Please look at the “before and after” photos. See the progress of our remarkable children in Uganda.
They are overcoming the traumas of war, AIDS, and poverty to become leaders who will help their country.

Please think about our children as you consider your holiday donations.

2010 was a turning point for L.E.A.D Uganda.

We admitted a twenty new students. Most were girls. “We will admit more girls until we reach gender equality,” says Director Monica Nankoma.

We purchased 15 acres of land, which will be future home for our orphans.  We plan to build dorms, an office, and a community center on the land in the next two years.

Our future plans include constructing a high school with an advanced information technology / science focus. There is no school like this in sub Saharan Africa.

Our students continue to excel.

Last June, Joseph became the first poor boy elected Head Boy at Budo Junior, Uganda’s elite primary school. Joseph, whose parents died from HIV/ AIDS when he was 3 says, “I feel like I am a hero. This is a school for (cabinet) ministers children and so on. They come from very rich families, but I am their leader.”

Former rock quarry laborer Katongole was elected to University Student Guild Council.  More than half of Uganda’s members of Parliament started on the Guild Council. Katongole is studying pharmacy at Makerere University on a full Government scholarship.

8 of out of our 9 candidates received 1st grades on their national exams, taken at the end of 11th grade.

7th grader Amos, an orphan from a refugee camp in northern Uganda, and 4th grader Victoria, who comes from a slum area in Kampala, both received perfect 4 in 4 grades. Rahim was a finalist in a national math contest and continues at the top of his class.

Student entrepreneur, Allisen, built the most efficient farm in his village using modern agricultural techniques he learned in school. The profits to pay his university fees.

We need you this year more than ever.

We do not have the financial means to do all we need to do for our kids without your renewed support. Your financial partnership is vital to our children. In these are difficult economic times, when many of our supporters are hurting and can not help as much as they would like, your support is even more crucial.

One thing L.E.A.D Uganda can promise you that not every non-profit can is that we are really making a difference in training the next generation of entrepreneurs, scientists, doctors. We achieve this by going the distance with our kids, who we treat as we treat our own children. They respond by doing incredible things.

“You do so much with so little,” is what Leah Karp of the Goldfarb Foundation told me recently.

L.E.A.D Uganda is small, but effective.

Please give us a little so we can do a lot of good in the world. Help us transform the life of a child. Your donation allows one orphan, one child who was abducted and forced to participate in the war, one child who worked in a rock quarry to attend the very best boarding school and realize their potential.

100% of the money you give goes to the children’s education, healing, and care.

Pleasae make a recurring monthly (or a one-time) donation by  clicking on the “Help Change Lives – Donate Now!” button below:

Civic Ventures announced that Stephen Shames, a New York based photojournalist and humanitarian, is a 2010 Purpose Prize Fellow. Shames was recognized as a social entrepreneur over 60 who, in his encore career, is using his experience and passion to make an extraordinary impact on society’s biggest challenges. Now in its fifth year, the six-year, $17 million Purpose Prize program is the nation’s only large-scale investment in social innovators in the second half of life.

Shames was named a Fellow because he founded L.E.A.D Uganda, an educational leadership program that transforms AIDS orphans, former child soldiers, child laborers, and other forgotten children into leaders by giving them the best education and the entrepreneurial skills they need to achieve their dreams and help their communities. L.E.A.D Uganda’s 94 students are “A”  students at the best schools. They are making a difference in their communities.

“Purpose Prize Fellows show what’s possible in our communities – and the world – when experienced adults apply their passion and skill to improve the lives of others.” said Alexandra Céspedes Kent, Director of The Purpose Prize. “Imagine the potential for society if tens of thousands of adults focused their know-how on the social causes they are most passionate about – it’s a tremendous opportunity.”

“I am thrilled and honored to be recognized by the Purpose Prize and Civic Ventures for my work for L.E.A.D Uganda,” said Stephen Shames. “If someone had told me ten years ago I would one day be transforming the lives of children in Africa, I would not have believed it. Using my skills and experience as a photojournalist to help vulnerable kids is very gratifying. It keeps me going and feeling young.”

The Purpose Prize, funded by The Atlantic Philanthropies and the John Templeton Foundation, is a program of Civic Ventures’ Encore Careers campaign which aims to engage millions of baby boomers in encore careers combining social impact, personal meaning and continued income in the second half of life. For more information, visit: www.encore.org/prize.

Workshops with the students: Creative Self-Expression, Communication, Decision Making, Finances and Financial Planning, Understanding The Bible, Applying to University.

Workshop with the staff: Early Childhood Education.

Twelve members of Forefront Church visited L.E.A.D Uganda last August and ran a number of workshops for our children. They also visited some of our children’s homes and Director Monica Nankoma’s mom’s house. Forefront members who went to Uganda were: Brian Moll, Jacob Lange, Omotomi Omololu Lange, Jessica Krell, Erin Burns, David Morgan, Dawn Turner, Marc Fregoe, Marivic Guevera, Angela Speakman,Naja Gibson, and Victoria Wilkinson.

The workshops were a huge success. Photos tell the story better than words:

Purpose Prizes Honor Americans Over Age 60 for Making an Extraordinary Impact in their Encore Careers

Civic Ventures today announced that Stephen Shames, a New York based photojournalist and humanitarian, is a 2010 Purpose Prize Fellow. Shames was recognized as a social entrepreneur over 60 who, in his encore career, is using his experience and passion to make an extraordinary impact on society’s biggest challenges. Now in its fifth year, the six-year, $17 million Purpose Prize program is the nation’s only large-scale investment in social innovators in the second half of life.

Shames was named a Fellow because he founded L.E.A.D Uganda, an educational leadership program that transforms AIDS orphans, former child soldiers, child laborers, and other forgotten children into leaders by giving them the best education and the entrepreneurial skills they need to achieve their dreams and help their communities. L.E.A.D Uganda’s 94 students are “A”  students at the best schools. They are making a difference in their communities.

“Purpose Prize Fellows show what’s possible in our communities – and the world – when experienced adults apply their passion and skill to improve the lives of others.” said Alexandra Céspedes Kent, Director of The Purpose Prize. “Imagine the potential for society if tens of thousands of adults focused their know-how on the social causes they are most passionate about – it’s a tremendous opportunity.”

The 46 Purpose Prize Fellows of 2010 will be honored at the Purpose Prize Summit November 12-14 in Philadelphia. Approximately 400 attendees of the invitation-only event will hear from featured speakers such as W. Wilson Goode Sr. (former mayor of Philadelphia and 2006 Prize winner); writer and cultural anthropologist Mary Catherine Bateson (author of Composing a Further Life: The Age of Active Wisdom); civil rights leader and social innovator Robert Moses (founder of The Algebra Project); and bestselling author Martin Seligman (founder of the field of positive psychology).

“I am thrilled and honored to be recognized by the Purpose Prize and Civic Ventures for my work for L.E.A.D Uganda,” said Stephen Shames. “If someone had told me ten years ago I would one day be transforming the lives of children in Africa, I would not have believed it. Using my skills and experience as a photojournalist to help vulnerable kids is very gratifying. It keeps me going and feeling young.”

The Purpose Prize, funded by The Atlantic Philanthropies and the John Templeton Foundation, is a program of Civic Ventures’ Encore Careers campaign (www.encore.org), which aims to engage millions of baby boomers in encore careers combining social impact, personal meaning and continued income in the second half of life.

Kimbowa, whom the students call “Obama” because of his oratory skills, was elected Education Minister at Seeta High Schoo. He gathered 70% of the votes against two competitors. “The students liked him most because he is composed and smart. He voluntarily led prayers before the campign, so the students were familiar with him,” says Sanyu, his L.E.A.D Uganda sister.

PHOTO: Kimbowa’s campaign poster

Kimbowa transfered to Seeta High after getting a 1st grade on his 11th Grade / “O” Level National Exams. He was Head Prefect (Student Body President) at his former school. He chose to run for Education Minister, rather than Head Prefect so he could concentrate on his studies. Kimbowa hopes to earn a Government Sponsorship to university next year.

An email from last year: “It is such a great excitement to me to write to you again. How have you been since we last spoke?

Just to let you know about what I have been up to this term in school. I am now in my final year in ‘O’ level (11th grade). I have just handed over my office as the school’s Head Prefect. I have to do this because I need to concentrate on my studies and score highly on my final exams at the end of the year.

I am proud of my service to my school as its Head Prefect. In my time as head prefect, I managed to improve on the discipline of the students.  Being Head Prefect enhanced my public speaking skill. Before, I was a very shy student.

This term we had an exhibition at school with the theme ‘Maximize Your Potential’. It was aimed at helping my school, the community and our dear parents and guardians to create opportunities from locally available resources like grass, trees, land, and animals. 32 clubs were involved including; the Agriculture, Red Cross, Debate, and Art Clubs. My club demonstrated how to make shoe polish from old, used up batteries. We also made banana ice cream, soap, and tea from dried and pounded lemon. We gave the parents a little taste of what we produced: tea made from lemon skin, crushed jackfruit seeds and cocoa seeds. You should have been there. You missed!

I oversaw the whole program. I supervised my fellow students. I showed them how to explain what was going on to the visiting parents. You know, I was dressed like a laboratory attendant!  I really enjoyed the appearance, though my friends were amused. I can tell you that all went well according to plan. It was a great day.

Thank everyone for their help keeping me in school. Their support has really helped me to ascend to great heights. To be a club president is no small feat for me. I can not forget that before I was a child worker, making and selling envelopes for pills. I was out of school. Now I am becoming a leader.

I will work very hard so that I make you proud of me by scoring excellent grades. I now need to sign off. I must attend my biology class.

I covet your prayers, Kimbowa

Sanyu Nakyeyune, was elected Uniform and Language Minister at Seeta High after a three-way race. According Mrs. Kagoda, Seeta’s Headmistress, Sanyu is “is mature and knows what she wants. She demostrated the confidence and intellectual capacity to take on the ministerial role.”

Sanyu is the elder sister of Joseph, who was recently elected Head Boy of Budo Jr. School. At 10, Sanyu was head of the household, taking care of Joseph and Sarah. She has come a long way inthe past few years with the help of generous people like you and the L.E.A.D Uganda family.

PHOTO: Sanyu (right) in the computer lab.

Sanyu says, “My father died of AIDS when I was 4 years old. My mother died the next year. She left us in great sorrows with a 11-month-old baby, Sarah, 3-year-old Joseph. I used to stay home alone, as head ofthe family, and look after them when my elder sister and brother went to a boarding school

It was really hard for me to look after my little brother and my baby sister when I was 10-years-old.  Can you imagine a 10-year-old girl looking after her sister and her brother?  I had to to wake up very early in the morning to collect firewood from the forest, and fetch water from a borehole that was 1 km away from home. I had to travel a distance of 3 km to school every day on foot. After school, I dug in people’s gardens and washed people’s clothes to get money for food and to buy milk for the baby.

PHOTO: Sanyu in class at Seeta High, one of Uganda’s top high schools.

At that time, I thought my baby sister wouldn’t survive. There is a time when she got sick. I had no money to board a taxi and take her to the hospital. I didn’t have money for bills at the hospital and neither did I know what she was suffering from. I really lost hope.I thought my baby sister was going to die. Luckily she got better all by herself.

But God is great L.E.A.D Uganda came into my life.  Ever since I joined L.E.A.D Uganda, everything has changed.  L.E.A.D Uganda saved me from the sorrow of darkness.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE VIDEO OF
JOSEPH BEING SWORN IN AS HEAD BOY

PHOTO: : Josepi takes the oath of office.

“My parent’s death caused many tears for me,” says Joseph whose parents died of HIV/AIDS when he was three, “I really loved them. I really miss them. Whenever I thought about them something bad would happen in my mind. I would burst into tears.

But my peers at L.E.A.D Uganda comforted me. They helped me stop thinking about my parents. Now I think about my future. Where I come from you only find poor people. The the only job is farming. Now I can be whatever I want.

PHOTO: 3-year-old Joseph (2nd from left) at the funeral of his mother in 2000.

“L.E.A.D Uganda has given me a very large family. I have many sisters now and many brothers, And we all are doing well. If they weren’t there, where would I be? L.E.A.D Uganda showed me the right way to behave as a leader, how to stand in front of other people, not fearing them. I was proud today when I saw myself in front of the other students, praying for them.”

Joseph, who is nicknamed Muwa, received 632 out of 870 votes (73%) in a three way race.

“Muwa is friendly to others,” relates Budo Junior’s Head Master Kavulu Ernest, “He listens to them. He is empathetic. The other children have confidence in him. They want him to lead them and they are happy about it.”

Joeph leads morning prayer at school.

“I have known this school since 1981 and this has not happened. Joseph is the first boy from a very poor family to become Head Boy,” says Budo Junior Head Master Kavulu Ernest, “What is unique about L.E.A.D Uganda is you have gone several steps higher than those other NGOs.”

The new Head Boy with Budo Juniors Head Master Kavulu Ernest and the newl Head Girl.

“You pay a lot of money to have your children in first class schools where leadership is valued,” continues Budo’s Head Master. We have hopes that Joseph can become an MP, a President, the manager of a bank, a very important person in the country. We have no doubt about that.”

“What other programs do may be wrong. It is not enough to help a child go to school if the child does not benefit a lot from the school. Others take children to poor schools. I’m saying poor because the (academic) presentation in these schools is not enough. So the drop out rate is very high.

UGANDA FACT: Only 47% of students complete 7th grade. The majority of those who drop out are girls.

“L.E.A.D picks vulnerable children from rural areas. Uganda has very many of these children. They have brains but they can not access education that can tap their talents. The gap of having no parents must be filled. Emotional strength comes from parents and those who take up the responsibility of parents, like L.E.A.D Uganda. You visit them. You joke with therm. You play with them. They tell you their problems. You help them get strong emotionally. Every need of the child is met from a small pencil to the biggest book.”

In class.

“L.E.A.D gets value for its’ money, concludes Mr. Kavulu, “When you see the fruit of your labor — a person like Muwa — when he leaves this school and you see him in a responsible position, you will be very proud of him.

What I would request of you and the community in the United States that supports you, is to lift as many children as you can from rural areas. Take them to the best schools so these children can get the right education and then they will become important persons in the country. That will be very good for this country and, of course, the world at large.”

The effort to have L.E.A.D Uganda receive a donation was led by participant Eric Niles, who is the son of Dr. Charles and Ellen Niles. Eric has been aware of his parents’ involvement with L.E.A.D for a few years, and he wanted to do something on his own.  Eric’s excellent presentation on behalf of LEAD resulted in the leadership program receiving the largest amount to a single agency.

The Teen Tzedakah Fund is a program designed to teach Jewish teens to embrace charity as a lifelong value. The seventeen teenage participants allocated $15,000 to Jewish and Non-Jewish agencies. Each participant gave a presentation to the entire panel regarding their favorite charity.  The entire group then voted for the most deserving agencies, and how much money would be given to each.

Eric also collects used and new books from friends and family members, and sells them online in a bookstore he has created on Amazon.com. He has donated $450 from those proceeds to L.E.A.D Uganda. Eric is an outstanding young man, and we are proud to have him as a supporter.

*CONCERT FOR UGANDA*

*July 7*

*Highline Ballroom*
431 W. 16th Street (between 9th and 10th Ave.)
New York City

TICKET INFO: http://highlineballroom.com/bio.php?id=1538

*Doors at 6:00 p.m.; Show at 7:30 p.m.*
*$12/advance; $15/day of show*

*FEATURING*

The Kin (www.thekin.com)
Dan Torres (www.dantorresmusic.net)
Caleb Hawley(calebhawley.com)

TICKET INFO:

http://highlineballroom.com/bio.php?id=1538

**100% of the evening’s proceeds will go to support a team of volunteers traveling to Uganda to assist L.E.A.D Uganda in its mission to mold AIDS orphans and former child soldiers into the future leaders of Africa.**

New York City, May 19, 2010 – Artists Shyvonne, Moruf, and Lions, Tigers, and Bear sang and The Violator All-Star DJ, All-En1 DJed at a well attended artist showcase benefiting L.E.A.D Uganda at Lower East Side’s trendy Gallery Bar. The event raised more than $1,000 to benefit children in Uganda affected by AIDS, war, and poverty.

Please credit all photographs: Heidi Gutman Caption: Shyvonne singing.

L.E.A.D Uganda, founded in 2004 by famed photographer Stephen Shames, is an educational leadership initiative for children affected by AIDS, war, and poverty. L.E.A.D Uganda locates the brightest children living on the edges of society—AIDS orphans, former child soldiers, child laborers. L.E.A.D Uganda enrolls them in the best schools, helps them climb to the top of their class, and propels them to university. The idea is to transform the children into leaders. Instead of remaining victims, they will be able to lead Africa into the 21st Century.

Caption: Moruf singing.

Third City, New York organized the benefit for L.E.A.D. Uganda to build awareness empower young professionals to support philanthropic initiatives.

Founder Stephen Shames explained, “Support from young professionals makes it possible for L.E.A.D Uganda’s children to attend the best schools, where they earn high marks and gain self-esteem. Our scholars experience the healing and transforming powers of education. They will become leaders in the country they love. They will help Africa and the world”.

CAPTION: TOP: Andrea Smith and Stephen Shames, founder of L.E.A.D Uganda, talk with former U.S. Ambassador to Uganda, Jimmy Kolker.   BOTTOM: Audience at Benefit

AND  WAY BELOW

….THE ORGANIZERS OF THE EVENT.

THANK YOU THIRD CITY……..

Tiffany, Byron, & Naja.  and MOM: Valerie