Gladies’ early years were marked by heartbreak and rejection. She lost both of her parents to HIV when she was only five years old, leaving her vulnerable and grieving. Her aunt, though struggling with very little, took her in and did all she could. Gladies’ grandmother, a nurse, helped support her education, giving her a small sense of stability. But when her grandmother suffered a stroke that ended her career, the family lost its only income. Her uncle stepped in briefly, but tragically, he died in an accident as well.

By the age of 14, Gladies had completed primary school, but the possibility of attending high school seemed completely out of reach. Her aunt reached out to her father’s family, begging for someone to help continue Gladies’ education. No one stepped forward. With no options left, her aunt wrote to a friend in Kampala in desperation, hoping she might at least find Gladies some work as a housemaid—a common path for village girls her age.

The friend in Kampala refused to give up on her. She contacted a social worker who reached out to 127 Haven to see if we were willing to give Gladies a chance. We immediately agreed to help. Gladies was placed on a bus the very next day and traveled to Kampala alone, holding onto the hope that someone finally believed in her.

When she arrived, she was welcomed into a loving, stable environment—a place where her future mattered and her dreams were given room to grow. Because the school term was already halfway through, she was enrolled right away. Gladies passed all her entry exams and began high school, something she once believed would never be possible.

Since then, she has flourished. She has become a caring big sister to the younger children in the home, offering guidance and compassion shaped by her own experiences. Gladies loves the Lord deeply and has built a strong, personal faith. Today, she is working hard toward a dream that once felt unimaginable: she hopes to study law at university—to stand up for others, protect the vulnerable, and turn her painful past into a future filled with purpose.

Desire arrived at 127 Haven in 2021 as one of three siblings who had been abandoned by their parents and raised by elderly grandparents deep in a remote village. By the time she came into our care, Desire had never attended a single day of school. She spoke only Lusoga, had never learned to read or write, and couldn’t even count. Her world was impossibly small, shaped entirely by survival and limited by the complete absence of opportunity.

After her grandparents passed away, Desire and her twin sister Daphine, along with their brother Jovan, moved into our family home. Everything changed. With consistent meals, safety, education, and the love of a Christian family, Desire began to flourish in ways no one could have predicted.

Today, Desire is in 4th grade and is the top student in her class. She has gone from not knowing the alphabet to reading confidently and excelling in every subject. Her teachers consistently praise her determination, intelligence, and eagerness to learn. But her growth extends far beyond academics. Through daily devotions and Bible study, Desire has learned to tell Bible stories in her own words and understands deeply that she is loved—by God and by the people around her. This assurance has given her a confidence and joy she never experienced in the village.

Creative and full of energy, Desire dreams of becoming an artist. With encouragement and access to materials she never had before, she pours her imagination onto paper, expressing the bright spirit that had been hidden for so long. Her transformation from a girl with no education and no future to a thriving student with dreams and purpose is a testament to what God can do through faithful obedience and partnership.

I am a boy, born May 31, 2015. I enjoy watching TV and I want to be a pilot.

STORY
Jovan and his younger twin sisters, Desire and Daphine, were abandoned after their parents separated and were left in their grandparents’ care in a rural village, with no financial support. While his sisters stayed home, Jovan worked in the garden to help provide food. After their grandparents passed away, the children came to live with us. Jovan is a hardworking, protective brother who loves basketball and dreams of becoming a pilot.

I am a boy, born November 28, 2014. I enjoy playing board games and I want to be a scientist.

STORY
Timothy, was just a baby when his mother abandoned him and his sister Mary, leaving them with their alcoholic father. His drinking led to long absences, and the children ended up homeless in an abandoned house, begging for food to survive. School was inconsistent, and Timothy rarely finished a term. Yet he has stayed strong and hopeful. Now safe with us, he dreams of becoming a policeman. Energetic and kind-hearted, he loves playing football (soccer) whenever he can.

I am a girl, born April 1, 2012. I enjoy singing and coloring and I want to be a doctor.

STORY
Mary was abandoned by her mother when her brother Timothy was a baby. Their father often disappeared for days, leaving them to survive alone, at times homeless in an abandoned house. His habits prevented Mary from ever completing a term. Forced to beg for food, she showed remarkable resilience. Today, safe in our care, Mary is pursuing her dream of becoming both a nurse and a singer. She loves to sing and inspires joy with her voice and determination.

I am a boy, born December 7, 2013. I enjoy playing football and I want to be an engineer.

STORY
Joshua grew up in Luwero with his older brother Fred and their mother. She did all she could to provide, turning a single room into a restaurant during the day, a bar at night, and a bedroom at the end of each day. When it became too difficult to care for them alone, she reached out for our support. School was inconsistent for Joshua, but he never lost his drive. He loves math and dreams of working in IT. Like his brother, he is focused, humble, and full of promise.

Fred grew up in Luwero with his siblings and their mother. His father abandoned the family shortly after Fred was born, leaving his mother to raise all her children alone. With no support and no steady income, she worked endlessly just to keep them fed. To survive, she turned a small room into a business—a restaurant by day and a bar by night. It was the only way she could provide. Each night, Fred and his siblings waited outside until the last customers had left, often very late, before they could go inside to sleep. Life was unstable, exhausting, and hard.

School was equally inconsistent. Fred attended only when his mother had enough money, which wasn’t often. With older siblings also needing school fees, he was usually the one who stayed home. Still, he remained eager to learn and determined to keep trying. His father refused to offer any financial help.

By the time Fred entered our children’s home, he was 12 years old. According to Uganda’s standards, he should have been entering high school, but instead he was in Primary 5—and even then, he was far behind. When he took the school assessment, he failed the Primary 5 test and had to repeat the entire year.

For the first time, Fred received the consistent support, tutoring, and encouragement he had always needed. With stability around him, he began to thrive. He gradually caught up, improved his grades, and eventually passed his Primary Leaving Examinations with strong marks—an accomplishment that once seemed impossible.

Spiritually, Fred grew as well. He loved reading his Bible and learning more about God. His faith deepened over time, and he eventually gave his life to Christ and chose to be baptized—a decision that filled him with joy and purpose. Today, Fred is in high school, thriving academically and personally. He loves math and science and has developed a strong passion for computers. His dream is to become a software engineer, using his skills to build a brighter future than the one he was born into. Fred is a humble, hardworking young man whose resilience and faith continue to inspire everyone around him.

I am a Girl, born May 15, 2019. I enjoy going to the movies and I want to be a chef.

STORY
Hailey grew up with her mother and three siblings in Kalerwe, one of Uganda’s largest and poorest slums. Her mom did odd jobs to feed the family, but Hailey was often left alone during the day while others were at school or work. Eventually, her mother fell into deep debt and could no longer care for her, ultimately abandoning her. Today, Hailey is safe in our home and dreams of becoming a chef.

Gloria was born in Kamuli to teenage parents who were still children themselves—primary school dropouts with no income and no ability to care for a baby. Shortly after her birth, they carried her to her grandparents’ home, promising to look for work and return for her. They never came back.

From that moment, Gloria’s life became one of survival. At just three years old, she was already working in the garden with her grandfather, helping with digging and chores far beyond her age. When the garden work was done, she spent her days looking after goats. Childhood was something she didn’t get to experience. When her grandfather—the only provider for the household—passed away, there was no possibility of school, no early education, and no exposure to life outside the remote village. Gloria spoke only Lusoga and had never held a pencil or learned a single letter.

When she first arrived in our home, Gloria was shy and frightened. She cried often—not out of misbehavior, but because she simply couldn’t express herself. Everything was new: the language, the routines, the other children. She needed time, patience, and love. And she received all of it.

Today, Gloria is thriving. She is in 4th grade, speaking confidently and learning quickly. The timid little girl who once hid behind others now raises her hand in class and loves participating. Her teachers say she is hardworking, curious, and eager to learn—proof of what stability and encouragement can do.

Through daily devotions and Bible study, Gloria has discovered stories that speak to her heart. Her favorite is David and Goliath—a story of courage, faith, and God’s protection. She loves retelling it, and it inspires her to believe that even small people can do big things. Gloria’s personality is bright and joyful. She loves vibrant colors like yellow and orange, has a beautiful contagious laugh, and is playful and full of life. She enjoys track, running with determination and excitement every chance she gets.

Most importantly, she now dreams. Gloria hopes to become a nurse for children when she grows up—a dream made possible because she finally has safety, education, and the knowledge that she is loved.