Our Story

When WorldVenture missionary Catharine Coon arrived in Kampala, Uganda in March 2002, she immediately felt a burden for fragile families, those headed by a single woman with little or no education, few skills, and children she cared deeply about but had no means of providing for. Access to basic services such as primary education, protection, decent shelter, and adequate food was severely limited or non-existent.

God expanded the vision of Hope Alive! beyond educational assistance to include spiritual impact through Saturday Clubs and programs held during school breaks. Fun Days and special events were scheduled regularly, and student leadership teams received in-depth discipleship. 

At the same time, Hope Alive! expanded geographically through partnerships with local churches. The Masaka site opened in 2005. In Adjumani District, Hope Alive! worked in several Sudanese refugee camps from 2003-2013, ultimately serving almost 200 students, the largest Hope Alive! site ever. In 2006, a site was opened at the Koro Abili Internally Displaced Persons Camp in Gulu District, with a focus on child-headed households. In both Adumani and Gulu, the Uganda army and the LRA rebels were present, creating great challenges for the work.The numerical and geographic growth brought to Hope Alive! capable, committed Uganda staff with hearts for vulnerable children. Beginning in 2007, young Americans began serving for one to four years with Hope Alive!, ministering in areas like education, nursing and finance. With support from WorldVenture and Lugogo Baptist Church, Catharine began Hope Alive! (originally called Children of Hope), enrolling the first students in October 2002. The original vision was for assistance with education, based on U.S. individuals connecting with Hope Alive! students through one-on-one sponsorship. Spiritually mature young adults from Lugogo Baptist Church served as mentors, with each one guiding, encouraging, visiting and praying for ten students. 

American missionaries joined the team to work in the areas of agriculture, finance, and education. In 2007, Hope Alive! bought one and a half acres for the Koro Abili Site. More land was purchased in nearby Lajwatek, in Koch Lii and in Masaka. Land ownership brought new ministry possibilities, including a demonstration farm, agroforestry, and 100,000 trees for charcoal production and financial sustainability for the ministry. These projects also brought educational and economic opportunities for the whole community.

The Kyabakuza site opened just south of Masaka in 2021. In 2022, Hope Alive! saw a successful leadership transition from the founder to a new executive director as well as a celebration of 20 years of God graciously impacting and transforming lives through Hope Alive!. We pray for another 20+ years of God’s grace on Hope Alive! and on the families we are privileged to support.