School Is Finally Open in Uganda!
For two, long years, the school has been closed to in-person classes due to the pandemic.
But today our team in Uganda wants to share some really great news—
School is finally back in session!
After the longest pandemic shutdown world-wide, our students and staff are back to in-person school!
As the New York Times reported, “Many countries have closed classrooms on and off, but Uganda [has] kept more than 10 million students at home since March 2020.”
Professionals and educators are predicting that this shutdown will erode decades of educational gains in Uganda, but we are trusting God to help us pick up the pieces and keep teaching the kids He has graciously placed in our care.
As of today, 230 children have reported back to our school and are ready to be together and to learn.
Everyone is excited! It’s a joy to see and experience the lovely, excited faces of the children. They have brought back life to the center!
School is particularly important in Uganda because safety of the children here in the country is still an ongoing concern. There are many cases of child marriages, sexual abuse and exploitation, particularly concerning young girls.
Specifically in rural areas, as many as 33% of girls are married by age 15, making child marriage and pregnancy all too common. The pandemic lockdowns—and being away from school—will only make these statistics worse.
Last month, we introduced you to Jacinta and took you inside Suubi Christian School in Bukeka, Uganda, where for many years, God has been faithful—through people like you—to provide daily meals, medical care, and Gospel-centered discipleship and education for students from Pre-K to 8th grade.
We are thankful to continue opening our school doors to the most vulnerable children in our community.
The new safe homes are ready!
By the grace of God, we were recently able to complete and furnish four new safe houses, each of which comfortably house 80 students. The children have moved in and are adjusting to their new surroundings.
Some people in the country have expressed that this current group of students will be Uganda’s lost generation because of the strict lockdown rules that closed school for so long.
We do not believe it.
We believe with all our hearts that these students are the future leaders in Uganda—leaders in their homes, schools, churches, and communities. Our God is good at writing stories with endings we could never predict, and so we trust Him.
And with your support and prayer, we will continue to provide these students a quality education based on Christian principles as well as two meals every day to our students for the glory of God.
Would you pray?
Thank you for your continued prayers and support for the children in Uganda. We have many needs that we would humbly ask you to pray about—
- Many children are still waiting to join our sponsorship program. Over 100 children are waiting to learn that someone is sponsoring them so they can start attending classes.
- 59 children have not returned after the pandemic lockdown. Please pray they are safe and loved.
- As we return to classes after a long shutdown, please pray for a smooth transition in the classroom as well as the opening of our new safe houses for the students.
With great anticipation, we look forward to what God will do this year in the lives of these children He loves. Thank you for your part in this ministry.
