CRANE Annual Report 2016-2017 Final

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Message from our Board Chairperson
The Role of Family in Holistic Development for a Better World
In the last 12 years, CRANE has been committed to creating a safe environment for children at risk in Kampala and beyond. This has
been done through different interventions like creating safe spaces, re-integrating children in families, children accessing quality
education and families remaining intact for raising responsible children who will later become parents and leaders in society. I
strongly believe that, the family is the bedrock of society and can be proven by the fact that all over the world every society is
structured by the same pattern. A man and woman marry and form a family. This process is repeated multiple times making
multiple families which form villages, regions, and eventually countries. When several countries come together they form a
continent and all of the continents make up the world. We can only create safe environment for the children when we have strong
families who have children by choice and have a commitment to look after them. The role of the family is to give a good model so
that others within the society can imitate that model, resulting in the edification of the society.
“If we fail to provide boys with pro-social models of the transition to adulthood, they may construct their own. In some cases, gang
initiation rituals, street racing, and random violence may be the result.” Leonard Sax
CRANE and its development partners have provided economic and emotional sustenance to their members, families to raise
productive, caring citizens committed to the common good. Strong, well-functioning families, whatever form they may take, can
help reduce poverty, improve the wellbeing of mothers, promote gender equality and uphold human rights,” The interventions
CRANE has used are: Family re-integration, Girl Education Challenge, Family Empowerment and Creating Safe Spaces for the
children. The interventions have contributed positively to the children, parents, projects/ churches and greater Kampala. We are
grateful to individuals and development partners who have supported CRANE with financial and social resources through
networking.
I would like to extend my appreciation to the Board of CRANE for the commitment they have exhibited in providing oversight role
and envisioning for the network. We are proud of your contribution and leadership. The same token of appreciation goes to Viva —
the Africa team for their technical support to develop proposals, negotiating for funds and ensuring that CRANE is compliant with
terms and conditions of our development partners. The CRANE members who have implemented the interventions so well have
made us proud and more visible. The development partners who have supported our cause through technical and financial support
have contributed a lot to this change. Lastly, a thank you to CRANE Secretariat team that has worked tirelessly to ensure that our
short and long term objectives are achieved.
Although a lot has been achieved, we still have the challenges of children accessing justice from Police and courts of law since they
are not well financed. Secondly, we have CRANE members who are not benefiting in the current projects. The Board has a plan of
ensuring that some of your plans are also integrated in the CRANE activities.
Allow me to thank Mrs. Grace Turyakira and Mr. Steven Mutyaba for their contributions to the CRANE Board, we shall miss their
wisdom and smiling faces. We wish them the best in their endeavors as they serve the noble cause of children in other capacities.
As we work with churches, civil societies and government, “Let us strive to strengthen these small but critical units (family) found in
every society so that we may advance as one human family toward greater progress.”
May the Almighty God bless you all.
Yours in Christ
Samuel Mayanja Ssekajja
Chairperson
3 CRANE Annual Report 2016 - 2017