Hope Forward
A three-year Nofam Uganda initiative that empowers local organizations to connect vulnerable children with education sponsorship and opportunities to thrive.
“Giving every child a chance to learn, thrive and dream.”
To improve access to education, wellbeing, protection, and future opportunities for 3,000 vulnerable children in Uganda by 2029.
The organizations closest to children need stronger foundations
Across Uganda, grassroots organizations already care for the children who face the greatest barriers. Many of them do it without the systems, visibility and connections to grow.
Limited systems
Many organizations still track children and sponsors by hand, which makes it hard to report, to grow and to show their impact.
Limited visibility
Sponsors want to help but can't find credible local organizations — and organizations lack the tools to reach them.
Working in isolation
Few chances to learn from each other, to partner, or to speak with one voice for child sponsorship.
“Behind every child is the potential for a brighter future, if only they are given the chance.”
We strengthen local organizations — we don't replace them
Nofam Uganda is a capacity-building and coordination organization. Through Hope Forward we help grassroots organizations deliver quality, accountable and sustainable child sponsorship programmes.
“It is not about who helps the child, or under which name. It is about the child being helped.”
The journey of a grassroots organization
From the first conversation to a child supported for years — with Nofam Uganda alongside the organization at every step.
We meet
An organization is invited into the network. We visit and get to know each other.
We set up the tools
The team is trained on the Nofam platform — child profiles, reporting, sponsor updates.
We grow stronger together
Safeguarding, governance and mentoring — with peer organizations to learn from.
A child goes forward
The organization runs its own programme, and children are supported for years, not months.
What Hope Forward strengthens
Digital capacity
Strengthen the digital capacity of grassroots organizations to manage child sponsorship programmes through adoption and use of the Nofam Digital Child Sponsorship Platform.
- Training organizations and their partners on the platform
- Onboarding and implementation support
- Ongoing technical guidance and user support
- Child information management, sponsor communication and reporting
Outcome: organizations run their sponsorship programmes independently and digitally — transparent, accountable and engaging for sponsors.
Institutional capacity
Strengthen the institutional capacity of grassroots organizations to provide quality, child-centered, accountable and sustainable support to vulnerable children and their families.
- Child protection and safeguarding training
- Education monitoring and child development support
- Governance and accountability
- Programme management and impact measurement
- Training and mentoring for staff and volunteers, and learning between organizations
Outcome: stronger, more professional organizations that improve children's education, wellbeing and future opportunities.
Sponsorship & networks
Promote child sponsorship and expand a sustainable network of grassroots organizations, sponsors and partners committed to children's education and wellbeing.
- Organizations: inviting grassroots organizations into the Nofam network and onto the platform
- Sponsors and supporters: awareness campaigns and engaging businesses and community groups to support children through participating organizations
- Regional forums and peer exchanges between organizations
- Partnerships with corporate, faith-based, health and government actors — scholarships, health packages and shared knowledge for partner organizations
Outcome: more organizations in the network, more awareness of child sponsorship, and more children with sustainable support.
Stronger local organizations → More sponsored children → Lasting change
Hope Forward is the first project under Nofam Uganda's strategic plan for 2026–2030. The plan sets four strategic focus areas; this project delivers on them through three concrete objectives.
From foundations to a lasting network
Map and enrol organizations, assess their capacity, and onboard the first partners on the platform.
Deepen training and mentoring, grow the network, and bring organizations together in regional forums and peer exchanges.
Organizations run their programmes independently, and a national child sponsorship network carries on beyond the project.
What Hope Forward will deliver
Children who face the greatest barriers
Orphans and vulnerable children, refugee children, children with disabilities, girls at risk of dropping out of school, and children in the poorest households — reached through the organizations that know them by name.
Measured from the start
A baseline at the start, a mid-term and an end-of-project evaluation, quarterly reviews and regular data-quality checks — with feedback from children, caregivers, organizations and sponsors along the way.
Governance, policies and monitoring →Beyond the project
The aim is organizations that no longer need us: equipped to run and grow their own programmes, and connected through a network that outlives the project.
There is a place for you in this project
Run a grassroots organization, fund an objective, or support one child through a partner organization.