This was the first Hope for Africa’s Children Conference organized by the African Christian Community with an aim of encouraging, inspiring and challenging the delegates to go back to their communities and have an impact.

The conference ran from the 18th – 22nd of October and took place at Kampala Pentecostal Church (KPC) the home of Watoto Child Care Ministries who have models that assisted in demonstrating to the delegates the aim of the conference.

There were evening rallies, dynamic worship, practical

workshops which also focused on the purpose of the conference and solution.

Speakers included Pastor Gary and Marilyn Skinner – Kampala Pentecostal Church – Uganda, Dr. Charles Price – The Peoples Church, Toronto, Pastor Brain and Bobbie Houston – Hillsong Church, Sydney - Australia and many others.

It is estimated that by 2010, there will be 50 million orphans in Africa. Due to this calamity, the conference aimed at empowering delegates with the knowledge of helping the children of Africa who still live without hope.

Since the solution cannot be successfully achieved on an individual basis, the conference further aimed at a strategic partnership between African delegates and delegates from the rest of the world. This would provide opportunity to delegates from Africa and the rest of the world to network and build partnership with the goal of making the lives of the suffering children brighter.

Kyazanga community was privileged to have the founder of Joy for Humanity, Joseph Lukwago attending this empowering conference. His aim was to see how he could get empowered and further his vision of assisting the community especially the children who still live without hope.

He strongly believes that if something is done, we can have the children growing up as God fearing and the future generation of leaders who will have a value system that stops war, prevents disease, fights poverty which has taken a toll in the community and other community problems.

Joseph was privileged to meet a delegation from Chine whom he shared with his vision for the community especially the children of God.

Among them were Gloria Leung, Atty Ching and Evelyna Liang who really got concerned and promised to see how they could stand with him in any way they can to see the fulfillment of his dream for the children of God and the community in general.

Gloria Leung was a principal of HKUGA Primary School one of the best and highly growing primary schools in Hong Kong decided to start empowering Joseph with leadership and management skills so that he can professionally be developed.
She is now an education consultant serving both the primary and their new secondary school and she also offers professional development programmes to prinicpals and teachers all over the world.

She also got a heart of helping one of the brightest children in the community who completed his primary education in Kyazanga Modern Primary school and supposed to join a good secondary school next year. This opportunity makes this child of God to have his secondary education in a secondary school of our choice.

Many children of this community drop out of school at an early age or can’t even attend school like other children. Majority of those who manage to attend go to poorly set up schools that there is almost no difference brought to the child.

We can really solve this problem by developing strategic partnerships. We can join hands to care for the parentless and disadvantaged children of the community.

In John 5:1-11 we learn about the story of the miraculous catch of fish.
When the disciple fishermen had done what Jesus had told them, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they motioned to their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

The Lord gave the disciple fishermen such a huge catch, and the only way they could bring it in was by a partnership.

One of the critical components in developing a solution for caring for the disadvantaged children and other deprived community people is to begin to work together.
The Bible teaches us in James 1:27 that:
“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”
God’s compassion for the poor, the hurting, the refugee, the desperate, lonely abandoned child or widow is a reflection of who He is. He really does genuinely care and seeks a solution to their dilemma.

His solution is to ask us, his people to do it for Him. He is the Father of the fatherless. He is the husband to the widow and He is the provider of every need.
In His wisdom and sovereignty he has chosen to call us to do this for Him. He enables us and provides for us so that we can reach out to those in need for Him. Whatever we do for one of these we do for Him.

We must enter into community life clothed with love. We must engage with the community practically to bring Hope, Joy, Healing and Life.

We can successfully do this for the glory of God and to the praise of His son and our Lord Jesus, the sovereign Lord of all.

May God bless you as you partner with us.