Tonight we realized the "final masterpiece". Just as Michelangelo chipped away a piece at a time until he finished his sculpture, Compassion unveiled the Leadership Development Program.
A child has the opportunity to start with the Child Survival Program from ages 0-3, the Child Sponsorship Program from ages 3-22, and then the Leadership Development Program (LDP).
The LDP started in 1999 and the goal of the program is to place people of integrity in leadership positions throughout Uganda and Africa. Further, To Disciple Servant/Leaders. There are 302 sponsored LDP students attending different universities. 25 are currently in need of sponsorship in Uganda now. Internationally 99 are coming up for sponsorship.
Tonight we met and enjoyed dinner outdoors in the soothing African evening with two LDP students, Lois Nangudi and Job Niyonzima. It was hard to believe these two brilliant and vivacious young adults were sponsored children from the seemingly hopeless slums of Kampala. Here are there fascinating stories...
Lois grew up in the village we visited yesterday with six siblings. Her father is a Pastor of a small village church and they subsisted on meager gifts from the church and a bi-vocational work ethic. She received a Compassion sponsorship in 1998 and the rest, as they say, is history. She excelled at everything she attempted and upon high school graduation was granted a sponsorship into the LDP program. She now has a university degree, sings, leads worship and works as a specialist in a Compassion Project. She is vivacious, articulate and determined to give back to the program that changed her life. With very little recording equipment she has completed a rough version of her first CD. I thought you would enjoy listening to Lois HERE.
Job grew up in a slum in Kampala believing he had no hope. His Father was killed in the battle against Idi Amin and left the family in abject poverty. He and his brothers were left to the streets. Somehow, a Compassion director found him and a sponsorship was made available.
He excelled in school after a brief rehab time and soon became President of his class defeating six other peers. He remained President throughout his high school years and also developed a love for film. He was accepted into the LDP, graduates this June and plans to run for a seat in Parliament and also wishes to lead a charge for a viable film industry in Uganda.
When you see as I have this week where these students came from, it is almost impossible to believe you are talking to ones that came from within this incomprehensible poverty and because of a sponsor...has acheived the idyll of the LDP - that is, become people of integrity in leadership positions. True servant/leaders. Wow!!!!!
See what a difference sponsoring a child can make. Will you sponsor a child NOW?
Chris and I have decided to not only sponsor Sharon from Uganda, but also a Leadership Development Student through university.
What will you do?
