AMAZING GRACE ADVOCACY AND SUPPORT FOR THE VULNERABLE (AGASUVU)
AGASUVU is committed to supporting the most vulnerable children and their families in Kisoro, Uganda. Whatever the cause, we do our best to meet their needs and provide free education in an atmosphere of Christian love and spiritual support, allowing individuals to reach their full God-given potential.
WHAT WE DO
Kisoro is one of the poorest districts in the South West of Uganda. So many people struggle in grave poverty with no hope for change. At AGASAVU, we try our best to alleviate the most immediate suffering by providing food and shelter to those in the most need whilst also creating sustainable ways forward for members of the community through education. We do this through a number of initiatives...
Amazing Grace Pre and Primary School
Amazing Grace Pre and Primary School began in February 2011 and is situated in the heart of Kisoro, Uganda. The school caters for both day pupils and boarders. Many of the children are from extremely poor backgrounds and many are orphans who reside at school throughout term time and the holidays.
Currently (Feb 20th 2025) there are 564 children aged 3-14 (311 day pupils and 253 boarders).
The school has a brilliant teaching team, providing high quality (and fun!) lessons proven by our latest examination results, positioning Amazing Grace as the fourth highest achieving school in the surrounding area out of 157 schools. Our children go on to the best secondary schools, many with full scholarships in sport and academia, securing the bright future which once seemed impossible. Although the school owns the land on which it is situated and has access to the neighbouring public field for sport and recreation, we are hoping shortly to expand the school to meet its growing needs.
Our Ethos
Amazing Grace is a non-profit organisation. Whilst wealthier families pay fees for their children, their money effectively subsidises the other children who are unable to pay, either partially or in full. Currently 38% of our students are subsidised (131 students partially and 81 children in full) with priority for subsidisation given to orphans or others who are particularly vulnerable. When children apply for subsidy, a thorough home visit is completed to assess the exact need of the child. However, even with this kind system, there is never quite enough to cover all the school supplies they might need nor uniform that makes them feel a part of our team. Moreover, we would love to be able to offer as many children in the community a safe space to live and learn as we can so any donations, no matter how small, go a long way.
We are committed to creating smaller class sizes in order to be able to give more individual attention to our children (the average for Uganda is 80-100 students per class) and producing an atmosphere of honesty, kindness, approachability, accountability and respect between all children and staff at the school. As such, there is a close adherence to child protection and anti-bullying policies. Although the Directors and teachers have a Christian faith which is taught in assemblies, the school welcomes all children whatever their religious background. Amazing Grace school believes all children and staff to be of immense and equal value, regardless of their nationality, race, gender, age, religion, social status or wealth, with discrimination on any of these grounds not tolerated.
All staff are required to take a minimum of one full day off every week and must have an annual appraisal which constructively examines their pastoral needs as well as the performance in their roles. (It is important to appreciate that such things are not at all normal practice in Uganda.)
As it suggests in the name, Amazing Grace is a truly amazing and unique school of which we are incredibly proud!
The Wider Community
Support for the elderly
Very sadly, back in 2013, elder abuse was a major problem in Kisoro. It was common for families to fight over issues of inheritance with sons and daughters threatening to kill their elderly parents over the matter.
AGASUVU decided to collaborate with the police to protect and encourage the elderly to report such threats. After 12 years, the death threats have decreased since the elderly have felt they have a voice.
Sheltering
Many of the elderly in our community are also physically incapable of providing for themselves in the most basic ways.
With a lack of medical or social support here in Kisoro, often the elderly are left alone bed-ridden in houses that are falling apart. Exposed to the elements, many individuals are dying alone in their own homes.
AGASUVU tries as much as possible to bring the community together in building projects to build these people better, sturdier shelters. Even the older children at Amazing Grace School get involved, opening their eyes to the needs of those around them, fostering emotional intelligence and teaching them useful skills that could be used for a vocational career if that is what they desire.
AGASUVU has also established a guardianship network for the disproportionate amount of orphans here in Kisoro, providing temporary homes with loving adults.
Food/Clothing Provisions
AGASUVU is committed to provide urgently needed supplies such as food and clothes to the neediest of the needy. This might be the elderly of our parish, unable to fetch groceries for themselves or be families living in destitution, the parents unable to work, or be children we have identified at Amazing Grace School, orphaned or living with elderly relatives.
Whilst not a long-term solution like our educational services, this work is a real necessity, keeping the people in our community alive and providing the smallest slice of hope in the dark. Through such actions, we aim to generate a culture of generosity and service in Kisoro that will be more long-lasting, normalising the practice of loving and helping our neighbours.
As our founder Immaculate states, "I was helped, now I am helping others."
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