Small Footprints
Soroti, Uganda
While teaching pastors and leaders in the town of Soroti, in east Uganda my husband and I were next to a primary school. We saw countless children had worn-out or oversized shoes that didn’t fit properly. Despite being a small school, I knew we couldn’t buy shoes for everyone! Then the thought went through my mind, ‘Something is better than nothing’. So the headteacher, Lucy, and I went to the local market and bargained for 10 pairs of shoes. The children were so excited to have their own pair of shoes!
Kyotera, Rakai District
We work directly with Ben Tumwebaze and the Shalom Children’s Project, part of a registered NGO in Uganda, located in Kyotera, an area devastated by HIV/AIDS. The centre provides education, nutritious food, counselling and support for child headed households. To date, through Because International, we’ve provided 100 pairs of shoes that expand for these precious children! There are currently over 200 children enrolled and the number is growing. Would you consider helping provide a child with a pair of shoes? While we start with shoes, school uniform and school fees enable education for a child for an entire year.
Kampala, Uganda
Kampala is one of our favourite places to teach! We have been training and empowering leaders, men and women, through the School of Ministries based in Southampton, UK. Pictured here are women from Penny’s leadership class in Kampala. We have developed future partnerships in Kampala and are setting in place strategies to further empower and strengthen women’s skills. We’re also excited to help provide shoes, uniforms and school fees in an urban setting to enable children to get an education.
Ntungamo
Have your eyes ever been opened to something that ‘once you see you can’t unsee’? For us, we were training leaders and pastors in Ntungamo, Uganda near the Congolese border. We were heading back to our accommodation and noticed a group of women working in the fields in the heat of the day, with babies strapped to their backs. How’s that for multitasking?
We smiled, waved, and they came over. As they walked across the fields, my heart sank as I couldn’t believe my eyes. Each one walked across the hard ground covered in thistles, briars and rocks. Most of all what struck me … they were barefoot. As we drove back to Kampala, this thought came to me — ‘if this is a real problem’, count at least 100. In the next hour, I counted not only 100 but over 200 without shoes. But here’s the clincher: It was only women and children without shoes. Shoes provide security, safety against disease and dignity.
Together we can help bring a shift in cultural thinking … women and children matter!
Equipping Communities Now Transforming Their Tomorrow
Shalom Children’s Centre - Nursery & Primary School (P1-P7)
It began with a brick shell for new classrooms. We raised funds with friends from America to put a roof and framing on the school. The team in Rakai managed to build staff accommodation as well!
It has been so exciting to see the progress of Shalom Children’s Centre in person!
Next … funds were raised for doors, windows and the front porch was added. Foundations strengthened, walls plastered inside & out.
Our current work in progress: Classrooms and staff accommodation ready for concrete floors. Windows and doors for staff building to be added to make it usable. Finally, gutters and water collection system installed to provide safe, clean water.