Blog – Outreach Uganda

Baby immunization day at the Agwata clinic in Lamwo district Uganda

June 25, 2026

Your Support of the Agwata Clinic Helps the Entire Community Thrive

One of the strengths of Outreach Uganda’s work is how our programs support one another. Thanks to your generosity, our community clinic not only provides healthcare—it also helps our students learn and our women’s groups thrive.

The clinic is located directly across the road from Agwata Primary School, making it easy for students to receive prompt medical care when needed. This is especially important for our youngest nursery students. If a teacher suspects that a child may have malaria or another illness, the child can quickly be taken to the clinic for evaluation and treatment. Malaria remains one of the leading causes of death among children under five in many parts of Africa. Because the clinic is so close to the school, children can receive care quickly when symptoms first appear—often making a critical difference in their recovery.

Healthy children are better able to attend school consistently, concentrate in class, and succeed academically. By helping students stay healthy, the clinic plays an important role in supporting educational outcomes throughout the school.

The clinic also benefits members of our Agwata Women’s Group. Many of these hardworking women rely on farming to provide food for their families and income from cash crops. When illness strikes, they may be unable to plant, weed, or harvest their crops. Having affordable healthcare nearby helps them recover more quickly and return to supporting their families and participating in income-generating activities. The clinic is also close to where the women live so this encourages them to bring their babies for immunizations. The attached photo shows a typical immunization day at the Agwata clinic.

Over the years, supporters like you have helped us create a community where education, healthcare, and economic opportunity work hand in hand. Thank you for helping ensure that students can learn, women can work, and families can build healthier, more secure futures.

We are deeply grateful for your partnership and the difference you continue to make in Agwata.

Can we ask a favor? Could you share about our clinic with any friends, family or co-workers who are interested in helping with global health or public health initiatives and that help reduce infant and early childhood mortalities? Our clinic is the last thing we have funding for especially in these last few very tight budget years. And yet the clinic is the one thing that most directly saves lives. You can Donate Here for the clinic.

Ayee needs a sponsor to go to vocational training in 2026

June 16, 2026

Because of You, Ayee’s Dream is Within Reach

Ayee is one of the fortunate students who received a scholarship to continue her education after graduating from Agwata Primary School five years ago. As she explains, “My parents are peasant farmers and their source of income is farming. This program helped me and my parents a lot because without it, I would not have been able to study.”

Because of supporters like you, students such as Ayee have been given the opportunity to dream bigger and pursue careers that once seemed impossible. After completing 10th grade in 2024, Ayee enrolled in a nursing and midwifery program and expects to graduate in mid-2027. These intensive vocational programs are not inexpensive—often costing as much as university. Yet in northern Uganda, vocational training frequently provides one of the most reliable pathways to stable employment and financial independence.

In Ayee’s case, her original sponsor could only afford to contribute at the primary-school lower funding level. That is why it is always so critical that we find additional sponsors at critical times as a child progresses in school. If we fail to find additional sponsors, then that can cause us to not be able to continue to provide scholarship funding to very worthy students.

Outreach Uganda has no stockpiled funds or extra funds to fill these gaps. you are enabling determined young women like Ayee to complete career-focused training and move toward meaningful employment. Without this additional sponsor support, many students would face the prospect of returning home with unfinished dreams and few opportunities to earn an income.

So we thank continuing sponsors for their ongoing support to help students finish their vocational courses. And we also thank new sponsors for providing critical support at exactly the right time during 2026. Your generosity is helping make vocational education attainable for students whose families cannot afford these costs and whose sponsors are unable to cover the full expense.

A thousand thanks for standing in the gap and helping transform hope into opportunity.

If you know friends or family members who might also be interested in helping girls like Ayee stay in school, we hope you’ll share this opportunity to support girls (and boys) in school especially when they are entering vocational programs so they can become gainfully employed upon completion. See students who currently need sponsors.

52 Agwata Students in school courtyard May 2026

June 5, 2026

Agwata 6th Grade Students Register for National Exams — May 2026

One of the most important milestones in a Ugandan child’s educational journey took place this May. We are excited to share that all 52 of our Primary 7 students (6th graders) have successfully registered for Uganda’s national Primary Leaving Examinations, which will be taken in December.

This year’s class is especially exciting because 27 of the 52 students are girls. In fact, for more than a decade, Outreach Uganda Primary School has consistently registered over 50% girls among its graduating class—something very uncommon among the approximately 95 primary schools in our district. We believe educating girls is one of the most effective ways to create lasting change for families and communities.

The Primary Leaving Examination is much more than a test. It serves as the gateway to secondary school and future opportunities. Reaching this stage would not be possible for many of these students without the support of caring donors like you.

As you look at the photo of these students, we hope you see more than a class picture. You are seeing 52 young people whose futures are brighter because they have been given the opportunity to learn, grow, and prepare for the next chapter of their education. More families in Agwata are seeing the value of education as the community works to break the cycle of poverty through learning.

Our students have a strong track record of success. For more than five years, the Agwata Primary School has consistently ranked among the top-performing schools in the district when exam results are released each January. Over the coming months, these students will work hard to prepare for their exams, and we look forward to sharing their results with you early next year.

Thank you for making moments like this possible. Your support is helping create opportunities that can last a lifetime!

Nurse Winifred in front of Agwata clinic

January 28, 2026

Your Donations. Three Nurses. Thousands of Lives Touched

Our head nurse, Winifred, pictured in the photo from my visit to Agwata in August, sends her heartfelt thanks for your support of the clinic. Your donations help the community to afford the stipends for the three dedicated nurses at the clinic and supply essential medicines—both critical to keeping the clinic operating.

The Agwata Clinic plays a vital role in helping the community thrive by:

Keeping children healthy so they can attend school
Supporting pregnant women and infants, helping reduce child and maternal deaths
Helping adults stay healthy so they can farm, run small businesses, and support their families

The clinic is conveniently located directly across the road from the Agwata School, which serves 800 students from nursery through sixth grade—making access to care easier for families every day.

As we look ahead to 2026, clinic project contributions will be very much needed as some previous district-level health funding is no longer available due to foreign aid cutbacks. The clinic remains a lifeline for the Agwata community, improving health, education, and economic stability for more than 5,000 people.

Thank you for making this life-saving work possible. Your generosity truly gives life. Please reach out to us if you are able to provide help to the clinic in 2026 or have connections to U.S. health care businesses that might like to be corporate sponsors for the clinic.

Carol with Secondary Girl Students in northern Uganda aug 2025

November 14, 2025

Excited to See So Many Secondary Girls in School

We are excited to share that we now have over 55 girls enrolled in Grade 7 and above. In August, I visited four Kitgum Uganda secondary schools which our sponsored students attend. Along with Paska, our Education Coordinator, and David, our Project Coordinator, I spent time at each school meeting with students and listening to their experiences. In total, we met with 45 sponsored students, both girls and boys.

The photo above was taken during my visit to an all-girls secondary school in Kitgum. This supportive environment allows students to focus on their studies in a safe and structured setting. Each girl took a turn sharing how her school year was going and what sponsorship has meant to her. One student told us, “Because of my sponsor, I can stay in school, study hard, and dream of becoming a doctor.”

In Uganda, even public secondary education requires fees, and students who are serious about learning are generally expected to board at school, which significantly increases costs. In our remote area of northern Uganda, very few girls continue on to secondary school when there is no school within walking distance. Because there are no secondary schools near Agwata, boarding is the only option—and it is far beyond what most families can afford.

Our ongoing sponsorship and scholarship programs paired with our Girls’ Education Initiative which keeps girls in school from 3rd to 6th grade, is a lifeline that makes secondary education possible. Your loyal support of these programs are helping these determined young women build confidence, develop critical thinking skills, and plan for brighter futures. Your generosity is truly changing lives.

If you have a friend, family or co-worker that is passionate about education or helping girls, please let them know about the opportunity to give these girls the gift of education.

Carrie, Outreach Uganda office volunteer, enjoying fall weather

October 23, 2025

Volunteer Spotlight: Carrie Finds Purpose and Friendship at Outreach Uganda

Five years ago, Carrie was invited by a friend and fellow Outreach Uganda volunteer to stop by the organization and see if it might be a good fit for her. That simple invitation turned into something lasting.

“I realized rather quickly that it was a truly special nonprofit organization that works tirelessly to help the women and children of Uganda have a better life,” Carrie says.

Carrie began volunteering weekly and soon found ways to apply her professional experience. With a degree in Fashion Merchandising and a background managing a large-scale retail store, she now helps Outreach Uganda present its handcrafted products in the most appealing way possible.

“I use my education and work background to provide input for cohesive product presentation and what might possibly appeal to potential customers,” she explains.

Carrie believes deeply in women supporting women. “The women of this world need to unite as one,” she says. “I feel that supporting Outreach Uganda in a small way helps empower women.”

Her volunteer work has also been eye-opening and humbling. Through her involvement, Carrie has learned about the daily challenges faced by Ugandan women and children, and she’s gained a greater appreciation for opportunities often taken for granted in the U.S.

“Volunteering for Outreach Uganda has been a very humbling experience,” she shares. “I have learned the obstacles that people in Uganda face and how truly privileged we are for the opportunities that we have here.”

Over the years, Carrie has also developed new skills and insights. “Through volunteering, I’ve learned small business skills and seen just how much work goes into running a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization,” she says.

Outreach Uganda’s mission resonates strongly with her. “All humans deserve to have a sense of pride in themselves and the possibility of home ownership,” Carrie says. “My volunteer hours are personally fulfilling because I know I’m making a small contribution to the greater good for people less fortunate than myself.”

Carrie encourages others to get involved, too—whether through volunteering, sponsoring a child, or making a donation.

“If your time is already stretched thin and volunteering right now isn’t an option, sponsoring a child’s education is a wonderful way to support Outreach Uganda,” she says. “Another great way is to ask your church or company to make a donation that is tax-deductible.”

For Carrie, volunteering is about more than just helping others—it’s also about community and connection.

“One enjoyable aspect of volunteering at Outreach Uganda is building relationships with the other volunteers,” she shares. “Being out of the workforce, this replaces the camaraderie that I truly missed. We have a good time and laugh while we work, knowing that we’re helping other women build better lives.”

Join Us!

If you’d like to learn more about volunteer opportunities at Outreach Uganda or other ways to get involved, please contact us or learn more here. Together, we can empower women and give children hope for a brighter future.

6th graders taking exams in library august 2025

September 19, 2025

Agwata School Library Loved & Heavily Used

We are grateful for your support of this project which began in late 2018! The library project included not only the building, but a building well stocked with over 1500 books and even technology equipment. It has truly changed our school and helped both teachers and students grow exponentially in their learning.

So much so, that for the last several years, our primary school has been the top ranked school out of 95 primary schools in our district in northern Uganda. And this year, the district designated our school as a “Model School” for the district, and encouraged all head teachers of other schools to visit it to see our facilities as well as the teachers and their teaching methods.

The library has been a cornerstone of those achievements. Your support since late 2018 has made this possible! THANK YOU!

There is still much to be done at the school. As visiting head teachers from other schools have discovered, their facilities and school compound may be better than ours! For the last two years, our school population has exceeded 800 students! The school population has risen drastically as more parents and students see the value of students going to a good school that will increase their chances of success in life versus reaching a dead end because of poor grades.

While the library project is complete, our school desperately needs a building to house boarding students, mostly 6th graders who are studying for very important exams. We also need to continue to work on various upgrades at the school to keep up with continuing Uganda school regulations.

Please share this blog post with others you know that are passionate about kids and education! General donations towards the school are always needed and appreciated!

Photo ofSarah - Recent Cosmetology Program Graduate in Uganda

September 23, 2024

A Journey of Transformation: Sarah’s Story

Sarah’s Story in Her Own Words

My name is Sarah and I was sponsored through Outreach Uganda since 2008 when I was a first grader. I recently graduated with a Diploma in Cosmetology and am working in a hairdressing salon.

I am so thankful for my sponsors who gave me hope and strength and made me graduate. I am the first person in my mother’s side of the family to graduate. I now work in confidence because of my education. Not only have I learned a lot through education, I’ve made good friends and learned computer.

If you are sponsoring a child now, I want to say, don’t give up on your sponsored child. Your sponsorship is giving your child knowledge and hope even when they might be going through difficult circumstances. It wasn’t always easy for me. Midway through her sponsorship, Sarah’s mother passed away and she was separated from her younger sister whom she was helping. But don’t give up. I did not give up during the earlier time I was not doing well. And now I have a job and can get a job and work.

I have achieved my childhood dream of graduating. I now have specialized skills of doing hair, makeup and nails. I am focusing my life, and working so hard that I can one day have a business of my own. I want to have my own shop. I want to help my sisters’ kids. I don’t want them to go through what we had to go through as children.

I feel grateful for where I am now compared to other girls from where I grew up in the slums. They are married and have many kids and are doing nothing– just stuck there. For me, I have a job and know I can get work because of my skills. My thinking is different and my level of understanding is different. I am so thankful for the education opportunity that was given to me!

August 10, 2024

Your Support Propels Agwata School to Top School in District

We’re thrilled to share some remarkable news that showcases the profound impact of your support on our Agwata Primary School!

This past January, 6th grade students across Uganda anxiously awaited their national exam results. For these students, the scores determine not only their ability to progress to secondary school but also which schools they can attend—and, importantly, whether their families can afford the fees.

We are excited to announce that Agwata School’s 6th graders have once again excelled, ranking 3rd overall in the district out of 96 primary schools. This achievement is not an isolated event; for the past five years, our school has consistently been among the top 2 or 3 schools in the district. This year, every single student passed with flying colors, with no unsatisfactory grades.

Additionally, our school was highlighted at the district meeting for being the top-performing girls’ school since 2019. Out of the 38 students who took the exams, 22 were girls—a testament to our ongoing commitment to empowering female students.

This is where your generosity truly makes a difference. Your ongoing support—through sponsorships and contributions to scholarships—helps bridge this gap. Thanks to you, these bright, promising students have the opportunity to pursue further education, including university and vocational training, paving the way for future success and stable employment.

Outreach Uganda volunteers bring clinic supplies - June 2024

July 25, 2024

Your Impact in Action at the Agwata Clinic

Volunteers Melanie and Ethan Bring Needed Clinic Supplies

We have some wonderful news to share that highlights the incredible difference you’re making at our Agwata Clinic in northern Uganda!

Thanks to your generous contributions, our clinic received a very special delivery of maternity supplies in June. Our dedicated volunteers, Melanie and Ethan, brought these essential items straight to the clinic, and the joy they brought is evident in the photo of Melanie with our smiling clinic staff.

Your support plays a crucial role in keeping our clinic running smoothly. While we work hard to stretch every dollar to cover essential medicines like malaria treatments, your donations have allowed us to go beyond the basics and provide much-needed maternity supplies. This extra support was a huge relief for the clinic staff and a blessing for the mothers in the community.

During their visit, Melanie and Ethan had the chance to meet many of these mothers and their babies during an immunization day. Seeing the direct impact of your donations—witnessing the smiles and hearing the gratitude of those who benefit from our services—was truly heartwarming.

Since we opened the clinic in mid-2013, it has become a lifeline for over 5,000 people in five nearby villages. Thanks to you, the elderly, the sick, and young mothers no longer face the arduous 17-kilometer journey to the nearest health center.

Every donation you make helps transform lives and supports a community in need. We deeply appreciate your commitment and generosity. You are making a real difference, and we are grateful to have you on this journey with us.

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