Transforming Lives in Rural Uganda
St. Mary Kasozi Orphanage & Primary School
In the rural village of Kasozi, Uganda, St. Mary Kasozi Orphanage and Primary School serves hundreds of vulnerable children—many of them orphaned or from families facing extreme poverty.
Despite the challenges they face, these children arrive each day with courage, joy, and a deep desire to learn. Our mission is simple: to ensure that every child entrusted to this community has the opportunity to grow, learn, and thrive in dignity.
Through the generosity of friends and supporters, we are working to meet urgent needs while building a stronger future for the children and the surrounding community.
Below are several key projects currently underway.
Shoes for Every Child
Protecting Health and Restoring Dignity
Every day, children at St. Mary Kasozi walk long distances to school along rough, muddy paths. For many, this journey is made barefoot. Walking without shoes exposes them to painful infections, injuries, and parasites such as jiggers. It also makes the daily journey to school much harder and distracts children from learning once they arrive.
Our goal is simple and powerful: one pair of shoes for every child.
This project will provide children with durable school shoes suitable for rural conditions, protecting their health while allowing them to attend school with dignity and confidence.
A simple pair of shoes does more than protect a child’s feet.
– It protects their health.
– It restores dignity.
– It helps a child arrive at school ready to learn.
Every step they take becomes a step toward a brighter future.
Building a New Kindergarten for the Youngest Children
Giving the Next Generation a Strong Start
The youngest children at St. Mary Kasozi currently lack a proper place to learn and grow. Existing structures are overcrowded and inadequate, making it difficult to provide the nurturing environment that early childhood education requires.
Our vision is to build a new kindergarten facility for more than 100 children ages 2–4, creating a safe, welcoming place where the youngest members of the community can begin their educational journey.
Why Early Education Matters
– The first years of life are the most critical for cognitive and emotional development. Early childhood education:
– Strengthens language and learning skills
– Encourages curiosity and creativity
– Builds confidence and social development
– Lays the foundation for lifelong education
Without access to early education, children begin primary school already at a disadvantage.
The new kindergarten building will provide:
– Safe and weather-resistant classrooms
– Age-appropriate learning spaces
– Areas for play and social development
– A nurturing environment where young children can thrive
Education is one of the most powerful tools for breaking the cycle of poverty. By investing in early childhood education, we invest in the future of the entire community.
These pictures show the current kindergarten building.
School Food Program
Nourishing Bodies and Minds
For many children attending St. Mary Kasozi Primary School, the meal they receive at school may be the only substantial meal of the day.
Hunger makes it difficult for children to concentrate, learn, and stay healthy. A reliable food program ensures that students have the nutrition they need to grow, learn, and succeed.
A school meal program helps:
– Improve attendance and concentration
– Support physical growth and health
– Encourage families to send children to school
– Build stronger community relationships
When children are nourished, they are able to learn, dream, and build a better future.
A Future Built Together
Every project at St. Mary Kasozi Orphanage and Primary School is rooted in a simple belief: every child deserves the chance to flourish.
Whether it is a pair of shoes, a daily meal, or a safe classroom, each act of generosity creates lasting change.
Together, we can build a future where children grow not only in knowledge but in hope.