It was a modern day fishes and loaves. Our group from the recent vision trip met to discuss how we were going to raise money and get the remaining kids sponsored. After about an hour of brainstorming, Birnie suggested a lemonade stand. What if we go grassroots? We loved the idea and made plans to have it that weekend.
A few years ago my friend Sally told me about a foundation her sister Jeanne had started following a visit to Uganda. That was my introduction to the Kamukama Foundation. And they, in turn, introduced me to Donamu Nyinansekuye, a student at Victory School in Buhoma, a small village near the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in southeastern Uganda. Donamu is the smart, beautiful girl I’m privileged to sponsor.
We are excited to announce the opening of the new Victory School girl’s dormitory, made possible by the generous support of the GWR Foundation. The space will be a place for our female primary students to learn and grow during their time at Victory School.
The truck ride from Kihili airport was almost silent. The windows were rolled down and everyone’s eyes were focused outward. The anticipation, the excitement, the curiosity, the wonder and the awe were all tangible. We drove through the gates of the Victory School for the first time, and the children and teachers were lined up ready to greet us with traditional songs and dance.
Thoughts by Ruthie Burrus
An initial warm handshake was accompanied by the words “You are welcome.” Many more handshakes, spontaneous hugs, and smile after smile emerged in the crowd of children who surrounded our vehicle. Two days after leaving Texas, we had arrived at Victory School. And welcomed we were.
54 secondary students sponsored by the Kamukama Foundation travelled 11 hours to attend a 5 day Youth Camp in Kampala. For almost all of our students, it was their first time leaving their villages.
Thoughts by Ian Sendagala, Managing Director Uganda
My first time to leave Africa for the United States offered me a grand opportunity to perceive life through a lens of abundance. My inherent passion for giving, sharing, and loving paid off handsomely with a lifetime trip to Texas, US. This visit wouldn’t have been possible if I wasn’t representing the impoverished families (students and parents) of Bwindi Buhoma. I was living the dream of every single African child.
A big thank you to co-chairs, Mary Marinelli and Amy Ehrlich, for a very successful 3rd annual Maj For a Mission! Over 200 women gathered to play maj jongg to support Kamukama Foundation’s mission to provide life-changing opportunities to the most vulnerable children in Uganda.
For a second year in a row, 7th grader Graydon from Dallas, Texas, made and sold enough Thanksgiving pumpkin pies to donate $1,500 to help children at Victory School. We are so appreciative of her serving heart.
Thoughts by Emily Walter
Each time we pulled into the red gates of Victory school, we were greeted by elated children jumping up and down and beaming teachers waving at us. I’d look around at the faces of our group, and I could not decide who was more excited to see whom.
Boots on the Ground! Founders Jeanne and Lew Little along with board members Carol and Milo Burdette traveled to Bwindi for progress evaluation. They were humbled by the remarkable improvements that have occurred in five short years. All thanks to the supporters of the Kamakamu Foundation. They came home inspired to develop more additional outreach programs to support these vulnerable children.
Thoughts by Vickee Byrum
I will turn all my mountains into roads. (Isaiah 49:11)
The 2016 Vision Trip was an opportunity to witness the power of God’s love. For one week I stepped into an educational community built on God’s shoulders with faith, hard work, determination and song.
Mission accomplished! Every Victory School student now has a sponsor, thanks to the creative genius of Ruthie Burrus and Anne Jarvis. In addition to the sponsorships, Maj for a Mission raised funds to continue the amazing work being done at the school. A huge thank you to Ruthie and Anne.
Written by Carol Burdette, for Good Shepherd Episcopal Church quarterly magazine My first trip to Africa was in 2006. During that trip I felt that I needed to take in every sight and sound, because I might not return. However, as Rev. Rhonda Montgomery used to say, “If God wants you somewhere, what makes you […]
Thanks to your generosity, all of the families of Victory School students recieved a goat! This gift was chosen in the hopes that it can be a valuable and sustainable resource to the families, the students, and the community. Goat milk is more easily digested, and one animal can produce up to four gallons a […]
Students recieved 200 backpacks, each with their name on them and a personalized letter from their sponsor. “You see the children reading their letters. They know who their sponsors are! They never took those backpacks off the entire time we were there. There wasn’t a thing in them but they never took them off,” a […]
Parents of Victory School students made each sponsor an intricate and beautiful homemade gift to show their appreciation for supporting their children´s education. Gifts were sorted and mailed to all Victory School sponsors. View more hand crafted gifts to sponsors here.
Thoughts by Anne Jarvis
Prior to going to Uganda in 2015 I had traveled to foreign countries and had also participated in mission trips but visiting Victory School was truly life changing for me. I realize it was so emotionally impactful because I was able to cross the globe and meet in person the children I was sponsoring and have a real connection with them and their classmates.
One thing that is never in short supply here at Victory School is music. Joyous songs and laughter fill the play yard with students clapping and dancing.Watch our students sing and play here at Victory School.
Thoughts by Susan Kay
Spending time at the Victory School in 2014 was an introduction to a world unknown to me. My first impression of driving into Bwindi, a small town with no electricity or paved streets and seeing the Victory School was a stark comparison to America.
