What We Do
We believe that everyone should be treated with respect. We believe they each have the right to education, training and access to safe medical treatment.
Since 2009, GMI has helped to provide an education for hundreds of children in Paminano, initially through building a primary school and later with the addition of a high school. Each year an additional block of two classrooms were built as another year group has been added. A wide range of curriculum subjects as well as extra-curricular activities are offered to both day students and boarders.
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We have just completed the final block of classrooms which is a sixth form block, which doubles as an exam centre for the national examinations so that candidates will no longer have to travel many miles to sit their exams, which can be very costly.
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Education is key to hundreds of children breaking out of the cycle of poverty. GMI works alongside Phoebe Ayoo and Bishop James Ochan, the local directors of Bethel Christian Schools, and our partners in Uganda to provide the students at the school with the chance to grow and play in a safe environment as well as receive an education, good nutrition, healthcare and immunisations.
Bishop James and Mama Phoebe oversee the development of all GMI projects in the area and provide regular updates to the trustees regarding progress. They monitor and evaluate constantly and provide feedback from surveys and interviews with the beneficiaries.
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The school prides itself in achieving an excellent standard of teaching in a caring, nurturing environment where both students and staff can thrive and this is demonstrated by scoring highly in inspections by local authorities.
We seek to improve the attendance of adolescent girls in school and the rates of retention of girls in education. Uganda has one of the lowest median populations of any nation in the world. With approximately half the population under the age of 16, education is of paramount importance.
Bethel Schools employ dozens of local people, providing a vital boost to the economy.
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EDUCATION
Vocational Training Centre
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In 2021 we were able to start the construction of a Vocational Training Centre (VTC) in Patiko, Gulu District. An entire generation of young people in Gulu have missed out on their education and currently face high levels of unemployment and limited opportunities due to many years of civil war in the area.
The VTC will help transform this post-conflict region by providing the opportunity for the young people in the area to learn new skills, and open up the opportunity of employment to hundreds of young people.
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We intend to create a student-centred environment with excellent teaching and training standards, counselling and support that will promote the physical and mental health of these vulnerable young people.
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Students will gain practical skills in trades such as tailoring, hairdressing, construction, carpentry, welding, and mechanics, empowering them to earn a living and support their families. Alongside vocational training, they’ll learn ICT and business skills to build enterprises, creating job creators rather than job seekers and breaking the cycle of poverty.
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
As a charity one of our missions is to come alongside the poor and the vulnerable.
The Uganda Bureau of statistics (UBOS) report states that in Northern Uganda 68% of people live below the poverty line, and the Acholi region increased from 33% in 2017 to 68% in 2020. (This is the latest official statistics on poverty level- August 2020).
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The level of desperation has led to increased criminality in the communities. Domestic violence is on the increase, with women and children being the worst of victims. Sexual crimes against girls under the age of 19y has rocketed and has resulted in increased teen pregnancies. Many young boys have turned to drugs, drinking and theft.
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Although the Ugandan economy is opening up steadily since the pandemic, food crisis to the most vulnerable is still a big problem. These include the elderly and persons living with disability. These people depend on the good will of extended family members or community for their wellbeing. With poverty hitting hard, it becomes difficult for the would-be well-wishers in the community to help these people when they themselves cannot meet their own needs.
Gulu Mission is helping to provide food items and mattresses to the neediest in the communities alongside sharing the gospel with them.
Providing mattresses
Gulu Mission has provided 1,000 mattresses to vulnerable and disabled community members. For many in their 70s and older, have never slept on anything but a cold, bare floor, these mattresses bring more than comfort and restful nights, they restore dignity and a sense of love and care to those who need them most.
6 boreholes built so far ...
Gulu Mission is dedicated to bringing safe, clean water to rural communities across Gulu. Every day, many families still walk long, dangerous miles to reach the nearest borehole, a journey that consumes time and energy. So far, the 6 boreholes constructed by Gulu Mission provide safe water to around 2,500 people.
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As of June 2021, only 53.8% of Gulu district has access to safe water, leaving 46% of people dependent on unsafe sources that cause illness and diarrhoea. With handwashing practices at just 38.5%, preventable diseases continue to affect countless lives, a challenge Gulu Mission is helping to change.
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CONFERENCE AND TRAINING
Gulu Mission is committed to serving churches in Northern Uganda, working closely with Soul Gospel Ministries. Each year, teams from the UK come out to support through leadership training, marriage conferences, youth events, and ministry in the villages, bringing the love of Jesus to those they meet. For many, it’s their first time preaching in a Ugandan church, and they’re deeply moved by the warmth, love, and gratitude shown by the people, just knowing someone would travel that far to visit them means so much. It’s a blessing to those in Gulu, no doubt, but also a huge blessing to the teams who go. Lives are touched on both sides.
Pastor's Conferences
It is not unusual for pastors in Africa to run churches without receiving theological training and we are keen to give them the opportunity to do so. It is a great privilege for teams of pastors from the UK to visit Uganda to train men and women of God in Christian ministry. We organise and deliver relevant theological teaching through facilitating pastors conferences to both encourage our existing church leaders and impact the next generation of leaders.
Women's events
Ministry to women in Uganda is often overlooked. We take delight in reaching out to this often-marginalised group in society in our specially formulised conferences to women. We speak life-affirming and valuing messages to uplift, inspire and encourage.
Youth events
Throughout the world young people enjoy meeting together and discovering new things. Our youth events will involve relevant communication tools, lots of music and dancing and the added component of an impactful spiritual message and prayer ministry being offered. We have seen countless teenagers encouraged and transformed by the power of God at work in their lives. We always look to complement our teams from the UK with gifted communicators who can deliver life changing messages to young people.
