Our Vision

The Kironde Education and Health Fund is committed to providing education and health related services to orphans and vulnerable children in an atmosphere of family based nurture in Uganda.  We believe that local charitable organizations are more likely to understand the complexities and specific problems confronting their population.  By supporting these organizations we help maintain the stability in the community.  They are most able to provide the continuity of care that is necessary for children to grow up in a healthy and educationally supportive environment.    By focusing our efforts and resources on one community at a time we can establish deep roots and best practices that will create and sustain long term stability and self-sufficiency.

The KE+HF is working with the Ugandan organization, Kigalama Children’s Initiative, aka KITCHIN.  Founded by Mary and Samuel Tusuubira, Justine Sabagereka, and several other good people, their Unitied Nations of Uganda sanctioned organization had a vision similar to ours.  Their lifelong focus on the issues facing young children influenced our decision process as we created the KE+HF.  They are committed to keeping the many OVC in a family setting and if possible the same village they came from. 
Lack of financial resources, education and healthcare prevent most rural Ugandans from achieving a reasonable life style. Kigalama is a village of about 3800 residents lying about 80 miles west of the city of Kampala, Uganda. Average income is about $300 per year.  School in Uganda is not free.  There is no electricity.  Water wells are distant and contaminated so that it must be boiled human consumption. Firewood or charcoal is the only fuel for boiling water and cooking.  Simple tasks like getting water, cooking and washing clothes are arduous and time consuming.  Young children, who should be at school, have to fetch firewood and water so their parents can work their farms.   

The Kironde Education + Health Fund envisions a self-reliant population in the village of Kigalama where parents or guardians have the resources to raise and educate their children in a healthy environment; where children can grow up free of chronic disease and become productive adults.

KE+HF believes that while dealing with long term solutions to the lack of income, immediate needs of children must be met for nurture, education, healthcare and disease prevention.  Families that take in and nurture children receive benefits from the KITCHIN Cooperative.  We have identified major projects and areas of support:

• General support for KITCHIN administrative, KE+HF required record keeping and training expenses.
• School expenses including fees, uniforms and supplies.
• Rainwater cisterns for families that care for OVC and the general population.
• A vehicle for transport of children to a clinic in Mityana, Uganda for preventive checkups and care as well as a vehicle for emergency transport. This would support the proposed healthcare cooperative that would be run by KidsCareEverywhere.
• Education, training and capitalization of a business that would generate income on a long term basis.

The KIRONDE Educations + Health Fund, Inc. is a non-profit 501(C)3 organization.  Board members are not compensated. To the extent possible expenses related to fundraising and operations are donated. 

The Kironde Education and Health Fund (KE+HF) was founded in 2008, by the family of the late Apollo Kironde, Uganda’s first ambassador to the UN and grandson of Sir Apollo Kagwa who was fondly known as the father of Uganda.    KE+HF is dedicated to the memory of their public service and to sustaining that legacy.  Many young orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) of UG are the forgotten victims of wars, political turmoil and horrific diseases. With no official social service networks to fall back on their future if any is bleak.  These children deserve a chance to grow up and be healthy, productive citizens that can contribute to their society and economy.  The fund is the family’s way of giving back - fulfilling the vision of a vibrant Ugandan society that propelled the public service of their ancestors.

It takes about $125.00 to keep a child in school in Uganda including school supplies, uniforms, shoes, identification cards, registration fees and miscellaneous.  The lack of any one of these incidentals Items, that we take for granted in America, will prevent a child from attending school. 

Rainwater run-off cisterns are a simple, manageable way to provide water to families in very rural areas where the typical family lives on 2-3 acres. The cost for each tank including pipe, hardware, installation and coordination is $550.  Our 2010 goal is to install tanks for 18 families. Instead of spending hours lugging a heavy water jug a child can now have the chance to attend school.

Easily preventable childhood deaths are all too common in Uganda.  Pregnant women often have their children on the side of the road while trying to get to the hospital on foot.  KE+HF is working with KCE and a local doctor to develop a pediatric coop in Kigalama.  Together they will focus on meeting the medical needs of the orphaned and vulnerable children.  In order to affect this collaboration, KEHF must raise funds to buy and maintain a vehicle to transport children to and from the clinic for checkups, treatment and medical emergencies.

Most rural Ugandans have a few free ranging chickens but to raise birds that produce quality meat and eggs that can feed a family and also be sold for a profit there needs to be a capital investment. The cost for each family set up is $145.00 for equipment, feed, veterinary services, training and batch of hens and a rooster.  This will be a community effort where once the initial operations are established some of the hatchlings will be used to expand the business to other families.

Click here to read more about the Batabazi