The overall goal of this project is to provide Uganda with a developmental center that supplies local men, women, and children with entertainment, education, a sense of community, hope, and success in their life's ambitions; and to provide citizens of other nations, who are able to give, a chance to get involved with making a difference in Africa, both by helping to fuel the outcome of the center's mission and also to develop personal relationships with those who frequent the center.

The larger vision that is in the heart's of both Henry and Joshua is to eventually use the first (original) center as a control experiment, testing what works and what doesn't, so that the same project can be implemented to bring benefit to other regions / countries in Africa, for Africa's children and future.

Although there will be many students and adults that come to the center, the primary focus will be on the youth, as they are the ones who will help to shape a stronger nation. The completed original center will have many different areas that facilitate particular needs of those who visit. These areas may have to be built in a particular order, as some difficulties faced, such as financing, land availability, planning, etc, may hinder the desired scope of the project initially.

Here are a few of the areas we intend on including (in no particular order) and possible descriptions / features:

SCHOOL / ORPHANAGE

Our aim is to start out with about 2oo students, ranging from P1 to P7, in 2 small buildings, each floor divided into 2 class rooms. Ideally, each class room will contain about 28 students. The buildings will also provide boys and girls dormitories and teachers quarters, as well as a main gathering hall area, or assembly hall. It is our goal and intention to have a full staff of professional teachers, who can teach a range of subjects from mathematics, science, social studies, English, writing/composition, technology/computers, and business, to ensure a good, sound education for the children in our school.

STREET KIDS OUTREACH

The numbers of street kids in developing countries (Uganda in particular) are adding up every day due to various reasons, like the HIV epidemic that has resulted in broken families, recent wars and poverty. Under this program, we hope to bring about 20 kids off the street each year and bring them to the center for rehabilitation and counseling, providing them with food, shelter, clothing and education. Our goal is not just to give them these necessities for life, but to allow them to grow and flourish, so they can become a big part of the force that will eliminate such a tragedy in these lands.

MINISTRY FOR SCHOOL DROP OUTS

The number of school drop outs in Uganda has increased over recent years. The statistics show that girls drop out of school more than boys. In many instances, this trend of heavy female dropouts is caused by such circumstances as early pregnancies, lack of scholastic materials, not enough food to eat, having no uniforms and the inability to meet other school requirements. Some of these causes might be brought on by extreme poverty or death of parents/guardians (many orphans are left behind as a result of HIV/AIDS).

The government of Uganda has put in place a free school program for different levels of education, namely, Universal Primary Education (UPE) and Universal Secondary Education (USE). Although initiatives such as this greatly help those in need, the implementation of these free school programs has not stopped the above problems in some parts of Uganda. Challenging the government is not our aim, but we will try to supplement its efforts, and attempt to work hand in hand with other government organizations to do our best to make sure these problems end. We plan to have at least one large hall or classroom that will enable us train boys and girls orphaned and school drop outs the skills needed to do such jobs as tailoring, needlework, catering, beauty care, carpentry and computers.

CHILDREN AND YOUTH CLUB

Uganda today has a higher number of children and youth than it does adults. This is a clear indicator that the youth and children are more vulnerable to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. They need support and instruction in their fragile lives. We plan to create a club at the center that will help to provide support and education for these children and youth, through activities that will include drama, music, Bible teaching and sports.

Since the center will have a recreational area, we hope to use this facility partly for sports, like football (also known as 'soccer') and basketball. We also hope and plan to take advantage of valuable time after a friendly sporting game, where we will gather the children together and educate them on the dangers of contracting HIV/AIDS, by telling them the Biblical perspective on the issue and getting their feedback and thoughts. Our main goal is to do our best to make sure that the youth and children do not make risky decisions in their lives that could result in the contraction of HIV/AIDS. We also hope that this club will assist them to make responsible new choices and commitments so that they live meaningful lives, not only in Uganda, but also in their personal walk with God.

We will continue to stress the importance of such decisions during children and youth nights, where we will involve other activities like drama, music, and movies that all promote positive morals that they can take back to the different communities they are living in. We hope to have many children and youth actively involved and would like to see to it that they are empowered to make the right decisions in life. Maybe these methods, together with identifying the root causes and problems of HIV/AIDS, can prove to be a great way to reduce the numbers of HIV/AIDS orphans in Uganda and the spread of the disease.

INTERNET CAFE

Not only would the Internet Cafe provide a facility to professionals and students needing to access their emails or surf the web, but it will also provide a valuable tool for the development of the children's skills, preparing them for the future. This area has lots of value, due to it's overall potential, considering the possibilities that it holds for the community. The internet situation in Africa today shows us that to have broadband in Africa is neither cheap, nor very effective. Most providers are far too expensive, while only delivering minimal, often unreliable service. We envision not only providing internet access to our client el at the center, but also providing efficient, affordable internet to the surrounding community. In Kampala, places available for the average person to get online have very weak, unreliable connections. Many will come on a consistent basis once they find out that the Center has reliable strong internet.

COMPUTER WORKSHOP

Another wonderful element that closely ties in with the internet cafe is a computer workshop. This would be a room with a number of stations set up intended to help instruct children and/or students on using computers. Not only would they learn about how to navigate throughout an operating system, such as Windows, but also they would be instructed on basic troubleshooting techniques to help maintain and repair computers.

E-RELATIONSHIPS

Another exciting element that also closely ties to the internet cafe is providing a vehicle that will allow people around the world, through a membership / sponsorship program, to get to know children and individuals who frequent the center. With current technology, it is possible to have both webcam and microphone communication for very little cost. Imagine a sponsorship program that doesn't just provide the donors with a picture and a letter once a year, but actually allows them to log into their account online and see and hear the voice of the one they're sponsoring, while being seen and heard themselves. We are very excited about this concept, and it's just a matter of time until it becomes the standard of sponsorship relationships.

PROVIDING JOB SKILLS

Many of the young women in Uganda that have not been given an opportunity to get an education are at a disadvantage in their society. They often lack the skills required to find jobs or to make enough money to live their lives. We will use a room in our building space to teach such women tailoring skills, such as sewing, repairing, and fixing garments, as well as how to effectively sell their goods and make money so they can take care of themselves.

COMMUNNITY OUTREACH

Various programs could be enacted to try and meet some of the needs of the community. In an effort to get the community involved and united, the Center staff would be encouraged to create and test ideas to implement that would solely aim for the well being of the community. Over time, in developing relationships with the local government and the surrounding communities, many positive achievements will come to pass, which will not only give life and hope to some in need, but will also open a door for discipleship and spreading of the Gospel.

ORPHANAGE RELATIONSHIP

The degree to which the Center could be involved in Orphanages or in helping orphans could be great or small. Whether it be as large as running an orphanage on the property or whether it be something as small as shuttling children from orphanages so that they can participate in the developmental activities that the Center offers.

The possibilities for what is included or added to such a concept as this Center are quite endless. Many things can be tried and tested. Some may be surprisingly wonderful, while others might be unexpectedly not so wonderful. What is known and will not be surprising or unexpected is how important and successful this Center will be for all the people of Uganda and for their futures.

There are many organizations, individuals, companies, and groups that would like to be involved in a project such as this. There may be corporations, such as Microsoft that would want to help with computers/programming. There may be Internet Service Providers, who have solutions to offer and who would be willing to help. We personally do not have the names of such contacts. But what we do have is a passionate, unfaltering, strong, confident desire to dedicate our whole selves to the completion, implementation, and running of this Center and it's positive effects on those who are in such desperate need.