Tag: Youth

Christmas Dinners & Bundles 2024

Happy Advent Season!

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; Upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone. You have brought them abundant joy and great rejoicing. – Isaiah 9:1-2a

Where are the places in your heart and in your life that you need hope? Where do you need peace? Where do you need joy? Jesus is standing out side knocking on the door of your heart. You just have to let him in! He will cast out the despair, the distress, and the disappointment. If you let Him in, He will transform your heart and life. One way to let Jesus in is to make a good confession before Christmas. Another, is to go to Eucharistic Adoration or daily Mass. May your Advent be blessed by prayer, generosity, and reconciliation so that your heart may be prepared for the fullness of joy come Christmas.

This Christmas we seek to bless 25 families with Christmas dinners, 75 seniors with Christmas bundles, and sponsor 2 Christmas parties for children. A good Christmas for a faith filled Ugandan is attending Mass, eating meat along with tasty options of rice, matoke (banana), and potatoes, with soda and enjoying Christmas cake or cookies. With $25 we can feed a family of 5 or support 2 seniors. Would you help us bless all these families this year? Will you help break the tedium of poverty and help fill their hearts anew with love, hope and joy this Christmas? Give Today!

Thank you, Thank you for your generous hearts! We wish you a very Merry Christmas from all of us at eChange Endeavors, our partners and those we serve in Uganda. Love & blessings, Laura, Founder

Fall Scholarships to Finish Strong!

Fall is here! While that means the start of new academic year in the US, it is the final term in Ugandan. We need to raise $4000 for our scholarship fund to clear the students fees in time for exams. Will you help us and contribute $200 for one needy high schools student per term? Without your generous support these children would not be studying, causing the cycles of poverty to persist in their families.

We support 3 students at Ocer Campion Jesuit College in Gulu, which has 600 plus student with one-third on scholarship (top photo). At St Joseph College, a Franciscan high school in Tororo with 150 students and nearly all students on partial or full scholarship we support 6 students. (See photos above.) We have another 6 female students we support at various Catholic Schools, including Sr. Jackline, LSOSF. Most of their parents are farmers struggling to earn a basic livelihood. Without your generous support these youth would be growing up without an education. For only $600 per year, $200 per term, or $50 per month you can help a youth stay in school and reach their dreams. Graduating from a Catholic school experience is transformative in their lives and that of their families for generations to come. Collectively we help bring a brighter and more faith filled future for all of Uganda. Will you help a high school student reach his/her dream of education? Donate Today!

In Lira diocese, we are helping to support 20 students in primary school with boarding at the YOUFRA (Young Franciscans) Centre and personal requirements. Their parents are former Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) abductees whose lives and education were disrupted when they were captured, dragged into the bush and forced to fight or assist fighters under the threat of death. While the conflict is over many years now, the parents have yet to recover–emotionally, educationally, socially, and especially financially. We are working diligently with Sr. Margaret Awor, LSOSF, and staff of the YOUFRA Youth Centre to help improve their livelihoods, heal their traumas, and ensure a next generation does not also loose out on education. Will you help us compensate for a great injustice by supporting their children’s education? Donate Today!

Personal requirements for the primary students includes meals, mattresses, sheets, blankets, school uniforms, sturdy shoes, socks, books, paper, pencils, pens and markers, and sports gear. We are seeking $500, $25 per student, per term for these children, plus an additional $750 for one-time purchases. Will you help the parents redeem and reclaim their hope and dreams for their families and a good future? Will you help ensure their children have access to quality education? Donate Today!

We also support three students engaged in university studies. (photos above) Mercy is studying for a Bachelors in Education to become an English teacher. Gerald is seeking a Diploma in Laboratory Technologies to step his way to becoming a doctor. Emilly is working on a Master’s in Family Counseling to empower her to counsel the families she is working with at the YOUFRA Youth Centre. It costs $700 per term, $120 per month to support them. Will you make a contribution today to ensure their dreams and a better Uganda? Donate Today!

Solar Power Solutions for Growing Souls

Three of our partners are in need of electricity to power their activities. We are seeking to raise $30,000 for solar power solutions for them as they are off the main power grid. Will you make a contribution to help switch on the lights, showers, appliances, and technology so as to create better living and learning opportunities for these communities?

Young Franciscans of Uganda (YOUFRA) has a Youth Centre in Lira town that provides counseling, livelihood training, agricultural demonstration gardens & partnerships, personal skills & communication training, and spiritual formation. As well, they board 20 students attending public school near by because the parents are former abductees of the war and live in rural areas not accessible to schools. YOUFRA is helping ensure the next generation will not loose the opportunity for education as their parents did because of the internal conflict. The simple solar power solution they had died back in March. Consequently, they have been without power and lights for 4 months, which is the only source of security for the facility. We are seeking $8,000 to complete wiring of the building, buy a higher power battery and inverter, and increase their solar panels sufficient to run day and night lights, 4-6 computers, photocopier, projector, sound system, kitchen appliances (blender, mixers, refrigerator, oven etc.), and charge phones and devices for the team, plus 20 students and up to a 100 guests. Will you help us light up the facility anew? Give Today!

St Joseph College in eastern Uganda, Tororo region needs sufficient electricity to power their student computer center with 20 PCs, plus computers for administration and teaching staff, printer, photocopier, projector, sound system, irons, and security lights for the classrooms, dormitories, and offices. Plus power for the kitchen appliances and health center equipment. We are seeking $10,000 for a new solar power solution for them, battery, inverter, solar panels, and accessories. Will you help the staff & students get back to using technology as part of their curriculum? Give Today!

Chiro Camp serves two youth movements the Xaverians and the Catholic Scouts. The have a large hall containing a kitchen and dining area to host 100-200 youths at a time. They offer weekend and week-long training camps for the children who sleep in small camping tents. They have a herd of goats to keep the place well groomed but also provide income for the facility. We are seeking $12,000 to make the camping experience more impactful for the youth. The camp needs enough power for the commercial kitchen appliances, office equipment, sound system, and projector plus a solar pump to get water up from Lake Victoria for the kitchen, outdoor showers, gardens and goat care. Will you help Fr Ceaser Matovu build up Chiro Camp so more youth can grow up to be great disciples, citizens and leaders? Give Today!

Summer Fun Dancing, Drinks, and Donations!

All proceeds benefit our needy scholarship students in Uganda through our amazing partners. Without our support these youth would not be in school. We are helping to make their dreams of education and a better life come true! Pay at the door. Cash appreciated.

Thank you everyone for attending!! We had a lot of fun cutting up the dance floor thanks to DJ Mike Leach and Rockette Becky Stout MacIntyre. We have raised $3,800 towards our goal of $5,000. There is still time to support our scholarship fund and help us close the gap. Use the our secure PayPal link for a one-time or monthly contribution. Your dollars transform lives and families!

Donations Accepted too!

Scholarship recipients include Emmanuel (red shirt) whose mother was abducted by the LRA and spent 3 years living in the bush under the threat of being killed. She lost her chance at an education and struggles now to support her children as well as carrying the memories of that trauma in her life. Through the Young Franciscan of Uganda (YOUFRA) Youth Centre in Lira Emmanuel’s boarding and personal requirements are provided as he attends a local public school. His mother has received counseling and additional training in shoemaking to supplement her agricultural activities from the Centre.

Shaddrach was about 8 years old when his father Francis a primary school teacher died from liver cancer, which came from hepatitis C not being probably treated. He is now a 2nd year student at Ocer Campion Jesuit College as high school student with our support. Also, thanks to our support his sister Mercy is studying education at University to become an English teacher. She is following in her father’s footsteps. Her mother a widow only completed 2 years of high school struggles as a farmer to meet the family’s basic needs.

St Joseph College has a majority of the current students on scholarship. We help with 6 of the students and further development of the school. Their parents are farmers barely eking out a living and cannot even afford to provide for all the basic personal requirements of the students.

Lekebwam is an amazing individual with a very positive outlook on life and concern for others. Through our support with Children’s Community Care he is working to complete a diploma in communication and journalism. We cover tuition fees, personal requirements, boarding and the cost of a care assistant.

A big THANK YOU To our event Sponsors:

Xero Solar in El Segundo, 358 Coral Circle – view website

Lido di Manhattan Ristorante & Bar in Manhattan Beach, 1550 Rosecrans Avenue – view website

Chef Hannes in El Segundo, 411 1/2 Main Street – view website

Coyote Cantina in Redondo Beach, 531 North Pacific Coast Highway – view website

Gelato Go in El Segundo, 417 Main Street – view website

Queen Nails in El Segundo, 222 W. Grand Ave – view website

Skin Topic in Torrance, 4201 Torrance Blvd., Suite 740 – view website or @skintopicskincare

Tara Landauer make-up artist extraordinaire for weddings and special events – TaraLandauer@yahoo.com

Chef Hannes

Catholic Education Transforms Lives. Will you help?

As we begin anew calendar year, Uganda also begins a new academic year. Ocer Campion Jesuit College in Gulu has 600 plus student with one-third on scholarship. St Joseph College, a Franciscan high school in Tororo has 150 students with nearly all students on partial or full scholarship. (See photo above.) Most of their parents are farmers struggling to eke out a livelihood. Without your generous support these youth would be growing up without an education. As you know, Catholic education is key to helping children become fully who God desires them to be. For only $50 per month, or $200 per term, or $600 for the year you can help one youth stay in school and reach his or her dreams. Graduating from a Catholic school experience is transformative in their lives and that of their families for generations to come. Collectively we help bring a brighter and more faith filled future for all of Uganda. Will you help one of these students reach their dreams? Donate Today!

In Lira diocese, we are helping YOUFRA (Young Franciscans) to support 20 students in primary school with boarding and personal requirements. Their parents are former abductees whose lives and education were disrupted when they were captured, dragged into the bush and forced to fight for the Lord’s Resistance Army or assist with their personal needs. While the conflict is over 17 years now, the parents have yet to recover–emotionally, educationally, socially, and especially financially. We are working diligently with Sr. Margaret Awor, LSOSF, and staff of the Young Franciscan (YOUFRA) Centre to help improve their livelihoods, heal from the traumas, and ensure a second generation of families doesn’t loose out on education. Personal requirements for the students includes mattresses, sheets, blankets, school uniforms, sturdy shoes, socks, books, paper, pencils, pens and markers, rulers, and meals. We are seeking $300 per term for these children, plus an additional $700 for one-time purchases. Will you help the parents redeem and reclaim their hope and dreams for their families and a good future? Will you help ensure their children have access to quality education? Donate Today!

Summer Evening of Dancing!

Win great prizes in our raffle — gift certificates to restaurants, manicure/pedicures, bundles of beauty, food, wine, and more!!

Tickets are $5 or 6 for $25 (one book). You can purchase at the Dance OR online, OR email us at endeavors@globalechange.com. For online purchases use our red donate button and specify in the reference for the raffle. Make sure to give an email and phone number. We will follow-up with you.

Can’t make the event? You can help us to reach our goal of $5,000 for Scholarships by donating today! These students would not be attending high school, vocational college or university if we didn’t step in to fill the gap. Join us in transforming their lives and that of their communities.

We had a very fun night of dancing! Thank you to all of you who joined us on the dance floor or supported from a far. We raised $2,000 for scholarships thanks to the event sponsorship, donations and event funds with $800 coming from the raffle. We hope you can join us again next summer. To support our scholarship program donate here!

Event Sponsors:

Raffle Sponsors:

Chef Hannes Restaurant

Lido Di Manhattan Restaurant

Coyote Cafe Restaurant

Becky Stout MacIntyre Dance Instruction

Mary Hornickel @The Wellness Company

Autumn Granath Manicure/Pedicures @Merle Norman

Frances Nails @Manhattan Beach

St. Joseph’s College Needs a New Roof!

During holy week this year a big storm blew through Tororo Uganda and took the roof off St. Joseph College’s main classroom building. Leaving students and teachers quite alarmed and exposed. They are currently renting a hall at a guest house near the campus to make up for the lost classroom. St. Joseph College is already busting at the seam with 140 students from Senior 1 through Senior 4 and a P7 class. The missing roof has exasperated the problem and the exposed walls and building to more damage.

We are stepping in to help raise $20,000 to replace the full roof and other necessary renovations to the foundation, walls, windows, and doors. Will you join us to help these youth stay in school getting a good catholic education?

Donate today!

Thank you American Martyrs parish and FOAG for stepping in to help! Construction of the new roof begins this week. We are still seeking funds to help replace the windows and doors, paint, and provide much needed solar power for the school. Join hands with us and donate today!

Construction has begun. Stay tuned for more.

High Tea for High Hope

You are invited for High Tea at Williams Place

Saturday, May 20th, 3-5pm

Hosted by Michelle Waters Williams & Laura Frederick

R.S.V.P. by May 18th

Life in Uganda is hard. After two decades of conflict, difficult repatriation, a global pandemic that resulted in further economic hardships, severe weather shifts–too much to too little rain destroying crops most people in northern Uganda are battered and desperate. YOUFRA (Young Franciscans) steered by Sr. Margaret Awor, LSOSF, and her team are working to help counsel and reconcile families, guide faith formation, improve livelihoods, and ensure the next generation of children don’t also miss out on education. We are stepping into help YOUFRA members and their families renew their hope and faith in God and life.

Join us May 20th for High Tea and hear Laura Frederick, Founder of eChange Endeavors, share stories of the lives that have been touched by our support. Laura has been working in Uganda since 2000 and lived there between 2006 to 2011.

We are seeking to raise $14,500 for the YOUFRA Youth Centre in Lira to renovate the building and facilitate greater program delivery. Funds will be used to refurbish the outdoor bathrooms (showers and toilet) at the Centre as well as much needed basic repairs to the building, plus purchase furniture (tables, chairs, and beds) along with materials and facilitation for programs. These improvements will enable YOUFRA to host retreats and trainings for 25-150 young adults in their 20’s, 30’s, and 40’s at a time. Having a place to take a break from home to sing, pray, laugh, learn and connect with other youth renews their hearts, minds and dreams and builds skills among the youth. Retreats are focused on the Sacraments, spiritual formation, and strengthening families. Trainings cover topics such as shoe making, hair styling, baking, farming, communication, team building, financial management, and beyond. Will you join us and make a gift of $100 to $1,000 or more today?

Donate Now!!

We have reached $9,300 towards our goal of $14,500. Could you help us bridge the gap?

Join hands with us today and give to help this community recover from two decades of civil war. Through counseling, livelihood and life skill training we are helping a generation of youth reclaim their lives. We support former child abductees of the Lord’s Resistance Army who lost their opportunity to education and now economically disadvantaged in the community to thrive and provide for their families. Donate Now!

The new L – shaped design will have 6 toilets with two basins each for the ladies and gents, plus 5 shower stalls. A clean, beautiful and modern look for the area. We are reusing all the bricks we can in the innovations. We are refurbishing the toilet doors for new shower stall doors. Moving the solar water heater that hasn’t been used from the other-side of the center to install on the bathroom to provide warm piped water. We are making use of paint that helps repel mosquitoes to reduce chances of malaria. This will be a great inspiration for the whole community as well as having a functional benefit.

Donate Now!!

Donate Now!!

YOUFRA Youth Centre Lira
Former Abductee with her children & boarding students
Orphan & Children boarding at the Centre
YOUFRA Youth Centre Lira