Hands to the Fatherless Ministries

2018

Year Founded

Registered NGO Uganda Bureau

Who We Are

A ministry born
out of compassion.

Hands to the Fatherless Ministries (HFM) was founded on a conviction as old as Scripture itself: that to care for the orphan and the widow is not optional — it is the very heart of pure religion (James 1:27).

Operating across Uganda, we work in the most underserved communities — reaching children who have lost parents, who face extreme poverty, and who desperately need both practical support and the unconditional love of a God who sees them.

We believe in holistic transformation: meeting physical needs while nurturing spiritual growth, academic excellence, and emotional wholeness. Every child we serve is known by name.

Faith-Centred

Everything flows from our commitment to the Gospel.

Child-Focused

Children are not a project. They are our purpose.

Safeguarding First

Protection of every child is non-negotiable for us.

Community Rooted

Sustainable impact built from the inside out.

Explore Our Programs

The Context

The Pearl of Africa
needs our hands.

Uganda is a nation of extraordinary beauty, resilient people, and immense youth. With over 48 million people — more than 52% under the age of 15 — it is one of the youngest, and most dynamic, nations on earth.

Yet beneath the beauty lies deep need. An estimated 2.5 million children grow up without one or both parents, due to HIV/AIDS, poverty, conflict, and preventable disease. Nearly 35% of Ugandans live below the poverty line, with limited access to quality education and healthcare.

Uganda is also a deeply spiritual nation — and the Church stands at the front line. HFM believes the local church is the most powerful vehicle for lasting community transformation. We partner with local leaders to ensure our impact is dignified, rooted, and self-sustaining.

48M+

Population

52%

Under Age 15

2.5M

Orphaned Children

35%

Below Poverty Line

What We Do

Programs that
change lives.

Our work is holistic — addressing the full spectrum of a child's needs: body, mind, community, and spirit.

Education & Sponsorship

School fees, uniforms, books, and scholastic materials for orphaned children from primary through university — because education is the most powerful equaliser.

Healthcare & Medical

Medical check-ups, medications, mental health support, and health education for children and caregivers who would otherwise go without care.

Vocational Training

Tailoring, carpentry, ICT, catering, and more — practical skills that give youth a dignified path to sustainable income and independence.

Small Business Development

Micro-grants and mentorship for youth and caregivers to launch businesses, breaking the cycle of dependency and poverty for entire families.

Spiritual Formation

Bible clubs, Sunday school, devotions, and discipleship programmes that root children in faith, identity, and a future full of hope.

Family Strengthening

Supporting caregivers and extended families to create stable, loving environments — keeping children out of institutional care where possible.

Before You Give

Why your gift
matters right now.

In Uganda today, over 2.5 million children live without one or both parents. Many go to bed hungry, miss school, and grow up without a sense of identity or future. Every single one has a name. Every single one matters.

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress." — James 1:27

100% of your donation reaches the children and families we serve. We are transparent, accountable, and deeply grateful for every act of generosity — no matter the size.

Choose where your gift goes

$30/month — sponsors a child's school term

$50 — funds one year of medical care

$200 — seeds a family business

Sponsor a Specific Child

Choose who you sponsor.

Meet the children in our care by name — read their stories, see their class, and choose one to support personally. Your sponsorship gives one child a direct, lasting future.

+17

Meet the Children $30/month sponsors one child fully

Choose Your Giving

Every cause.
Every child. Covered.

Select the area that speaks to your heart — or give to the general fund and let us direct where need is greatest.

General Fund

Support wherever the need is greatest. Your gift is deployed to the most urgent needs across all programs.

Give Now

School Fees

Sponsor a child's education — from primary school through university. Education breaks the cycle.

Choose a Child

Healthcare

Fund medical check-ups, medications, and mental health support for children and families in need.

Support Health

Vocational Training

Equip youth with real, marketable skills — tailoring, ICT, carpentry, catering — for lifelong income.

Train a Youth

Business Startup

Seed a small business for a caregiver or youth, lifting entire families out of poverty and dependency.

Seed a Business

Community Needs

Clean water, food security, emergency relief, and infrastructure for the most vulnerable communities in Uganda.

Help Communities

The People

Leadership with
purpose & credentials.

Dedicated, qualified, and deeply passionate — our team brings global expertise and local heart to everything we do. Hover to see qualifications.

NJS

Qualifications:
PG Cert. Safeguarding & Child Protection
University of Reading, UK

BA Economics
Makerere University

CEO & Founder

Nimurungi Joel Shalom

PG Cert. Safeguarding — University of Reading, UK · BA Economics — Makerere University

Qualifications:
MSc Computer Science
Tiffin University, USA

BSc Computer Science
Makerere University

Director of Expansion

Asiimwe Kevin

MSc Computer Science — Tiffin University, USA · BSc Computer Science — Makerere University

Qualifications:
BSc Community Development
Mbarara University of
Science & Technology

Director of Community Engagement

Atukorirebikuru Jonathan

BSc Community Development — Mbarara University of Science & Technology

NGA

Qualifications:
MBChB
Bachelor of Medicine &
Bachelor of Surgery

Director of Operations

Nakato Gift Angel

MBChB — Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery

Meet the Full Team

Emergency Response

Reaching those
forced to flee.

Uganda hosts over 1.6 million refugees — the largest refugee population in Africa. Many of these are children who have fled conflict, trauma, and loss. HFM extends its mission into refugee settlements to ensure no child is left behind simply because of where they were born.

We partner with local churches, community leaders, and international NGOs to deliver education, healthcare, trauma counselling, and spiritual support in settlement communities.

1.6M+

Refugees in Uganda

52%

Are Children Under 18

South Sudan

Largest Origin Country

Bidibidi

Primary Settlement Reached

What We Do in Settlements

Emergency education for out-of-school children
Trauma counselling and psychosocial support
Distribution of food, hygiene kits, and clothing
Medical clinics and mother-child health support
Children's Bible clubs and spiritual formation
Vocational skills training for adolescents and youth

"They came with nothing but the clothes on their backs and trauma in their eyes. What they needed most was someone to stay — and not leave."

— HFM Field Team, Bidibidi Settlement, West Nile Uganda

Support Refugees Learn More

Get in Touch

We'd love to
hear from you.

Whether you want to partner, volunteer, ask questions, or simply know more — our door is always open.

Email Us

info.handsthfm@gmail.com

Location

Kampala, Uganda 🇺🇬

Response Time

Within 24–48 hours

Send a Message

First Name

Last Name

Email Address

Subject

Message

Extending
God's hand to every fatherless child.