When you see the enthusiastic smiles and energy of the kids at Kingsway Christian High School, you’d never guess their stories. Some were conceived by rape. Others have lost parents to AIDS. They, like many in Uganda, have endured much suffering in recent years.
In the 1970s, almost two million Ugandans died during the rule of Idi Amin. In the early 2000s, the Lord’s Resistance Army terrorized northern Uganda and destroyed countless families and communities, leaving many with nowhere to go.
Rev. Dr. Milly Erema grew up in northern Uganda and endured these horrifying realities herself. She was just thirteen when she watched insurgents burn down her home before fleeing to live as a war refugee for almost two years. Later, four of her brothers were murdered by the Lord’s Resistance Army, leaving Milly responsible to raise their 22 children.
In 2008 Milly and her family founded Kingsway Christian High School, to provide a desperately needed education to her orphaned family members and others who had endured the horrors of war.
Since then, they have now educated over 300 students and given them a chance to build a better life than they could ever imagine.
“Unstoppable with Christ” is the school’s motto, reflecting Milly’s earnest faith and awe for Christ who has accomplished miracles in the lives of her students. Some have gone on to university and good jobs, a fate impossible for impoverished youth otherwise.
Check out the video below for an introduction to Kingsway from Dr. Erema:
Critical Needs – May 2023
Kingsway Christian High School has historically operated independently and sustainably, by enrolling paying students whose school fees allow impoverished youth to attend for free.
When the COVID shutdown ended in January 2022, Kingsway was one of many schools who were in crisis. The pandemic had devastated families financially. Few families had money to pay school fees to support students who cannot pay. Teachers found other work to survive.
In the past, Kingway had enrolled 40-50 students but when they reopened they accepted less than 20 and worried they wouldn’t survive. On top of this was the need to build a girls’ dormitory that the government required.
Because of your support, Kingsway was able to make it through 2022 and even have funds to continue building the dorm. Encouraged, Milly accepted 30 more applicants for 2023 to come back to full capacity of 50. But when the new students arrived in February, a crowd of families stormed Kingsway’s offices, pleading that they admit their children too.
Why? While Kingsway survived 2022, last year’s hardships of inflation and drought drove many schools out of business. The ones that survived greatly increased their fees. Those that allowed needy youth to pay reduced or no fees gave up on these programs. Now many needy children are completely unable to attend school in Uganda.
So Kingsway prayerfully decided to accept 20 more impoverished young people. As the first term now ends, they now have 63 students. (More than in the picture.) All I can say is wow.
They could really use your prayers, and your support too.
The Ugandan government gave Kingsway until the end of 2022 to get a dormitory built for girls (or to make significant progress). The plan is that the dorm will have two levels, with the lower level for the girls and the upper level for administrators to live.
Because of your generosity, Kingsway was able to raise over $20,000 in 2022, which will allow them to enclose the lower level of the dorm. When this level is finished the girls can move in, satisfying the government’s main requirement. They need about $30,000 more to finish both levels.
They have now been able to start building! Praise the Lord! Why is building the dormitory so critical? One reason is that it is unsafe for girls to walk from home to school each day. Young women and girls are increasingly preyed upon by boda boda (motorcycle taxi) riders and other young men who solicit sex or even rape them.
Milly explains the need in the video below:
Drought Impact:
Kingsway has a large garden that it uses to grow vegetables and fruit, to keep the cost of food for students at a minimum.
The worst drought in eastern Africa in forty years destroyed last season’s crop. Until new crops are grown, Kingsway must purchase what usually can be supplied for little cost.
Update: As of 2023, rains have returned and Kingsway’s plants are growing! In fact in March 2023 the rain was practically nonstop. While this is great for gardens, it makes building the girls dorm go very slowly. It’s very hard to drive trucks with building materials up the hilly, muddy, unpaved roads. Ah well.
Applicants Turned Away:
Your ongoing monthly support allows Kingsway to transform many more lives. The school has a long list of needy applicants who they are unable to enroll. These children may lose their only opportunity to get an education.
Last year we asked folks to sponsor students but few did. But Milly did not bother to wait. She just accepted needy children anyhow and stepped out in faith.
If you’ve ever wished you could directly help the poorest in Africa, you’ve come to the right place.
Kingsway has ended its first of three school terms, and here is the latest news from Dr. Milly. MAY 2023 NEWSLETTER KINGSWAY CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL Dear Friends of Kingsway Christian High School, we greet …
A year ago I (Lois Tverberg) had the most amazing time celebrating Palm Sunday with Milly in her home area in northern Uganda. It was truly special to celebrate Jesus’ triumphal ride into Jerusalem …
When Milly visited the United States in the fall of 2022, she returned to Uganda with multiple suitcases of donated items. It was a huge blessing to have clothing to bring back for the …
Milly and her family have had many blessings and challenges as they have worked to get a new academic year started at Kingsway this past month. Milly wrote an extensive letter to friends of …
In Uganda, the new school year starts in February, so Milly and her team, especially her family, has been very busy in preparation for the students to return. By the grace and provision of …
Hundreds of students have attended Kingsway and have been nurtured in faith as they’ve received essential education for life’s journey. Here is where you’ll hear and see them share.
Letaa Ivan Bob
(Credit: Kari Tverberg for video editing)
Trinity Yikiisi
Here is Milly along with Trinity Yikiisi, who graduated from Kingsway in 2014.
Trinity’s father died when she was a baby and her mother had no money for school fees. Her education would have ended in the 7th grade but Milly sought her out and enrolled her at Kingsway, where she did very well. When extended relatives heard how well Trinity did, they pulled together the money for her to attend university.
Trinity has since attended university and is looking for her first job.
Donate
Kingsway Ministries is a fiscally sponsored project of the Christian Ministry Alliance. The Alliance is a U.S. registered 501c3 tax-deductible charity with the Internal Revenue Service and has a Candid Platinum Seal (formerly GuideStar), the highest rating available for nonprofit transparency and accountability. [Tax ID: 46-3408177]
The Kingsway Ministries US Financial Oversight Board is in Holland, Michigan.
Lois Tverberg, Chair (616 212 9910)
Patricia Bartlett
Fred Bartlett
Elizabeth West
Tim West
To make a donation by mail, please make your check payable to Christian Ministry Alliance with this note in the memo line: Fund #3134 – Kingsway, and mail to
Christian Ministry Alliance
P.O. Box 7735
Goodyear, AZ 85338
Your ongoing monthly support allows Kingsway to transform many more lives. The school has a long list of needy applicants who they are unable to enroll. These children may lose their only opportunity to get an education.
