African Child Development Trust (ACDT) is our lead partner with Lumpewe Primary School. Whilst we have been very much focused on the school project, ACDT have been busy working in the Kabowa Slums in Kampala. Over the years I have made a number of visits and made contributions to support the work.
Top Left: Pastor Musisi Trustee of ACDT and Director of Lumpewe Primary School
Top Right: Joseph Ssemakula. He is the team leader and also in charge of the Education Programme. Currently he is in Secondary Education Year 4.
Centre Right: Kabuye George, just completed Senior 4. He is in charge of the Youth Church and School programme and helps with the teaching of Math and Geography.
Centre Left: Regan Lookman. He is in Senior 4, he leads the centre Drama and Dance Club and shares leadership responsibility of the centre.
Bottom Right: Okoth Geofrey. From Gulu, he is the Sports Director, nick named the coach. He joined the centre about 10 years ago, went back to school and obtained a degree. He is married with 2 children. Through his work in the centre he as become a father figure for many of the boys. He is the oversight and administrator for the daily activities of the centre.
Bottom Left: Baguma Jonah (Apostle) He is 16 years old and participating in the Centre Micro Business Support programme. He is selling curtains in Kampala City and through the earnings he is supporting his mother and 2 siblings. He is also a team leader in the Church as well as counselling his peers. He dreams to be an Evangelist.
What I personally find encouraging about the work at The Hope Centre is that a few people filled with the love of Jesus are making such an amazing difference to the lives of the young people in the Kabowa Slum district. What started through the medium of sports has changed the lives of many of these children so much so, that even at a young age, the oldest being 16, have stepped up and taken on the responsibility of running the youth church. And more latterly shouldered the mantel of helping other children maintain a connection to education during the Covid pandemic. Children living on the margins of society who without the input of these young men would be missing out on education because their families do not have means to access the online teaching being provided by the Education Authorities. In addition some are creating businesses to support their families.
Derek Baldry Ministries 