Heal and Thrive

We serve Christ by serving others, reminding them of their value, choosing healing & watching as He transforms. Our mantra is: You are loved and worth loving. We partner with churches & pastors in Uganda to love our mamas well, connect them to one another & to the transformative healing power of Jesus' love. We believe when our mamas truly know their value in Jesus, everything changes.

With 3,000 widows and modern day widows (marginalized, vulnerable women...aka women living in abject poverty and deep loneliness) + the 60 children who have lost both parents + the 170 teen mothers + the safe house for teen mamas we serve.... our very heart beat is to look after widows and orphans in their days of need and times of distress. They are our heroes, our beloveds, our very heart!

$7500 to continue with Olegei Literacy Center -- Empowering 120 mothers in the Olegei area of Uganda with reading, writing, math, sanitation, hygiene, nutrition and agriculture!!!

$6800 to fund a well in the Olegei area to provide clean water for 1500 people!

$5,700 to fund staff care - loving on our staff & leadership in Uganda so they may lead more effectively and with better care for their souls. We LOVED being able to take both of our teams on their retreats this year thanks to the Smith Family Foundation!!!! This is holy, healthy and necessary! --*as noted in our annual report 7% is used for operating costs. a percentage that puts us far above the gold standard of most organizations.

2022 Annual Report

Dear Smith Family Foundation,

We recently returned from Uganda and I wanted to give you a report on your donations and the good they are already doing!! I also wanted to thank you personally.

First of all, after a hard year of fundraising globally, your surprise donation was such a source of encouragement!!! And the letter you sent along with it? It encouraged my heart and soul DEEPLY. Thank you. Truly. As a leader doing hard and holy work daily, your letter made me feel seen and encouraged in so many ways. Thank you for giving generously and encouraging generously!!!

Here is a breakdown of how we are using your funds throughout 2023!!

1. $7500 -- Funding Olegei Literacy Center!!! In Olegei Literacy Center 150 mamas are able to (weekly) be empowered by Ateso speaking literacy coaches in reading, writing, math, sanitation, hygiene, business and agriculture!! With so many of our mamas never having attended attended school as a child (their families saying it wasn't worth educating a girl) - not only are they learning to write their names, help their kids with homework and read their prescriptions after taking a child to the doctor, but they are no longer getting cheated at the market since they know math!!! They are making business plans and forming businesses, they are working together on group businesses and more! They are also working as teams to improve their homes in hygiene and sanitation and have better (and safer!) housing for their families! It's TRULY remarkable what these mamas are doing with empowerment and knowledge! AND a safe community of friendship. Stephanie Eisner added Leslie Thorngate to the Olegei group on FB to receive monthly updates on what the mamas are learning, but if anyone else wants to join, let me know!! I'd love for you to get monthly updates and stories on these amazing mamas!

2. $6800 A well in Agirigiroi Village! I'm attaching a thank you video. I sent the funds right before we headed to Uganda and the well is already drilled. The mamas are SO thrilled (as you can see!!) The mama "translating" is Marion - a mama in charge of that entire area (even Olegei) who single handedly is gathering women to join our program. This well will provide clean water not just for the women in program, but for 1,500 villagers!!! (Note for the video: our partner NGO is called DECODI so you'll hear the women reference thanks to DECODI. We always want them thanking the Ugandans instead of us!) (We will have MORE photos and videos after our well opening ceremony in June!!!)