History
How It All Began…
In August 2000, Koinonia sent a small team of missionaries to Uganda. In Kisoro, the third poorest district in the south of the country, they were deeply moved by the severe poverty they encountered. Back in Belgium, they sought support and returned in December 2000 to further investigate the situation.
There, they met the first street children: 22 boys surviving by eating hotel waste, begging, doing odd jobs, collecting scrap metal to sell, or stealing to get by.
The missionaries took them to a local restaurant for a simple meal and prayed together that there would be food for them every day from then on. Before returning home, they arranged—despite their limited means and with the help of local churches—that food would continue to be available daily for these boys for one month. Once back in Belgium, they organized financial support to ensure the meals could continue permanently.
The First Good Samaritans
What began with two passionate missionaries soon resonated with others. One person—who had never even been to Uganda but heard about the initiative—was touched like the Samaritan in the parable and began giving so the children could keep receiving daily meals. Soon after, another Samaritan followed… and another… and so the network grew, with people responding from the heart. It was an answer to a simple prayer!
Yet despite this beautiful beginning, the children still lived on the streets. There was an urgent need for more—a safe place to live, guidance, and hope for the future.
Food as a First Step – But Not Enough
The daily meal was a first step in the right direction. Still, housing was essential. For three years, we were able to support the children with food and small-scale guidance. But when a period of financial shortage arose, the meal program had to be suspended temporarily. That had tragic consequences for two of our children:
- Maniragaba was shot dead by night watchmen during a theft attempt—just trying to get food.
- Emmanuel was beaten to death after being caught stealing food.
These heartbreaking losses revealed just how vulnerable street children are—and how desperately they need stable shelter and protection.
A New Beginning
The deaths of Maniragaba and Emmanuel deeply affected the entire team. We made a firm decision: “We will not leave anyone behind again!”
In 2004, Koinonia launched systematic sponsorship and fundraising initiatives—starting small, among friends and acquaintances, but gradually growing stronger. The meal program was restarted, and we began creating personal files and plans for each child, tailored to their background and needs.
That same summer, we started discussions with the local authorities in Kisoro to obtain housing. Nearly a year later, the government granted us an old community house with a piece of land, on the condition that Koinonia would handle the renovations.
Finally, a Home
Despite limited resources—but with great faith, courage, and support from home—the local team joined forces. In June 2005, the official agreement was signed, and on July 30, 2005, the renovation work began.
In 2006, Koinonia’s first shelter and rehabilitation home opened its doors in Nyakabande, Kisoro. By local standards, the house was simple, but it offered enormous potential. For the first time, the children had a permanent and safe place to stay.
To this day, the center provides shelter for 24 to 48 children and also supports countless other children and families in the surrounding area with food, guidance, and education.
In 2008/2009, the first street girls were welcomed—a new and important step in expanding care.
The Story Continues
What began with a single meal in December 2000 has grown—through the commitment of many compassionate Samaritans—into a home of hope and restoration.
The story is still being written, with new people joining and opening their hearts to these children. It remains an open invitation to everyone:
Who will bend down, like the Samaritan, to care for these precious lives?