Sunrise Heart Outreach Uganda Restoring Hope, Dignity, and Opportunity
Who We Are?
Sunrise Heart Outreach Uganda is a nonprofit organization based in Bigando Village, Rakia District, Uganda, with its main office on Nansana-Wamala Road, Kampala. Twaha, a young man who refused to stay silent in the face of suffering, founded Sunrise in 2018. The organization arose from pain, compassion, and hope.
When Twaha returned to his village after finishing his A’ Level studies, he saw that many of his childhood friends had dropped out of school. Most were orphans who had lost their parents to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. This disease had devastated Rakai, leaving children isolated, stigmatized, and forgotten.
Though he came from a poor family, Twaha chose to help. With support from a few dedicated friends, he began helping children return to school, providing them with food, clothing, and shoes, while also offering counseling and guidance to families affected by HIV/AIDS. This marked the beginning of Sunrise Heart Outreach Uganda, an organization that has since touched and transformed the lives of thousands.
Why Rakai Needed Sunrise
Rakai District is known as the epicenter of HIV/AIDS in Uganda. The epidemic that began in the 1980s left visible scars:
- Thousands of children were orphaned, with entire households wiped out.
- The epidemic destroyed breadwinning families, pushing surviving children deeper into extreme poverty.
- Orphans and HIV-positive children often faced stigma, isolation, and rejection from their communities.
- Education collapsed for many children, forcing them to fend for themselves instead of attending school.
In such conditions, Sunrise Heart Outreach Uganda’s work was essential.
The number of children in need is staggering. However, with compassion, unity, and generosity, we can turn pain into possibility.
Sunrise Heart Outreach Uganda – Restoring Hope, One Child at a Time.
Education Support
Sunrise believes education is key to breaking cycles of poverty.
- We started by mobilizing community members to raise small funds.
- We provided school fees, uniforms, books, shoes, and meals to orphans and vulnerable children.
- To date, 84 children have benefited from our education program.
- Currently, 43 children are enrolled in schools in Rakai and Kampala, working towards a brighter future.
Counseling and Guidance
Poverty and stigma harm the body and crush the spirit. Sunrise recognized that children and families needed heart healing.
- We established counseling and guidance sessions to restore hope.
- We educated communities to respect one another, regardless of HIV status.
- Over 1,540 people have directly benefited, living with dignity, acceptance, and unity.
Provision of Basic Needs
Sunrise steps in where children lack basic necessities:
- We provide clothing, shoes, food, and sanitary items.
• These simple actions restore children’s dignity, reduce health risks, and boost their confidence
What Sunrise Heart Outreach Stands for?
Our Core Values
- Compassion – Every child deserves love and care.
- Accountability – We ensure every resource directly supports children’s needs.
- Community Involvement – Lasting change happens when communities act together.
- Integrity – Honesty and transparency guide our work.
- Hope – We restore belief in a brighter tomorrow.
- Empowerment – We give children tools to build their own future.
Accountability
Sunrise takes accountability seriously. We recognize that every donation is a sacrifice from someone who believes in our mission. For this reason, we prioritize spending on what directly impacts children’s lives. Our current expenditures focus on:
- School fees and education support for orphans and vulnerable children.
- Feeding programs for hungry children in Rakai and Katwe.
- Clothing, shoes, and hygiene items to restore dignity.
- Basic medical care for urgent child health needs.
- Counseling and guidance sessions for children and communities.
- Shelter for children without safe places to sleep.
Every report is tracked, and donors receive updates on how their support changes lives. At Sunrise, we value transparency.
Challenges We Face: Why Sunrise needs you?
- Overwhelming Number of Out-of-School Children
In Rakai and Kampala, thousands of children are out of school due to poverty. Our current reach only helps a small number, leaving many waiting for assistance.
- HIV/AIDS Still a Threat
New infections continue, particularly among youth. Families remain broken by the disease. Sunrise addresses this by offering counseling, awareness campaigns, and guidance to reduce stigma and promote healthy living.
- Rising Number of Street Children
With over 21,000 children on the streets of Kampala, this issue is urgent. Lack of food, clothing, and shelter makes street children vulnerable to abuse, drugs, and early death.
- Limited Workforce
Finding committed volunteers is challenging since most people seek paid employment. Sunrise relies heavily on volunteers, which makes this a constant struggle.
- Financial Constraints
Our biggest challenge is limited resources. Without consistent funding, some of our activities are on hold, even as needs grow daily.
Sunrise Heart Outreach Uganda – Restoring Hope, One Child at a Time.
Our Way Forward (2024–2028 Strategic Plan)
Despite these challenges, Sunrise is determined to expand its impact. Our four-year work plan (2024–2028) focuses on:
- Feeding 200 children each day – Because no child should go hungry.
- Taking 120 children back to school – Covering school fees, supplies, and uniforms.
- Securing shelter for homeless children – Providing safe accommodations for those sleeping on the streets.
- Ensuring free education access – Partnering with schools and institutions to make education reachable for every vulnerable child.
- Providing vocational skills training – For children unable to return to formal school, we will offer tailoring, carpentry, farming, and other practical skills to ensure self-reliance.
- Expanding counseling and community engagement – To reduce stigma, promote unity, and combat HIV/AIDS at the grassroots level.
This plan is ambitious, but we believe it is attainable with your support.ty, we can turn pain into possibility.
A Call to Action – Join Us in Restoring Hope
Every day, a child in Rakai goes to bed hungry. Each night, a child in Katwe sleeps on cold pavement with no one to care for them. Every year, thousands of children are denied education simply because they were born into poverty.
But together, we can change this story.
We invite individuals, organizations, churches, schools, and partners worldwide to join us at Sunrise.
- Donate Now – Your contribution provides food for a child, clothing, and educational materials.
- Sponsor a Child – Help a vulnerable child finish their education.
- Volunteer With Us – Offer your time, skills, or voice to institute change.
- Partner With Sunrise – Join us in sustainable programs that tackle poverty and transform communities.
No act of love is ever too small. Together, we can feed, educate, and empower Uganda’s most vulnerable children.