Uganda Project: Re-Joyce Women's Shelter

Our Goal: Our mission is to empower and support young mothers and women in Uganda who are facing challenges such as poverty, domestic violence, and lack of education and resources. Our goal is to provide them with a safe and nurturing environment, as well as the education and resources necessary to become self-sufficient. We aim to break the cycle of poverty and inequality. Your support will help us provide housing, food, healthcare, education, and life skills training to these young mothers and women, giving them the tools they need to build a better future for themselves and their children.

Our Story: We are Geofrey and Becky Kalanzi. Geofrey grew up in Uganda, and when his parents (Joyce and Gaster) died during the AIDS epidemic, his brothers and young sister were left to fend for themselves. Geofrey and the brothers spent time on the streets, and eventually connected with a home for boys. His young sister, Allen, was fortunate enough to be taken in by another relative. Due to his success in soccer and education, Geofrey came to Minnesota to play soccer and continue his education at Dakota County Technical College. He then went to The College of St. Scholastica to finish his four year degree- where he met his wife, Becky.

We now have two beautiful children of our own and have been helping with projects in Uganda as we can. We have paid school fees, put together suitcases for girls going to boarding school with clothes, books, school supplies, and menstrual care items. Geofrey has always had a passion for making a safe place for the girls in Uganda, as there were not a lot of safe places for his sister to go after they were orphaned. His sister, Allen, now volunteers her own time and money in Uganda, helping where she can.

Our Vision: We have started construction on an apartment building. The building has three floors. Our vision is to have one level devoted to sheltering young mothers who need a safe place. Girls who get pregnant are often kicked out of their homes. Some end up in situations that are not safe or in the temporary care of friends who struggle to make ends meet for their own families. The other two levels will be accomodations for missionaries helping with this project.

Our Need: When we began this project, we had budgeted for the expense of the building at the time. Over the past year, Uganda has been hit hard by inflation- a worldwide effect of the pandemic. Materials are now four times the cost than at the start of this project. We now feel like we need to reach out to our community for help to finish this project- we especially would like help so that we can quickly enclose the structure (put in doors and windows) before the building is damaged by rain. The urgency is sparked by the fact that Uganda's rainy season is April/May.

Funds Raised will go to: