All roads lead to Kyenjojo District on 29th November 2026 as AudRay Child and Youth Care Foundation is set to have an outreach.
The CEO of the foundation, Ms Audrey Musiime, said they will be visiting 5 households in the district that are currently living in very difficult conditions. “Let us come together to support and bring hope to these families,” Audrey Musiime said.
As their motto says, “A hand of love, A hopeful tomorrow”, this is what is going to happen. The foundation is also nurturing brighter futures for children and adolescents.
Many parents work extremely hard to give their teenagers a better life. They work long hours, build careers, run businesses and make sacrifices to provide school fees, food, shelter and other necessities. These efforts are important and should be appreciated. However, while providing for your teenager, it is equally important to ask yourself: Am I also present in their life?
A parent can be physically present at home but emotionally unavailable. You may sit in the same house every evening while your teenager spends their time dealing with school pressure, friendships, emotions, social media and questions about their future. If there is little communication or meaningful connection, your teenager may begin to feel that you are a provider, but not someone they can easily talk to.
Ms Audrey Musiime
Teenagers need more than material provision. They need parents who are interested in their lives, who listen to their concerns, notice changes in their behaviour and make time for meaningful conversations. Sometimes, simply asking, “How are you really doing?” and taking time to listen can communicate more love than buying another expensive item.
Being present does not mean abandoning your work or being with your teenager every minute. It means being intentional about the time you have. Share a meal, ask about school, talk about their interests, know their friends, attend important events and create opportunities for conversations without phones and other distractions. These small moments help teenagers feel seen, valued and understood.
Parents should also avoid becoming involved only when something goes wrong. If you only talk to your teenager when their grades decline, when they misbehave or when the school calls, communication can easily become associated with criticism and punishment. Connection should come before correction. Build a relationship during the good moments so that your teenager is more likely to turn to you when they face challenges.
Remember that adolescence is a critical period of growth. Your teenager is becoming more independent, developing their identity, forming friendships, discovering their abilities and making decisions that can influence their future. They still need your guidance, even when they appear to want independence. Give them space to grow, but remain emotionally available enough to guide them.
As a parent, take a moment to reflect: Does my teenager feel that I am genuinely interested in their life? If they were facing a difficult situation, would they feel comfortable coming to me? Am I only providing for them, or am I also connecting with them?
You may be working hard today to secure your teenager’s future, and that is valuable. But don’t become so busy preparing their tomorrow that you miss their today. Your teenager needs your provision, but they also need your presence, attention, guidance and listening ear.
Same roof should not mean different worlds. Be present. Be interested. Be available. Build the relationship now, while you still have the opportunity to walk closely with your teenager through these important years.
#Yourchild’smentalhealthmatters #Beapresentparent
Audrey Musiime Psychologist|Mental Health Consultant MindCare Therapy Centre +256782326195
These are phrases many children hear growing up, often spoken with good intentions. Parents usually hope comparison will motivate their children to improve. In reality, it often has the opposite effect. Instead of inspiring growth, it can make a child feel they are never good enough simply because they are different.
Every child has unique strengths, interests, and challenges. One may excel in academics, while another shines in creativity, kindness, leadership, or resilience. When children are constantly compared to their siblings, they stop focusing on becoming the best version of themselves and start believing their worth depends on measuring up to someone else. Over time, this can damage self-esteem, create anxiety, and even strain sibling relationships by turning them into competitors instead of lifelong supporters.
Children don’t hear comparison as encouragement.
They hear:
“I’m not enough.”
“I’m a disappointment.”
“I’ll only be loved if I become someone else.”
These silent messages often stay with them long after childhood, shaping how they see themselves and their relationships with others. The result isn’t healthy competition – it’s silent self-doubt.
Audrey Musiime
Children don’t need to be compared – they need to be understood*. Encouraging effort, celebrating progress, and recognizing each child’s individuality builds confidence far more effectively than comparison ever will.
A simple shift from _“Why can’t you be like your brother?”_ to _“I know you can improve, and I’m here to help you”_ can make a lasting difference.
The true goal of parenting is not to raise identical children but to help each child discover and develop their own potential. Long after grades and achievements are forgotten, children will remember how their parents made them feel. When they grow up feeling accepted, encouraged, and loved for who they are, they gain the confidence to become the best version of themselves.
Comparison may change behavior for a moment, but understanding shapes a child for a lifetime.
Musiime Audrey Psychologist | Mental Health Consultant +256782326195
For many parents, taking a child to boarding school is seen as an investment in their future. School fees are paid, shopping is done, and academic expectations are clearly communicated. But amidst all this preparation, one important question is often forgotten:
“How are you really doing?”
Children in boarding school face many challenges that are not always visible. They may struggle with homesickness, bullying, peer pressure, academic stress, loneliness, low self-esteem, or difficulty adjusting to a new environment. Unfortunately, many suffer in silence because they fear being misunderstood, judged, or disappointing their parents.
As parents, our conversations should go beyond asking:
🔸“How are your grades?”
🔸“Did you pass your exams?”
🔸“Do you need more school fees?”
We should also ask:
🔸“How are you coping emotionally?”
🔸“Do you feel safe at school?”
🔸“Have you made friends?”
🔸“Is there anything worrying you that you’d like to talk about?”
🔸“How can I support you?”
These questions create a safe space where children know they are loved for who they are – not just for their academic performance.
Remember, not every child who is struggling will openly ask for help. Sometimes they communicate through changes in behavior, declining academic performance, withdrawal, irritability, or simply becoming unusually quiet. These are moments that call for curiosity, not criticism.
Ms Audrey Musiime
A few minutes of genuine conversation can strengthen trust, promote emotional well-being, and help identify problems before they become crises.
Parenting does not end when a child goes to boarding school. Your presence, even from a distance, remains one of the greatest sources of comfort, resilience, and hope.
Stay connected. Listen intentionally. Support unconditionally. Your child needs more than school fees-they need you.
#mentalhealthmatters
Musiime Audrey Psychologist/Mental health Consultant +256782326195
As part of it’s charity activities, AudRay Child & Youth Care Foundation reached out and visited Kasamba Village in Bugaki sub-county, Kyenjojo District during Christmas season.
At the time, the foundation visited many homes where they donated to them food stuffs like posho, rice, cooking oil, salt, clothes, scholastic materials, home items like basins, mattresses and many others.
The foundation also went on and launched their new offices in Rugombe Town. They are now functioning full time.
The foundation intends to be doing more outreaches in the near future with in Kyenjojo and sorrounding areas.
Audrey Musiime, one of the directors of the foundation told this website that they intend to equip the youth with skills in hair dressing, tailoring, farming and many other to boost their income generation.
She said they will also support women on increasing their household income through skilling them technically.
The AudRay Child & Youth Care Foundation, an NGO based in Rugombe in Kyenjojo District has moved a step closer to it’s officially launch.
During a meeting by members on Saturday at Kolping Hotel in Kampala a number of issues were discussed to guide in preparations for the launch.
Audrey Musiime, the director shared the reasons why she co-founded the NGO with her husband Raymond Musiime.
The NGO main objective is to change the lives of needy Ugandans starting with the people of Kyenjojo.
AudRay Foundation started as a ministry which later turned into a foundation since the founders have much passion for helping children and the needy.
Audrey and Musiime stated that the major reasons for coming up with this foundation is to Empower single mothers and youths through training in practical skills.
Mr. Musiime Raymond emphasized on working as a team since no one is self- reliable.
The NGO is in final stages of completing full registration and aquiring operational licence and this is expected by July or August this year.
