Direct Support in Uganda

personal entry by Simon Janus, 25/12/2025

I received this annual report of Jugendhilfe Ostafrika e.V., an organization that has been providing very hands-on development support in Uganda for many years in my mailbox at Christmas.

At the core of the work is a bicycle project through which bicycles and tricycles are distributed to families, young people, and people with disabilities. In these regions, a bicycle is not a leisure item but often determines whether school, work, or medical care can be reached at all. This is complemented by tree-planting initiatives and direct support for families who are heavily affected by intense rainfall, flooding, and increasing periods of drought.

While reading, I was reminded of 2020. At that time, I had considered doing a voluntary social year after finishing school with “FABIO – First African Bicycle Information Office”, a similar project in Uganda, before the COVID-19 pandemic intervened. Especially in Uganda, the measures were particularly severe, many lives were lost, and projects had to be paused temporarily. This made it all the more encouraging to read that the work has since resumed and continues steadily.

For me, this is development assistance that truly reaches the right place and is used in a meaningful way. With around 90 euros, it is already possible to donate a bicycle; with approximately 150 euros, a tricycle for a person with disabilities. Anyone interested should definitely take a look at the annual report.

About the organization:

https://www.jugendhilfe-ostafrika.de/