The Kafunjo Community Project - US, Inc., PO Box 90465, Tucson, AZ (2026)

06/05/2026

This is just a tiny sneak peek from the live video stream of their overnight church service that’s playing right now on Bruno’s profile. I just love the guy in blue jamming out, and I had to share it! This is a very common dance style in Kafunjo - and I can say from experience that it’s very hard to mimic. When I visited Kafunjo, many, many people tried to teach me some of their moves, but I was a lost cause. ; )

-Ashley

06/02/2026

Sometimes we are quiet here on social media because we are grieving.

The amount of tragedy that takes place within the Project alone can feel too much to bear at times. And some feel too great to share on such a public platform - especially when the outcome can no longer be changed.

Heartbreak is a very real part of joining hands with Kafunjo, but we cannot forget all the smiles and joy the Project is creating too. They are the reason for it all. And they are worth it.

Thank you for being part of their story. We couldn’t do any of this without you.

05/29/2026

The last update we shared about Moreen was that she had been rushed to a higher level hospital due to her ongoing struggles with ulcers. It’s been a scary season for everyone who loves her, but we are so grateful to share much happier news today.

At the hospital, Moreen was given a brand new treatment plan, and so far, she is doing very well. She recently attended her follow up appointment, where the doctors said she is looking great. Her next follow up is scheduled for June 26th.

We are incredibly thankful for her sponsor, along with all the donors who helped make her medical care possible. We are hopeful that Moreen is now moving into a healthier and more stable season ahead.

05/25/2026

Bruno’s heart is feeling very worn today. Every single day, he voluntarily carries an incredibly heavy burden, yet never once has he turned his back on the needy children of Kafunjo simply because helping them was too great a weight to bear.

Today, he really needs our love and support. The work he does is very difficult, and it becomes even harder without encouragement from those who are rooting for him. Financial support is always helpful, but that’s not what I’m referring to right now. Any kind and supportive messages left here in the comments will be seen by our beloved Bruno, and they will no doubt help lift his spirits.

On top of the usual burdens and stresses that come with running a project supporting more than 300 children, Bruno is constantly confronted with the many crises happening within the surrounding villages. Most locals assume Bruno is “rich” simply because he owns vehicles and somehow manages to feed 300+ children every day. So who do you go to when in crisis? Bruno of course. However, what many do not realize is that the children’s care is often being sustained through overwhelming debt that has put enormous personal risk upon Bruno. While we do raise support for Kafunjo, the reality is that, given the size of the Project and the depth of the need, it has never once been enough to fully cover everything required.

Just last Friday, one of Bruno’s many friends called him in a panic, begging him to help drive his laboring wife to the hospital because she was experiencing serious complications. As he always does during these desperate calls for help, Bruno immediately stopped what he was doing and rushed off to be the help they were hoping for.

That day left Bruno’s heart deeply scarred. On the way to the hospital, he had to watch as this poor woman lost her life. Later, at the hospital, they learned the baby also couldn’t be saved. With his own eyes, Bruno witnessed both the loss itself and the devastating trauma it inflicted upon his grieving friend.

I do not share most of these outside crises publicly because there are simply too many of them. While the story above may sound extreme, this exact kind of trauma and heartbreak is something Bruno is confronted with almost weekly.

Have you ever noticed just how BRIGHT Bruno’s smile is? That smile is fought for.

Bruno is deeply determined to show the children of Kafunjo that hope and joy can still exist amidst the constant darkness so many of them face every day. His smile is intentional. He never wants the children to give up when life becomes painfully hard, so he lives out that message himself as an example for them to follow.

Many children have shared that, before joining the Project, they had wanted to give up on life entirely. How do you best place hope and joy back into a child’s broken heart? By becoming a living example of it yourself.

Bruno’s smile is an outward symbol of his inward fight for all the children of Kafunjo, and we are so incredibly proud of him.

05/19/2026

Thank you again to everyone who contributed towards children’s clothes! About half of these funds were received before the general market took place, and the rest came in afterward. The first portion of the funds was promptly sent to Kafunjo, and a very happy Irene eagerly set off to the market and shopped till late into the night.

Since Kafunjo is always eager to make the biggest bang for their buck, a large amount of fabric was purchased alongside clothing so they could return home and begin sewing their own outfits as well. Irene, Phionah (a Kafunjo graduate), and two other ladies were so excited to get to work and have reportedly been happily sewing together late into the evenings.

Pictured are just some of the beautiful clothes sewn so far, with many more outfits still in the works for lots of excited children.

Bruno has decided that he would like us to hold onto the remaining funds and distribute them when the general market takes place again next month. This will allow the funds to stretch even farther once again through the discounted market prices.

Irene has lovingly been named the ‘mother of the Project’ by all the children in their care, which is a direct reflection of her nurturing nature. She is always requesting things for the children simply because she loves doting on them and seeing them happy. While we are often unable to fulfill many of those requests due to the constant daily needs of food and medication, it became clear that the need for children’s clothing simply could not be put off any longer.

And when the children are happy, Irene is even more so.

05/14/2026

UPDATE: This goal has been met now, thank you all so much!

Tomorrow, the big general market will be taking place where items can be purchased at a discounted price. Bruno will be going and is hoping to buy as many children’s clothes as possible. So far we’ve raised $300, and our goal is ~$800. Read below for info!

~

Bruno shared with me that many of the children at the Project have either badly outgrown their clothing or are wearing clothes that are very worn out. Because food and medication needs are so constant, we rarely get the chance to prioritize personal needs like clothing. Over the years, I have asked many of the children, “If you could receive anything in the world, what would you want?” and so many of them have answered the same thing: new clothes.

It’s a big ask, but the children would be absolutely giddy if we could raise around $800 to help buy them new clothes. If you would like to give toward this need, simply select “General Needs” on the donation form and leave a comment below (or send me a message/email) letting me know your donation was meant for clothing.

Thank you so much!

*The Kafunjo Community Project - US, Inc. is a federally recognized 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization.

https://www.kafunjoprojectus.org/take-action

05/13/2026

Little Kafunjo Update:

If you haven’t seen our last post about Moreen, she has been battling persistent symptoms related to ulcers for several months now. She has been taken to clinics in the past that only helped temporarily, but this time she was brought to a higher-level hospital that is known to be much more knowledgeable, though also much more expensive. After more extensive testing, the doctors placed her on an entirely new treatment plan that we are hoping will finally give her body the healing it needs.

Sadly, shortly after Moreen’s hospital visit (she was discharged the same day), her twin sister Monic was also rushed to the hospital, where she has since been admitted - also for ulcers. It has been heartbreaking to watch these sisters struggle so much with their health this year, but we are equally grateful for the support that has helped make their care possible.

There have been so many deaths in the village related to ulcers this year - and they come so suddenly. According to Bruno, you could be in the middle of a conversation with someone who appears completely fine, and moments later they may collapse unconscious and never wake up again. It has left everyone on high alert. Just two days ago, another sponsored student named Shirah tearfully shared with Bruno that, if it weren’t for his help, many of them would not even be alive today. Bruno later told me how much it hurts him to think about what life would have looked like for so many of these children and students if this project did not exist. These children are like family, and it’s painful to think about Moreen, Monic, Shirah, or any of the other children becoming fatally ill in the village without access to medical care or any hope of recovering.

In the middle of all of this, life at the Project continues with its daily needs and realities. On another note, Bruno also shared with me that many of the children at the Project have either badly outgrown their clothing or are wearing clothes that are very worn out. Because food and medication needs are so constant, we rarely get the chance to prioritize personal needs like clothing. Over the years, I have asked many of the children, “If you could receive anything in the world, what would you want?” and so many of them have answered the same thing: new clothes.

It’s a big ask, but the children would be absolutely giddy if we could raise around $800 to help buy them new clothes. If you would like to give toward this need, simply select “General Needs” on the donation form and leave a comment below (or send me a message/email) letting me know your donation was meant for clothing.

Thank you so much!

*The Kafunjo Community Project - US, Inc. is a federally recognized 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization.

https://www.kafunjoprojectus.org/take-action

05/07/2026

We would love prayers for Moreen. I just got off the phone with her, and as I write this, she is being driven to the hospital. While she is hopeful that she will ultimately be okay, she is currently experiencing a great deal of pain. She says her stomach is hurting, she has a headache, and she is also experiencing a burning pain in her chest. She is dizzy as well and has lost a concerning amount of weight. Despite being unhappy about needing to go to the hospital, she is still maintaining a cheerful disposition and has been such a trooper through it all.

When the school year began back in February, Moreen had barely been dropped off at her new vocational school before becoming extremely sick and vomiting blood. She was immediately brought back to the Project for further care and was eventually taken to a doctor at another clinic when she still wasn’t improving. There, she was diagnosed with ulcers and began treatment that seemed to help for a little while.

Unfortunately, many of her symptoms have continued to return, and she cannot afford to lose much more weight than she already has. At this moment, we have not yet been able to send funds for this hospital visit, and we are all hoping the staff will still allow her to be seen despite that.

05/04/2026

Kiiza says his favorite thing about the Project is that it has given him a home and a family.

04/29/2026

Jennifer's Story: Part 16 - Poverty & Isolation

For more information on this story project - one that couldn’t be closer to my heart - please see Jennifer’s Story: Part 1 (posted on January 31, 2026).

This story series sometimes includes experiences that may be hard to read. Please read with discretion.

*It’s important to note that this student is 18 years of age and has voluntarily provided written permission for her story to be shared.

-Ashley

~

“Sometimes there were others who also thought we would never become important people. They believed we would never have a future. Because of this, they neglected us and didn’t think about us or our needs at all. No one came to check on me and my siblings to see how we were doing. No one helped us with food or clothes, even though they had things of their own. No one was kind to us like my aunt was. During this time in my life, my Aunt Akiiki was the only adult who really loved me. My aunt suffered and sacrificed to take care of us, so I believe she was the only one who truly loved me.”

(AUTHOR’S NOTE: In Uganda, poor individuals and families are often disrespected and mistreated. Many people believe the poor will always be useless and that their situation will never change. The assumption is that if you are born poor, you will die poor - and you are not seen as someone of value. People are often unwilling to help unless something can be given back. Since a poor family is seen as unable to give back, help is often refused because there is nothing to gain. In contrast, a person with a hopeful future is more likely to receive help, since people believe they may one day be able to return the favor.)

“Some of our neighbors were nice, but not all of them. Some were very harsh because they didn’t want anyone to touch their things. They wanted to remain well-off in their own homes, and their families didn’t want to associate with poor people. They didn’t want to see us or other poor people succeed or be happy like them. They wanted to eat alone, and they wanted to be happy alone. Our family had no food, but some of our neighbors did - they never cared. They had no respect for poor people.”

~

We limit posts about the challenges Kafunjo faces, but there are always many urgent and unmet needs. If you’d like to help, donations can be made at the link below. Monthly support is especially helpful, but one-time gifts are always welcome. Thank you.

The Kafunjo Community Project - US, Inc. is a federally recognized 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization.

https://www.kafunjoprojectus.org/take-action

The Kafunjo Community Project - US, Inc.

06/05/2026

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