Kizzy

Known to all the children as MUMMA KIZ.

When she’s out in Uganda she loves to sit outside the school watching the kids eat or play, chatting to them, hugging them and just generally being there for all of them. There are 450 children at Lovell school and she knows most of them by name……and they adore her.

But she works SO hard.

When a child in need is identified she works with Joseph to meet the family/guardians or person referring them to confirm that they will benefit from sponsorship. She then finds a sponsor and makes all the arrangements.

When she’s not doing ‘sponsorship stuff’ she sews on missing buttons on the kids’ uniforms, organises and distributes the stuff we send out, organises the tours, supports Joseph, posts on Facebook, has Zoom meetings with the trustees, she communicates with the team of volunteers there and she helps to write policies and provides all the information needed by the Charity Commission.

She shares all Joseph’s dreams but keeps him ‘real’ and they are a formidable team!

Joseph

It’s so hard to explain how wonderful Joseph is so here’s just a little example…

One of the older teenagers had been invited to the US by his sponsor and needed a passport. Obviously, for many of our kids, this isn’t a very easy process because they don’t have birth certificates or other official documents and some have no family, Anyway, Joseph took Dan to get his passport and the officer asked him ‘Who is your dad? – to which he replied “Joseph”. So then he was asked “who is your mum?” to which he replied “Joseph”.

To many of the kids, Joseph is their dad and mum, their saviour, their confidante, their ‘go to’ person and their role model in life. They adore him and he loves all of them as if they were his own …he calls them ‘my kids’.

Walking around the town with him, you realise that he is known and respected by everyone including police, officials, teachers and locals. It is all of these people who come to him and tell him about children that need his help – everyone knows Joseph will do what he can!

He has some big dreams…to expand the school, build a clinic, build a youth skills centre etc …but all his dreams are for the children, not himself. Our children could not be in better hands!

What really struck us too is that his brothers and friends are in it with him…..helping around the school, helping build etc etc. He has inspired them and they share his passion.

Marvin

Marvin, who also lives with Joseph, is our Youth Representative Volunteer, and is very well respected; he will make a great leader one day – maybe a future President!!!!!! He’d also like to build an international university when he is older. He assists with birthday parties, helps lead fellowship and is an awesome interpreter – his English is amazing. He is a thoughtful and humble big brother to his 4 siblings who have no parents and who we hope to move to Joseph’s as soon as possible.

Will

Will (on the front) was once a ‘street boy’ but now lives with Joseph. He is in charge of paying school fees and buying all the food for Lovell school as well as delivering food, school equipment etc to other schools. He also drives the children to and from school in the Batbus if Joseph is not available and he runs all sorts of errands.

Will is also the comedian of the group – his smile lights up not just a room but a whole village!

Will is also one of the directors of Busia Step Up Family Organisation (like our trustees).

John

John is a close friend of Joseph. It is his family’s land that Lovell school is built on and along with his mum, dad, girlfriend, he lives right next door! Having been born and brought up in Sikuda, he has great insight into the needs and vulnerabilities of the families there. He has been working really hard to improve his English so that he can help with updates about the sponsored children to ease the burden on Joseph and Kiz.

Ally

What doesn’t Ally do?! Finances, shipping co-ordinator, chair – you name it!

Tina

Supporting the team with all things technical!

Becca

Our Fundraising Co-ordinator! If you have any ideas for helping us with fundraising, please get in touch!