Remembering How It All Started by Joseph Murphy

By Naomi Corera, September 9, 2025

Support the Revival of St. Paul’s Vocational School – Kyakatara, Uganda

In the summer of 2023, I had the privilege of volunteering in Kyakatara, Uganda, with the non-profit organization Children Waiting Everywhere. During my stay, I worked closely with Naomi Corera, the organization’s founder, and Father Jude, a dedicated priest and community leader, and have continued supporting his mission since returning home.

Kyakatara is a rural village in western Uganda, surrounded by tea plantations where many families work long hours for low wages. While our mission project was to fundraise for and install a water tank at a small Catholic school, the experience opened our eyes to the deep-rooted challenges facing the youth in the region.

Why St. Paul’s Matters

In Uganda, over 40% of children drop out of primary school before age 13, and 30% of high school students never graduate. These children often face a bleak future—trapped in poverty, exposed to drugs, early pregnancies, and life on the streets.

St. Paul’s Vocational School offers a solution. Through 1-to-2-year programs in carpentry, tailoring, knitting, metal fabrication, and hairdressing, students gain practical skills, confidence, and a path to self-sufficiency. Many of the students come from extremely disadvantaged backgrounds, and this school offers them a real opportunity to break the cycle of poverty.

Thanks to generous donors, St. Paul’s reopened in February 2025 after being closed for over 15 years. The school has already enrolled 42 students, but currently operates out of just one permanent building and a temporary outdoor structure. To sustain and expand the school’s impact, we urgently need support for:

  • Renovating classrooms and workshop spaces
  • Purchasing tools and vocational training equipment
  • Providing teacher salaries and staff training
  • Funding scholarships for students in need

How Funding Will Be Used — and Where It Goes

All funds will be collected and managed by Children Waiting Everywhere and Naomi Corera.

  • 100% of donations go directly to the project — no administrative fees are taken.
  • The organization is entirely volunteer-run, ensuring every dollar supports the cause.
  • All purchases and school improvements are made locally in Uganda to support the local economy and ensure long-term sustainability.

Father Jude works directly with Children Waiting Everywhere’s local team in Uganda to implement the improvements and report on progress, ensuring full transparency and accountability.

How You Can Help – Your contribution — no matter the amount — will make a real difference. Whether it’s a one-time gift, a recurring monthly donation, or simply keeping the students and staff in your prayers, your support helps:

Keep the school’s doors open
Expand enrollment to 60 students by January 2026
Provide the tools and training needed to change lives

Instructions on making donations:

Checks

  • Please make checks payable to: “Children Waiting Everywhere”
  • In the memo section write: “St Paul’s Vocational School”
  • Mail to: 24 Frank Lloyd Wright Dr.  P.O.Box 416, Ann Arbor MI 48105

Online Donations

Thank you and God Bless.

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