About
FAQs
What are Biojemmss’ objectives?
Biojemmss believes in children and young people; in their potential and in their right to a safe and nurturing environment. This can only be achieved when they are helped solely for their welfare, rather than for financial gain. Biojemmss strives for excellence, and always puts children first. It is guided by Christian values, aspiring to reflect Christ’s call for justice, hope and love.
Biojemmss collaborates with partner organisations, the community, local government, and families to assist at-risk children, aiming to rescue or prevent them from experiencing abuse. The organisation focuses on long-term and sustainable change, employing family and community strategies to reduce the risk of abuse and exploitation.
Together, these strategies build a protective network around children, leveraging the strengths and resources of both families and communities to achieve long-term and sustainable change.
What are our values?
Child-Centered: We put children first in everything we do.
Servant-Led: We seek collaboration and partnership with the people and organizations of Uganda, respecting their diverse cultures.
Responsible: We 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 remain true to our roots and history.
Adaptable: We embrace learning and positive change.
Future-Focused: We promote an organization that is self-sustainable and are committed to building sustainable change for others.
What are our main initiatives?
We run a family home in Rukungiri and a transition home in Kampala, supporting children and young people as they live in safety, gain an education and prepare for adulthood. We run eleven other community-based initiatives alongside our residential care, designed to tackle the cycle of children at risk. These initiatives include:
- Emergency Hampers
- Family-strengthening programmes
- Educational Workshops for Caregivers and Parents
- Sustainable-Livelihood Programmes
- Children's Camps
- Delivery of Safeguarding Training and Support
- Retracing and rehabilitation of street children
- Prison Work with under 5s
- Fostering Initiative
- Land Loaning
- Residential Care
- Emergency Relief Response
Biojemmss purchased a 6.9-acre piece of land in Kanyinya. Our long-term goal is to relocate all our initiatives to this land, transforming it into our headquarters with offices and facilities to deliver all our programmes. Currently, we have started agricultural projects and a water project. We are also planning to build a community centre and toilets, with longer-term plans to construct a residential house.
What sort of children do you work with?
We work with children, and their families, where we believe they are at risk. This may include children who are:
- Abused or neglected
- Living in conflict with the law
- Heading up their households
- Abandoned or in need of alternative family care (due to parental incarceration, for example)
- Living in terrible labour conditions
- Living on the streets
- Affected by armed conflict or natural disasters
- Living in hard-to-reach areas
- Affected by disability or HIV/AIDS
Why are so many children in Uganda at risk?
One of the main contributing factors is poverty, which limits the options for families and makes them vulnerable to different forms of exploitation, including child labour and trafficking. Child abandonment and children being orphaned through HIV and other diseases is also common due to the poor standard and expense of health care and education. As in other countries, children are also at risk from domestic violence, familial abuse and family breakdown.
Uganda does not have a social welfare system. Therefore, without support networks, children can end up living on the streets. Some are taken into care, but many individuals and institutions based in Uganda are not effectively monitored, which places the children at further risk.
Is Biojemmss an Elim initiative?
Biojemmss operated under an umbrella arrangement with Elim Missions, UK until 2017, when it registered as an independent charitable organisation. We remain on the approved list of organisations with Elim Missions.
Is Biojemmss a business or a charity?
Biojemmss is a non-governmental, not-for-profit organisation.
Where does your funding come from?
The majority of our funding comes from the UK, with occasional donations from local Ugandans. Supporters can contribute through one-off gifts or by setting up a Direct Debit for ongoing support via our donate button.
We also encourage fundraising through events and special appeals, such as our Christmas appeal, which raises funds for priority needs. Additionally, we receive donations from events and presentations, as well as collection boxes placed in local shops.
If I give to Biojemmss, what will my money be spent on?
All donations directly benefit the children in our care and families in the local community. We support our two existing homes, run an annual children’s camp, and fund numerous community-based initiatives. Additionally, we are developing permanent facilities in Kanyinya to centralise our operations and enhance our impact.
In everything we do, we strive to be completely transparent, particularly in the way we handle money. We are extremely grateful to those who give to Biojemmss financially and are committed to using any funds we receive with integrity. We have a structure in place to ensure that funds cannot be misappropriated, and our board of trustees oversees our spending, so we are accountable for every penny spent. We are externally audited in both Uganda and the UK.
At Biojemmss, we pride ourselves on our good financial management and robust financial controls. We use donations efficiently, stretching every pound to make the maximum impact. Biojemmss believes in the importance of transformational action, rather than transactional, and responds in a planned way to every need to ensure we make a genuine impact on those we support.
What is unique about Biojemmss?
We asked our staff and beneficiaries what they thought of Biojemmss and here are some of their thoughts:
- A real family not an institution
- A place of second chances
- Raising leaders
- Comfort zone
- Nurturing
- Loving
- Caring
- Child empowerment
- Focused on the child
Biojemmss stands out in several ways:
- Long-Term Support: We support residential Biojemmss members through university and beyond, which sets us apart from many other children’s charities operating in Uganda. This commitment to long-term development ensures that children not only receive immediate care but also have the opportunity to build a sustainable future.
- Family Feel: We pride ourselves on the ‘family feel’ we offer, with many of our graduates going on to work for or volunteer with Biojemmss. This sense of community and belonging is a cornerstone of our approach, fostering a supportive environment where children can thrive.
- Holistic Care: We provide holistic care to those who are under our residential provision. This means addressing not just the physical needs of the children, but also their emotional, educational, and spiritual well-being, ensuring a comprehensive approach to their development.
- Innovative Development Plans: Our development plans are designed to meet a critical need within the current provision for children at risk, especially in the areas of short-term crisis care for children with the view to them returning home. This proactive approach allows us to address emerging challenges and adapt to the evolving needs of the children we serve1.
- Empowerment and Leadership: Biojemmss is dedicated to raising leaders. By empowering children and providing them with the tools and opportunities to succeed, we help them become confident, capable individuals who can contribute positively to their communities.
- Community Integration: Our initiatives are deeply integrated into the local communities, ensuring that our efforts are culturally sensitive and sustainable. This local leadership and involvement are crucial for creating lasting change.