventative initiates such as family strengthening from this branch for children at-risk. It continues to develop and expand this work to other nearby rural and unreached areas, and has purchased a large piece of land for our permanent facilities in Kanyinya.
Kampala
We have a second residential home in Kampala, the country’s capital. This transition home provides ongoing support for our older young people who are attending university, finding jobs or setting up their own businesses.
Kanyinya
Biojemmss has purchased a 6.9 acre piece of land in Kanyinya and is currently developing our permanent facilities to meet the growing demand for our services. We have already established farming and agricultural endeavours, and are prioritising getting safe water access to the land for our activities, and also the local community. We intend to build a community centre to host our main offices, and to relocate all our activities which are currently being delivered from our Rukungiri branch.
