OUR MISSION
To protect, heal, empower, and support vulnerable children and youth through music, life skills, and education.
OUR VISION
To be a leading organization in transforming the lives
of Uganda’s new generations.
Where We Live
Uganda
Uganda is in East Africa and is called the Pearl of Africa. It’s known for its lakes, lush mountainous landscapes, tea plantations, safaris, and a large group of endangered silverback mountain gorillas.
One of the world’s fastest growing countries, Uganda has one of the highest birthrates, and is also the youngest country in the world—with 38% of the population below the age of 15. Out of a population of around 44 million people, there are more than 2.2 million orphans and nearly 8 million vulnerable children in Uganda today.
Deeply impoverished, Uganda is still recovering from the shadows of conflicts that decimated large portions of the country. Wars and unstable living conditions in the bordering countries of South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo have led to more than 1.4 million refugees fleeing their homes to live in Uganda.
With limited job opportunities and unstable living conditions, many families struggle for survival and are unable to offer their children basic needs like food, healthcare, education, or a home to live in. It is estimated that 20% of children don’t go to school; only about 16% of primary school students are in the appropriate grade for their age.
Kampala
Kampala is the capital and largest city of Uganda and has a rapidly growing population of almost 7 million people. Busy and crowded with workers from all over the world, Kampala’s vibrancy is attractive to children from the countryside who envision a better life for themselves. It has been ranked the best city in which to live in East Africa. But that doesn’t apply if you are an abandoned or runaway kid living on the streets.
Katwe, in Kampala, has been a slum since the early 1900’s, and is located next to Nsambya, the location of M-LISADA. Katwe has attracted young people and children with little education and no prospects. It remains one of the highest crime-ridden areas in Kampala. Most of our children pass through Katwe before coming to us.
Kalangala
M-LISADA has also established a children’s home and resource center on Ssese Island, one of the 84 islands that are collectively known as Kalangala, on Lake Victoria. While Kalangala is only a 2-hour ferry ride from mainland Uganda, it is a world away in terms of resources and opportunities. It has one of the highest HIV-positive rates in the world. Most of Kalangala’s population live in poverty and are dependent on farming and fishing for survival, but recent fishing bans have made life even more difficult for the majority of Kalangala’s population. The high rates of unemployment and HIV/AIDS make it almost impossible for most households to support themselves, leaving an overwhelming number of orphans and vulnerable children to fend for themselves.