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.