In Uganda, there is a widespread stigma surrounding people living with special needs— many believe disability is the result of a curse or witchcraft. Because of this, individuals  with special needs and their families often experience isolation and prejudice. 

Jared Scheppmann, Executive Director of Ekisa Ministries, explained that families living  with a disability in Uganda will sometimes even face eviction from their homes. 

“The stigma and the discrimination that people face is heartbreaking. Families are  sometimes kicked out of where they live because the landlord doesn't want a child with  disabilities living there. Oftentimes, children with special needs are literally not counted as  part of their family. It is heartbreaking,” Jared said. 

Five hundred thousand dollars… that is a big goal.

This year, we are taking a leap of faith and setting a big goal for our year-end giving. Why? Because the real goal is not raising the money, the real goal is to seize an unprecedented opportunity to multiply the impact of Ekisa Ministries.

Sometimes, a helping hand at just the right moment can make all the difference in the world. This is the case for so many of the families we work with, and we are always striving to step in with a hand up, instead of creating dependence on Ekisa and our programs. We want to empower families to better the lives of their entire family and give them the tools they need to best care for their children with disabilities.

Melody and Akashi are just two of the 170 children Ekisa is providing medical support to. They are able to access the help they need, when they need it. Our team of nurses and social workers stay involved, ensuring they get the right care and support them along the way.

We believe that by providing comprehensive medical care to children with disabilities, we are not only improving their health and quality of life, but sending a message to the community that their lives are valuable and worth investing in.

Most modern stories of philanthropy come from wealthy givers living in developed countries. But sometimes, the most powerful displays of generosity come from those with the least to give. Read this story of how a Ugandan mother generously gave what little she had left, and the incredible difference it made for her daughter.

My name is Heather Wood, and I am a trained educator with Loom International. Before this, I worked as a teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing for Kindergarten to Grade 6 for six years. I have been full-time with Loom since 2013 and I am part of a team called Learning Resources. We partner with local experts and, after listening to them and learning what they need to be sustainable, we provide training and relationships for success. I help run a workshop called the Celebrating Children Workshop, which trains people to work with children through the lens of God's intentions for children. We cover everything from child development to listening to children. It's a four-week course composed of eight modules.

My name is Brandon Stiver, and I have worked in the non-profit and global child welfare sector in both residential and family based models for over ten years, primarily in East Africa. In addition to my work in the sector, I also teach on Children at Risk at the university level. I'm the Community of Practice Director at 1MLLIONHOME, which means that I get to work with the best child welfare organizations out there as they seek to help more children and families with better practice and care. We focus on collaborative reintegration programs that get kids back into family and help organizations repurpose their long-term residential facilities (orphanages) into family based sites.

Everyone has felt alone at one point or another. Whether it was because of a relationship that ended, bullying at school, a painful divorce, or any one of the other millions of ways that we experience this hurtful feeling, we all stand underneath the same umbrella. And when you think about that feeling, perhaps you can understand the commonality you share with children with disabilities around the world.

I remember in my first year working at Ekisa hearing about our “waiting list.” The year before, Ekisa’s Community Care Program had just brought on dozens of new families that would be receiving the services and support their children needed. However, there were still dozens more and the list continued to grow each month.

Six months ago, as the new Coronavirus pandemic began to spread globally on an unprecedented scale, our work at Ekisa took drastic turns. As all of our work at Ekisa is with children with disabilities, many of whom are vulnerable and have complex medical needs, we didn’t want to take any chances. Our school program and our therapy outreaches were paused. Our residential home to 16 children went into lockdown. Everything changed. As I left Ekisa and watched the gate close, I had no idea when it might open again.

Last spring, we launched our Health For Every Child campaign in the wake of the pandemic. We are grateful for Uganda's swift response to contain the virus. The lockdown measures, however, created a tricky situation for children with disabilities. Their family members could no longer travel to get essential medications. So we launched a campaign to ensure these children get medical services for the rest of the year.

In 2019, Kati Ortiz moved to Uganda to become a teacher at Ekisa Academy. While the move might have been big for others, Kati was used to moving around and learning new cultures.

"I grew up living between two military families, mostly in North Carolina and Texas. I also spent some time living with my dad in Germany. Those experiences definitely gave me a love for travel, new cultures, and experiencing the world. I never imagined that would have an effect on my career because, up until the end of high school, I really wanted to be a meteorologist."

Imagine waking up in a hospital all alone, with no one you know in sight. You’re just a kid. A rooster crows, and the sound of boda bodas, motorcycles, rumble in the distance. The hospital is sparse, the halls long and cold, mosquitoes shifting in and out through the doorless entryway. Where is my family? you wonder. Last you knew, you were with your loving family. Then, somebody came in the night. They took you away. And they left you here.

We’ve been talking about THE NEXT CHAPTER campaign for a couple of weeks now. We haven’t got into too many details but today we are excited to share some of those with you

In Ecclesiastes, we hear about there being a time for everything. In my life, I have found this to be true, but it is a truth that comes only with hindsight. The seemingly random events of tragedy or blessings, the seasons of trial and the seasons of peace - all of these seem to find a place in a larger plan that we cannot fully see or understand in those moments…

Change is always necessary for growth. That's a truth that can be seen every day -- in the changing of seasons, to our relationships, to our work. We believe that at Ekisa, which is why we’re doing things differently. Over the past few months, we’ve been clarifying what we’re about, what we’re really trying to accomplish, and where we’re going. You’ll continue to see and hear more about these changes over the coming weeks.

Joy loves her family with her whole heart. She is married and has two sons and one daughter. One of her sons, Jordan, was born with cerebral palsy. 

“Some people don’t have children, I’m lucky. I have a child.”  Her statement was profound. In Uganda, disability is seen as a curse. Most mothers in this country wouldn’t see a child living with special needs as a blessing. Instead, they’re often seen as a burden and are frequently hidden away. But Rose is defying the status quo. She sees the God-given worth of her daughter and loves her with her whole heart. This is exactly what we’re fighting for – to see every child in Uganda, no matter his or her disability, celebrated in a family.