Uganda

AIDS has caused immense human suffering over the past two decades - leaving more than half a million children orphaned in Uganda alone. Often these young boys and girls are not only trying to fend for themselves, but are left to care for younger siblings as well.

The AIDS epidemic has left enormous scars in the Zana community, leaving most families vulnerable to all sorts of hardships. Zana Children’s Outreach Ministry was started by Rev. Emma Kiwanuka in May 2006 as a church initiative to help the poor and disadvantaged children in the Makindye community.

The center is a 3-room building where 100 children are enrolled to receive vocational training, a formal education, medical treatment, meals and counseling. Research showed that 90% of the children at the center live in absolute poverty. Most do not have bedding and clothing, and others survive on one meal a day. Almost all of the children live daily with hunger, and emotional and physical suffering.

The Zana Children’s Outreach Ministry is committed to giving these disadvantaged children hope in life by rebuilding their lives.

Capitol - Kampala

Size – 91,136 sq. mi.

Area Comparative – slightly smaller than Oregon

Language – English, Swahili

Population – 30.2 million

Life Expectancy – 51.75

Annual Income/Person - $1800

Exports - coffee, fish and fish products, tea, cotton, flowers, horticultural products; gold

Religions - Roman Catholic 33%, Protestant 33%, Muslim 16%, indigenous beliefs 18%