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A Community Ready for Transformation
About 12 miles outside of Gulu City in northern Uganda lies Koch Lii, a rural agricultural community where families work tirelessly in farming. Many of their children have little to no access to even the most basic education. A recent survey found that:
- 64% of households included school-age children who were not enrolled in school
- Even those students who were enrolled often missed months of school because of distance and their family's inability to keep up with school fees.
For years, a deep sense of hopelessness pervaded the area—but by God’s grace, that is beginning to change.
From Fear to Hope
Bringing Hope Alive! to Koch Lii has been a dream in the making for more than a decade. Early efforts faced difficulty, and the community openly wondered whether help would ever come.
"The challenges weren't meant to frustrate us. They were meant to make us strong. And now, we are strong." Samuel Opiyo, Hope Alive! Koch Lii site manager
God's timing and faithfulness prevailed. In January 2025, while construction on the site was 50% complete, we hosted our first child-focused outreach with the help of a visiting U.S. mission team: a weeklong Vacation Bible School-style program that attracted more than 100 eager children.
That outreach led to the launch of a new church that is now meeting weekly in the newly constructed pavilion. When the site fully opens in 2026, it will host Bible studies, vocational skills training, mentorship-focused meetings and other community gatherings.
Like the other Hope Alive! sites, Koch Lii will be far more than a ministry center--it will be a place of holistic transformation. Sponsored students will be enrolled in a local school and will get needs-based tutoring and other academic support to help them catch up with their peers. Like the other sites, Koch Lii will host Saturday Clubs that include Bible study, worship, a nourishing meal and fun activities that let kids be kids. We'll assign a caring mentor from the local community to work with, support and guide each child and their family.
"The challenges weren't meant to frustrate us. They were meant to make us strong. And now, we are strong." Samuel Opiyo, Hope Alive! Koch Lii site manager
God's timing and faithfulness prevailed. In January 2025, while construction on the site was 50% complete, we hosted our first child-focused outreach with the help of a visiting U.S. mission team: a weeklong Vacation Bible School-style program that attracted more than 100 eager children.
That outreach led to the launch of a new church that is now meeting weekly in the newly constructed pavilion. When the site fully opens in 2026, it will host Bible studies, vocational skills training, mentorship-focused meetings and other community gatherings.
Like the other Hope Alive! sites, Koch Lii will be far more than a ministry center--it will be a place of holistic transformation. Sponsored students will be enrolled in a local school and will get needs-based tutoring and other academic support to help them catch up with their peers. Like the other sites, Koch Lii will host Saturday Clubs that include Bible study, worship, a nourishing meal and fun activities that let kids be kids. We'll assign a caring mentor from the local community to work with, support and guide each child and their family.
Dreams Beyond Poverty
Meet a few of the families from Koch Lii whose stories inspire our mission.
Fragile Families Flourishing in the Hope of Jesus!
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