June 2025 Update

Jun 11

Dear Friends and Partners,

At Lasting Smiles Uganda, we are continually reminded that the most profound transformation begins not in the classroom but in the heart. While our pillars of education, health, agriculture, child protection, and feeding meet the urgent physical needs of our children, it is our discipleship program that speaks to their eternal need: a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Guided by Jesus’ commission in Matthew 28:19–20, “Go and make disciples of all nations… teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you,” we have placed discipleship at the center of our mission. Our vision for discipleship is to raise up a generation of godly children who know God personally, walk in His truth, and serve Him passionately in their families, communities, and nation. Our long-term vision is to impact the entire community through the establishment of a vibrant local church. To prepare for this, we began by laying a strong foundation through our discipleship roadmap—an intentional strategy to guide every child in our care, regardless of age, background, or circumstance, on a personal journey of faith.

This year marked a powerful milestone. Through our partnership with Samaritan’s Purse, we launched The Greatest Journey, a discipleship program designed to nurture faith and Christlike character. This proved to be a great implementation tool for our Discipleship Roadmap. On March 29, 2025, our team of dedicated teachers was trained to lead this curriculum with depth and love. Already, 200 children have begun this journey, and we are overjoyed to report that 13 children have made personal decisions to follow Jesus. These children are committing to prayer, reading God’s Word, and boldly sharing their faith. They are stepping out of darkness and walking in the light of Christ.

This is the fruit of your generosity.

You have made this possible through your faithful support. Together, let us continue to plant seeds of eternal hope.

With heartfelt gratitude,
Semei Ziva
Founder, Lasting Smiles Uganda

Home for Hope – ONE Night to Make a Difference!

We’re excited to share that on August 17, 2025, friends and supporters of Lasting Smiles Uganda will gather at The Inn at Stonecliffe on Mackinac Island, Michigan for a special event called Party with a Purpose. This will be an evening to celebrate hope and raise life-changing support for vulnerable children in Uganda.

Our 2025 campaign theme is “Home for Hope.” Our goal is to raise $200,000 to build dormitories that will provide safe, stable housing for 400 students on the Lasting Smiles campus. These children deserve more than survival—they deserve a place to grow, thrive, and dream.

Even if you can’t be there in person, your prayers and support make all the difference. We invite you to begin praying with us now for the success of this campaign and consider making a generous early donation to help us reach our goal. In the coming weeks, and in our July Newsletter, we will have specific instructions on how you can support.

Together, we can turn hope into a home for the students of Lasting Smiles Uganda!

Scholarship Program

Would you consider giving to our Secondary Student Scholarship program?

Monthly goal: $6,200
Current standing: $3,912.65

You can give a recurring or one-time donation. All scholarship donations directly help the student cover tuition, classroom materials, transportation costs, and other essentials needed at the school.

👉 Check out our scholarship page here