Two years ago when a group of young people started out on facebook with the page ‘40 days over 40 smiles‘, to support orphans and vulnerable children, no one could have possibly imagined they would be building a dormitory that can accommodate 210 children. However, that is exactly what they have done and they give the impression that this is just the beginning.
The group has transformed social media by utilising it for change among Ugandan Youth, a phenomenon that was hitherto unheard of.
Eight months ago they began the journey to construct this dormitory for Happy Times Childcare Initiative, Luweero. They organised fundraising events which included a music and poetry show dubbed Croak and Rhyme in July and Hoops for grace, a basketball fundraiser in September hoping to reach their 28 million shilling target.
Realising the funds from these events weren’t enough; they decided to start online campaigns. The first was #BuyABrick where a brick was priced at 500sh and one could buy as many as they wanted or #BuyABag in which people bought bags of cement priced at 28,000/- each. This online campaign took a life of its own and before long; over 10 million shillings had been raised and the hash tag trended for a long while. This resulted in a nod from the Social Media Awards, when they received an accolade for ‘Best Campaign’ in November 2013.
In December, 40 days over 40 smiles embarked on another online campaign #BeSanta to encourage people to buy building material instead of Christmas gifts. Fast forward to April 2014 and the group achieved their dream.
They invited everyone who had contributed to the construction of the dorm and curious observers to its opening on Saturday 19th in another campaign dubbed #IBuiltADorm. They ferried over 80 people to Luweero to witness the commissioning.
The children were ecstatic but the administration was more amazed. For several years, Happy Times had an overcrowded dormitory due to lack of space.
Esther Kalenzi, who is the team leader, was just as stunned. “You needed to have seen this place few months ago. We never imagined that this dream would come true, and so soon. This dormitory will exist long after us and that is what the foundation is about”
The group focuses on education and sustainability. They intend to focus on literacy and skills for vulnerable children and young adults for the next part of the year.
