Who We Are
Rays of Hope for Uganda is a Canadian registered charity working exclusively in Uganda, East Africa. We endeavour to share the love and knowledge of God while providing for the needs of vulnerable children and the elderly. Our project is located in the village of Akokoma, in the Kaberamaido district of Eastern Uganda.
What We Do
Fostering hope through opportunity, impacting generations.
We believe education and the life-transforming person of Jesus Christ is able to break the curse of poverty and despair not only in our students today but for generations to come.
According to UNICEF, Uganda has approximately 2.5 million orphans. 1.2 million of those children are orphaned by HIV/aids and the rest from a variety of other factors including wars and natural disasters. This is where Rays of Hope comes in.
Rays of Hope Primary School, located in a small village in Eastern Uganda, began with 66 children in 2010. Our school has grown over these few years and presently has over 400 children from Pre-school to Primary 7 in attendance.
Rays of Hope works with the families of these children in providing a low-cost option to send their children to our school, and in many cases, students who are orphans or from single-parent families attend at no cost to them. Schooling in Uganda is costly. If a child is left orphaned, typically he/she lives with relatives and most often does not receive the same opportunities to attend school that other children do.
While at school, our students study the basic subjects like Mathematics, English, Science, Social Studies and Christian Religious Education. In addition to what they study in class, we have devotions with them during the week and Sunday school on Sundays. Our intention is to give them the basic education, but with a biblical backbone.
Beyond that, through our sponsorship program, since Rays of Hope’s inception many children have been able to go on to complete secondary school and some have even had the opportunity to attend a trade school or post-secondary institution. We have had children go on to pursue nursing, welding and mechanics successfully.
Rays of Hope has also recently launched a vocational school at our project offering tailoring and welding programs. Presently, in 2023 we have 8 youths and 7 single mothers being trained in either sewing or welding who are learning invaluable skills that will help position them to earn a stable living.
It is also through this workshop that all of our metal fabrication, required for building projects, as well as our school uniform needs are met.
Our Impact
Today’s students. Tomorrow’s leaders.
“Hope is a reality for some children in Uganda today due to the great amount of love involved in this project. It’s real, tangible and transforming. I’m sure we’ll hear even more good news from Rays of Hope in the years to come. ”
Nursery and Primary School
Our school is currently educating 400+ students from Nursery to Primary Seven from surrounding communities. We are blessed to not only be in a position to minister the love of Christ to our students, but also to provide books, uniforms and 2 meals per day for the day student/3 meals per day for the boarding students. In 2023 we served over 300,000 meals to our 417 students at our primary school. To note, the majority of public schools in Uganda do not provide meals to students. We, at Rays of Hope, recognize the importance of proper nutrition in order for children to be able to concentrate in their studies, and thus succeed in their classes. Many of the homes that our children are coming from struggle to have enough to eat on a daily basis. Our feeding program at the school helps to alleviates some of this malnutrition and hunger for the children in our care.
Rays of Hope also runs a medical clinic at the school in order to care for the needs of our students as well as the vulnerable members of the community. We employ a full-time nurse at the premises as well as have a visiting doctor come in as required. At the clinic the nurse administers medications, treats injuries and manages cases of malaria as well as other common illnesses.
“I want to thank Rays of Hope for changing my life through education. I live with my single mother and brother. We weren’t going to school but now I am in school and when I grow up I want to become a nurse.”
Dormitories
School dormitories, though not popular in the Western world, are still very common in other parts of the globe. You would be surprised to learn that in Uganda, 90% of the educated people, regardless of financial status, lived in dormitories during their schooling years. In fact, there is a common understanding that exists here that many children who attend day school, even with the best of intentions, end up dropping out due to unforeseen circumstances and distractions.
In February 2018, Rays of Hope for Uganda opened its onsite dormitories in order to house many of the children who attend our school. The dormitories have opened up an opportunity to serve more children as many who are from farther away do not have to walk the long distance to school every day. We have children attending who live as far as 19 kilometres from the school.
For many of our students, living in the dormitory has also been spiritually transformative as bible reading, general devotions and Sunday school are all part of the daily/weekly routine of life on the school property.
Children’s Home
Francis Okullo, co-founder and director of Rays of Hope for Uganda understands first-hand the importance and place for children’s homes. After being orphaned at an early age, he and his seven brothers were split up to live amongst relatives. In Uganda, once a child is orphaned, people most often assume that not much will become of him. Due to the high costs associated with education, an orphaned child will rarely be given an opportunity to attend school. If he is living with a family with other kids, first priority for schooling will always be given to the biological children and very rarely is there enough to go around to include educating the orphaned child. Sadly, more often than not, the orphaned child is seen as an added burden and can be left feeling the pressure to earn their place in that home. They will never be given first priority in anything, whether it be with food, clothing or education.
In other situations, there may be no one to care for the orphaned children and they are forced to do whatever they have to in order to survive. This is a vulnerable and oftentimes dangerous position to be in and orphaned children are at a much higher risk of sexual abuse.
Rays of Hope for Uganda has recently completed our first children’s home which will be able to accommodate approximately 30 children. We have seen a great need for a children’s home in the community as we have identified children in our village living on their own, without a parental figure. It is our desire to provide these children, and others like them, with protection, care and a place to call home. They will be provided for, not only with the daily essentials of life but also with the intangible necessities of respect, honor, love and family.
We have plans to open our first children’s home in 2024.
“I am grateful because Rays of Hope gave me a chance to go to school. I lost my mother and father when my twin sister and I were very young. We were living with our grandmother without any hope, but now I have been able to complete my primary school and God has given me a chance to continue on to secondary school. When I finish school I know I will be of help to my community.”
“Fostering hope through opportunity, impacting generations.
RAYS OF HOPE FOR UGANDA
How Rays of Hope Began
Meet Our Team
Francis Okullo
Co-Founder and Director
“We love because he first loved us.” Francis Okullo, Co-Founder and Director of Rays of Hope for Uganda has made it his life’s work to live out this verse in obedience to his Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Francis can empathize with many of the children that Rays of Hope serves as the scene of their lives is all too familiar to him. Francis is one of 8 brothers who was born in a small village in the Kaberamaido district of Eastern Uganda. At a very young age he and his brothers were orphaned. As though the loss of their parents was not enough, the boys were then separated from one another, scattered among relatives in order to survive. Brokenhearted and hopeless, no one could have imagined much good coming out of this situation. God, in his infinite wisdom, had other plans. Someone heard about this family and it was arranged for all but the oldest of these brothers to be taken to an orphanage in another district where they could be together once again. There the boys were brought up in love, educated and each learned about the sacrificial love of their Heavenly Father. Francis had always felt a burden to keep watch over his brothers, shouldering the responsibility of the family, but as he grew older that feeling of responsibility, love and concern spilled over into wanting to help other children beyond his immediate family. At 18 years of age, God planted a seed in Francis’ heart, a dream to help other children who had experienced the same kind of loss that he and his brothers had. His vision was for a project in his home district that could help others who were without hope and lacked the basic necessities for survival. As this seed of hope began to take root Francis made a friend by the name of Karen, a visitor from Canada. Francis shared this dream with her and Karen, in turn, shared it with her mother Joanna. After much time in prayer, subsequent visits to Uganda, fundraising events and support from friends and family Rays of Hope for Uganda was birthed. In September 2009 Rays of Hope for Uganda Inc. became recognized as a Canadian registered charity. Just a few months later, in 2010, the trio was able to purchase 24 acres of land in the small rural village of Akokoma in the district of Kaberamaido. September 2010 Rays of Hope started its first primary school with a class of 66 students, most of whom would not have had opportunity to receive an education. Rays of Hope for Uganda has since grown and matured. Today Rays of Hope primary school has over 270 children in attendance. The village of Akokoma is continually being transformed by this project, as it has provided not only education for children but also employment opportunities for the locals, assistance for the elderly and most importantly hope, for a better, brighter future for many.
KAREN FOSTER
Co-Founder and Board Member
Karen Foster lives in Calgary, Alberta. She is a wife to a wonderful, God-fearing man and mother to a rambunctious little boy. Karen graduated from Prairie Bible College in 2003 with a Bachelor of Arts in Intercultural Studies. Missions work has always been the passion of her life. Karen went on her first missions trip to Mexico while still in high school and has since had the privilege to travel to many places in South and Central America while working for Samaritan’s Purse over a few years time. Ever since childhood, however, Africa was always the place that captured her heart. Karen’s first trip to Africa was to Uganda in 2004 when she spent 8 months volunteering at an orphanage - the same orphanage where Francis and his brothers grew up! It was during that year that Karen met Francis. She was impacted by Francis’ character and the way he displayed forgiveness and the grace of God as he talked about some of the painful memories from his childhood. This friendship became the foundation for Francis confiding in her about his dreams to build a project to help children in need. Upon returning to Canada Karen was forever changed and knew that her time in Uganda was far from complete. This beautiful country would always play a role in her life. Karen has since traveled back to Uganda many times. She is one of the co-founders and a board member of Rays of Hope for Uganda. She spends much time organizing fundraisers for Rays of Hope and volunteers with some of the administrative tasks.
In Karen’s words, “Francis, his brothers and many in Uganda are truly an extension of my family and Uganda is my second home. I believe God places people along our path for a purpose. In this case I can see that God had a plan when he chose two people from opposite sides of the globe to be friends. We cross paths with people every day who have some sort of need. What a privilege to be able to say YES to those opportunities. I feel that living in Canada we are blessed with the ability to not only be generous but also to speak on behalf of those who cannot speak for themselves. Any small thing I can do for the children in Akokoma, whom God has placed along my path, is my YES to the Lord. Truly, what a privilege that is! I love the quote from Edward Everett Hale.“I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.”
JOANNA HULOWSKI
President and AdministraTIVE ACCOUNTING
Joanna lives in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. She is married and has three grown children and five wonderful grandchildren.
Joanna was introduced to Uganda through her daughter Karen, and went to Uganda for the first time in 2006. Joanna felt a strong connection to the people there and that trip for her was an eye-opening experience. What she was most in awe of was the strong faith of the children at the orphanage. It was very evident in the children’s lives how impacted they were by being brought up in a God-centred environment. She had never seen small children pray with such earnestness and fervor or sing so loudly and unashamedly to the Lord. Joanna was inspired, knowing that key people in these children’s lives had impacted them to this point of knowing and loving Jesus in this way. Experiencing this faith was the thing that stayed in the forefront of her mind, even as she returned to Canada and to her daily life. Shortly after that trip, Joanna’s daughter told her about Francis’ plans to start a project. God, at that time, prompted Joanna’s heart to get involved.
Fast forward to 2009 ,”Rays of Hope for Uganda Inc.” became a registered charity; and she took on the position of president of the organization. Joanna’s volunteer role entails fundraising and administration. Over the years she has been humbled to witness how God truly has been the ultimate provider faithfully supplying for the needs of the ministry month after month.
In Joanna’s words, “It is a humbling experience to see God at work in such a tangible way and how he truly is a father to the fatherless. I have also seen how when Christ is the centre, no matter the cultural differences, we can truly work together in unity as brothers and sisters in Christ”.
Drop us a line!
To join in on what God is doing through Rays of Hope for Uganda, please contact us! We’d love to get you plugged in! Our story and the impact has only just begun!
Meet (most) of our team in Uganda! These are the dedicated teachers, cooks and administrative staff who pour their hearts into the lives of the students and who are faithful servants when it comes to buiding into the Kingdom of God.
Francis and Karen with some of the children they minister to.
“This project means everything to me because it is the fulfillment of God’s will for my life. He put the dream and vision in my heart and there was no way I was ever going to feel comfortable going against the passion He planted in my heart. Seeing a child not able to go to school is a reflection of what my life could have been growing up orphaned. If it wasn’t for some people obeying the call of God to come to my rescue, my life would not be what it is today. I will forever be grateful to everyone who embraced this vision with me from the start and those who have joined along the way. For me, this is the most encouraging thing in pursuing this vision and mission. God planted this vision in my heart, and He neatly selected a team to help bring it to reality. This is exactly why He has put all of us in different positions according to our abilities. Together, everything is becoming a reality.” Francis Okullo
Community Outreach
“Rays of Hope project brought real hope to our village. As the project takes root, we are also experiencing transformation in our community. The project is really God sent!! Thank you.”
Okello J.L.
RAYS OF HOPE for UGANDA
Community Outreach
Community Outreach is an important aspect of Rays of Hope’s work in Akokoma. We desire to be the hands and feet of Jesus, helping where we can but always keeping in mind the dignity of each individual. There are many elderly people in the village whose daily struggle is to find enough to eat. For these individuals, Rays of Hope provides meals and, as circumstances require, other odds and ends such as soap, a new blanket or a mattress.
As with anywhere, there are unexpected challenges that continually present themselves. In the past few years our village has been severely challenged by flooding at times, severe drought on other occasions and the country-wide lockdowns that came with the covid19 scare. All of these factors, at different moments in time, have led to a wide-spread famine that needed to be addressed. Rays of Hope for Uganda saw that food distribution for the broader community was imperative at this time and was able to, with your help, give out thousands of dollars in food in support of those most vulnerable and affected by these circumstances.
Another way we have reached out to the community is by holding week-long eyeglass clinics that were free of charge to the people who attended. People came from miles around to have their eyes checked. This was an incredible ministry to many as eyeglasses are very expensive in Uganda and most villagers do not have access to them.
Ultimately, in everything we do, it is our desire for the people of Akokoma and surrounding area to experience the love of Christ through our care and attentiveness to the needs that arise. We desire that our faith in action will point those we serve towards the love and nearness of God.
“As the organization social worker who was born and raised in this community, I have seen the difference Rays of Hope has brought into the lives of our children and community as a whole. Through education, people’s lives and hope have been renewed. In the past, our community lacked self-belief and had a negative perception about life. Now the project has brought back self-belief and positive attitude. Parents look at the school as their own, they see their children studying in beautiful classrooms and interacting with people from different walks of life. There’s renewed hope in life, this is important for the future of our children and community.”
Agriculture
“Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.” 2 Corinthians 9:92
INVESTING INTO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH AGRICULTURE
With a goal of becoming more and more self-sustainable, Rays of Hope has, in recent years, acquired a John Deere tractor with 3 farming implements. With it we have seen a significant increase in plowing efficiency and yields per acre. Along with the tractor maximizing our productivity, Rays of Hope has also acquired a maize huller and grinder to make the processing of our crops more efficient as well. In 2023 we cultivated over 100 acres of maize and beans over two seasons! This generated 65% of our food needs for our school feeding program! It has also allowed us to distribute a portion of the produce to some of the more vulnerable individuals in our community. In 2023, through our food bank, 35 elderly and sick people were supported on an ongoing basis.
Rays of Hope also now rears over 50 pigs and 70 goats at the school farm. These animals are an invaluable help to supplement the school feeding program.
Celebrating Growth!
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21
How Rays of Hope for Uganda is growing with your partnership
2009 - 2013
YEAR by YEAR GROWTH
Vehicle purchased
September 2009 – received charitable status in Canada
January 2010 – purchased 24.5 acres of land Akokoma, Kaberamaido
Summer of 2010 – construction work on a rented building to use to begin the school, put in latrines and kitchen
September 2010 – started first school of 66 students Kindergarten and Primary One
2011 - Guest house was built with bath house, latrine and kitchen, yard fenced
1 eyeglass clinic done for the community
Worked alongside health unit to administer vaccinations to babies in three villages
Clothing distribution
Playground equipment installed
2012 – began construction work on first permanent school block
2014 - 2016
YEAR by YEAR GROWTH
Completed construction on first school block and furnished
New latrines put in by school
Second school block built to completion
School kitchen built
Office built
Another vehicle purchased
Treadle sewing machines donated, sewing classes given to women in the village
Second eyeglass clinic and bible distribution
Clothing distribution
Crops and gardens planted
Construction of dormitories for boarding students began
Iceland drilled a community well. As a result, a water supply has been connected to the school
Started piggery project
Started Gift a Goat program
Solar panels installed on guest house and office building
Famine food relief – over $5,000 donated for food and given out to people affected by famine
Hosted bible school courses 2 years in a row at the village
2016 – Our first Primary 7 graduates of 15 students
Between 200 and 300 children in school each year
2017 - 2018
YEAR by YEAR GROWTH
2017 - 17 students graduated from Primary 7
2018 - 19 students graduated from Primary 7
Continued work on dormitories and bunk beds built
Began construction on welding/sewing training centre
Solar panels installed on school building
Started construction on first children’s home for orphans, foundation and walls completed
Purchased our own goat herd, constructed a pen for the animals
Between 200 and 300 kids in school each year
Began to take in some boarding students
11 huts built for teachers (temporary staff housing)
Welder purchased
A few of our children from our school were sponsored to continue on to secondary school
2019 - 2023
YEAR by YEAR GROWTH
Educated 300-450 children yearly in primary/secondary school
Completed work on dormitories
Purchased John Deere tractor with 3 implements
Purchased maize huller and grinder
Completed the children’s home building
Developed soccer field
Completed building of welding/sewing centre
Completed Nursery/Kindergarten building
Community Outreach – food distribution during times of drought, flooding and covid19 lockdowns
Supported approximately 35 elderly/vulnerable individuals on on-going basis with daily food needs
Gift a goat program successful in providing goats to many families in the community
Purchased pigs to raise to help support school feeding program
Future Development and Goals
Our PROPOSED GROWTH
Purchase of a vehicle
Build staff housing
Fence the entirety of Rays of Hope project
Build a second children’s home (in order to accommodate the boys and the girls separately)
