The remarkable God Bless Miracle School in Uganda offers hope to the poor

I first met Reverend Andrew Mbabazi, a warm and enthusiastic man, on the top of a craggy cliff surrounded by volcanic mountains in Kisoro, southern Uganda in October 2016.

I was visiting the Batwa tribespeople as part of an adventurous cultural experience while on safari with Absolute Africa. Aching and sore from trekking the mountain gorillas in the famous Bwindi/Mgahinga National Park the day before, this profound experience with the Batwa took me completely by surprise.

I discovered that the Reverend has been ministering to this marginalised, impoverished community for years and championing their rights to the basic human needs of housing, food, water, sanitation and the opportunities to education and work. 

Rev Andrew is especially passionate about education for disadvantaged children and has dedicated his life to giving them opportunities to break free from poverty.

To achieve this, he has established the Light for the Needy and Vulnerable in Uganda, Africa (LNVUA), which operates a Pre & Primary School of 200 pupils, including orphans, Batwa children, refugees from the DRC Congo and children from poor families.

God’s Miracle

The God Bless Miracle Primary School is located in verdant countryside between Mountain Muhabura-Mgahinga Forest National Park and the Crater Lake Mutanda.

With a dedicated staff of nine teachers, the pupils are making excellent academic progress, learning singing and dancing and drama and sports. The children are given a daily lunch and the boarder also have supper.  

On a return visit to support the Batwa community, I was invited by Executive Director, Rev Andrew and the LNVUA Board to be special guest at the graduation ceremony of the Pre-School children on Saturday, October 28, 2017.

And I was honoured and delighted to share in the joyful celebrations. After Rev Andrew gave a bible reading and Holy Communion, the children performed songs, dances and drama that they have been rehearsing for many weeks. They were absolutely spectacular in their vibrant uniforms of orange and pink with yellow cardigans and red socks! 

  

The little children graduating from Pre-School to Primary school, filed out in their resplendent robes and mortarboards, making their parents very proud. 

But all of a sudden the tropical rain started pouring down which sent the children running for cover. The marquee roof filled with water and the field was flooded!

We all waited patiently for the rain to subside - which it did eventually - and we resumed the ceremony under the marquee with speeches and cake to celebrate the graduation! 

Later I joined the Board and officials and other guests, Joseph and Dianah, for lunch of delicious Ugandan dishes. 

It was a wonderful occasion that I will always remember!

Hope for the Future

Rev Andrew and the LNVUA want to break the cycle of poverty by giving children from poor backgrounds the empowering opportunity of education.

The LNVUA aims to educate poor and needy children and orphans up to university level or vocational institutions so the next generation can flourish.

Plans include the construction of permanent classrooms, dormitories, and a medical clinic to provide health services for the children and surrounding community.

The LNVUA also plan to construct houses for the poor families and the Batwa tribespeople, living in abject deprivation.

The UNVUA is seeking international partners to share the vision and help the dream become a reality. And with God’s blessings, miracles will happen for the beautiful children and families of southern Uganda.