In Kawempe, one of Kampala’s most challenged communities, back-to-school season carries a weight most of us will never fully understand. For children who have lived on the street—sleeping wherever they can, eating when they can, and surviving danger that no child should ever face—school isn’t just “the next grade.” School is a doorway out of chaos.
That is exactly why Somebody Cares Africa, a Haven of Hope International partner, matters so deeply.
Led by Pastor (Apostle) Prince Chemonges of Cross Point Ministries International, this ministry is built on a radical, Gospel-shaped conviction: the local church can become a refuge for children who have nowhere else to go. Haven of Hope International recently highlighted Pastor Prince’s innovative model—using rooms within the church to provide housing for single mothers, with a bold commitment: a mother can receive a room for her family if she is also willing to take in a child from the street.
That’s not just compassion. That’s multiplication.
When a church becomes a home—and school becomes possible
Children from the streets often face barriers that make education feel impossible: no stable address, no caregiver to advocate for enrollment, no funds for fees or supplies, and no consistent routine to support learning. Somebody Cares Africa is working to change that story by providing a faith-based environment focused on comprehensive spiritual and physical growth, promotion of education, and relief of poverty.
And the need is real. Somebody Cares Africa notes that support helps them “educate, feed, and supply medical necessities” for more than 60 children and families.
Back-to-school, then, becomes a community effort—helping children build the stability that makes attendance possible and learning sustainable.
A new rhythm: supplies, structure, and steady encouragement
Education doesn’t thrive in survival mode. It thrives in structure:
- waking up at the same time each morning
- having clean clothes ready
- eating a real breakfast
- getting to school consistently
- completing homework with help
- being encouraged when learning feels hard
For a child who has lived without safety, these routines are not “normal”—they are healing. The first term may be shaky. The first report card may not impress. But when a child is surrounded by consistent care, tutoring support, and spiritual mentorship, progress begins to take root.
Rescue that leads somewhere
Haven of Hope International reports that eleven children have already been rescued from the streets through this ministry, and Pastor Prince has even opened his own home as part of the effort.
Even more inspiring: he has recruited more than 18 other pastors who want to replicate this church-based foster care approach—spreading the impact beyond one congregation and into a movement.
A back-to-school moment with generational impact
Somebody Cares Africa is located in the Kawempe area of Kampala through Cross Point Church. And right now, in that community, school represents something powerful: a chance to break the cycle of poverty, street life, and despair.
This year, as notebooks are opened and uniforms are straightened, we celebrate the truth behind the ministry’s name: