Center of Hope

The Center of Hope has grown tremendously. In 2013 the number of students nearly tripled and we have moved buildings twice now to accommodate. This picture was taken in what is now the "old" Center. Visit the blog at www.refugeandhope.blogspot.com to find out more!

Our AWESOME employees hard at work!









Our students are awesome too!



We divided the garage in half to make two classrooms



By far the hardest part of our work is saying goodbye to dear students. Many of the refugees are only in Uganda temporarily before being resettled to new places. The deep attachments and friendships formed are hard to let go. This young man was one of the brightest students and most dedicated youth at the Center the past two years, and we wish him all the best as he and siblings have been resettled to Europe... We MISS you Milkias and Siem!!

Beautiful students and faces that we are privileged to serve





So proud of our son Saudi, who is in his final year of university and is a teacher at the Center of Hope





The NEW Center of Hope
We have about 400 students coming through these doors daily

Sports Day to build unity

Each class competed in a series of events, from a Spelling Bee to a Scavenger Hunt... and it all culminated in the final race at the end between the teachers

The teachers competed fiercely and Teacher Gilbert triumphed in the water bottle filling race



Celebrating the victory!

ON your marks...get set...GO. The directors compete!





And the winner is.... :)  Shelah won! but as you can see....she was cheating!

 

 

We also celebrate Women's Day each year at the Center of Hope. These two ladies are some of my dearest friends and sisters in the world. They have mentored me and blessed me for the past five years and I'm honored to know them!! Vallia and Loyce!







Dancing and celebrating the diversity, beauty and dignity of women!!!

We also had a fashion show to model the beautiful clothing and products our tailoring program is producing. I have to confess it was fun to pretend to be a model in a fashion show... for an appreciative and non-critical audience of course!!

Baby Jade. This sweet little boy was born to one of our students from Congo. She named him Jade Acker... yes, both names!