Our Story
By Executive Director, Eddie Kwezi
How It All Began (2015)
The journey of Kwezi Child Foundation (KCF) began with a personal encounter that changed my life forever.
In December 2015, while visiting the Busoga region in Eastern Uganda, I came face to face with the harsh realities many children and families were enduring. I witnessed widespread hunger and the painful effects of poverty-related diseases such as tungiasis, commonly known as jiggers. The suffering of these vulnerable children deeply touched my heart.
During that visit, I met a local guide named Tom Paul Busulwa, who introduced me to the beauty and culture of the region. However, on our fourth day together, tragedy struck. Tom’s guardian, a humble cobbler who had been caring for him, suddenly fell critically ill and sadly passed away before reaching the hospital.
At the burial, I learned something that moved me profoundly. Despite his very limited means, this kind and selfless man had been raising Tom and four other vulnerable children who were not his own. His compassion and sacrifice left a lasting impression on me.
That moment became a turning point in my life.
After the burial, I made the decision to take responsibility for three of the children who had been left without care. I rented a small house in Jinja, hired a caretaker, and began supporting them with the little I could provide.
Soon, however, more children and struggling families began to come forward—hungry, sick, and desperate for help. What had started as a simple act of kindness toward a few children quickly grew into something much bigger: a responsibility to the wider community.
By September 2016, I found myself caring for more than 80 children. It became clear that this mission needed structure and sustainability. As a result, the organization that would become Kwezi Child Foundation was formally registered.
The name Kwezi, meaning moon, was chosen to symbolize our mission: to shine as a light in the darkness for Uganda’s most vulnerable children—bringing hope, care, and opportunity where it is needed most.
Growth Through Challenges (2020)
Growth Through Challenges (2020)
By 2020, Kwezi Child Foundation (KCF) had grown significantly and was supporting more than 130 children. However, this period also brought one of the greatest challenges the organization had ever faced—the COVID-19 pandemic.
During this difficult time, many families in the communities we served struggled to survive due to lost incomes and limited access to basic necessities. In response, KCF stepped in to provide emergency food relief to vulnerable families, helping them meet their most immediate needs during the lockdown.
After the restrictions were lifted, we began to notice a troubling rise in the number of children living on the streets. Many of these children had fled homes affected by extreme poverty, hunger, neglect, abuse, or the loss of parents. Their stories revealed the deep struggles families were facing.
To address this crisis, KCF launched a child reintegration program aimed at reuniting children with their families and understanding the circumstances that had pushed them onto the streets. While some of these reintegration efforts were successful, many children eventually returned to the streets because the underlying causes—especially poverty—had not been resolved.
This experience became another turning point for the foundation. It made it clear that providing food and temporary shelter alone was not enough. As a result, KCF expanded its mission to focus on long-term solutions, including access to education, family empowerment, and sustainable poverty alleviation programs.
Building for the Future (2023–2025)
In 2023, we took a bold step of faith and purchased land in Kayunga District, one of Uganda’s most vulnerable communities, to build Kwezi Nursery and Primary School. At the beginning, classes were conducted in temporary structures, but with perseverance and determination, we gradually began to make progress.
By 2024, important infrastructure had been established, including a kitchen, an eight-stance toilet, and a borehole to provide clean water for the children and the community.
In 2025, thanks to the generous support of the Luena Foundation, Sumar Lakhani Foundation, and Andrews Foundation, we successfully completed three permanent classroom blocks.
These developments have significantly improved the learning environment. However, with over 347 children currently under our care, the need continues to grow. To ensure that every child receives a safe, dignified, and quality education, we still need to construct at least ten additional classrooms.
Today
What began in 2015 as a small act of kindness toward a few orphaned children has grown into a
foundation transforming the lives of hundreds. At Kwezi Child’s Foundation, we are committed
to:
Education by giving every child the chance to learn and dream.
Health and Nutrition by providing food, clean water, and medical support.
Household Empowerment by helping families build sustainable livelihoods.
Each child we reach is a testimony of what compassion, faith, and partnership can achieve.
Together, we can continue to be the moonlight that brightens the darkest nights in the lives of
Uganda’s most vulnerable children.
