Our Work

We started our work during the COVID-19 pandemic in Kamuli, Eastern Uganda. Kamuli means “flower” in Luganda, one of the country's main languages. According to folk stories, the name was given to the town because the first settlers found the area filled with beautiful flowers. As time passed, the flowers withered, especially during the HIV epidemic of the 1990s. Uganda was one of the countries most affected by the epidemic, and rural communities in particular suffered immensely. EarlyBird256’s mission is to help the children of Kamuli replant the flowers and rebuild their community. Our mantra of #doinglittlethingswithpassion reminds us that it is rain that grows flowers, not thunder.

Scholarship Program

We believe that amazing things happen when girls are educated and learn the power of their voices. Unfortunately, one out of every 10 children of primary school age in Kamuli does not continue into Secondary School. Education is the key that will empower them to change their lives and their communities positively. We have partnered with Busoga High School, a local school in Eastern Uganda. We have created a tuition-matching program for EarlyBird256 students; raising money to give students a chance at higher education is one of the primary goals of our fundraising efforts. We currently have 33 students benefiting from this partnership.

Porridge Program

The Porridge Program (based on our I AM NUTRITION affirmation) was one of EarlyBird256’s founding programs. Too many children in Uganda do not have reliable access to food and are often forced to learn on an empty stomach. This puts them at a severe disadvantage when national exams determine their future. We started providing students at Rev. Nayenga Primary School breakfast before school, and it was immediately clear to us how many children were not receiving breakfast at home. Instead of stopping there, we are now working hard to provide lunch during the day and food packages that the children can take home. In addition to food, the students receive homework packages so that they have learning opportunities outside of the classroom.

Community Workshops

EarlyBird256’s programs are inspired by the power of affirmations. The first idea we impart on the children is that no matter the situation we are in, the words we speak and the way we think are able to affect our reality. We encourage them to take charge of their future through positive thinking, expression, and doing little things with passion. We offer workshops on art, creative writing, and computers, and we help students plan for their future by assisting them with agriculture projects and encouraging entrepreneurship. We organize separate workshops for parents to ensure that the children are being supported at home.

Ask Without Shame

We are proud to partner with Ask Without Shame, a nonprofit organization based in Uganda that provides information on sexual reproductive health to youth through mobile technology, coaching, and community outreach. Importantly, they provide access to this information without any shame or judgment. This perfectly aligns with our mission to provide children with a safe space to talk and learn about these important issues. Through our partnership with Ask Without Shame, we’re able to offer sex-education classes, as well as workshops where we make hygiene products such as soaps, reusable pads, and underwear for both boys and girls.

Boys Allowed

We believe in gender equality. This means that we must also create a safe space for boys in the community to learn and develop into men that will always give a voice to issues that affect women. If the future is female, then we need to make sure that the young boys know what that means and how they can help. We do this through workshops and by partnering with the fathers, husbands, sons, friends, and cousins of the community who create a safe space for the women in their lives.

How You Can Help

The children of Uganda would be forever grateful for your help, and EarlyBird256’s hard work has ensured that your support will lead to sustainable, long-term change for the community. Join the EarlyBird squad by sponsoring a workshop of your choice, providing tuition for a student or class, funding our Porridge Program, or helping in any way you can. After all, just like the small sticks that come together to build a nest, every donation—large and small—makes a difference.

$25 feeds one of our students for a week 

$50 keeps the EarlyBird space going for another day

$100 covers monthly wellness supplies for our students

$200 provides a student with a scholarship for the year (tuition and school uniform)

$350 sponsors one of our quarterly community workshops

$500 covers the monthly salaries for seven of our team members in Uganda