Fundraising Journey in Uganda: A Family Trip With a Purpose
Over the holidays, our family was lucky enough to travel to Uganda, my wife Natalie, our 12-year-old son Jacob, my mum, and me, for a trip that turned out to be as inspiring as it was memorable.
Jacob’s Fundraising Challenge
Before we even packed our bags, Jacob had already set himself an ambitious goal.
Inspired by our Humanity Direct XNRG running events, he decided to run the equivalent of a full marathon in the six weeks leading up to the trip. His aim? With the support of his school, Jacob decided to raise money for the children and schools we support through our Glasses for Classes programme. Jacob’s determination meant he raised over £1,300, an achievement we are all incredibly proud of.
Turning Funds Into Real Impact
Because the holiday period made it tricky to organise a full spectacles outreach, we chose instead to use the funds to support some of the most remote schools with essential supplies. Our brilliant colleague Dickson also suggested putting part of the money towards menstrual pads, an often overlooked but vital need. For many girls, a lack of access to menstrual pads means missing school entirely during their periods, so this felt like a simple but powerful way to make a real difference.
What the Fundraising Provided
With the funds raised, we purchased:
- 3,500 notebooks
- 1,000 pens
- 1,000 pencils
- 84 maths sets
- 5,927 menstrual pads for girls
- And 4 footballs!
Visiting Schools in Kassanda
Dickson identified four schools in the hills around Kassanda that would benefit from the supplies: Bbira Primary School, Nazareth Primary School, Namabaale Primary School, and Kyabakulungo Primary School. Over a few long, and very bumpy, days, we bounced along the dirt and mud roads in the trusty Humanity Direct Toyota pickup. The journeys were rough, but every mile was worth it. The smiles, warmth, and heartfelt welcomes we received at each school were unforgettable.
Namabaale Primary School was a particularly special visit as the children completely stole our hearts with an amazing drum and dance performance that we’ll be talking about for a long time to come.
A Visit to Platinum Hospital
We also spent a wonderful afternoon at Platinum Hospital in Kampala, where it was great to catch up with the team, from Dr Dan and Dr Irene to the dedicated nurses and support staff who make every operation possible.
One particularly special moment was meeting Luna, a young girl who had just had successful adenoid surgery funded by Humanity Direct, and seeing the huge smile on her mum’s face.
Looking Ahead to 2026
From start to finish, our visit was incredible. A massive thank you to Dickson and Major for coordinating our trip and for the inspiring work they do every single day. Jacob was so proud to see how his fundraising directly helped other children, and for all of us, the experience gave us a huge boost of energy and motivation. As we look ahead to 2026, we’re more determined than ever to do everything we can to help even more children thrive. 💙
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