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Our Story
Paul Bogere was born in Buwala, Uganda, in 1969. When he was about 5 years old, his father, a farmer, was killed in one of the many conflicts that have plagued Uganda. His mother died shortly after of cancer, leaving him orphaned. He was taken in by a kindly stranger who provided for him until he was 15 and finished A-Level school. A few years later he met and married Rose and together they had four children. Paul was a farmer and Rose worked with an organization aiding widows in their district. Over time the widows began to ask Rose and Paul to help them with their children. Feeling the need to repay God for the help he was given as an orphan, Paul agreed to take in three children. Soon it was another three, then another three until by 2007, they had 18 children. About this time they were introduced to an organization called the Uganda American Partnership Organization which was helping another orphanage in Kampala. This organization helped them build their first dormitory, develop their gardens, and bought them a cow. They also brought in doctors to treat the orphans for skin disease and worms and provided some used clothes and shoes. In 2009 Paul was introduced to the organization Development in Gardening (DIG). DIG taught Paul improved farming methods and continues to support the orphanage as a DIG site. |
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By 2010, the orphanage was supporting 26 children. By 2012 all of them had become enrolled in school. The first goat herd was started and sewing machines were purchased to teach sewing skills. As new mattresses and pillows were purchased, bed sheets and pillow cases became the first sewing project.
In 2013, the population of children increased to 35. Solar panels were installed for lighting and evening study sessions were begun for all area children. The first wooden goat shelter was built.
The following year, the number of children increased to 45 and a new dormitory for girls and a new latrine were built. A government authorized well was built on the property, providing a water source for the 450 matooke (banana trees) which were planted. The home was awarded a grant from Project Redwood, an organization run by Stanford Business School Alumni to provide support to programs to alleviate extreme poverty. The first secondary school graduates moved into career training programs.
In 2015, the grant from Project Redwood funded the construction of a piggery, a cow shelter, a new kitchen/store building, a water catchment system, and fencing to protect the dormitory and animal shelters. The number of fruit producing trees was increased to more than 100. At year end 55 children were supported.
In 2016 a new sewing/tailoring building was constructed and an additional land purchase was initiated which will allow for more staple corps and perhaps fish farming in the future. The population grew to 65 children.
In 2017, government-authorized electrical power was installed and a cement goat shelter was built to replace the earlier wooden structure which had been destroyed in a storm. At year-end the home was awarded a second grant from Project Redwood which will fund the construction of a community training center where as many as 200 of the 500 local residents will be able to receive training in business basics, sustainable agriculture, animal husbandry, culinary skills, tailoring/sewing, and hairdressing. Year-end population was 72 children.
In 2018 the new Community Training Center was completed. Classes have begun in sustainable agriculture, tailoring, baking, cooking, and hairdressing with the first 20 students graduating in 2019. As additional funds are raised, improvements to the center will be made including solar panels, interior improvements, and additional equipment for all the classes.
In 2019, a young man who had grown up at St. Paul and Rose's, Collins Mukisa, has been accepted to Kampala International University (KIU) this coming semester for its bachelor’s program in medicine and surgery, which takes five and a half years and leads to the equivalent of an M.D. degree in the United States. He hopes to help create a clinic in the home’s village for all the people in the surrounding area. A portion of contributions made to the home will be used to help with the expenses of his education.
Future plans
In addition to incremental improvements to the Community Training Center, as additional funds are raised, a new boys' dormitory will be built along with a second latrine and staff/guest/trainer housing, including solar panels and water catchment equipment. The remaining sections of the property will be fenced for security and a van and/or other large transport vehicle will be purchased. A grinding mill and silos for maize kernels and flour will also be purchased with the long term goal of self-sufficiency in food and daily living expense for as many as 100 children.
In 2013, the population of children increased to 35. Solar panels were installed for lighting and evening study sessions were begun for all area children. The first wooden goat shelter was built.
The following year, the number of children increased to 45 and a new dormitory for girls and a new latrine were built. A government authorized well was built on the property, providing a water source for the 450 matooke (banana trees) which were planted. The home was awarded a grant from Project Redwood, an organization run by Stanford Business School Alumni to provide support to programs to alleviate extreme poverty. The first secondary school graduates moved into career training programs.
In 2015, the grant from Project Redwood funded the construction of a piggery, a cow shelter, a new kitchen/store building, a water catchment system, and fencing to protect the dormitory and animal shelters. The number of fruit producing trees was increased to more than 100. At year end 55 children were supported.
In 2016 a new sewing/tailoring building was constructed and an additional land purchase was initiated which will allow for more staple corps and perhaps fish farming in the future. The population grew to 65 children.
In 2017, government-authorized electrical power was installed and a cement goat shelter was built to replace the earlier wooden structure which had been destroyed in a storm. At year-end the home was awarded a second grant from Project Redwood which will fund the construction of a community training center where as many as 200 of the 500 local residents will be able to receive training in business basics, sustainable agriculture, animal husbandry, culinary skills, tailoring/sewing, and hairdressing. Year-end population was 72 children.
In 2018 the new Community Training Center was completed. Classes have begun in sustainable agriculture, tailoring, baking, cooking, and hairdressing with the first 20 students graduating in 2019. As additional funds are raised, improvements to the center will be made including solar panels, interior improvements, and additional equipment for all the classes.
In 2019, a young man who had grown up at St. Paul and Rose's, Collins Mukisa, has been accepted to Kampala International University (KIU) this coming semester for its bachelor’s program in medicine and surgery, which takes five and a half years and leads to the equivalent of an M.D. degree in the United States. He hopes to help create a clinic in the home’s village for all the people in the surrounding area. A portion of contributions made to the home will be used to help with the expenses of his education.
Future plans
In addition to incremental improvements to the Community Training Center, as additional funds are raised, a new boys' dormitory will be built along with a second latrine and staff/guest/trainer housing, including solar panels and water catchment equipment. The remaining sections of the property will be fenced for security and a van and/or other large transport vehicle will be purchased. A grinding mill and silos for maize kernels and flour will also be purchased with the long term goal of self-sufficiency in food and daily living expense for as many as 100 children.