WAKISO HOPE PROJECT

Description

The Wakiso Hope Project is a 501c3 organization that works to provide education and basic human needs for underprivileged children in Uganda. Over the past ten (10) years, the Wakiso Hope Project has helped hundreds of Ugandan children. The origin of the Wakiso Hope Project goes back to 2006 when Corporal Robert Stasiak served his second deployment in Iraq. Through participation in the counter-terrorism efforts of his battalion, Robert witnessed the vulnerability of people, especially children, to political extremism as a result of poverty and illiteracy. In Iraq, Robert met and befriended Ugandan contractor Godfrey Sekyene. Professionally, Godfrey is a teacher, and for many years had held a dream to build a school for underprivileged Ugandan children.

After returning to the United States, Robert maintained contact with Godfrey, sharing his dream to build a school. In 2009, Robert flew to Uganda and used his personal resources to purchase land and building materials for a school. The school opened with one classroom and as classrooms in the school were completed, more students were enrolled. In 2014, in order to raise funds for the completion of the school, Robert formed a 501c3 organization named the Wakiso Hope Project.

The school was finished in 2017 and current enrollment is approximately 100 students although there is capacity for 250 with a steady stream of income. To help ensure the future of the school, the Wakiso Hope Project aims to purchase a plot of farm land to grow crops and generate income through the sale of its produce.