Recent floods have severely damaged the newly built offices and community center of Meeting Point, a grass-roots organization established in 1994 that serves nearly 3,000 people affected by HIV and AIDS in northern Uganda.
We are raising $20,200 to help them rebuild their office and community center to ensure that they are protected from future flooding.
Ketty and Meeting Point
During the 1980s, Ketty Opoka lived in the Acholi region of northern Uganda where she sought to raise her four children alone and safeguard them from the growing threat of rebel abduction and violence. During this time, she encountered the virus that by the end of the twentieth century would become one of Africa's greatest challenges.
As Ketty watched AIDS gradually take hold in the bodies of several close friends and colleagues, she resolved to dedicate her life to supporting people living with HIV. At first informally, then through the creation of a community-based AIDS support organization, Ketty has spent her days visiting the sick, helping them access medical services and material support, and supporting their children to continue their studies.
Under her leadership, Meeting Point started in 1994 and has worked to overcome the immense obstacles of regional violence, meager funds, and stigmatization. They now serve over 2000 HIV positive clients, 500 AIDS orphans, and 400 guardians of these orphans. They provide home-based medical and psychological care, prevention programs, income generation projects, and support to AIDS orphans.
For years, Meeting Point operated in an overcrowded office in the middle of town, where clients lined up outside in the street waiting to enter the crowded quarters. Last year, through much determination and hard work, they were able to purchase land on the outskirts of town in a much less crowded area. They raised funds to cover the costs and finished building early this year. The office space was used for registration, counseling, and distribution of food and supplies. The community center also allowed space for support groups and theater practice for the educational drama group.
Meeting Point’s clients constantly remarked about how much they loved the new building—how they appreciated its privacy and the welcoming environment. Plans were underway to start a community garden for supplemental nutrition.
Ketty and Meeting Point need your support
September brought devastating floods throughout much of Africa, including northern Uganda. Ketty’s description of the floods shows how meaningful the building was for them:
"Many people rushed to give help, guardians, orphans and HIV/AIDS clients, including a few who had been admitted in the hospital. One client asked, “What does God want from us—sickness without a home? Where shall we go?”
Sadly, the floods severely damaged Meeting Point’s newly built offices. Even worse, they were later informed that their land was in danger of recurrent seasonal floodings. They are now planning to rebuild their offices on higher ground, on land given to them by the local government. They will continue to use the old building for meetings and rent it out for trainings during the dry season.
$20,200 will provide one-third of their material and building costs to provide their nearly 3,000 clients with needed services in a place of comfort.