“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give”
–Winston Churchill
Who We Are
St. Stephen Children’s Centre is a grassroots organization established in 2005 by Ben J Ssesmwogerere in the rural area of Makondo Parish in southwestern Uganda. Through care, practical assistance, capacity building, and sustainable development efforts, we are a small group of people who works to teach, support, empower, and improve the living conditions of the vulnerable members of this rural area, regardless of their gender, religion, or tribal affiliation. Our staff is extremely dedicated and passionate about the work that we do, and includes a Board of Directors, a parents committee, teachers, and non-teaching staff. We also have extraordinary partners all over the world who help to support us.
Ben J Ssemwogerere is the Director and founder of St. Stephen Children’s Centre. He was an orphan growing up in rural Uganda with limited resources for education and other basic needs. With sponsorship support, he was able to complete two college diplomas and opened a medicine shop in his village. He completed an agricultural internship in the Netherlands (having never before left Uganda), and returned to start a non-government organization in his village. Ben recently completed his Bachelor’s of Science in agriculture.
What We Do
In 2005, using the money he was given through his fellowship in the Netherlands, Ben acquired some land in Makondo village and began building St. Stephen Children’s Centre. Children and youth collected and carried each individual brick in while volunteers in the community helped to construct the first building. Fundraising from partners in Canada helped to build a second nursery school building, and add latrines, doors, windows and solar electricity, which included employment for and buying of materials from local villagers. Now we are fundraising to complete construction of the school, including floors and finished walls, and add desks and furniture to all the classrooms.
In addition to providing for children’s survival and education needs, we strive to give them cultural, artistic, and recreational experiences for a more balanced, holistic life. These include teaching and participation in singing, dance, drumming, debating/public speaking, craft-making, sports, and other activities. Our choir has even received top honors in our district and performs at many community events. These opportunities provide important skills and training for supplemental income and teach our children about the importance of expression, joy, goal-setting, fun, innovation, and creativity, which are cornerstones to change, success, and happiness.
Who We Help
Over 350 students from Kindergarten to Primary 7 attend our school. Many of them are sponsored and supported by the centre, including children who are orphans; children living with single parents, elderly, or teenage caregivers; children impacted by AIDS, domestic violence, abuse and/or poverty; and children with disabilities. Older youth and vulnerable adult community members including women, the elderly, and disabled persons, are also supported through programs at our centre.
How You Can Help
Donate Money & Supplies
The difference between our centre and other larger non-government organizations is that virtually all of the money donated to us goes directly to the community. Every single dollar or donated material makes a difference. Your donations can be used; to help complete the building and furnishing of our school; to help complete the building and furnishing of our school; to help pay teacher salaries; to help provide lunches to underprivileged students at the school ($20 USD feeds a child for one month); to help offer training and workshops to community members, and; to help with income generating projects (e.g., a hen for $15 USD, piglet for $50 USD, or goat for $55 USD can then be used to sell eggs and milk).
Sponsor Someone
Our centre supports many children, youth, and adults in need. Many children in rural Uganda are orphaned due to the AIDS epidemic. One in four households in Uganda foster at least one orphan. Many of these foster parents lack education and training to be employed and are unable to make an income, despite having many children or grandchildren to take care of. One of the special differences between our sponsorship program and other larger ones is that you can have a very close and personal connection with the person you sponsor. You can correspond, send gifts, or even visit them if you wish. You will be in direct contact with the Centre’s Director, Ben, who will be happy to provide regular updates and deliver messages to and from them.
If you are interested in sponsoring a child or youth/adult, please complete the online Sponsorship Form, or contact us and we can provide you with further information about our program and the different people awaiting sponsorship.
Fundraise In Your Community
A tremendous and long-lasting difference can be made in the lives of Makondo’s children and villagers when you fundraise for St. Stephen Children’s Centre. Every dollar you help to raise improves the living conditions and education and work opportunities for everyone in this village. All money fundraised internationally can be paid to The BC Society for St. Stephen Children’s Centre, who will then distribute the funds to our centre in Uganda according to Canada Revenue Agency regulations, to ensure accountability and transparency in how we use all funds donated to our centre.
Volunteer, Intern, Or Do Research At Our Centre
Volunteering and working at our centre not only provides our community with much-needed support, it also provides you with a deeply meaningful, rewarding, and life-changing opportunity. We have hosted volunteers, interns, and researchers from all over the world. We believe in matching volunteers and their skills with projects that will make an important difference in our community, as well as provide the volunteer with a memorable and meaningful experience.
Correspond Through Our Pen Pal Programs
One of the most powerful ways we can change the world is by teaching our children about compassion and giving them the opportunity to see how others live and to help those less fortunate than themselves. Early experiences of sharing with and caring about others sets them up for a lifetime of altruism, which in turn leads to a life of deep meaning, connection, and joy. If you are interested in having a child, class, or school pen-pal with the children at St. Stephen Children’s Centre, please contact The BC Society for St. Stephen Children’s Centre to provide you with further information about our program, and match you with a child or class.
We are happy to make special arrangements to suit your needs (e.g., match with children of similar age, school level, or gender, provide pen pal letter templates, have correspondence focus on particular topics such as geography or social studies). We also welcome opportunities for adults to correspond! Just let us know and we will do our best to make our program a valuable and meaningful experience for everyone involved!
Partner With Us
We are a small group of people trying to make a difference. We don’t always have the funds, resources, manpower, or expertise to accomplish all of our goals. Partnering with local and international organizations helps us to obtain support and opportunities we could not otherwise have. We have been blessed to collaborate with many truly inspirational people and organizations who, like us, believe that together we CAN make a difference and help people in great need. Their donations, time, mentorship, and support have been essential in allowing us to continue building our school and to provide our centre and village with important resources, such as solar electricity and better teaching, health care, and farming practices.
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Thank you Team 360 for shining a global spotlight on the amazing work of this organization. A personal and heartfelt “Thank you” to Dennis Pitocco for caring and sharing this remarkable story and collaborating with the team. “In a gentle way, you can shake the world.” ~ Mahatma Gandhi ~
Our pleasure, indeed Suzana – thank you for the inspiration!
The knowledge and strength you gain along the way and not the reward or recognition that you get at the end of it, is living a truly fulfilled life. That is Ben in a nutshell. Thanks again my friend!