Our Story begins with one person.
Dr. Joy Ngobi's pain was the inspiration for the Hope Institute of Uganda. Over the past twenty years, both Joy and Gideon, her husband, have lost many siblings to preventable conditions. This has left them with a burden of caring for close to twenty orphaned children ages 2 years to 25 years. Most of the parents of these children died from causes secondary to high risk behaviors. After soul searching and extended observations of these tragedies that pervade thier villages and many others, she felt the need to create the Hope Institute of Uganda. As they traveled on many occasions to Uganda, they have come across children who are suffering under the heavy burden of extreme poverty. One cannot fail to see what their futures could be, given a chance to develop their skills. The role of the HIU is to help maximize their potential and to encourage and to equip them to become positive role models for others in their communities.
The need to redirect the intense and deep pain she experienced after the loss of her sister, Rebecca Isiko at age 38, was the initial incentive. Rebecca had been diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease three years prior and had battled that disease with courage and faith. Although Rebecca had moments of depression, especially over her three young children she would leave behind, ages four to nine years old, she was a fighter to the very end. The initial focus was to pass on her passion, that had made her special to the children who had nobody mentoring them. Added to Joy's pain, were the deaths of three brothers, all college educated, to HIV and alcohol, all before the age of 42. Life had also not gone well for Joy's parents who had bouts of acute depression and psychosis.
All of these hardships inspired her to be practical and to do something about the hopelessness that she observed in her family and families across the country of Uganda. This gave birth to the Hope institute whose goal is to help even one family not to face similar challenges. Our hope is that this work will be a pilot project for many communities in Africa and other nations.
The HIU is being developed in partnership with other families who have a vision for the children and orphans of Uganda. These families have been involved with the genesis of the HIU.
HOPE INSTITUTE PROGRAMS:
- Resource Center
- Education
- Vocational Training
- Volunteer Program
- Jinja Jewelry
- Medical Training and Enrichment