Pam and Keren's Story 

Edith’s Hope was formed in 2019 to continue to support the work that Edith's Home had started but had to finish. Edith's Home was borne out of a friendship which goes back 12 years when Pam and Keren made their first trip to Uganda as students on a short term mission trip.

Here is their story

'We never could have conceived then how that trip would change our lives, and in turn the lives of the many young people who have been part of the work so far. Our first trip to Uganda affected us both profoundly and cemented our friendship, however, it was not until we returned on a similar trip to the same community of Ngora in 2002 when our commitment to the people there was really challenged. Having built a relationship with an elderly lady called Edith we were struck by her vulnerability and that of the many children she cared for when she became desperately ill in 2002. Edith survived to continue caring for her extended family but we both saw clearly the genuine need of her situation and that of many others. On returning to the UK neither of us felt this was need we could pass by.

As very naive new graduates in 2003 we began planning our project and eventually took a team out to start the work in August 2004. In the week prior to leaving we received a gift of £15,000 which gave us confidence we were doing the right thing and gave us the first hint that we could do more than we imagined. We gave out goats to orphans, built an office block and started a feeding project. In 2005 we became a charity and known as Edith’s Home - something we had never thought would be possible with our very little experience and skills!

In the years that have followed we have made several trips back to Uganda and have been privileged to be joined by City Life Church and a group of people committed to the same community who have guided us and now run the charity. It has been a real joy to see how the project has grown and changed over time and we are really excited to see what we can go on to achieve. We have been supported wholeheartedly by our friends and family and now with young families of our own feel the same desire to change lives of other children and young people trapped in poverty.'

Since then Edith's Hope have formed as a new independent charity to carry on and build on the work of Edith's Home. Keren and Pam are still a part of Edith's Hope and we have a plan to grow our work in Uganda over the coming years.