Forgotten in the Cells: Our Fight for Access to Justice
Introduction: The Voiceless Behind Bars When we speak of vulnerable populations in Uganda, we often think of orphans or widows. But there is another deeply marginalized group: youths, men, and women unlawfully detained in gazetted and ungazetted prisons, remand homes, and police cells. Many of these individuals languish without access to free legal representation or […]
Why Child Sponsorship is Just the Beginning
Introduction: More Than Just Numbers At ELOIM, we often share statistics. We are incredibly proud to say that we have sponsored a total of 308 girls and 208 boys to attain primary, secondary, and vocational education. But behind the number 516 are individual lives, dreams, and generational shifts. As we navigate the end of February, […]
Statement of Gratitude from Our Executive Director: Pastor Steven Tendo
Over the past several weeks, my life has taken a difficult and unexpected turn. On February 4th, I was detained by ICE and held for 16 days. Those days were heavy, but even amid fear and uncertainty, I felt the strength of a community that refused to let me stand alone. I want to express […]
Official Statement from ELOI Ministries on the Detention of our Executive Director, Pastor Steven Tendo
It is with heavy hearts and deep concern that we speak to our partners, supporters, and the global community regarding the arrest and continued detention of our Executive Director, Pastor Steven Tendo, in the United States of America. Pastor Steven Tendo has been residing in the United States as an asylum seeker, faithfully and diligently […]
The Dust that Coats the Lungs: Health Hazards of the Peak Dry Season
Introduction: The Orange Haze February is the peak of the dry season in Uganda. The roads in Luweero and Nakaseke are no longer roads; they are rivers of dust. Every boda boda that passes leaves a cloud that hangs in the stagnant air for minutes. This dust is not just a nuisance; it is a […]
The “Boarding School Blues”: Navigating Homesickness in Week Two
Introduction: The Silence of the Dormitory Schools have been open for two weeks now. The excitement of new uniforms and new shoes has worn off. Now, the reality sets in. For our new Senior One students (S1s) and young boarders, this is the hardest week of the year. It is the week of Homesickness. We […]
Love is a Verb: Redefining Valentine’s Day in Nakaseke
Introduction: Beyond the Red Roses Tomorrow is February 14th. In Kampala, the restaurants will be full of couples wearing red, exchanging chocolates and plastic flowers. But if you drive two hours north to the villages of Nakaseke, “Valentine’s” looks very different. Here, love is not a feeling; it is a survival strategy. Love is the […]
The Teacher in the Trenches: Why We Support the “Unsung Hero” of the Classroom
Introduction: The Ratio Reality Walk into a top private school in Kampala, and you might see 25 children in a class with one teacher. Walk into a government-aided “Seed School” in rural Nakaseke, where ELOIM operates, and the reality is shocking. You will often see 80 to 100 children squeezed onto wooden benches, facing one […]
The Courage to Repeat: Destigmatizing “Failure” in Rural Schools
Introduction: The Hardest Conversation This week, amidst the joy of promotion, there were some heavy silences. Some of our children did not get promoted. They have been asked to repeat the class. In Uganda, repeating a class is often seen as a humiliation. The child is teased. Parents are angry (“I wasted my money”). The […]
The Porridge Cup: Solving the “Hungry Belly” Crisis in Class
Introduction: The 11:00 AM Slump Visit a rural classroom at 10:00 AM, and the energy is high. Visit that same classroom at 12:00 PM, and you will see heads on desks. Why? Hunger. Most rural children walk to school on an empty stomach. By midday, their blood sugar crashes. They cannot concentrate. They cannot learn. […]