Hi! My name is Laura "Laurita" Tellado, and I'm Founder and President of The Laurita Spina Bifida Project, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. I am based in Orlando, Florida, and our organization is run by my parents and me as volunteers. (We receive NO pay, no private or government funding.)

As an adult with spina bifida, I have been through the challenges and faced the barriers that all people with spina bifida and other disabilities face. In countries like Uganda, where resources, including medical attention, are scarce, the quality of life can be dire.

This is why we partnered in 2019 with Ambrose Ganshanga, Founder and Director of the Hope Inclusive Development Center in Mbarara, Uganda. The Hope Center is a school and therapy center that offers an education, vital therapies, and housing for children with disabilities who have often been rejected by society.

Currently, Ambrose is facing a crisis that threatens the future of The Hope Center — a national increase in salary for primary school teachers has prompted teachers to leave in search of better pay.

Education has long been heralded as “the great equalizer,” and for a child with disabilities in the developing world, this can mean the difference between life and death.

Your donation can fund the salary increase so that Ambrose can once again hire qualified teachers that will provide these children with an education as an advantage in life.

To learn more, please check out the linked video.

I always say “It Takes a A Village,” and I hope we can find one here on GoFundMe.

Gratefully Yours, Laurita ❤️