Since the fall of 2007, Embrace Uganda has engaged in raising awareness and garnering resources to serve the children whom we have met in Uganda. All of our work has been done in partnership with our Ugandan friends and partners who help us to identify and prioritize needs, as we realize that we will not be able to meet all concerns to the extent and with the urgency that we would like to. We were blessed to have AJ and Ana Overton serve as our ambassadors within country for 2 years. They were our eyes and ears, and helped us to communicate needs and progress back to us.
Embrace Uganda has constructed a new Home Again Orphanage and has helped expand the existing orphanage in the village of Kaihura. We have sent a team to help finish the existing Dorcas Vocational School. Further projects in Kaihura have included the fencing of a community public elementary school property, clean water initiatives and support for the Kyongera Agricultural Project. We have assisted with medical and dental clinics during team visits. Currently, we are in the process of building an advanced clinic facility to enhance the work of the Hope Again Medical Clinic under the direction of Bringing Hope to the Family. BHTF also has received a van purchased with EU funds to facilitate their work.
Embrace Uganda also supports the work of African Church Empowerment Ministries (ACEM) and Agape Baptist Church, particularly to aid in their outreach to orphaned and vulnerable children. The focus has been on support of Agape Children’s Village in Bukerere, near Kampala. An EU team has lived with the children and housemothers in the village while providing existing classroom spaces with doors, windows and interior finishes. We also have raised enough funds and engaged with the community of Koreng in North East Uganda to complete the constructing of a well for Kadacar Elementary School. We hope that this partnership will grow to help in areas of health care and education as well. Again, EU funds have provided a van for use by ACEM and Dr. Michael Okwakol.
A scholarship fund has been established to sponsor identified children through secondary school and into college or vocational training programs. A medical emergency fund has been created.
We have been able to send teams every summer to introduce American students and adults to our communities in Uganda to further relationships and increase understanding of each others cultures. During these trips we have carried and delivered thousands of pounds of supplies including crocs, school supplies, books, school uniforms and many other items. For many of the children it was the first pair of shoes they ever owned, the first book they had ever seen.
In the near future, we hope to bring a group of Ugandan students the US to be able to introduce them to their many supporters here, who may not be able to travel to Africa themselves. An idea that is currently being pursued is to create a joint music project with Ugandan and American students under the leadership and direction of Broadway musicians and performers.
