How it started

In 2005 House of Joy became a registered charity in the UK and a registered NGO (non-governmental organisation) in Uganda. HOJ purchased 1 acre of land and, under Jaja Tom's leadership, built 2 classrooms [Jaja Tom was the affectionate title the Ugandan people gave to Tom Lewis].The first term in 2005 started with 56 children and 2 teachers. House of Joy school is situated 30 miles outside the main city Kampala. The nearest town is called Kalagi and the school is a 3 miles drive into the bush from there.

Before HOJ arrived the people of Kasala had little food, clean water, shelter or clothes.

House of Joy has had the pleasure of watching this area transformed because of all the generous people who have given to this project. We have seen this school and the whole area go from strength to strength.

At present HOJ now feeds and educates approximately 600 children. We have 12 classrooms with 12 teachers and 1 Head Teacher, 1 Director, 1 Child Protection Officer and 2 cooks. All people employed at the school are Ugandans because HOJ believes that we should support the local economy and provide meaningful employment.

This has been possible because of people sponsoring children at £5 per month and sponsoring a teacher at £30 per month (Please see our sponsorship page for more information). We have had the great pleasure of raising the finances to dig a borehole so that the whole village can have access to fresh clean water.

We have built a multi purpose building for the purpose of meeting together, children to have concerts and for us to be able to provide adults with some vocational training in the future.