There Was a Boy Who Was About to Die

Emmanuel ("Emma") was 2 1/2 years old and weighed 9 pounds when members of the Hope Again Women’s group told Richard that there was a boy who was about to die. Emma, his sister Joan (5), and his brother Joseph (7) were cared for by their step-brother Brian, who is 11. All of the children were severely malnourished. RODI stepped in to save the lives of these children. They now receive Feed My Starving Children food and Emma weighs 22 pounds! Their health has improved dramatically and RODI is enabling the older children to go to school.

Thank you for caring about the children of Rakai. Look forward to regular updates! Hear more by watching Emma's video at fmsc.org/Emma. You will feel like you are in Rakai having a conversation with Richard and Johnson!


Comments? Send an email to ann@africanchildrentoday.org.

Healing a Hurting Heart

With a grateful heart, Mike Muteesasira spontaneously wrapped himself in an unexpected gift from his sponsor. After years of caring for his father and brother, they recently died. Mike's mother predeceased them in 2009, having been an active member of the Hope Again Women. Throughout his family's struggles, Mike has consistently been a top performing student. Along with his regular school tuition support, Mike's sponsor reached out during this time of loss by sending funds to purchase additional household items to help Mike move forward. Kindness heals hurting hearts. Contact ACT to learn how you can be a part of it.

Joyce and Her Crop

Anticipating the Harvest

Joyce is anticipating a large harvest of watermelons. She funded her crop by saving part of her Hope Again jewelry income. Ingenuity makes the harvest even sweeter for Joyce and her family. Several families are making and effort to save after watching Joyce, coming up with ideas of their own. Hope Again builds opportunity and hope. You can help. Contact ACT. 

2012 ACT Accomplishments

Reflecting on the past year's accomplishments reminds us that many hands and hearts together can make a difference. We celebrate the 95 sponsored and supported children in primary and secondary school, the 13 young men and women attending University or trade training and our seven graduates. There were also 586 children that received scholastic materials that made it possible for them to be engaged students. Special donations to meet specific needs purchased farm animals, mosquito nets and water filters. And 450 women participated in the Hope Again Women as trained or active product contributors. Each shared gift was maximized by the energy of the recipient, turning each donation into a result to be proud of in the community. ACT supports change that is making a difference.  Be a part of it. Contact ACT to learn more.

Hope Again Women

ACT is committed to supporting the women and children suffering from the social and economic ravages of AIDS. One solution that is changing lives is Hope Again Women (HAW). Through this endeavor, the entrepreneurial efforts of the women in Uganda are supported by promoting the sale of handmade jewelry, baskets and soccer balls.

A proceeds from the sale of this basket will be used for things such as medication and housing.

Proceeds are divided up according to how much product each woman supplies. The women use the proceeds as they see fit—to pay for tuition, health care, antiretroviral medications, housing, clothing, etc. 

HAW is just one solution among the many successful programs that ACT supports. Learn about changing a life through our child sponsorship program.

A Family Filled with Hope

The twins today.

Esther and Rebecca are twin sisters. Their father is a local preacher and their mother is a peasant farmer. The mother sometimes goes preaching with her husband on the weekends. The family has a total of six children. Despite spending much of their time preaching, the family’s living conditions were very poor. They rarely had two meals in one day because they have only a small piece of land to grow food. The children had no access to quality education and health facilities.

When RODI first met the family in October 2008, Esther and Rebecca were school age, but could not afford to attend. We started looking for a sponsor for each one of them. Luckily they both got sponsored by the same person. Since then, the life of the entire family has changed. Esther and Rebecca were enrolled into a good school and are now progressing well. Their older twin sisters and their brother are also receiving some support from RODI in order to remain in school. The family also received a donation of two bicycles. The children use these to travel to school every morning.

Their mother enrolled into the Hope Again Women program and has been able to make and sell some jewelry to earn income for the family. She has used some of the money to support the education of her unsponsored children. She has also been able to rear some pigs to provide an income as they multiply.

Today, this is a very happy family that is filled with hope.

A family of smiling faces.

ACT knows that there are many families like this whose life can be dramatically bettered with your generosity. Can you help a family like this? Contact us to get started.

Volunteers Change the World—One Life at a Time

A large family today.

Rakai inhabitants and RODI volunteers Godfrey and Sylvia have three children: two sons, Frank and Mark, and their newborn daughter, Veronica. RODI first came into contact with Sylvia through her membership in the Hope Again Women (HAW) program. RODI leaders soon discovered that Sylvia and Godfrey were struggling to look after four young orphaned girls in addition to their own children.

Godfrey started volunteering with RODI in June 2008 while Sylvia worked tirelessly to support other women of HAW. The proceeds from the sale of Sylvia’s jewelry and baskets allowed Sylvia and Godfrey to build a new house and continue to support their extended family while also pay for Godfrey’s continued education. Godfrey is in his final year of a teacher-training program.

Godfrey and Sylvia have a huge place in their heart for needy children and continue to look after other orphans using their own resources. Godfrey is the head of the RODI volunteers and oversees HAW. Godfrey and Sylvia are a tremendous example of how a spirit of generosity combined with effective initiatives such as Hope Again Women can change lives.

A group of volunteers in front of their beautiful home.

“We had never dreamed of living in such a house,” says Godfrey. “We think that God blessed us as a reward for caring for needy people. We will continue.”

ACT supports these grass-roots community efforts in Rakai, Uganda that directly impact women and children suffering from the social and economic ravages of AIDS. Change is happening. Be a part of it.

Contact ACT to learn more.