Otem Collective

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

06/11/2026

Sometimes what families need most isn’t another training or handout; they need someone to walk alongside them.

Through household mentorship visits, our team meets with families one-on-one in their homes to discuss what they’re learning in our family strengthening programs and how to apply it in everyday life. Together, they talk about things like parenting, household goals, and the challenges they face.

These visits provide encouragement, practical support, and accountability while helping families build stronger relationships and more peaceful homes. They also help us see the progress each family is making.

Here’s to walking alongside families as they build brighter futures for their children!

06/05/2026

“Through this group I have learned that saving is not only about money but about planning for the future. Even small amounts can grow into something meaningful when we are consistent and disciplined.” —Bosco, Adagani Village

The village savings groups (or community banks, as our families are now calling them) are going strong! 273 people are meeting and saving together each week. Since the beginning of the year, the eight savings groups have saved $5,791, already surpassing the total amount saved during all of last year.

As Bruno, our Uganda Director, says, “These guys have gone wild with saving!”

06/02/2026

“I recently returned from Uganda for the first time in more than two years. The last time I was there, Otem Collective's family strengthening programs in Kole District were still just a dream.

This trip, we heard story after story of lives changing. In one village, 17 of the 53 families we're working with are building or have already completed brick homes—something many families once thought was impossible.

As we approached one of the villages where we're working, it started pouring rain. A group of women came running out of a nearby house and escorted our vehicle down the muddy road for nearly ten minutes, cheering and singing the entire time. Bruno Odur, our Director in Uganda, looked over at me and said, ‘Wow. This is love.’

Standing there, watching these women celebrate in the rain, I was reminded why this work matters.” - Kristen Marks

Want the full story? Read Kristen's reflection from her several weeks in Uganda at https://otemcollective.org/what-i-saw-in-uganda/

05/21/2026

Healing happens in connection. 

Last week, 200 children from six districts across Uganda gathered for the annual Trust-Based Relational Intervention Children’s Camp hosted by our partner, Alliance for Uganda Without Orphans.

Centered on this year’s theme of restoration, the week created space for children who have experienced trauma to experience safety, joy, healing, and connection. Counselors were trained in TBRI ahead of camp to help foster that environment, and on the final day, 63 parents joined to learn practical tools they can continue using at home.

It was an incredible week full of learning and fun—and if you asked the kids, most of them didn’t want the camp to end!


05/18/2026

Please join us in praying for Uganda and the DRC amidst the recently declared Ebola outbreak.

The rare Bundibugyo strain, with no approved vaccine or treatment, has killed nearly 90 people.

05/12/2026

Director x2!

Bruno, Otem Collective Uganda Director, and Kristen, Otem Collective Executive Director 👊🏼

04/22/2026

This is why we do what we do: children belong in families. 

In Northern Uganda, we’re walking alongside families, equipping them with the tools, support, and community they need to stay together and thrive.

Because when families are strengthened, children don’t have to be separated.

04/15/2026

Maize has started sprouting!

Just weeks after receiving seeds, crops have started to grow for the 100 families who recently joined the agriculture initiative. Families are now tending their gardens—watering, weeding, and putting what they’ve learned in trainings into practice as they care for their crops.



03/26/2026

All smiles for seed distribution! This week, 100 new families joined the agriculture initiative. In addition to maize seeds, the families will receive training in modern farming techniques from our partner, Agrisol.

This means more than just crops—it’s increased income, food on the table, and greater stability for families. As families are able to provide for their children, the risk of separation decreases and families can stay together.

We can’t wait to see their harvests in a few months!