It began as a visit. One day in Kagumba, to engage with the community, map out needs, and listen.
The road was long, the heat unrelenting. But what we found was warmth—from the people, not the sun.
We walked into Joy of the Lord Primary School and found 200 children sitting on the ground, learning without books or desks. Their laughter echoed louder than their lack.
Later, we met with the women. Fifty-five of them gathered for focus group discussions. They spoke of raising 6 to 12 children, of farming for consumption, of trying to sell fish or rare goats to get by.
Their challenges were many: poverty, water scarcity, little access to health care. Yet they smiled. They shared. They hoped.
And so we gave. Scholastic materials for the children. Time and ears for the women. A little, perhaps. But we left heavier than we came.
Kagumba is not a statistic. It’s a village. With dreams. And the dignity to define their own futures—if only given the space.