Hello friends,
I’ve just returned from a long overdue trip to Uganda. It had been 5 1/2 years since I’ve been and I wanted to go and see the progress they have made in that time. If you read to the bottom I’ll be there, probably shedding a few tears, a mix of happy and sad.

It’s been 5 1/2 years since I stood on this red soil. In the years that I have been away Isaac, Sharon, and I have been having conversations about sustainability. When Isaac and I began this project over 12 years ago our goal was always self-sustainability. We didn’t know exactly what that looked like back then but that was our ultimate plan. If you’ve been around since the beginning you know we have gone through so many iterations of what Tusubira Village and The Grow Hope Foundation were meant to do together and what our goals were. We began all those years ago by simply wanting to improve the sanitation and hygiene of a rural community in Uganda. When that was accomplished we saw the importance of nutrition and began to teach farming and growing nutritional food one home at a time. Once people were growing food and eating healthier we saw how important it was to empower girls to stay in school, understand their bodies, and believe in themselves. We then began working with boys because if you only empower half of the population it doesn’t really change the community. We also worked with women, first with one group, then with two as the desire to learn grew. We offered micro loans but also community, idea sharing, and education to women building their businesses. And I believe that with your help Grow Hope has enabled all of these things to happen.

Behind the scenes with what I can only refer to as an Angel donor combined with Isaac’s own financial input, Tusubira Village has been working on the sustainability portion of this project. What that looks like is a destination that welcomes guests to a group of cottages that offer an oasis away from the city, a place for businesses to host meetings and team building events, families to host weddings, birthdays and baby showers, as well as other events. The profits that are generated are put back into those community programs we have created over the past 12 years. And over this last year we have been testing to see how truly sustainable it all is.

As it turns out, they are doing an amazing job. {I’m not at all surprised…} They are able to continue to fund the ongoing programs that we have built over the past 12 years and feel are the most impactful for the community. And while money from The Grow Hope Foundation has always been so appreciated and allows them to expand faster than they would be able to do on their own, it was never my intention to run Grow Hope indefinitely. After this trip I see that our initial goal of self sustainability in Uganda has come to fruition. And with that knowledge I now feel confident that what we have built over these years will continue to thrive.

A small sidenote…

I would like to say that there is the odd occasion where we find a young woman who has stayed in school through primary and secondary and has so much potential but no funds to continue her education. And while I will be closing down The Grow Hope Foundation, thus my ability to offer tax receipts for donations, I would love to be able to support these girls from time to time. If that is something that calls to you I would love to stay connected and find ways to offer these young women the opportunity to pursue their education. However, as far as Grow Hope is concerned I will be closing it down at the end of the 2025.

If you know me, you know I hate goodbyes…

However, here we are.

To those of you who have been with us since the beginning, I will forever be grateful for your support, your kindness, and your belief that small changes can create a long-lasting impact. To those of you who have sent $10, $20, or $50 a month for years, those donations have made everything possible. They have allowed us to continue to work towards sustainability until we got to this point. To those of you who have given large donations and helped with the major infrastructure of what was built, you are the reason we are able to close down the US portion of this project. To everyone who has ever donated, thank you. From all of us at The Grow Hope Foundation and Tusubira Village, thank you. One thousand thank yous. And if you are ever in Uganda, I have an amazing place to recommend if you are looking for somewhere to stay.

The logistics of closing down

I will be cancelling the donations of those who still donate monthly in November in hopes of everything closing down smoothly. In December everything left in the Grow Hope account will be sent to Uganda to be used to ensure a smooth transition into self-sufficiency. I will continue to receive updates from Isaac and am always happy to share those updates with you. Isaac, Sharon, and the team have become family over the last decade and that won’t change. I’m so grateful for that afternoon in a children’s hospital with Isaac all those years ago and for the legacy it leaves behind.

One more thing

I want to share one more story before I go. In our first year in this community we met Jussie, a mama who was the same age as my eldest- 20- with three children. They lived in what can only be described as awful conditions in the middle of a sugar cane field. I unofficially “adopted” her and those kiddos and have had a relationship with them ever since. Many of you know this story and what they mean to me.

Below are photos of when we first met and also, photos from this trip. I couldn’t believe when I saw the girls. They were beautiful and articulate and even after five years remembered me. And this is a story told over and over again with so many in this incredible community. This is what a simple dream about taking what we knew and doing what we could has created. It’s in all of us, I promise you that.

I think that’s all for now. If you have any questions please reach out.

It’s been quite a ride, hasn’t it?

With so much love,

Kim