For Sarah, the lead volunteer with Allies in Youth Development in Sironko, Uganda, the program has been nothing short of a dream come true. Since April 2023, Sarah and her team have worked tirelessly to touch the lives of some of the most vulnerable children in the region—orphans and abandoned children.

“Through the Allies program, I have been able to meet so many children in need, though distance limits how many we can reach,” Sarah shared. The program began with 30 children in April and quickly grew to 75 in May. By the following months, the number skyrocketed to over 200. To better manage resources, the team decided to focus on 130 children in Sironko and 70 in Mbale City, meeting them at Revival Mission Church in Namakwekwe.

The overwhelming need is clear, as more children, truly orphaned and in desperate circumstances, continue to come forward. Despite the challenges, Sarah expressed her gratitude: “I am so grateful to God for Allies in Youth Development. It is such a blessing to serve.”

While the work has been impactful, it hasn’t been without its challenges. Sarah identified communication flow as one of the primary difficulties, saying, “All areas of life have challenges, and with AYD, the biggest one is communication from top-down and down-up.” Despite this, Sarah’s unwavering commitment has kept the program thriving, helping it to expand and reach more children in need.

One of the many lives transformed by Allies is that of Joy, a bright and resilient young girl. Now in Primary Four, Joy lost her mother as an infant and never knew her father. When her grandmother tried to bring Joy to the man suspected to be her father, he denied her, leaving the grandmother to walk away with her granddaughter.

Joy’s grandmother struggled to keep her in school due to lack of fees, and Joy eventually dropped out. But everything changed when she joined the Allies program. Today, Joy is back in school and living with her maternal aunt, an Allies volunteer in Sironko. She loves singing and dancing and is filled with hope, confidence, and motivation.

“I had lost hope, but now my hope is built. I’m confident and motivated to work hard in my studies so I can get a job and join Allies to support more orphans and children like me,” Joy shared. She even refers to Allies as her “father” and expressed her immense gratitude: “Thank you, Mama Sarah, for allowing God to use you to bring us friends and family like Allies in Youth Development. Tell Allies I love them so much, and I’m super excited they are coming to visit us.”

Your support makes this possible. Together, we can continue to expand the reach of Allies in Youth Development, bringing love, care, and opportunity to more children across Uganda.

Thank you for being part of this life-changing mission. Your contributions are transforming lives and building brighter futures.