Home of Hope Ministries: Who We Are
/Welcome to our blog! We're Home of Hope Ministries, an organization dedicated to raising awareness and support for the children of Uganda with special needs. The post below shares a bit about who we are, what we do, and how you can help support our cause.
What Is Home Of Hope?
Many children are living with disabilities around the world. Often, due to a variety of factors and circumstances, they are unable to receive the care, support and love they need to survive. Home of Hope Uganda was founded to address this need.
Home of Hope is a physical facility located in Jinja, Uganda, which provides housing and round-the-clock care for a group of over 60 disabled children. Most of the children living in Home of Hope Uganda were abandoned or neglected by their families, and lacked the basic necessities and care needed to live. In Uganda, there is a common belief that disabilities come as a result of witchcraft, which creates a very difficult situation as many disabled children are neglected, abandoned or even left to die.
The Home of Hope Uganda Story
Home of Hope Uganda was founded by Edith Lukabwe in 2007, in response to her personal life experience. In the year 2000 God blessed Edith with a son, Derrick, who fell ill when he was just 2 days old. Derrick was initially misdiagnosed and treated for the wrong disease, and as a result did not receive the treatment he needed which resulted in brain damage and a permanent disability. Edith and her family loved Derrick immensely, and continued to care for him until he passed away at the age of 14.
By caring for Derrick and with God in her heart, Edith came to understand and develop a compassion for disabled children and their unique needs. It disheartened her to see children being neglected or misunderstood, and she wanted to provide them care and love. She began caring for other children while she was caring for Derrick. Upon Derrick’s passing and the completion of his mission here on earth, Edith was inspired to continue her mission in caring for children at Home of Hope.
The first child Edith took in is named Prose, whom was found hungry, covered in excrement, and living with an elderly grandmother unable to provide proper care. In the first year after Home of Hope’s founding, the facility rapidly grew and was housing 15 children. Today, the home provides services for over 60 children.
Learn more about Edith’s story here:
What Is Hope of Hope Ministries?
Home of Hope Ministries was created in order to raise awareness and funding for children in Uganda with disabilities. Currently, we are supporting the children at Home of Hope Uganda.
In 2017, Edith shares information about Home of Hope Uganda and its mission.
In the spring of 2017, Edith traveled outside Uganda for the first time with the goal of raising awareness for Home of Hope Uganda. One of Home of Hope Ministries’ board members, Todd Merry, heard about Edith through a cousin living in Uganda and decided to fly her to Seattle and organize a fundraising dinner at his home. Having a child of their own with severe disabilities, Vivien, Todd and his family are passionate about the cause. When Todd met Edith, they discussed the need for a non-profit which could support children in Uganda with disabilities -- and thus Home of Hope Ministries was founded. Todd sought out a few others who had either heard Edith share, had connections in Uganda or were eager to help out with the orphaned. This group became the board for Home of Hope Ministries. Today, Todd and his family are in the process of adopting Joseph, one of the children from Home of Hope Uganda.
Todd and Molly’s daughter, Vivien
Molly and Joseph
Home of Hope receives no government funding whatsoever. Oftentimes, due to the costs of running Home of Hope Uganda, monthly expenses exceed the amount of revenue coming in. When you make a donation to us at Home of Hope Ministries, 90% of your money goes directly to the cause. More details on this are included below.
Home of Hope Ministries is a volunteer organization, run by a small board who donate their time to the cause. You can read more about our board on our website, and we’ll be sharing more about Home of Hope Ministries family in a coming post.
How Can You Help?
You can support Home of Hope by making a donation. Donations are accepted on a recurring or one-time basis. As mentioned above, after fees and admin costs about 90% of proceeds go directly to the cause.
Currently, Home of Hope Uganda is in the midst of constructing a new facility to support the ever-expanding group of children living at the home. The home is overcrowded, and in the 10 years since Home of Hope Uganda opened many of the children have matured into their 20s. These older individuals need a separate home in which to live. The second Home of Hope Uganda building will have a total of 3 floors. The first floor is completed, and some of the children are moved in. The second floor is currently under construction, and upon completion will house volunteers who come and help care for the children.
There are also ongoing costs associated with provisions and the special needs school Home of Hope offers to children. When you make a donation, your money will go towards the following:
Food
Medications
Surgeries and Doctor’s Care
Utilities
Wheelchairs
Equipment
Staffing
New Facility Construction
You can support Home of Hope and the children by making a donation.