The Birth of Hope Alive! Part 6: Kyabakuza Site is Established

In 2019, it had been years since we had opened a new site, and we were ready. Both Kampala Site and Koro Site were challenged by populations shifting in multiple directions. It would have been be difficult to begin something new in either place. Masaka Site staff constantly shared news of immense needs, so we focused there.

I traveled to the United States, arriving from Uganda in February 2020, expecting to return in late March. Instead, COVID hit, and months later, I was still there. Hope Alive!’s experienced staff are so knowledgeable, professional, caring and wise that I had no qualms about trusting them with the work of identifying and opening a new site. As the process was underway, Hope Alive!’s new executive director designate, Caleb Smagacz, joined us. He was already in Uganda when the pandemic hit and was able to interact with the staff. What a joy for me to see how smoothly this went, God providing – as he always does – exactly what and who was needed at the perfect time!

As I mentioned in a previous blog, Masaka Site has a strong site manager in Rose and an equally-gifted site assistant, Beatrice. Rose was wonderfully supportive of Beatrice assuming responsibility for the new site, even though it would leave a huge gap for her to fill. They asked Pastor Aloys to assist in searching for a strong church with a committed pastor who already had history in a poor community. They identified a church a few miles from our current site, in an area called Kyabakuza (Chah-bah-KOO-zah), which means place of growth. We loved that name and decided to use it for the site.

I shared before that Beatrice and Rose have had a long history of identifying desperately needy children. Beatrice, working with the pastor and the site’s three new mentors, began doing the same in Kyabakuza. I heard stories of families with no mattresses or blankets, no money for food or soap and little hope for education. God continued to call Hope Alive! to step into deep poverty with His transforming love and hope.

Kyabakuza Site was launched officially in April 2021 with 50 students, most of them in upper preschool or lower primary. Beatrice has found herself challenged at every level by the huge needs of the children and their families. As all of us who work with Hope Alive! have learned to do, she daily hands that burden to Jesus, trusting Him to abundantly provide. Realizing that there was little biblical knowledge among the Kyabakuza students, Beatrice started a program during the school holidays to help the oldest students learn more about God and what it means to live in His care. They love these classes!

At this point, 12 of the Kyabakuza students are still in need of sponsorship. We continue to ask God to move His people to use the resources He has given them to transform the lives of those living in situations beyond our ability to imagine or understand. We know He will provide, as He always has.