Author: rowan

Our ROWAN farm is continuing to grow.  Our farmland is now up to 15 acres and our little goat herd is not so little anymore – we now have 150 goats!  One of our goals with the farm has been to create a strong and profitable business that will help provide working income for the ROWAN ministry.  With each harvest and goat, we grow closer to reaching that goal. 

To help ensure our growing farm is running smoothly, we recently hired a new farm manager.  His name is Onyango Valiriano. 

We are excited to have him as a member of our ROWAN team and we believe he is going to do an excellent job!

With the growth of our farm and goat herd, we have seen our water needs increase.  The closest well is over 1.5 miles away and our farm manager is having to make 3 trips a day to the well to meet the farm’s water needs.  It has become apparent that we are in desperate need of our own well on the farm.  So we are reaching out to each of you and asking for your help.  The cost to build a well on our farm is $5000 (USD).  If you are able to make a donation, of any size, please click here to be taken to our Goat Well Campaign page.  With your help, we can build a well that will have an impact for good for many years to come.   

Like so many others throughout the world, the closure of the schools in Uganda has been detrimental to the education and lives of our ROWAN children.  In February, we let you know about the plan we were putting into place to help bridge the educational gap for our children and families in Uganda.  Today, we get to share the exciting news that our Learning Center is now open!  

We currently have 4 teachers working at the Learning Center and have different curriculums for each grade level.  In-person learning is done in groups based on grade level and these groups rotate weekly.  The children love being able to be with their friends and teachers again!  They also have the added excitement of being picked up for school in the ROWAN bus – a bus just for them.  

In addition to the in-person learning each week, students at the Learning Center are given assignments to work on at home.  Rowan staff are making follow-up visits to the student’s homes to help ensure that they are getting their assignments completed.  We are also working hard to give the families the tools they need to be able to support and help their students at home.  

Our Learning Center is the result of love in action and the joy we see in the eyes of the children who attend each day is a beautiful sight to see.

There’s no better way to honor the moms in your life than to bless a mom in need.

This Mother’s Day, we want to bridge the gap between the moms in your life and the mothers (who are widows) in ROWAN who are in real need of a sponsor more than ever before.

This year ROWAN has launched our Legacy Program: A four year comprehensive plan for our widows to learn business practices, grow in their faith, practice life skills, increase their passion for their families, all while meeting their physical needs each week.

So what is Mothers to Mother’s Campaign?

We have 18 mamas who need a sponsor to help them through this 4 year program. That could look like:
$38 a month, $228 every 6 months, or $456 a year. They will graduate at the end of 2025! 
What will your mother receive?

1. Your mother will receive a sponsorship card with their photo and details
2. Access to write her letters online *Anytime! She will respond within three weeks of your message! 
3. Updates on her progress in Legacy Program through ROWAN quarterly.
4. An opportunity to visit her mama at her graduation party in Uganda!

Will you consider sponsoring one of these mamas? For your mom, your mother-in-law, your sister, your aunt, your grandmother, your friend, or any special woman in your life who has loved and taught you. Visit the 18 mamas here and consider giving your mom or mentor the gift of loving one of these precious women who are in need of love from someone who has loved you. If you can’t sponsor a mama monthly, a one-time gift goes a long way to sponsor our 18 mamas! Thank you for reading about our mamas and considering changing their lives through the Legacy program. mother’s 

We understand if you can’t give right now. This virus affects us all differently, and we sympathize with those of you who wish you could give but aren’t able to. If you are looking for other ways to help, please share about ROWAN with your family and close friends. Our hearts are with each of you this holiday weekend.

ROMANS 5:5

We recently partnered with Neema Development, a biblical-based business training company, to get our ROWAN Ugandan staff trained on a new business program module.  Once all of our ROWAN staff is fully trained, they will be able to incorporate the training they received from Neema into our Widow’s Legacy Program.  We also plan on incorporating this training into our higher-level education programs. 

During the first group of sessions with Neema Development, we had 14 ROWAN staff members in attendance.  They were all excited and eager to learn.  These sessions covered things like marketing, business management, business operational skills, customer care, and the understanding of new business trends. 

At the conclusion of these sessions, our staff members all felt more confident in their understanding of the foundations needed to start a new business.  Our ROWAN staff members also said they appreciated the way the trainers from Neema Development referenced the bible throughout the training and they loved learning about the concept of “Purpose” and how it relates to business.  We are so grateful for our partnership with Neema Development and for the opportunity it gives ROWAN to further help our widows and children build a better future for themselves.   

This is Ibrahim, he has been the recipient of help and support through ROWAN.  He is one of 13 children whose grandparents took them in after their father died.  Five of his siblings are now grown but eight of them still live with their grandparents. 

In addition to being in grade Senior Two, Ibrahim has taken on the responsibility of helping to support his younger siblings.  He weeds the cassava garden and has built a small hut near the house his father was in the midst of building when he passed away.  Ibrahim and some of his siblings live in the small hut he built but it takes a lot of work to maintain.  The grass needed for the thatching is hard to get and can leak when it rains.  During times of drought, the thatching is eaten by termites.  In addition to issues with the roof, Ibrahim and his siblings must also worry about the snakes that creep in during the night.  Despite these hard living conditions, Ibrahim’s faith remains strong and he carries gratitude in his heart. 

Today, we have GREAT NEWS! With the help of his sponsor and other supporters, we are going to build his family a new house! Soon his grandfather and siblings will have a new, safe place to call home. We will post new photos of their house in a few weeks! 

Want to help donate to the next house building project? It only takes $3,300 to build a new house top to bottom! Donate today! 

“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” – Mother Teresa

This is Josan Mpina.  As a child, he was orphaned and faced an uncertain future until help came in the form of sponsorship through ROWAN from the Beason family.  The Beason’s helped fund Josan’s education and in February of 2020, he was able to graduate from the mason skills and building practices program.  To celebrate this huge accomplishment, the Beason’s bought Josan the tools he would need to be able to work in his new industry.

In a letter he wrote at the end of his sponsorship, Josan spoke of his gratitude for ROWAN, its leadership, and his beloved sponsors.  He also expressed his appreciation for the love that he, “a needy orphan” received and for the fact that people were willing to advocate “for a person like me.”  

When we say that we are grateful for each of our sponsors and donors, we are speaking words from our hearts.  Your help allows ROWAN to be able to do the work that our Savior exemplified during his mortal ministry – that of loving and serving our fellow men.  What a blessing that is.  What a blessing you are.  

We wish each of you a beautiful Easter filled with the peace that is found in Christ.

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect people across the globe and Uganda is not exempt from its reach.  According to the JHV CSSE COVID-19 Data, to date, Uganda has a total of 40,719 COVID-19 cases and has had 334 deaths from COVID-19.  While the number of cases in Uganda has, thankfully, remained relatively low, COVID-19 has affected many people and industries there. But March brought with it new hope in the fight against COVID-19 in the form of antibody testing and a vaccination rollout. 

(Photo by Reuters)

In mid-March, SABC News reported that the University of Makerere in Uganda, with funding help from the French government, was able to create a COVID-19 rapid antibody test that does not require the use of a laboratory or electricity to work.  This new COVID-19 antibody testing system will give people living in remote or rural areas across Africa the ability to test for COVID-19 activity in their area.  This new testing system requires only a finger prick for a blood draw and has been shown to have a 70% accuracy rate so far.

(Photo by Nicholas Kajoba/Xinhua)

In addition to the new COVID-19 antibody testing system, Uganda began a vaccination rollout campaign on March 10th.  Uganda is using the Astra Zeneca vaccine and it will be made available to groups of people in phases.  

As in other communities, it is the widows that ROWAN serves that are most at risk from COVID-19. Thankfully, COVID-19 has not yet reached the area where ROWAN is headquartered.  We are working to be proactive in the fight against COVID-19 and are setting up a gathering for our widows to meet with a doctor who will explain more about COVID-19 and the things they can do to help prevent it.  The doctor will also go over the vaccine, and its pros and cons, with the widows.  ROWAN is currently working on a COVID-19 plan of action for the people in the village.  We are setting up a phone number that people can call if they are feeling any COVID-19 symptoms.  When a person calls this phone number, a representative from ROWAN will talk them through things they can do that will aid in their recovery as well as the steps they need to take to help keep those around them healthy.  We will also get them tested for COVID-19.  

We know we don’t have all the answers about COVID-19 and we will be upfront about this with all those who contact our ROWAN COVID-19 helpline.  We just want those who reach out, and those who need help, to know that they are not alone; we will be there for, and with, them.

It’s time for you to buy a new shirt for yourself, a family member, a favorite teacher, a new neighbor, or an old friend! These whimsical shirts are a breath of fresh air for Spring 2021. The best news is that the sale of these shirts will directly benefit ROWAN Widows in the new Legacy Program launching next month, April, 2021! See below the photos for more details.

Check out these cool designs! All shirts come in unisex sizes XS to 3XL with multiple shirt color options. Click the image or caption to SHOP!

 The THINK ABOUT SUCH THINGS t-shirt. So cool!

FIVE color choices!

 The GOOD THINGS ARE ON THE HORIZON t-shirt .  A feel-good-make-someone’s-day kind of shirt.  

FOUR color choices!

 The FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT t-shirt.  Read it and Rejoice!

FIVE color choices!

All sales will directly benefit ROWAN Widows in The LEGACY PROGRAM~

This new program is beginning for widows at ROWAN! It’s a 4-year certificate program.

Through a comprehensive curriculum, training will empower widows to become successful and independent in all areas of life. The Legacy Program will focus on:

• Entrepreneurship & Financial Training
• Health & Wellness Training
• Literacy and Educational Training
• Family Needs & Healthy Relationships
• Life Skills Training
• Spiritual Development & Discipleship
• Social Training (addressing local issues such as women’s rights and land rights)

Learn more here: https://loverowan.org/a-new-legacy-for-rowan

In May 2019, a summer ROWAN team visited many homes for the first time and met families common to East Uganda; families where children have lost parents and are being raised by grandparents, aunts and uncles, or older siblings. The team held and loved on these precious children. The team met Uncle Yazidi, who was caring for his nieces and nephews because they had suddenly lost their mother. Yazidi’s youngest nephew was Bruno, and he was only 9 months old. Everyone at ROWAN fell in love with this sweet baby boy!  His caregivers had no way to provide breast milk and could not afford to buy formula to feed him and give his body the nourishment it needed.  He was given black tea, because that was all they could offer him. ROWAN was able to provide him formula and secured two sponsors to help with his daily needs! This praise was met with eventual grief, as Baby Bruno’s body could not fight the irreversible damage due to malnourishment.  At the age of 11 months, Bruno passed away.

The loss of Baby Bruno affected and inspired many to bring the gift of nourishment and hope to expecting and new mothers and their babies.  Please read about those who are providing lactation education, formula, and care to Mawanga mothers and babies.

And what happened to Bruno’s siblings? Uncle Yazidi is still caring for all of Bruno’s brothers and sisters, as well as his wife and their own three children. This is a large family with many needs. ROWAN recently completed TWO house for Yazidi!  ROWAN built one house for Bruno’s older siblings, and one house for Yazidi, his wife, and all the little ones! 

Yazidi, his wife, and the little ones in front of their beautiful house!
These two houses were built for a total of only $5,000! This tangible, life-changing gift for this family and future families was made possible by those who’ve been giving to the ROWAN HOME BUILDING campaign. We give these donors and sponsors our very special thanks for helping HOPE CARRY ON.

There are many more families that need homes. If you feel God leading you to give, please visit the HOME BUILDING campaign page!

Thank you for helping us honor Bruno and his family.

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life,neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future,nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation,will be able to separate us from the love of Godthat is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 8:38-39

I have a daughter who is my “why” and my reason for trying each day to be, and do, better.  She is my greatest joy and my surprise miracle.  Becoming a mother opened my heart in ways I never knew possible and I know I am not alone in feeling this way.  Bringing a child into your life changes your priorities, your way of looking at life, and adds to that innate desire we have as humans to make things better. 

My husband and I had been married many years before our surprise miracle arrived.  During that time, I looked for ways to support children and families around the world and in that search I came across ROWAN.  As I read through the information online, I knew I had finally found the organization I had been looking for.  My heart melted, and tears filled my eyes, as I read of a beautiful baby girl and her grandmother who were in need of sponsorship and I quickly signed up to help sponsor them.  That was almost ten years ago, and I have been a supporter of ROWAN ever since.

What do I love about ROWAN?  I love that I am able to donate what I can afford and that I can be sure my donation is being used to directly help people in Uganda.  I love that ROWAN strives to help widows and children better their lives through education and the opportunities that brings.  I love that ROWAN follows the teaching found in Matthew 25:40, “And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” (KJV)  And I love that ROWAN is led by love.  

My name is Kirsten, and I am grateful to say that I am a ROWAN supporter.