Hi, my name is Nikki, and I’ve created this GoFundMe to support our dear brother Francis, the director of Francis Xavier Children’s Home in Uganda.

My husband Mike and I had the blessing of visiting Brother Francis and the children in April 2025, and it was a truly life-changing and humbling experience. When I first met Brother Francis in 2024, I was shocked to learn how much the children were lacking—things many of us in developed countries take for granted. They had no beds, blankets, clothes, toys, books, or even access to clean drinking water. The kids walked six hours round trip to school a day, some without shoes, survived on one meal a day, and rarely ate fresh fruit.

Since then, with the help of family and friends, we’ve been able to make meaningful changes. We installed a well so the children now have clean drinking water. They have bunk beds, mattresses, bedding, clothes, shoes, books, freshly painted living spaces, solar power, fire extinguishers, fresh fruits and snacks for school journey and even a small chicken coop. These changes have transformed daily life—but there is still a long way to go.

Brother Francis grows food on the land, but it is not enough to sustain the children through the long dry seasons, when they must rely heavily on donations. In addition to caring for the 51 children living at the home, Francis also supports over 100 vulnerable children in the surrounding community, many of whom live with widowed parents or elderly relatives. Without his help, many would have no access to food or education at all.

There are many ways your donations can help and we welcome them with open arms:

• Household essentials such as soap, girls’ sanitary pads, clothing, shoes, and wool

• Food costs, which rise significantly outside of harvest season (approximately £400–£500 per month)

• Medical treatment and medication. Hospital care is very expensive in Uganda, and any help toward children’s ongoing medical costs would be greatly appreciated

• Poultry and livestock projects (chickens, goats, pigs) to help the home become more self-sufficient

• Education needs, including school fees, stationery, toilet paper (required for school attendance), and vocational training such as hairdressing, tailoring, or mechanics

• Gardening tools, compost, fertiliser, and protective equipment

• A much-needed truck to transport garden produce to town for sale, allowing Brother Francis to earn fair prices and reduce long-term transport costs. At the moment he’s only able to raise a quarter of what he can potentially earn accepting low offers from town merchants.

Additional urgent needs include a house extension to ease overcrowding, a root cellar to preserve harvested food, a refrigerator and freezer, additional solar panels, a proper pit latrine and bathing facilities. and longer-term dreams of building a church and school.

Every donation—no matter the size—helps bring dignity, stability, and hope to these children. Please give what you can, and let’s create something truly life-changing together.

If you would like more information, please feel free to contact Francis directly, or reach out to me—I’m happy to answer any questions.

You can reach me at my Instagram page.

https://www.instagram.com/lemonandlime79?igsh=ZGJnMXZ6MWk0cTMw&utm_source=qr

Thank you for your love and support.

God bless,

Nikki