Child Care Foundation was founded in 2012 by Jelani Kaiser and Jelani Trinidad in Masese Division, Jinja District, Uganda. The foundation was born from a deeply personal experience. Jelani Kaiser lived with Becker Muscular Dystrophy, a physical disability. Because of her condition, she was rejected by her parents and treated as a curse. This painful experience inspired her and Jelani Trinidad to stand up for vulnerable children and persons with disabilities who face neglect, discrimination and exclusion in their communities.
What began as a small community support group in 2012, later grew and was officially registered as a Community Based Organization (CBO) in 2014. Since then, Child Care Foundation has worked to support orphans, vulnerable children, single mothers and persons with disabilities through education, healthcare, HIV/AIDS services, shelter and child protection programs. The organization started its work in Jinja and later expanded to hard-to-reach areas such as Lolwe Island, Namayingo and Mayunge Districts
Child Care Foundation continues to advocate for children’s rights and works closely with families and communities to prevent abuse and neglect. The foundation promotes dignity, respect and hope, while empowering communities to care for their children and build a better future. Our work honors the life and vision of JELANI KAISER by ensuring that every child and every person with a disability is valued, protected and given a chance to prosper
Meet Our Team
Our strength lies in the hearts and minds of the people behind our mission. We are a team of compassionate professionals and changemakers driven by a shared commitment to empower vulnerable children, women, and persons with disabilities.
Blending expertise in education, finance, social work, advocacy and community development, our team works hand in hand to design and implement sustainable programs that create lasting impact. Each member brings unique experience, vision, and purpose united by the belief that every life has value and every individual deserves the chance to prosper
Maria Sierra
President
Maria is a nurse with experience in the emergency medical, high complex conditions, and spinal cord injury. Her commitment to public health led her to volunteer in one of Nepal’s most underserved regions, where she delivered essential care in resource-limited environments. Passionate about advancing equitable healthcare, Maria aspires to contribute to transformative global health initiatives, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
Her dedication has ensured that underserved communities gain not only access to essential healthcare but also education and economic opportunities that enable them to thrive.
Whether leading complex projects or building partnerships that amplify impact, Maria is committed to creating lasting change. She focuses on bridging healthcare disparities and promoting sustainable health solutions that uplift vulnerable populations, driving forward the mission of transforming lives globally.
Jelani Kaiser
Late Founder & Director
Jelani Kaiser was a passionate advocate for vulnerable children and underserved communities, serving as the Founder and Director of Child Care Foundation. With over 13 years of experience in community development and child welfare, she led transformative programs focused on empowering women, girls, children, and persons with disabilities (PwDs) through education, economic empowerment, and inclusive development initiatives
Jelani held a Degree in Social Work and Community Development and dedicated her life to building a society where every individual regardless of background or ability have access to quality education, healthcare, and economic opportunities.
Living with Becker Muscular Dystrophy, Jelani embodied the strength, resilience, and determination that defined her leadership. Her lived experience fueled her advocacy for inclusion and accessibility, making her not only a leader but also an inspiration to those she served.
In addition to her work at Child Care Foundation, Jelani proudly represented Uganda as a Global Youth Ambassador, championing the rights and voices of young people worldwide. Guided by compassion, accountability, and visionary leadership, she continues to inspire the foundation’s mission to empower communities to rise above challenges and build a more inclusive future for all.
Today, Jelani Trinidad serves as Executive Director, continuing the mission and legacy of the late Jelani Kaiser.
Jelani Trinidad
Executive Director
Jelani Trinidad is a passionate and visionary leader in child welfare, disability inclusion and community development, currently serving as the Deputy Director of Child Care Foundation in Jinja, Uganda. With over 12 years of experience in social entrepreneurship, program management, and grassroots empowerment, he has become a driving force in creating inclusive and sustainable opportunities for vulnerable children, women and persons with disabilities.
Trinidad’s leadership combines compassion with strategy, transforming community challenges into pathways of growth and dignity. His expertise spans program design, advocacy, partnership development, human rights, and capacity strengthening enabling him to design and implement impactful projects that address poverty, education, and inequality at the grassroots level.
As a Human Rights Activist and Peer Educator, Trinidad has championed initiatives that promote gender equality, disability inclusion and economic empowerment. His innovative projects such as Empower Her, Beads of Hope, and the Reusable Pads Initiative continue to inspire transformation and resilience across Uganda’s most marginalized communities.
As a firm believer in inclusive empowerment, Trinidad’s work reflects his life’s mission to ensure that every individual, regardless of background or ability, has the opportunity to become self reliant and live with dignity. His dedication, vision, and results-oriented leadership make him not just a changemaker but a true architect of hope and inclusion
Dr. Kamusini Abudallah Meddy
PROJECT MANAGER
Dr. Meddy, is a highly skilled professional with extensive experience in program implementation, monitoring, and evaluation, ensuring that projects deliver tangible and lasting impact. He holds a proven track record in coordinating stakeholder engagements, creating effective team collaborations, and managing resources efficiently, playing a pivotal role in the successful execution of initiatives that drive sustainable development. Abdallah's work is particularly focused on empowering vulnerable populations through education, economic empowerment, and holistic development, with a strong emphasis on health.
His commitment to health initiatives ensures that communities not only gain access to education and economic opportunities but also receive the healthcare support they need to thrive. Whether leading complex projects or building partnerships that amplify impact, Abudallah is dedicated to advancing the foundation’s mission of creating lasting change for underserved populations.
Eman Rimawi-Doster
Head of Communications & Outreach
Eman Rimawi-Doster is a Black and Palestinian woman, born and raised in NYC. She organizes around diversity, equity, and inclusion in disenfranchised communities, while using art, writing, fashion, creativity, and organizing. She learned the ins and outs of taking action and having integrity from her parents. She has made it her life’s mission to change the things that need a push in a more inclusive direction. Her father wanted her to change the things she saw wrong and she does with everything she touches.
She went on to teach creative writing, community organizing and political science workshops to youth in the city. She’s been focused on organizing disability rights and the intersectionality of it within every aspect of life.
She is committed to educating people on the interconnectedness of disability within multiple communities. Life doesn’t end when you have a disability. She began Diversity Includes Disability, a consulting firm designed to support and educate organizations and businesses on disability equity, while she continues to be a Disability Consultant for D.C. Comics and Skybound, and speaks at conferences and does training and art shows about equity and inclusion for all people with disabilities
Kigenyi Rashid
FINANCE
Kigenyi Rashid holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and Finance and brings a wealth of experience from working with reputable organizations that advocate for the rights of Persons with Disabilities (Pwds). As a skilled financial manager and social advocate, Rashid excels in financial management, accountability and stakeholder engagement, combining strong analytical skills with a deep commitment to inclusion and transparency.
He currently serves as the Head of the Beads of Hope Project, a flagship initiative under Child Care Foundation that empowers persons with disabilities through creative entrepreneurship enabling them to produce and market handmade jewelry as a source of sustainable income. His leadership has transformed Beads of Hope into a model of economic empowerment and disability inclusion, inspiring self-reliance and dignity among its beneficiaries.
Rashid has also played a key role in projects such as the Reusable Sanitary Pads Initiative which equips women and girls including those with disabilities with skills to produce affordable, eco-friendly sanitary pads helping them stay in school and maintain menstrual hygiene with confidence.
A champion of inclusive growth, Rashid continues to drive financial integrity and social innovation within the organization, ensuring that every project not only uplifts communities but also promotes long-term sustainability and empowerment
Trenna Valado
Evaluation Advisor
Dr. Valado is an evaluation expert who has dedicated her career to designing, evaluating, and optimizing programs designed to improve the lives of vulnerable children and families.
Stacey Haslem
MEMBER
Stacey is a dedicated humanitarian with strong experience in volunteering and community service.