Updates from Uganda – June 2025 Newsletter
We’ve just returned from an inspiring trip to Uganda and are thrilled to share some exciting updates made possible by your generous support!
Vision Trip 2025
A Deeply Moving Journey: My Trip to Rural Uganda with the Kamukama Foundation
by Tracy Chesler
Updates from Uganda – May 2024 Newsletter
We’ve just wrapped up two back to back Vision trips to Uganda and once again – our hearts are full and our eyes wide open. Here are a few highlights of what we saw and learned:
Vision Trip 2024
From Clarke Heidrick… On our recent visit to Buhoma, Uganda with our friends with the Kamukama Foundation, my wife Catherine and I saw the “light of Christ” in the eyes of the children sponsored by Kamukama. Updates from Uganda – November 2023 Newsletter
We are thrilled to share our new video featuring our latest initiative called Dream Big. This program was born from the need to keep girls in school. The staggering statistic is that only 6 out of 100 girls who start school graduate.
Maj for a Mission 2023
We recently celebrated our 8th annual MFAM Austin on October 25th at the Central Austin Public Library. Over 200 people gathered to play Mahjongg and learn more about the work of the Kamukama Foundation.
Maj for a Mission Bay Area 2023
Our Hearts are full as we reflect on our recent Maj for a Mission Bay Area 2023 event. We are grateful that you joined us for this fun-filled afternoon of playing Mahjongg and to learn more about the work of the Kamukama Foundation.
Vision Trip 2023
Linda Knoll’s KKF Testimonial I had the privilege and honor of joining eleven other women to visit the Kamukama Foundation and the community it serves in Uganda in February 2023. Updates from Uganda – March 2023 Newsletter
We have just returned from another wonderful trip to our beloved Bwindi. Our 12 travelers journeyed with full hearts and plenty of supplies. We carried 840 pounds of sponsor letters, educational materials, critical thinking games, Project Harvest t-shirts and much, much more.
Maj For A Mission Austin 2022
Elizabeth Howden, Dora Lee Little, and Anne Wiik chaired this year’s Maj for a Mission Austin, “Share Your Story.” Kamukama Foundation supporters from across Texas came together for a fun afternoon of play, prizes, and an update on Foundation initiatives. This year’s event also featured an opportunity for attendees to sponsor books for the new Ebenezer School Library. Updates from Uganda – August 2022 Newsletter
With back-to-school in full swing at home, we’re excited to update you on the 600 sponsored students across the Kamukama Foundation’s 13 partner schools – who are all receiving a quality education because of your support. Updates from Uganda – Vision Trip 2022 Newsletter
We have just returned from an amazing trip to Uganda. With great joy, we were finally able to reconnect with our team, students, and families in Bwindi. Despite the many challenges of Covid, we were excited to see all of the progress that has been made in the past two years.
Maj for a Mission Bay Area 2022
The first ever Maj For a Mission – Bay Area was held March 9th. Sharon Purcell and Ann Carter chaired this amazing afternoon of fun,fellowship and fundraising. 100+ women attended, all 50 new students were sponsored and lots of funds were raised to enhance our outreach in Bwindi. A huge thank you to everyone for the huge success.
Vision Trip 2022
First, I am so thankful to have been able to travel to see our dear friends in Bwindi. While they have been through a difficult time over the last 2 years, their faces and smiles still reflect real joy for what they have and that they are still alive.
Maj For A Mission Austin 2021
Darby Denison and Jennifer Pickens chaired the (8th? ) annual Maj for a Mission Nov 3rd in Austin. More than 200 women attended to have fun and learn more about the work of the Kamukama Foundation. We are so grateful to so many who worked hard to make the afternoon a huge success!
Spotlight: Aman and Jim
Aman and Jim have shared their time, talents, and treasures with the Kamukama Foundation. They have been key partners in the planning and opening of the new Ebenezer School campus as well as in our agriculture initiatives to address food scarcity during COVID-19. Updates From Uganda: April 2021 Newsletter
Last month, we officially opened the new Ebenezer Primary School campus! Ebenezer is the Kamukama Foundation’s cornerstone school partner and is the school home to 248 of our sponsored students.
Supporting Our Sponsored Families
As the pandemic continues to affect our beloved village of Bwindi, we remain committed to seeing our 450 sponsored families through this crisis.
Vision Trip 2020
When my dear friend, Ann Carter, asked me to go to Uganda with the KamuKama Foundation over a year ago, I felt this nudge inside and immediately said “yes!”. I knew it would be an amazing opportunity to see another part of the world, but I had no idea it would change my heart forever and give me a new perspective on love, faith and the gift of education.
Maj For A Mission 2019
The 5th Annual MFAM 2019 was yet another example of the power of community. Over 200 women from many different cities gathered at the Austin Public Library to join in the fun. For two hours the special events room was filled with the joyful murmurings of a game played with friends new and old.
Vision Trip 2019
Thoughts by Scott Ferguson When planning trips we often think we can anticipate with a lot of certainty what the outcome of the trip will be. My recent trip to Uganda did not come close to meeting my expectations. It literally blew them away! This happened notwithstanding the fact that I made one of the biggest mistakes of my life…
Thoughts from Our Sponsors, by Milo Burdette
During our first visit to Uganda in the summer of 2012, we had just returned to our lodge following what can only be described as a long, difficult but thrilling hike to see the mountain gorillas. My wife Carol and I were tired and wanted only a hot shower, a little dinner and our beds!
Lemonade Miracles
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.
Thoughts from Our Sponsors, by Andrea Edwards
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.
Opening of the New Victory School Girl’s Dormitory
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.
Vision Trip June 2018
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.
Vision Trip February 2018
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.
Kamukama Foundation Students Visit Youth Camp in Kampala
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.
My first trip to the US
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.
3rd Annual Maj for a Mission
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.
Pumpkin Pies for Bluer Skies 2017
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.
Collins Interiors Visits Victory School
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.
Vision Trip 2017
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.
Kamukama Foundation visits DC!
Kamukama Foundation Board members Jeanne and Lew Little met with Ugandan Ambassador Oliver Wonekha in Washington DC to discuss educational needs in Uganda and the mission of Victory School. Thank you for your valuable insight and collaboration Ambassador Wonekha!
Pumpkin Pies for Bluer Skies
Graydon, a 6th grader from Dallas Texas, wanted to do something to help the students at Victory School. She made and sold 32 pumpkin pies for Thanksgiving and donated the proceeds to Victory School.
2nd Annual Maj for a Mission
On November 4th we raised over $100,000 at the 2nd annual Maj For a Mission. 200 people had a wonderful afternoon playing Maj Jong and helping us spread the word about Victory School. Thank you to Ruthie Burrus and Anne Jarvis for their leadership of such a successful event.
Vision Trip 2016
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.
Thank you Maggie!
Maggie learned about Victory School Uganda from a friend. After hearing that the school’s volleyball court had no net and balls she decided to help. She organized a Christmas party with her friends and their mothers to share the news of Victory School. To date, she has raised over $1,000! Our group will head to Uganda in late January with duffle bags full of nets, balls and pumps. Amazing to see what a 10 year old can do to help others. We look forward to telling Victory School students all about Maggie.
Maj for a Mission 2015
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.
Vision Trip 2015
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.