In the Kampala region of Uganda—near Mende—a new school term is more than a date on the calendar. For the children of Kabagambe Childcare Foundation (KCF), back to school is a celebration of something they once believed they would never have: a real chance.
Not long ago, these children lived with the crushing weight of “impossible.” Many were neglected, abandoned, or born into circumstances that left them painfully alone in an ugly world. Education—uniforms, supplies, school fees, and the stability needed to attend consistently—felt out of reach. When a child can’t get to school, can’t stay in school, and can’t keep up once they’re there, the cycle repeats: scarcity becomes identity, and poverty deepens into a legacy.
But God has been rewriting that story through a director who understands it personally.
Alex: A leader who knows the road from survival to opportunity
Alex Kabagambe, the founder of KCF, grew up as an orphan and experienced the brutal realities that many vulnerable children face—abuse, hunger, homelessness, and sickness. His testimony includes seasons on the streets, where he watched other children die from preventable disease and desperation. He also remembers the moment help arrived: the kindness of believers, a hospital stay, and a woman who took him in and made education possible.
That lived experience fuels Alex’s passion today. He isn’t running a program from a distance—he is building a home for children who look like the child he used to be. KCF is a Christ-centered orphanage, founded out of a calling to help Uganda’s abandoned and neglected children find safety, love, and a future.
From “no hope” to a home—and a new beginning
In recent years, the possibilities have expanded in tangible ways. Through partnership with Emma’s Echo, KCF moved from merely getting by to stepping into greater stability. In 2024, the children moved into the new home and began building a more sustainable life—growing a garden, raising livestock, and settling into routines that make school attendance realistic.
Those details matter because education doesn’t thrive in chaos. It grows in steady rhythms—regular meals, consistent sleep, encouragement, accountability, and a safe place to study.
Back to school means more than supplies
Yes, back to school requires the basics: uniforms, shoes, notebooks, and fees. But at KCF, education is also about stretching horizons—helping children discover they can learn, improve, and dream beyond what the world predicted for them.
KCF’s stated goals include sending each child to school, continuing to strengthen self-sufficiency through gardening and livestock, and learning how to bless the surrounding community.