HOW IT ALL BEGAN

The first seeds of Amana UK were sown in 2001. When at the age of 18 years one of our Trustees, Mary travelled to Uganda to complete a gap year with Youth With a Mission. While she was there she spent six months teaching in a primary school alongside teacher Winnie. Whilst teaching, Mary saw first hand the struggles that many of families in the local community were facing. She had the opportunity to share these struggles with her family and friends back home and as a result managed to raise support for some of the families with whom she was working. From this support the first sponsorships were started.

Teacher Winnie went on to found the charity Teknia Africa and we continue to partner with them today. Over the years the number of children being sponsored has grown and so the charity Amana UK was born. Amana is the Ateso word for garden, which is one of the langages spoken in Eastern Uganda.

There are now 73 Amana UK sponsored children and young people and we have had the privilege to see the lasting difference that sponsorship can make in a child's life. 

Many young people have graduated from the programe and have gone on to study at university or go into employment. Sponsorship not only transforms the life of the child, but gives hope to their whole family and community.  


Testimony from Mary

"I was taking part in a gap year in Uganda when the first child was sponsored. It has been so humbling to think that a few letters home, with no intention other than just to share the need that I was witnessing day to day, prompted overwhelming kindness that has continued and increased to this day. I was able to chat with one of the first children to be sponsored, Peter, and was so thankful that he had grown into such a strong and intelligent young man with a passion for reading. I remember him as a little boy, an orphan, crying every morning because there was no food at home. He now has a chance to dream for the future. I am honestly amazed to see how the children’s lives have been so dramatically changed, but recognize there is still so much need here. They need the simple things like food, healthcare and education"