Achievements: Our Impact

Education Empowerment

  • Construction of the Hope Integrated Academy. The vocational secondary school  was opened in May 2008 with 7 students. Currently, over 300 students are enrolled in the O’level program.
  • In 2013, we opened the Hope Junior School as a kindergarten and primary school up to Grade 7.
  • By adding dormitory space at the school, we provide students with a safe and condusive environment to learn and focus on their education.
  • Over 500 children have participated in our After School Program launched in June 2007 to benefit students ranging from primary to high school, including some who had dropped out of school.
  • More than 600 orphans and needy students have received sponsorships or scholarships through the URF sponsorship program.
  • Our adult literacy program has benefited more than 50 individuals. Several women have learned to speak English
  • 28 bicycles have been given to students who used to walk long distances to school. Each bicycle is used by two students who live in the same village to share a ride. More students need transportation assistance, as many of them walk over 3 miles to come to school.

Orphans and Child Care

  • The Mirembe Children’s Home provides shelter, health care, and education for 30 orphans.
  • 16 child-headed families with total of 38 children received care from URF, including education sponsorship, basic household supplies, medical care assistance, and emotional support.
  • Orphans have been provided with animals to start income-generating projects.
  • We have built new homes for families in need, including child-headed families and elders who are taking care of orphans.
  • We provide essential household supplies to kids, including beds, mattresses, bed sheets, blankets, clothes, and shoes.

Women Empowerment

  • 200 households benefit from our women empowerment workshops conducted on weekends.
  • 135 women are improving their lives and families through the URF Village Banking program.
  • 56 women are involved in the Hand Craft Project in which. This earns the women substantial income that has improved their families’ welfare.
  • 56 women are benefiting from the Seed Loans Project.
  • 55 women have received micro-finance training by MedNet Uganda.
  • 50 women have participated in the Chicken Project for income generation.
  • 28 women are gaining income to support their families by taking part in the Piggery Project.
  • We have provided training to over 150 women and 40 men to run operate a Village Banking Program, which provides them an opportunity to obtain small loans to improve or start new micro-enterprises.

Community Resource Development

  • More than 200 families are benefiting from our community counselling and guidance workshops conducted on a weekly basis.
  • The community empowerment conference in June 2009 drew over 600 people. Panels of professionals presented and answered questions on issues related to health care and HIV/AIDS, malaria, education and community development, entrepreneurship and micro-finance, human rights and legal representation, and intercultural understanding.
  • In 2008, a community library was set up to serve the surrounding villages.
  • A computer center with internet was designed to serve students and adults in the community.
  • In the villages, community seminars are conducted on parenting skills, nutrition, water, sanitation, HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention, and other topics.
  • Student service projects are organized to better the community.
  • Training is provided to local women to make various crafts that can be used to generate income, including herbal soaps and jellies.

Medical Outreach and Health Care

  • More than 250 children and adults from needy families and child-headed families from the surrounding villages have been assisted to receive medical care, including some severe cases where URF has arranged international travel for specialty medical care not available at local medical facilities.
  • Over 1,000 mosquito nets have been distributed to the most needy families in villages to support malaria prevention.
  • We organize HIV testing for the community in partnership with Uganda Cares who also provide ongoing medical care and counseling for the patients
  • We have plans for establishing a children’s medical center to provide basic care to children at our schools and surrounding communities.

Water and Sanitation

  • Through a partnership with Engineers Without Borders we provided access to clean water for students at Hope Academy and Hope Junior School students. The schools have an underground water system, a rain catchment system, and a pump system at the nearby surface well providing water for the community.
  • We have also intalled water systems at various other schools and orphanages in Uganda. 

Youth Empowerment

  • Over 700 youth have benefited from the youth camps organized by URF.
  • Many youth have benefited from career guidance provided by URF volunteers.
  • A Youth Leadership Camp held in August 2009 was a success. The kids learned about leadership, personal development, goal setting, and the critical need for education.

International Volunteering and Cultural Exchange

  •  More than 250 people have gone through our international volunteer program in groups or as individuals. They have come from Uganda, USA, Canada, Australia, Norway, Spain, Scotland, Ireland, England, the Netherlands, Sweden, Poland, and more.

Our Partners: How We Have Made These Achievements

  • Engineers Without Boarders from the University of Minnesota established clean water and sanitation.
  • Engineers Without Boarders from Virginia Tech University installed a solar power system for our school at the Academy.
  • Ten Thousand Villages and Uganda Crafts Ltd joined forces to create the Crafts program for women empowerment.
  • Architecture for Humanity designed buildings for the expansion of Hope Academy.
  • Pilgrim Church in Massachusetts funded the construction of a new boys’ dormitory at Nazareth Children’s Home.

Employment Opportunities 

More than 300 people have benefited from job opportunities created by URF projects and Hope Schools as social workers, teachers, administrators, support staff, security, construction workers, vocational skills trainers, etc.