Graduation Day!
This past Saturday was a day we had been waiting for.
We were finally able to gather and celebrate the 27 young women who completed their tailoring and hairdressing training at our Girls' Vocational Center in Buwudha village, Uganda.
The celebration happened later than planned because of the national elections, which brought much of the country to a standstill for several days. But in many ways, the wait made the day even sweeter.
A Classroom Without Borders
There was a lot of excitement in Busikwe village recently when some of the children there “traveled” all the way to Vermont without ever leaving home.
Fifth-grade students at Hinesburg Community School and Charlotte Central School joined children from Busikwe for a virtual visit that went beyond a simple video call. This time, the U.S. students were invited into daily life in the village.
They Passed With Flying Colors
This week was a big one at our Vocational Center.
The girls finishing our two-year tailoring program sat for their final exams, and you could feel the nerves in the room.
And honestly? We couldn't be prouder!.
These young women have worked incredibly hard. Many have faced serious challenges along the way, some even navigating an unplanned pregnancy, taking time away, and then choosing to come back and finish strong.
Cutting a New Path Forward
When you give a girl the chance to learn something new, amazing things happen, especially in rural Uganda.
Busiyi village faces challenges most of us can barely imagine. Extreme poverty isn't an abstract idea here. It means many families eat one meal every other day. It means surviving on about one dollar a day.
So when we opened enrollment for our hairdressing course, the excitement was real, and so were the nerves.
Growing for the Future
It has been an exciting week as Joyce's kitchen garden has started to come to life. Joyce is raising five grandchildren on her own. When our team met her two years ago, it was clear the family needed support.
Joyce has ongoing health challenges and a back injury, and can no longer work in the fields. In the past, she grew and sold food to support the family.
We initially provided emergency food relief, but we knew the family needed something more sustainable.
It All Adds up to Change!
What makes you feel optimistic? I know that can be a hard question.
Here's one answer: 11-year-olds stepping up to help other kids across the world.
I want to give a huge thank you to the 5th-grade students and teachers at Hinesburg Community School in Vermont. For the third year in a row, they hosted a Penny War, and this time, they raised $1,400 for our students in Uganda.
Class of 2026!
Happy New Year 2026!
I am overwhelmed with gratitude for all you have done! Thank you!!!
Throughout 2025, your generosity made it possible to continue lifting children and families out of extreme poverty. Because of your support, children had access to education, women started businesses, and girls received skills training. You helped create real stability and long-term change for hundreds of children!
Your commitment did not just meet needs in the moment. It helped build pathways forward.
We saw that commitment again in the final weeks of the year through our Her Future Starts Now campaign. Thanks to you, the campaign officially closed on December 31, 2025, with full funding to send 30 girls to our Vocational Center in 2026.
You Did This!
This week, exam results came in from Kamuli, and every single student passed. That's huge! These are children who walk miles to school, many living with grandparents who can barely afford food, and yet, they showed up, studied hard, and succeeded.
You made that happen!
Because of your generosity, every child had school supplies, uniforms, shoes, and fees covered. You made school possible in a year when so many couldn't go.