Otem Collective

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Otem Collective

Strengthening families and communities to care for vulnerable children. In Uganda, 80% of children in orphanages have at least one living parent.

Poverty, not lack of family, is the main reason children end up in residential care. Without adequate resources, families are left with little choice but to turn to orphanages as a means of caring for their children. We want to see every child in a family, and our work focuses on tackling family separation from both ends of the spectrum—on the front-end by strengthening families to care for their children and on the back-end by helping orphanages get children back into families.

10/08/2026

In July, 110 parents and caregivers joined our newest round of Parent Support Groups. As those groups have gotten underway, something pretty cool has happened. Several parents who went through previous groups approached our Uganda team and asked if they could help teach.

They wanted to share some of what they’ve learned, talk about how they’ve actually put it into practice in their own families, and encourage the parents who are just starting the program.

And that’s exactly what you’re seeing in this photo! One of our former participants is helping teach a session—sharing from their own experience with parents who are now going through the program.

We love seeing parents who once came to learn now stepping up to help other families grow stronger as well!  

10/05/2026

Meet Fiona!

Before joining Otem Collective’s Family Strengthening Program in July, Fiona says conflict was a regular part of her relationships. She often disagreed with her neighbor, and disagreements with her husband could turn into arguments that lasted a long time. Through the program, Fiona has been learning practical skills for healthy communication, managing anger, and working through conflict with love.

And she’s already seeing a difference.

Fiona and her neighbor are now good friends. They still disagree sometimes, but instead of letting those disagreements turn into conflict, they’re learning to work through them with love.

She’s seeing that same change at home. Fiona shared that she and her husband now communicate differently, and the tension that once filled their marriage is no longer there.

Strong families are built through changes like these—one relationship at a time.

10/01/2026

Agriculture training time! 
This week, families in our agriculture initiative are learning about weeding and pest control with our partner, Agrisol. 
We’re so grateful for the regular hands-on trainings Agrisol provides throughout the year, helping families continue to build their skills, learn best practices, and get the most out of their crops.  

09/21/2026

Every year, U.S. Christians give an estimated $4.5 billion to support residential care for children around the world.

That number says something powerful: there is incredible generosity already being poured into caring for vulnerable children. But what if more of that generosity went toward helping children grow up in families?

Around the world, the majority of children living in residential care have living parents. Too often, poverty, not the absence of family, is what separates them.

And family-based solutions don’t just give children the opportunity to grow up in a family—they allow resources to reach far more children. Supporting a child in residential care can cost 5–10 times more than supporting a child in a family.

Imagine what could happen if even a portion of that $4.5 billion was redirected toward strengthening families before they reach a point of crisis and supporting solutions that help children grow up in families.

The generosity is already there. What if we used more of it to help children grow up where they belong?

Source: Barna Group, Residential Care 2026, in partnership with Faith to Action Initiative

08/21/2026

Two years ago, these 92 families joined our very first Parent Support Groups. One year ago, they received maize seeds and agricultural training from our partner, Agrisol, as part of a new agriculture initiative. They put what they learned into practice, producing a harvest that helped families put food on the table, send children to school, and even start small businesses.

Today, we got to do it again. Each family received 4 kilos of maize seed, which has the potential to produce 10–12 bags of maize—about 800–1,200 kilos per family.

But this year, there’s something different: families are giving back.

Each family has committed to give 20 kilos of their harvest to another family in need. When Bruno, our Uganda Director, explained it to the group, he told them, “You are donors now.” And they were SO excited about it.

These are families who joined Otem Collective’s programs because they needed support. Now, they’re using what they’ve learned and what they have to strengthen other families in their communities.

This is what we hope transformation looks like: families growing stronger, and then turning around to help another family do the same.��

07/21/2026

How do we know if our programs are actually making a difference? We measure it. 
Good intentions aren’t enough. We want to know that what we’re doing actually works. 
Our Uganda team has been busy registering families for our newest Parent Support Groups and conducting pre-program assessments. Before each Parent Support Group begins, these assessments help us better understand each family’s needs and establish a baseline. In a few months, we’ll conduct post-program assessments and compare the results.  Stories from families are powerful, but it’s equally important to measure change. These surveys help us track growth, learn what’s working, and make improvements along the way so we can serve families even better and ensure our programs are guided not only by compassion, but by evidence. 

07/13/2026

Act justly. Love mercy. Walk humbly.

07/02/2026

The harvest is almost here!

Families in our agriculture initiative who planted in March will begin harvesting in the coming weeks. After months of hard work, they’re getting closer to bringing food home for their families and generating income from their harvest.

Recently, our partner, Agrisol, provided training on pest identification and management after farmers began noticing damage to their crops. With the right knowledge, families are better equipped to protect what they’ve worked so hard to grow.

Alfred from Adagani Village shared:
“Today we have learned about this pest and how to manage it. Before, we did not know what was destroying our crops. Now we have hope that we can protect our harvest. Thank you, Otem Collective.”

Sustainable change isn’t just about providing seeds—it’s about equipping families with the knowledge and support they need to thrive long after the training ends.

06/23/2026

What if the most effective way to help orphaned and vulnerable children also happened to be the most sustainable?

For years, the default response for children facing poverty, vulnerability, or family crisis has been residential care. Yet research consistently shows that supporting a child in a family costs 5-10 times less than residential care, while leading to better outcomes for children.

When families are strengthened, children can remain where they truly belong: at home.

Better outcomes. Stronger families. More effective use of resources.

That's why we invest in families.

06/18/2026

Hear from Bruno as he shares an update from Akoo Village!

The savings groups are thriving. Just halfway through the year, families have already saved more than they did during all of last year. 🎉

A huge thanks to everyone who has partnered with us to make this possible! Watch Bruno’s update to hear how these groups are helping strengthen families and how your support can help reach even more families in Northern Uganda.

Strengthen families today: give.otemcollective.org

Address

Orlando, FL

Telephone

+14073924324

Website

https://otemcollective.org/

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Alliance for Autism
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