Through our certified vocational and business training, we equip vulnerable young and single mothers. Our Students learn trades and skills while building self-esteem through lessons in God’s Word and understanding their worth in His eyes. The program covers:
Our students have an opportunity to participate in trade specific internships with local businesses in the spring and fall. The internships give our students real world experience and help them secure jobs after graduation.
Our students have the privilege to join our Savings Program. This microfinance program was established in 2015. It encourages our students to save money and build financial capacity and gives them access to credit to help start their businesses after graduation. This program has seen tremendous success and has grown to over 600 active members.
We believe that by training and empowering these women, we are breaking the dependency cycle and giving them hope and dignity to thrive and become independent.
Hope Shine distributes approximately 600 food bags per month, each designed to feed a family for about three days. Most families average five children, meaning these food bags help feed nearly 3,000 children monthly. Each bag contains rice, beans, posho (corn flour), and sugar. Due to rising food costs and demand, Hope Shine can only hold one food distribution event per month.
In the slums, expectant mothers face significant health challenges. Hope Shine provides essential care, including screenings for illnesses like UTIs and malaria, and prenatal support to ensure healthy pregnancies. We also distribute Mama Kits, which contain life-saving supplies for a safe and sanitary birth. In Uganda, many pregnant girls cannot afford these vital kits, leaving them without access to crucial medical care. Without a Mama Kit, many are denied assistance at hospitals, putting their lives and the lives of their babies at risk.
Esther House serves as a safe haven for the most vulnerable girls, primarily ages 14 to 21, many of whom have children. The house currently shelters eight mothers and their children. Residents live at Hope Shine for a full year, enrolling in the vocational school and participating in enrichment activities. They receive:
Upon graduation, residents are resettled into a one-room house that also serves as their business space. They are provided with all essential items to live independently and start their business. Hope Shine also covers their first six months of rent. In 2023, the program celebrated its first graduates, all of whom are now successfully running their businesses, achieving a 100% success rate for this program.
This program was launched at the request of women’s affairs community leaders to support girls involved in sex work for survival. Hope Shine holds monthly meetings with this group, providing food bags, encouragement, prayer, and a listening ear to hear their stories.
Many women in the program turn to prostitution to support their children after falling into debt due to life’s hardships. A $300 donation can help a woman pay off her debts or support them to start a small business and transition away from street life, providing hope and stability for her and her children.
Members of the Hope Shine team regularly visit the slums to distribute water bottles, clothes, and food to those in dire situations. We minister to the community, share the Gospel, and distribute Bibles. The slum we serve spans about five square miles and is home to approximately 25,000 people. Most homes lack electricity, running water, and access to waste collection services.