Partnership Overview

Since 2002 BHW has been partnering with CFC-CCM in Busia, Uganda. A major part of the partnership has been church planting, development and the care of vulnerable children. As part of the church planting initiatives they have found themselves in a largely unreached area near Kapchorwa in the village of Pangani. It is an unstable area with many recent disputes and armed confrontations. Pangani means machete, a frequently used weapon in this area just a few years ago. 

Pangani is an extremely undeveloped area with few schools. Female Genital Mutilation is prevalent in the area with many other cultural issues that especially impact girls and women. Girls are married off at an early age (as early as 13), men still beat up their wives and there is a high divorce rate.

There are few other agencies seeking to promote development or education in the area. It is too hard for many government agencies to operate in. There is no electricity or other utilities. The roads are appalling and the place is cut off for many months during the rains. Few if any people from this area have ever graduated from higher education. 

There is little formal employment. It is an area of huge grasslands and in the past local people sold land to cattle graziers from other areas. Now that the area has been pacified, many of the original land owners have come back trying to reclaim their land. This has been the cause of many of the recent disputes.

A local church has been established and is growing strongly with more than 100 people baptised in the last two years. The community has asked for a school so the leadership of CFC-CCM have decided to develop one despite having few resources. There are currently 180 children in the school with just one trained teacher and other volunteers from the community. Some of them will be trained as part of the development of this partnership.  

History of Partnership

In 1999 BHW personnel met a Ugandan man studying in Auckland, New Zealand. He went back to Uganda a few weeks later and continued with his work there. That work related to church planting and orphan care in these churches. In 2000 the first trip was made to see the situation in Busia, Uganda and to assess the opportunities. It was agreed that there were some real opportunities to develop a partnership in the area and so BHW became involved. In 2004 micro-enterprise was introduced and the funding for that started in 2005.

Bright Hope World personnel have visited Busia often and the partnership continues to grow. This school development in Pangani is an extension of our long-standing relationship with James and Gorret.  

Beneficiaries

There are a number of beneficiaries. These include: the children who get to go to school when they would otherwise not have been able to; the girls who are saved from genital mutilation, rape and child marriage, and the families who are now able to send their children to school. 

What We Like About The Partnership

The establishment of a work in this area that promotes the gospel and education has significant potential for deep impact. It is an impossible place in many ways and with world views being transformed, there is little hope for the vulnerable ones, women and children.

Key People

Leadership Profile

The key leader is James Mayende, the principal leader of CFC-CCM. He is a school principal and recognises the strategic nature of establishing a school alongside the development of a church plant. He oversees the development of the school and mentors the key people on the ground. During school holidays he and others from Busia go to this area to encourage and help with the work. 

James and Gorret have lived in Busia much of their lives. Currently James is the headmaster of a primary school some kilometres from his home. He goes to school on his bike every day. Gorret looks after their children but is a very busy woman with other roles as well. 

James also pastors the church in his village with about 200 members, oversees and participates in church planting programmes, visits around the 20 or so churches in the district and generally keeps people accountable. 

Other People Involved

At the moment James is the key person. He travels there as much as he is able to oversee the local development. There is one trained teacher who is the principal. Because there have been no resources, the teachers are local volunteers. One girl, the best educated, is being funded to get her teaching diploma. With resources, this place will become very vital as the centre of the community.

Vision And Annual Strategy 

The vision is to aid with the development of this area. This will be achieved by teaching the children, building relationships with the families and then addressing the cultural practices that are so damaging to the young people.

It is intended to grow the school to the point where the government starts to become involved because the community has stabilised.

Annual Budget

The annual budget here is US$8,800.