Shared Hope for Orphans Testimony

When the Surprised by Hope team arrived at the Light Academy Primary School compound, we were shocked by all the positive changes that had taken place over the short time since we first stood on this same plot and prayed for exactly what we saw in front of us. While they are receiving some outside support, the leaders' implementation of the entrepreneurship teaching Surprised by Hope delivered, and their faithful accountability, has taken them far.

The Spirit impressed in me the need to prayer walk for the school and for the Shared Hope for Orphans compound. The SbH team, the various school leaders, and all the children who remained after breaking for the holiday tromped around the outer edges calling out to God to let his will be done, to protect them all from evil pursuers, and to shower them with his love and blessings.

What a joy that you have allowed us to play a small part in the success of this school and orphanage. Thank you!

August 2013

Classrooms

Future boys dormitory.

Bathrooms

Following the prayer walk, we all gathered in the center for final prayers.

Alone's mzee donated the land for this project. He must be very proud.
The two Caucasians next to me are working on adoption through
Shared Hope for Orphans.

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Light Academy Construction

The temporary structure must be maintained and added to
for those students beginning school Jan 20
at least until the new structure is complete.

With God’s help, Shared Hope for Orphans is building their permanent school structure using the assets they have along with a few income generating projects. A few short years ago I was privileged to work with the team to improve focus and develop long- and short-term goals as well as teach entrepreneurship skills. They’re realizing the benefit of that planning as they see attendance increase in their temporary school structure. The added school fee income educates and feeds orphans from the Jinja area. They’re also realizing the benefit of that planning and teaching in seeing their permanent school structure become a reality.

The new structure is currently three classrooms and is in a beautiful location.

In August, I was privileged to have been invited to pray over the land that was donated for the purpose of constructing a permanent school structure for Light Academy, a branch of Shared Hope for Orphans. I’m proud to show you the progress they’ve made in building since that time. There’s still a long way to go, so please pray with us that the creative ideas needed to generate the income will flow and that God’s favor would continue to rest upon these leaders.

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Shared Hope Prayer Walk

Our prayer time together began at the school where we prayed against the attacks of Satan, disorganized his plans, and scattered his minions never to return in Jesus’ name. Of course when you use the name of Jesus against such spirits they have nothing to do but obey. Have you ever thought about that? This knowledge has always given me strength. When I pray against the enemy in the name of Jesus there is nothing for the enemy to do but obey. Don’t let your mind in the natural tell you otherwise.

From the school we moved to the future site of the permanent school structure. We could see the sand and hard core stones preparing the way for the foundation and learned that bricks were coming the next day. We formed a circle, joined by the mzee (old man) and his wife who donated the land for the school building site, and prayed over that land. We claimed every place we set our feet to be for the purposes Jesus set forth. We prayed the enemy would flee never to return. We called out spirits of truth, righteousness, honesty, accountability, and the likes so that the children and the school would prosper. We prayed protection, health, and all that is needed to fulfill God’s plan in this place.

Moving to the gardens we found matoke tree plants starting to peek through the ground. Shared Hope for Orphans received 100 tubers from the government – in small part because of the business teaching we’d done two years ago. Among other plans for ongoing food sources, we prayed health and wisdom to make these crops grow and then nourish the children and families.

I am incredibly blessed to play a small part in working alongside Light Academy and Shared Hope for Orphans. They are the epitome of success and abundant blessing because of their faithfulness to God.

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Light Academy Primary School Attacks

Nearing the end of school Term #2, I was invited to join Light Academy Primary School for prayer. I learned that the students and teachers were on a two-day fast in prayer over attacks from the enemy. They spent those two days worshipping, praying, studying Scripture, and fasting. What a wonderful time of corporate fasting to include the Primary 7 students alongside school leaders.

As a result of all the leaders have done to grow and develop the school and orphanage ministries, growth resulting from our work together with God, neighboring schools are trying to disrupt their harmony. Apparently they’ve commissioned children from their own school into the hands of the enemy and sent them to cause chaos at Light Academy. They’ve used witchcraft and every trick they could find to disturb this school that is performing so well they are drawing students away from other schools.

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Hope Sings

This tiny one up front? Amazing!

Voices lifted high as they rang out from the temporary wooden structure Shared Hope for Orphans uses as a school. This particular Sunday the children were practicing the songs they intend to record and sell as a means to raise funds for the school. I love hearing about the creative ways leaders of this organization find to raise funds. The prayers and determination of their leaders are no doubt what sets them apart from so many.

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Light Academy End of Year Celebration

The children of Light Academy finished their school year well. The Academy is under the care of Shared Hope for Orphans and can boast some wonderful changes over this past year including an increase in enrollment due to parents demanding that their children attend this simple, wood-sided school. The school stands in financially for those families with only one living parent, which makes a large majority of students. Through this act, they show their compassion for the children.



25 Mosquito Nets Donated for the Chidren in Boarding School



As with any good celebration, the local chairman was on hand to officially open the event. No event can take place without his sanction and he was quite happy to do so on this special day. Other guests of honor included the mayor, various local leaders, the pastor, and somehow I made that list. Children danced and sang as onlookers gave small coins to acknowledge them. The teachers, when introduced, jested good-naturedly and the children had fun with them as well.

By the time the celebration was nearly complete, every chair was packed with parents and other well wishers. The whole community came dressed in their Sunday best to encourage the school and to share a meal. I’m so very proud of this organization and their care for these children as well as for the orphans to whom they provide a free education, housing, food, and other needs. What an excellent model of what it means to love your neighbor.

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Shared Hope for Orphans' Boys

Roads between Bugembe and Buwenge are notoriously rutty. Not only are they rutty but it seems they are strategically designed to force each and every vehicle to have at least one tire in some pothole of varying depths at all times. Taxis are no exception. None the less, Alex and I arrived safely in Buwenge and boda’ed to Shared Hope for Orphans without a hitch.

The leadership team was ready and waiting for us, always so kind and warm when we arrive. Our teaching today would be on the topic of customer service with emphasis on biblical service and communication. I pondered the value of customer service teaching for an organization whose focus was not retail related and decided that the principles were valuable in all relationships, not just retail service.

I always love coming to visit this organization in particular because each time I do I find some way that they’ve applied what they learned the last time we were together. They make forward progress toward their mission constantly, however hard they struggle to do so. This time was no different.

This time I found a small rented home near the school where several orphaned boys from the streets of Jinja were finding shelter, food, and love as well as receiving the education they so desperately need at no charge to them. Shared Hope for Orphans truly loves these boys and to do so sacrifice a great deal. Love is a sacrifice, isn’t it?

Three requests were on the lips of these leaders, and based on my observations…each is necessary. Would you like to help? I personally endorse their use of funds and money management and will very likely be directly involved in seeing these needs get met. If you’d like more information, please let me know.

1.      The organization received a grant for a poultry project but needs money to purchase the vaccinations and other supplies needed to keep the chickens.

2.      The wood-sided school is quickly being outgrown. Parents are moving their students from fancier schools to this one for many very positive reasons. Bricks are available as one of the projects Shared Hope uses to provide an income for their children but the other building supplies are needed.

3.      The orphan boys are receiving a free education but Shared Hope for Orphans could use your help in providing for their basic needs. Renting the home, providing food, school requirements and the like are needed to ensure these children thrive.

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Shared Hope for Orphans Grows

We spent the morning with Shared Hope for Orphans teaching about communication skills and persuasive communication. The group has a fantastic business plan and needed to learn how to talk about that plan spontaneously, consistently, and persuasively. Speaking about their project with one voice will add credibility to their request for support. Alex, as usual, was a master translator given his business education (in progress) and command of the English language. Although many of the Shared Hope members do understand me, their learning is enriched by the value Alex brings to our various workshops.

Because of the collaborative efforts of Surprised by Hope and Shared Hope for Orphans by way of learning and applying business skills, the Ugandan government entrusted the organization with more than 300 chicks. They’ll raise and sell these chicks thus creating an income for the school and home they hope to build.

On our way back from seeing the hundreds of chicks in the first stage of development, Alone pointed out that my suggestion was working. I suggested that parents who cannot pay for their child’s education but whose children are allowed to attend school anyhow could possibly work in the garden as a means of payment. A few parents began contributing in this way and have now learned a skill that was new to them and applied it in their own little plot of land.

I am so incredibly proud of this group and the many ways they are applying what they learn along with the many successful ways they are helping lift up the whole community by being a model for them and teaching them. Gosh, we need lots more people to have the determination and work ethic this group has.

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Bear Sighting

Sleeping in the shade of the Shared Hope for Orphans school structure, the bear rested that early morning. I was so surprised to see him there that I pulled out my camera to capture the moment. Although not torn to shreds like the dolly who went to live on the farm, the bear was definitely in need of a bath. Livingstone thought he ought to pose for the photo and carefully set the bear up in the sunlight. After taking the snap, he proceeded to kick the bear in the head to lay him down again.

I sniffled.

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Shared Hope for Orphans Update

Eight of us crowed into the small school office in Buwenge. The dim light shone through the single window and was enough to meet our needs. I always appreciate Alone’s sense of accountability for the learning the group receives. Each time we meet he provides an update on the action the group has taken to further their mission. This time he described their new maize project added to the existing poultry, goat, pineapple, matoke, and brick-making projects.

When we were last together, I suggested that the parents who were unable to pay full tuition for their children ought to be encouraged to work on these projects as an exchange. Alone reported that, as much as the leaders doubted their willingness, these parents came freely. As a result, their crops were producing earlier than others in the area, which means higher demand and better prices, as well as provision for the children that better aligns with the school term.

The next update from the group related to their intent to begin sheltering a small number of orphans in anticipation of their home being sponsored and built. The small number will help them slowly learn about the actual costs as compared to the budgeted costs as well as the reality of caring for such orphans. They anxiously awaited my feedback before proceeding in this area.

Of all the various groups I work with, this is the one that impresses me the most. They are very active, action-oriented, and interested in furthering their mission in every way. They apply what they learn through our classes and workshops together and continue developing even in my absence. This is the group who has the plan of starting a rice project to compliment their other food projects designed to feed the children and raise income for the home and school. They can buy 20 acres of land if they have $5000 to begin the project. Can you imagine? 20 acres of land for $5000? If any group can make this project successful, Shared Hope for Orphans can.

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They Don't Get You Well

School begins next week for the children of Buwenge, but several gathered to welcome me to Shared Hope for Orphans anyhow. They spoke a lovely welcome greeting in English and did so well that I forgot that the rest of their English may not be as well developed…so I began chatting with them. The looks of struggle on their faces and a prompt by Alone, the president of the organization, reminded me that “they don’t get you well.” I think he found a little satisfaction in knowing he wasn't the only one who didn't always understand the mzungu. The children want to learn English but seldom get to practice with a mzungu. American English pronunciations of the vowels differ enough to cause confusion for children and adults alike. After translating my conversation, Alone carefully pronounced my name and as we met with the Shared Hope leaders, the children repeated my name over and over from outside the window to get my attention until Livingstone shooed them away.

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Shared Hope for Orphans

The Teachers’ Association to Cater to Children is a community based organization interested in providing for orphaned children as well as providing an education for the children of families who lack funds for fee-based schools. Essentially this is the group of people who cannot pay and they’ve bound together to provide that education in a school where the parents and unemployed adults work together. Really, the model is a wonderful one. They’re very dedicated to their cause. Last summer I had the opportunity to work through the Entrepreneurship curriculum with this group of 20 members and as a result they netted some very tangible results including redefining their vision and mission more succinctly and a list of goals and objectives to push them toward growth.

First they changed their name from The Teachers Association to Cater to Children (they are not a group of teachers) to Shared Hope for Orphans, which reflects their community and their purpose more succinctly. I’ve written much in previous blog posts about this very passionate organization and my passion for them continues to grow as I watch them actually taking the steps we outlined together in our early sessions. They’ve designed their planned home, gotten quotes for the cost to build, and we just spent another day together learning to write a proposal requesting funds to support the project.

What I love love love about this group is that their leader is respected by the whole group and takes a very serious approach to achieving the goals of the organization. Often people attend courses, workshops, or seminars and listen to the lecturer but fail to actually apply what they’ve learned. This phenomenon seems just as true in East Africa as in America. But Shared Hope for Orphans is motivated to help their community and they do it by following through on the lessons learned in various teachings we’ve done together.

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Last Class Celebration in Buwenge

With mixed emotions I handed over money for preparing a final course day celebration. I had thought preparing food for the children in the area would be a better way to spend the money. However, I also felt that sharing a meal with the first group to complete the Entrepreneurship course was important. Praise God, the leaders agreed and the meal prepared for our enjoyment also fed the many children waiting outside the church door as we studied each week.

She has nothing to do with the food but...how cute.

So happy with their little bags of matoke, irish and the like.

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Bibles in Buwenge

The church/classroom doorway fills with curious little faces. Who is the mzungu in our far-away village? One week we blew bubbles during break time. Another week we blew up balloons. This week I gave the pocket size New Testament Bibles to these children. We read a few verses about hope and then they ran off with their new treasures. Hmm, what will we do next week?

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Bubble Exercise

Six volunteers stood unsteadily at the front of the Buwenge Entrepreneurship classroom. “What would this mzungu ask us to do?” they wondered. This week’s study was about managing operations and to illustrate process mapping for efficiency we did a little exercise.

• One person held a yellow container of bubbles.
• One person held the bubble wand.
• One person blew bubbles from the wand.
• One person held the makeshift ruler next to the bubbles (no easy task).
• One person called out the size of the bubble.
• One person recorded that size on the blackboard.

After the woman holding the ruler was totally exhausted, the group had recorded about eight bubble sizes in one minute. We talked about what worked, what didn’t work, and what they wanted to change. In essence, they made a few tweaks but felt the operation was fairly efficient. Okay, let’s do it again with the improvements you suggested. Again, chaos.

Finally an observer commented that only one person was needed to hold the bubbles, the wand, and blow and that the process would be much easier if so many people weren’t crowded up front. Two people lost their jobs that day. More suggestions for efficiency were made and the now three-person group repeated the exercise with triple the results. Watching the light bulbs go on is the highlight for any teacher.

Each team worked on diagramming processes specific to their projects and then looked for efficiencies within those processes. One person commented that they started to recognize how being very detailed in their descriptions actually helped them see things they’d never acknowledged before. This group has been amazing in their eagerness to learn and apply what they’ve learned. Such dedication from this unique business model for a community-driven organization with a passion for helping orphans.

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A Dolly in Buwenge

This young dolly fell asleep in her momma’s arms. Just laying all floppy like, I thought getting a quick snap with the sleepy dolly facing out would be adorable. Momma, on the other hand, felt obligated to wake and fully clothe her baby in readiness for her photo. Rats!

Fully awake and crabby now, this tiny one was nothing more than hungry when she saw the dolly. Into her mouth went the hair and the arms and any other piece possible. I realize this girl is a bit smaller than the usual dolly recipient, but the picture would have been so cute as originally envisioned.

None the less, our short interaction led to a semi-formal introduction. Get this. Her mother says, “Her name is Kisakye.” Gulp! What? God is way too cool. I realize names like Patience, Joy, Grace, Peace, and the like are more common here but still…

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Entrepreneurship in Buwenge

Twenty of the brightest minds gathered for the first Entrepreneurship course ever held in Buwenge, Uganda. Our session involved evaluating whether or not TTATCC has a viable business concept, and starting to plan for the business’ success. Along with developing a number of successful business concepts that individuals may opt to implement, we spent much time evaluating the company description and the management team.



Alone helps facilitate the assigning of groups,
 while Alex looks on.



What do you think of when you hear the organization name The Teachers Association to Cater to Children? I personally think of a group of teachers gathering to share best practices, make curriculum decisions, and learn new skills together. This interpretation is far from reality. Group members responded that they’d always felt they had to defend the name because people pressed them about the misalignment between the name and the activities. Once we talked about the need for alignment and meaning, they said they suddenly felt free to make a change rather than to defend a name that no longer worked.

Before getting to the name, however, we evaluated the vision and mission. I asked dozens of questions to help pull out meaning and chose clarifying words. The group responded with enthusiasm and something akin to an “ah-ha” moment. The leader expressed the sentiment that this in-depth evaluation with specific focus on the importance and meaning of every word was one of the most clarifying and valuable activities the group has done together.

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TTATCC Way Forward

Well organized is not an adjective used often to describe small businesses or ministries in Africa. Yet The Teachers Association to Cater to Children was exactly that. Alone was meticulous in detailing the Association’s mission and objectives, past successes, and future plans. While there is always room for improvement, I was impressed with his articulation of these plans.

Yet given that the association is so well organized, what could I possibly offer to help them? After a sweet prayer time followed by introductions that included education, experience, roles, and a tour, we gathered once more and I asked the million dollar question, “What is the way forward?” In other words, knowing that I was not bringing funding, how did they see our relationship developing (if at all)?

As usual, God had his plans. The members, other than Alone, had very little education but they some really great skills and ideas. They asked for honest feedback based on their current activities, business teaching along the line of entrepreneurship, and proposal development. I love that God uses each of us combined together to make a more far-reaching impact than we could ever have alone. We talked of some tentative plans, and assignment for me, and a few deadlines. Then, the members gifted me with a stalk of matoke bananas, maize, and pineapple.

I’ll share a proposal with Alone soon and he will meet with the group to refine based on their specific needs. I look forward to seeing how this relationship will develop over time and to getting to know the members on a more personal basis. Thank you, Lord, for opening doors as a result of the boldness of one man.

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TTATCC Projects

Each community member is using his or her gifts and skills to contribute to the wellbeing of the children enrolled in school. As a result, a variety of projects speckle the beautiful landscape. Rearing goats, chickens, cows, and dogs begins with just one pregnant female. Can you imagine rearing dogs specifically for security purposes? Further, can you imagine returning to the times where you had to grow or rear all your own food?

Pineapple and matoke in perfect rows share a plot of land. Maize covers the rolling hills. The plantations are used to teach community members and children about agriculture so that they can become productive contributors. A few of those members have implemented what they learned in their own gardens and they use the expertise of TTATCC members to assist when needed.

Bricks come from the clay soil and when the proper number are made, a permanent school structure can be built for the children. Occasionally some bricks are sold so that they have food for the children, which sets back progress on the school.



Left to Right: Uncle, Father, Grandmother, Alex (in back, no relation),
Grandfather, Alone, Leslie



Three generations of family are intact in Buwenge. Some short time ago, Alone’s 96-year-old grandfather (to find a person – let alone a couple – of this age in Uganda is exceedingly rare) divided a small plot of land to his children and the eldest of those children. He then sold the rest of that land. As a result the family came together and donated the six gifted acres to the benefit of TTATCC and the children. This land is where the school and home will be built for the street children of Jinja.

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TTATCC School

Clapboard siding covers the small four “room” school in Buwenge. Makeshift seats for the children cover the ground in orderly rows. Blackboards are cracked and holey…but they work. The school and its contents are the result of the community working together to provide some meager place to gather the children for learning every day. Although class sizes are small given the small village they’re in, current grades include primary 1-4 and baby class. Five years of education that began in 2006 when TTATCC was founded. Each year a new primary level class is added.

The leaders of TTATCC hope to add children to the school who literally pick garbage from the dumpsters in Jinja. I’ve seen these children. They stand in the trash piles and pick through the content. When they find something of value, they eat it. This kind of life is what Gabriel described from his early childhood before going to Africa Foundation Home run by Kefa Sempangi. My heart goes out to them and I feel compelled to help…how could I not!

How can I accept that children of God are eating garbage? Most of us think of American garbage standards…a half-eaten hamburger, leftover rolls, that last piece of pizza. None of these luxuries exist in Uganda. Garbage is garbage here. Corn husks, the last oil from fried chapatti, a rotten egg, rice with maggots. Such may be the meal of a child whom God so dearly loves as He watches us simply pass by.

TTATCC is an organization moved to help these children. They’ve done so much to develop their little community already, but their resources are severely limited. Please pray that God would open the storehouses and shower this village with unexpected hope.

Kibirango Moses in the forefront with the primary 4 children.
Moses is a FIFA football (soccer) coach working with the children.

Primary 3

Primary 2

Primary 1

A gigantic baby class (kindergarten'ish)

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