If you caught our previous Newsletter, you know the recent Uganda Farm vetting process was a success! Our next FFC Aquaponic Farm build will be in Mbiko, Uganda.

This month, we wanted to share a bit about the kids and families this farm will help.

Sadly, Mbiko is a village known for prostitution and poverty. Many children in the town are a byproduct of the sex trade industry. It's not uncommon for them to be abandoned by their biological parent(s) and live in slums with extended relatives, housing multiple children in 4'x6' spaces. And if that weren't enough, Mbiko is located on a major trucking route through Uganda. Because of this, sadly, kids often fear abduction for child sacrifice, as witchcraft is prevalent in the nearby villages.

Let all that sink in...

But there is hope. And good things are happening amid this chaos and pain.

Rock of Ages Community School, where FFC is building the farm, was started by Betty Wasswa in response to the plight of these Mbiko children. The school educates students from PK3 to seventh grade. Currently, there are about 350 students enrolled, the majority receiving free education through the Hands4Uganda student sponsorship program.

In 2020 ROA completed the construction of a 14-classroom building. When COVID-19 shut down schools across the country, the building was converted into dormitories for seventh graders to continue receiving an education and prepare for the national exam. The exam is critical to score highly on because it places students in their respective secondary schools.

The ROA School is known throughout the community for the success of its students, as seventh graders of ROA are often top performers in Uganda (allowing further education.) 52% of ROA graduates passed in 2019, while only 11% of Uganda students achieved that same score.

Mbiko, Rock of Ages, 4-year old reading!

We're so excited to work with Hands4Uganda and the Wasswas to develop the upcoming Aquaponic Farm at the Rock of Ages School and serve the precious children of Mbiko.