A BRIGHT SPARK OF HOPE!!

Special Issue: From the Director's Desk. 

When I took a team of five people at the beginning of 2024, I was simply doing what I love: bringing people alongside me. It’s almost the best way to tell the story of Shalom, because pictures alone don’t do us justice. This time, I want to share about Waswa (not his real name).

After only a few days of Waswa’s involvement with the teachers at Shalom Care, I could see a bright spark of enthusiasm. But what came next was truly amazing.

After our trip, he sent me a book that became a great encouragement for my work with the community. Here’s a portion of his letter:

"‘Children of the Dust Bowl’ is a book I used to teach about the Great Depression of the 1930s. About halfway through the book, Leo Hart is introduced. He realizes that a large segment of his community is not receiving the education and healthcare they deserve. Instead of just complaining, he decides to do something about it. After our trip, I instantly saw you as a present-day Leo Hart. I had always wished I could have met Leo Hart. Though it didn’t happen, I have the pleasure and honor of getting to know you and coming alongside you as you build your community. Thank you for everything you are doing, and I hope you enjoy the book."

For context, Children of the Dust is a post-apocalyptic novel that explores survival, human evolution, and hope in the aftermath of a nuclear war. Leo Hart appears in the second part of the story, a time when society is trying to rebuild amidst deep divisions between the “norms” and the “mutants.” Leo is a teacher who is compassionate, wise, and sees potential in everyone, even when the world is consumed by fear and hopelessness. He teaches Ophelia’s generation about tolerance, love, and the importance of looking beyond appearances. While others see only deformity and danger, Leo sees promise, adaptation, and moral courage, demonstrating that survival after catastrophe is not just physical, but also moral and spiritual.

This story resonates deeply with our work at Shalom Care School. As I’ve shared before, our community continues to recover from the war that caused widespread destruction. The ripple effects are still felt in education, healthcare, and everyday life. For many years, I watched people look to government institutions for help, and I realized I could do something, even without vast resources. Using my networks, skills, and faith, I could bring hope and help shape the stories that define the next generation.

The impact of war cannot define the next generation. The children must be resilient, adaptive, and able to transform their narrative. At the heart of this is hope and faith in God, who brings true transformation in the hearts of men and women, helping them see themselves with dignity. This resilience is built slowly but surely, and every child witnesses that they can overcome and build their lives.

At Shalom, we aim to give children access to quality education, women and the community access to basic healthcare, where we can do more preventive care initiatives for the community, as well as primary health care. spaces for safe childbirth, and support for widows to process trauma and envision a brighter future. Young people are empowered and exposed to diverse frameworks that help them see differently, preparing them to be effective leaders.

We are rebuilding a community and redefining what it means to nurture new life in broken settings. I may not be Leo Hart, but I am encouraged — there is hope in the part of the world I come from.

In 2026, we will continue the ongoing construction of Shalom Care School, a vital step that will allow us to free up the Shalom Community Health Center, which has been serving as a temporary learning space for our students. Once the health center is available, we plan to complete the water and electrical installations and bring in the necessary medical equipment to make it fully operational. In the meantime, we continue to run a small clinic to serve the community’s immediate health needs.

Alongside this, we will continue our pastors’ theological training, equipping local shepherds to handle God’s Word faithfully and serve their congregations with wisdom and integrity. Our widow care ministry will focus on developing sustainable programs that enhance the livelihoods of widows and restore their dignity.

We also remain committed to empowering young people through youth camps and seminars, creating spaces for them to rethink development, leadership, and spiritual formation.

I invite you to join us in prayer and to consider how you might partner with the Shalom Namutere Project as we work together to raise a new generation of hope and transformation. Partner with us today—your involvement makes a lasting difference.

Thank you, Waswa, for sharing this encouragement. I want to be like Leo Hart when I grow up! 😄

We would like to extend our invitation to you to consider the Shalom project as you plan for your 2026 financial budget. Make us a priority this year by 

• Giving monthly support towards the overall administration of our work. 
• Providing support to students through sponsorship by selecting a student. 
• Give towards the construction of the Shalom Care School. 
• Contributing to the pastor's theological education. 
• Give towards the widow care ministry. 
• Consider a trip like Waswa and come and see and participate with us. 
• Share this blog and introduce us to a new partner. 

• Merry Christmas, and wishing you a wonderful 2026.

Yours truly 

Robert Edube.