This June, the Hearts and Hope for Uganda mission team was incredibly blessed with a profoundly impactful experience: a visit to Keroma, a Lutheran village community in the Butebo district that is not yet partnered with any organization. This visit offered a raw and unfiltered look at the significant challenges faced by communities striving to provide education for their children, and highlighted the vital difference our established partnerships make.

We witnessed firsthand the daily struggles they face. The school building itself is rudimentary, most classes are held outside, while lacking basic amenities that we often take for granted. Resources are incredibly scarce, making it a constant battle for teachers (who volunteer without pay) and students alike to maintain a consistent learning environment.

The passion for education is clearly there, shining in the eyes of the children and the dedication of the teachers, but the lack of foundational support makes their journey incredibly arduous.

This visit was a powerful reminder of the "before" for many of the communities Hearts and Hope for Uganda now serves. It allowed our team to truly grasp the monumental impact of your support. Seeing the thriving schools in our established partnerships, with their improved infrastructure, consistent supplies, and empowered educators, side-by-side with the raw, unadulterated need in Keroma, was a humbling and inspiring experience. 

It underscored the critical importance of every donation, every volunteer hour, and every prayer. 

 We also had the pleasure of being present for the well dedication. Keroma used to be forced to collect water from an agricultural irrigation run off, shared with livestock and dangerous viruses. Because of your support, they now have clean, safe, drinking water, and the community is extremely grateful for the support.

Our hearts were deeply touched by the resilience of the Keroma community. While our June mission mainly focused on our existing partnerships, the visit to Keroma has certainly opened our eyes and our hearts to the immense need that still exists. It served as a powerful testament to why Hearts and Hope for Uganda's mission is so crucial: to bring light, hope, and the promise of education to every child, one village at a time.