Meeting the whole person with practical hope.

Discipleship is the foundation of our work because the war left a deep spiritual and identity crisis in communities. Many young people in Gulu are growing up without consistent guidance and are asking: “Who am I? Does my life matter? Does God see me?”

Hopelessness, drug abuse, crime and early sexual activity have become common ways of coping with pain. There is a great need to point young people back to God, help them understand their identity in Christ and raise a generation rooted in faith, purpose and values that can transform their communities.

Years of displacement, the loss of parents and caregivers and continued poverty have left many children and youth living with trauma, anxiety and depression. According to UNICEF figures provided by the organization, more than 40% of children in post-conflict Northern Uganda show signs of psychosocial distress, while fewer than 10% access counselling.

Through counselling, peer support groups and mentorship, we create safe spaces where children and youth can process pain, build healthy relationships and find healing.

Malnutrition remains a serious concern in Gulu. The war damaged farming systems and food security, and recovery has been slow. UBOS 2022 figures provided by the organization report that 27.4% of children under five in Northern Uganda are stunted and 6.8% are wasted.

Many households still depend on small gardens with poor yields. Some children have only one meal a day, while others may go for days without a meal. This uncertainty is especially common among orphans and children living with single mothers who have no reliable safety net.

Education was one of the greatest casualties of the war. Schools closed and a generation lost years of learning. The effects continue today. UBOS figures provided by the organization report a primary school completion rate of 52% in Northern Uganda, compared with a national average of 68%.

Many children still leave school because their families cannot afford fees or learning materials. Teenage pregnancy also contributes to school dropout, with Northern Uganda recording a reported rate of 22%. Overcrowded classrooms and limited support at home leave children from child-headed and single-mother households especially vulnerable to falling behind.

We work to provide quality, accessible education through sponsorship, learning support and direct engagement with schools.

Access to healthcare remains a major gap. Health centres can be far away, understaffed and without enough medicine. Through health outreaches, medical camps and connections to appropriate medical care, we bring services closer to families who cannot afford transport or treatment.

Malaria reportedly accounts for more than 40% of outpatient visits in Gulu and remains a leading cause of child deaths. HIV is also a concern. Figures provided by the organization place HIV prevalence in Northern Uganda at 7.2%, compared with a national average of 5.4%. Children living in poverty, outside school or without parents are especially vulnerable because they may lack information, protection and support.

Period poverty creates another barrier to education. An estimated one in four girls in Uganda misses three to five school days each month because she cannot afford sanitary pads, and the challenge is even greater in communities affected by poverty in Northern Uganda.

Some girls eventually leave school completely. Single mothers may also struggle to provide menstrual health supplies for their daughters. Through our Maintain a Girl in School initiative, we distribute sanitary kits to restore dignity, protect health and help girls continue learning.

The breakdown of families during the war contributed to increased abuse, neglect, child labour and land grabbing. Many vulnerable children and single mothers do not know their rights and cannot afford legal help.

We stand in the gap to protect children and help families pursue justice. Our goal is to provide legal support, rights education, guidance and connections to appropriate services for vulnerable children.