ABOUT EMPOWER A CHILD
We focus on children and families living in extreme poverty in Uganda and Kenya by re-building communities and empowering today's youth.
OUR STORY
Humble Beginnings
Being the last born of 10 children, in a rural village in Uganda, my chances at obtaining an education was slim. One of my eldest sisters recognized this and bought me to live with her family in the city. She meant well, though being a young mom she struggled to provide for my school fees and keep me in school consistently. By the time I was in Primary 3, I remember some adults coming into my class and pointing me out. A few weeks later they came back and told me a gentleman and his family from the U.S was going to sponsor me. This moment changed my life forever. From primary school up through college I was given the opportunity to go to school, hear about God’s love through weekly Bible studies, and given basic necessities, such as school supplies, soap, toothpaste, clothes, and shoes.
A Step of Faith
After college I worked for a couple of years in accounting and tourism industry but always felt called back to help the needy children from the poor communities that I once lived in. In 2006, I quit my steady paying job to serve in community projects and started building a team of Ugandan and international volunteers who went on outreach projects around Kampala. My sponsor gave me an incredible gift, not only the gift of education but of love and value of self-confidence. I wanted to pass that on.
We began with what we could do at the time, love on these children and share the love of Christ. As the word began to spread about what we were doing, more volunteers started joining us, I had a desire to give back to these children in a tangible way of empowering them.
In 2007, I traveled to United States with a simple speaking schedule in the churches and communities of the volunteers I got to know. I had a list of 15 orphaned and vulnerable children who needed sponsors. By early 2008 all 15 children received sponsors and were the first children under the Empower a Child sponsorship program. Later that year Empower A Child was registered as of 501 c 3 non-profit in the U.S.
It’s been powerful to witness some of the first children on the Empower a Child sponsorship program been to graduate and enter the workforce as empowered leaders.
God has taken be on me on a incredible journey from a small village in western Uganda, to the blessing of being sponsored as a child, to entrusting a vision with me bring sustainable change to thousands of children’s lives in East Africa.
I invite you to come be apart of this journey and see how God will use you to impact in the life of a child.
Blessings,
Wilson Hannington Kabeera
Founder & Executive Director
OUR HISTORY
2006 – Wilson Kabeera and a small team of Uganda nationals and international volunteers began outreaches into local projects and slums where children were marginalized and forgotten.
2007 – Wilson travels to U.S. to speak for the first time for the children of his country
2008 – Empower a Child begins a child sponsorship program with 15 children and become a registered non-profit in the U.S.
2009 – Empower a Child purchases 40 acres of land in Zirobwe, Uganda, the first step in community development
2010 – Open a branch of Empower a Child in Nairobi, Kenya, focusing on discipling and transforming lives of children in the slums
2011 – Work with a team of volunteers in the UK to open Empower a Child UK to partner with the U.S. in raising awareness, funds, and looking for sponsors for our programs in Africa.
Work with community of Zirobwe to begin a community church, a spiritual home.
Drill deep water well, first step to give the community and the center access to clean water.
2012 – Begin construction of church building on site to move congregation from the temporarily grass-thatched structure of worship.
Connect well to solar powered pump, to give the community one of the only self-sustaining solar powered well in the entire country.
2013 – Purchase a primary school in the community and begin construction on a 16 room guesthouse to house our mission volunteers and teams within the community
2014 – Open Empowered Leaders Academy to over 400 children in the community.
OUR MISSION
Empower a Child seeks to bring confidence and self-sustainability to orphaned and vulnerable children of East Africa by teaching modern skills, giving the opportunity of education, and enlightening through the word of God.
OUR VALUES
Christ-Centered
We are committed to whole-heartedly following Christ's call and his example of living life and loving others. As we share the gospel and disciple those we work with, our prayer is that they too will come to know Christ more and live out the same commitment to Christ's call on their life.
Team Building
We seek to respect all members of our team, whether a short term volunteer or long term staff member. We work with people from many different backgrounds and strive to make everyone feel welcome and a part of the team through openness and inclusion. Any thought of superiority can destroy the team dynamic. We seek to use diversity as a strength, making the best use of a wide range of talents and viewpoints.
Collaboration & Partnership
By working and partnering with others in East Africa as well as churches, schools, clubs, and people from countries all over the world, we can achieve our goals.
Innovation & Entrepeneurship
We always must be looking for opportunities and new solutions to current problems. Just because one option does not work does not mean the problem is impossible to solve.
Excellence & Professionalism
We aim to live and work by world-class standards in all that we do.
Integrity
We hold integrity extremely high in our commitment to the efficient use of resources. We offer full accountability and transparency to our partners, supporters, and the public.
Declaration of Belief
WE BELIEVE
That there is one God, eternally existent in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
WE BELIEVE
In God the Father, Creator of heaven and earth, perfect in holiness, infinite in wisdom and measureless in power. We rejoice that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all those who come to Him through Jesus Christ.
WE BELIEVE
In the deity and perfect humanity of our Lord Jesus Christ; in His virgin birth; in His sinless life; in His miracles; in His atoning death through His outpoured blood; in His bodily resurrection; in His ascension to the right hand of the Father and His personal return to power and glory.
WE BELIEVE
In the present ministry of the Holy Spirit, by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.
WE BELIEVE
The Bible to be inspired in its entirety by God’s Holy Spirit through human authors revealing God’s truth to humanity. It is without error in all that it affirms. Christians must therefore submit to its supreme authority.
WE BELIEVE
In the personal and visible return in glory of the Lord Jesus Christ to raise the dead and bring salvation and judgment in final completion.
WE BELIEVE
In the spiritual unity of believers in Christ.