This week was a big one at our Vocational Center.
The girls finishing our two-year tailoring program sat for their final exams, and you could feel the nerves in the room.

 And honestly? We couldn't be prouder!.

These young women have worked incredibly hard. Many have faced serious challenges along the way, some even navigating an unplanned pregnancy, taking time away, and then choosing to come back and finish strong.

When you give a girl the chance to learn something new, amazing things happen, especially in rural Uganda.

Busiyi village faces challenges most of us can barely imagine. Extreme poverty isn't an abstract idea here. It means many families eat one meal every other day. It means surviving on about one dollar a day.

So when we opened enrollment for our hairdressing course, the excitement was real, and so were the nerves.

This week, exam results came in from Kamuli, and every single student passed. That's huge! These are children who walk miles to school, many living with grandparents who can barely afford food, and yet, they showed up, studied hard, and succeeded. 

 You made that happen!

 Because of your generosity, every child had school supplies, uniforms, shoes, and fees covered. You made school possible in a year when so many couldn't go.

At just 14, Phiona was forced into marriage after being exploited for food to survive. Violence and loss followed her through childhood until she made one brave decision: to walk away and start over with her two young children.

 When Phiona met Shamim, one of our beloved community advocates, everything changed. Shamim told her about our Girls' Vocational Center, where she could learn hairdressing and build a life free from abuse.

Turning away a girl who is asking for an education for a better future is not an option.

 I wish you could all visit our little center and meet the girls. If you didn't get a chance to see the brief video of Hilda giving a tour this week, check it out. This is the progress you make possible!

Greetings from our girls training in the hairdressing course at our Girls' Vocational Center!

Each week, they gather for lessons with their little ones right beside them. Because space is tight inside the center where the sewing machines are, the hairdressing classes meet outside under the shade. It's simple, but it works and the joy and determination you see in these young mothers is unmistakable.

This year, we've helped more children than ever before, and that's because of you.

 Girls like Rose and Jane wouldn't have these smiles, safety, or the chance at a better future without your generosity.

 They're part of our Girls' Vocational Center, learning tailoring and business skills that are opening real doors. Through our Women's Craft Cooperative, they sell their creations, greet customers, and learn to manage money.