our story

Who We Are

In the heart of Kampala’s most vulnerable slums, a dream was born in 2003; a dream to create a haven of hope for children trapped in cycles of poverty, neglect, and despair. In Need Home began humbly in the Kifumbira slum of Kamwokya, amidst the devastating HIV/AIDS epidemic that had left countless families broken and children orphaned. 

At first, our mission was simple yet urgent: to care for terminally ill patients who had been abandoned and left without support. But as we walked alongside these families, we saw an even greater need; children who were not only grieving the loss of parents but also battling hunger, homelessness, and hopelessness. Their bright futures were slipping away before they had even begun.

Two years later, In Need Home moved to the Namuwongo slum in Makindye Division, a place where the struggles were even more pronounced. Here, our feeding program began, offering meals to vulnerable children who had nothing to eat. Yet, as we watched these children grow stronger with every meal, we couldn’t ignore the larger problem. They needed more than food; they needed education to break the chains of poverty and build a brighter future.

In 2005, we took a bold step forward by launching an education sponsorship program, ensuring that orphans and vulnerable children could access quality education. Over the years, this initiative has touched the lives of thousands of children. Some of these children have grown to become teachers, nurses, and entrepreneurs—beacons of hope who now give back to the very communities that once nurtured them.

But we knew that empowering children wasn’t enough. To create lasting change, we needed to strengthen the households they came from. In 2008, we introduced household economic strengthening programs, offering caregivers tools to rebuild their lives. Through financial literacy training, business development support, and village savings groups, families began to thrive. We watched in awe as once-struggling caregivers proudly declared, “I can now provide for my children without help.”

In 2010, we expanded further, launching social enterprises like Snacks for Education to support our programs sustainably. From selling snacks to repackaging honey, these initiatives have generated much-needed resources to fund education for children who otherwise might never have stepped into a classroom.

Every step of our journey has been fueled by resilience and the unshakable belief that every child deserves a chance to dream, grow, and succeed. Today, In Need Home operates in nine slums across Kampala, touching the lives of hundreds of children and their families each year. Beyond education and nutrition, we rescue children trafficked for street begging, rehabilitate them, and reintegrate them into their homes and schools, working in partnership with organizations like the Women and Equal Opportunities Desk of Moroto Diocese.

The challenges remain immense, especially in the wake of COVID-19, which has driven up costs and threatened our ability to support vulnerable children. Yet, we press on. Our work is more critical than ever as we strive to establish an education center; a haven for the most vulnerable to access primary, secondary, and vocational education.

At In Need Home, every story of transformation fuels our resolve. The child who was once homeless but now dreams of becoming a doctor. The caregiver who turned a small business into a lifeline for her family. The slum community that now believes change is possible.

This is why our work matters. This is why we do what we do. Because every child deserves more than survival; they deserve a future filled with hope, dignity, and opportunity.