AF & Alton Basketball Outreach Bring Joy To Acholi Quarters In Spirit Of Festive Season

The Aliguma Foundation, in partnership with Alton Basketball Outreach, hosted a vibrant and heartwarming Christmas party for the children in Acholi Quarters on December 19. The day, filled with joy and unity, was not only a celebration of the festive season but also a chance to uplift the community with acts of kindness and environmental awareness.

Merry Christmas: Alton Basketball Club and Aliguma Foundation combined their efforts for one big party that put the smiles on the children and youths from the slums of Acholi Quarters. (All Photos/AF Media & Alton Media)

This year’s event followed the season-long theme; ‘Reduce, Recycle, Reuse’, aligning perfectly with the Aliguma Foundation’s commitment to sustainability.

Volunteers from the Alton Foundation, alongside local residents, took part in a clean-up initiative that involved sorting recyclables and removing waste, contributing to a cleaner and healthier environment for the community. The initiative was a testament to the foundation’s ongoing efforts to create lasting positive change.

Better living

The festivities began with free medical check-ups, funded by the Aliguma Foundation’s partners, followed by a community clean-up effort led by the youthful team from Alton, who worked tirelessly to clean the area and promote sustainable practices.

One Big Party: A combo of the games and cheers from the activities of the engaging day.

The day was also packed with fun-filled activities for the children, including rope pulling alias tug of war, bouncing castles, sack races, and a mini-sports day that brought the community together in the spirit of friendly competition.

Children danced and played, with music provided by the house deejays from the slums, while families and neighbors gathered to celebrate the season of togetherness. A shared lunch added to the festive atmosphere, and gifts were distributed to all the children, ensuring that no one left empty-handed.

The day ended with the traditional cake-cutting ceremony, marking the culmination of an unforgettable celebration.

What's A Party Without Cake? Officials of Altona and Aliguma Foundation are joined by the beneficiaries of the latter to cut cake to celebrate their early Christmas party as the festive season got into full throttle.

Grateful as ever

“We are deeply grateful to all our partners, who contributed directly and indirectly to making this event a success,” said Ritah Aliguma, CEO of the Aliguma Foundation. “Your support, whether through financial assistance, donations, or volunteering, has made this celebration truly special.”

The Aliguma Foundation would like to extend its heartfelt gratitude to the following partners who helped bring this day to life; UEFA Foundation for Children, U.S. Department of State Global Sports Mentoring Program, U.S. Embassy Kampala, Ola Aina, Friends of The Aliguma Foundation, Inc. USA, Matteo Cicatiello, WOPI Boston International, Wilfried Singo, AIPS Media, Gianni Merlo, Sportske igre mladih BiH, NFL, Shoes4Life and Tufts University among others.

Their contributions were invaluable in making this event a memorable and meaningful experience for the children of Acholi Quarters.

Environmental Defenders In Motion: Alton Basketball Club kept the day's activities with the ongoing Aliguma Foundation theme of Waste Management; 'Reduce, Recycle & Reuse' and duly participated in several cleaning exercises before the games, feeding and entertainment later in the day.

Looking ahead, the Aliguma Foundation remains committed to fostering positive change in the community and ensuring that environmental sustainability and social well-being remain at the forefront of their initiatives.

As 2024 draws to a close, the foundation is already planning more impactful programs for the coming year, with a continued focus on empowering communities through education, sport, enterprise and environmental action.