In Uganda, the public school system is not free. Students and their families are required to pay for uniforms, school supplies, as well as other fees in helping the school. Many Ugandan children do not attend school because their families cannot afford to pay. In northern Uganda, because of the ongoing 23+ year civil war between the government and the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), the needs are more acute for the northern Acholi people. The LRA has stolen over 35,000 of their children, turning them into child soldiers and sex slaves, killed thousands of their citizens, burned many of their villages and created over 1.5 million refugees, living in poor IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) camps. They have been the ones most devastated by the civil war, not to mention the affects of AIDS/HIV, resulting in thousands of orphans and many more thousands of desperately poor children who have almost no chance of going to school without help. Action International Ministries (ACTION) attempts to meet this need by running the “Jesus Is The Truth” nursery and primary schools in Gulu, Northern Uganda. The schools are part of the Village of Hope, a facility that provides various supports and ministries to the families of former child soldier mothers. Here they are given opportunities in skills training, adult literacy, trauma counseling, micro financing, and, most importantly, Biblical teaching and discipleship.

The nursery school, presently with 109 students, and the primary school, with 151 students, are made up of children of former child soldier moms, as well as children from ACTION’S Home of Love orphanage. The former child soldier mothers, either escaped, or were rescued, from the LRA. They are mostly single mothers, attempting to live a normal life and raise their children.  The nursery and primary schools allow them the ability to take part in the workplace, receive counseling, and their own literacy education, while their children are being taken care of and receive a quality Christ-centered education. These children have witnessed much trauma in their young lives. They have been marginalized and neglected. Sharing the Word of God with these children, praying for these children, and showing them the Love of God on a daily, personal level is the most important focus of this ministry. In addition to a good quality education, this school project also includes a feeding program, uniforms, and school supplies, and where necessary, meets medical needs.

At the bottom of the page is a profile of one of the students. It shows how these schools are changing young lives, from damaged lives to a life of healing, from fear to hope, from sadness to joy.

This opportunity to reach these children while young is a wide open door, as God’s Word says in I Corinthians 16:9, “because a great door for effective work has opened to me (us) and there are many who oppose me.”

The costs for supporting this ministry are:

- to cover a student's fees, including school supplies, uniform, meals, and medical costs - $30.00 US/month

- to cover a daily meal for 1 nursery student and 1 primary student – only $5.00 US/month or for 2 nursery students and 2 primary students – $10.00 US/month

- to cover the salary of a teacher - $150.00 US/month

- to cover the salary of other school staff, such as cooks, maintenance, drivers, etc. - $80.00 US/month

If individuals or churches wish to give a donation for, or become regular sponsors of, this ongoing school ministry, or any of the other ministries associated with the Village of Hope, or Home of Love orphanage, please contact an ACTION office for further details.