Come back with me to the year 2018. Times were... (okay, in retrospect they seem idyllic) but I was super stressed. I was preparing to move my family across country, so naturally, instead of packing I was scrolling Instagram!

I came across a friend's post saying that she had donated to Joseph Nsereko, a man who was running an orphanage in Uganda. Of course, I was wary, but Joseph checked out.

Something about Joseph's open smile and the sincerity of his requests struck a chord. He was a stranger doing good work on the other side of the world. (If you have any doubts about whether this organization is legit, I have a section at the end to address this.)

On an impulse, I donated a small amount of money -- for which he was deeply grateful. Over the next few years, we got to know each other via IG messages. Joseph would reach out if they had an urgent need and I'd send a small donation.

And then, in 2020, I pretty much ghosted him. I was stressed to the max, I was worried about money, I couldn't be bothered to even read any messages sent to me Instagram. When my thinking cleared, I saw he'd sent me a lot of messages that I'd not answered.

I felt terrible about that, especially when I thought about how much I had actually gotten in return for my modest donations.

Because I was sending him money directly, my small gifts went very far. And every so often he would send me a video or a photo of a smiling child holding a sign that said "Thank you Auntie Emmy!" Donating to the orphanage was something concrete and simple I could do during times of great uncertainty.

I made the decision to send a monthly donation to the Orphanage in 2023.

What has happened has been so wonderful to watch. Before my eyes, they built a dormitory and kitchen!

Now he is raising money to finish the kitchen, to make their playground safer, and to create a music room, as well as offer more instruction at the orphanage so that the older children do not need to wake up at 5 am to travel to go to school.

My invitation to you today is to get to participate in this joyful and reckless generosity! It feels wonderful, I promise.

If you have a bit of discretionary money you can spend, I guarantee you that money that goes to Joseph Nsereko and the New Life orphanage will be used to help children, with no middle man.

Here is a partial list of the things he wishes to provide to the orphans and how much they cost in Uganda.

Renovations:

Sports Area:

Musical instruments:

Reserve Funding for Teachers/Operations/Emergencies:

I would like Joseph to have a fund of $2,000 so that he can be a little ahead of the ongoing expenses of the orphanage. Often he is scrambling to cover costs month to month, so I am encouraging him to set aside monies for that.

Please donate to this fund, or if you want to really take your reckless, joyful generosity to the next level, you can set up a recurring donation right here: https://paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=7SR24M2J9CFDJ

Also, if you would like to reach out to Joseph directly, feel free to message him on Instagram at @94new_life He is a delight to communicate with! He's in the picture below, in the Nickelodeon TV shirt!!!

Please reach out to me with any questions and THANK YOU!

Thank you for even considering helping, in these overwhelming times. I send you love.

- Emmy Laybourne Podunovich

A letter from Joseph:

Dear Friends and Family,

I'm Joseph Nsereko, Director and Founder of 94 New Life Orphanage in Uganda. I'm humbled to share my story with you, a journey that began with hardship and struggle, but ultimately led me to where I am today.

Born in Gongobe, Mukono, Kampala, I faced unimaginable challenges from the start. My father passed away in a car accident when my mother was 7 months pregnant with me, and she tragically died during childbirth due to inadequate healthcare. I was just a newborn, left without parents in a country ravaged by poverty and limited resources.

Taken in by my aunt, Sarah, who struggled to provide for her own family, I found myself on the streets of Mukono at a tender age. But God's grace intervened, and I was rescued by Mama Annet, an angel who gave me shelter, education, and love [at the New Hope for Africa Orphanage, pictured below - Emmy]. I studied up to S.6, but my dreams of further education were cut short when Mama Annet passed away, and I couldn't continue to university due to lack of support.

(In the picture, I'm the second person in line, waiting to be served food at the orphanage I grow up from)

With her passing, the support for the orphanage dwindled, and we had to make a difficult decision - leave the orphanage to create space for the younger children who still had a chance at a brighter future. I, along with some of my friends, had to venture out, determined to make a way for ourselves and others like us.

Years later, I turned to social media to reach out to compassionate hearts like yours, to continue Mama Annet's dream of empowering vulnerable children. Today, I'm proud to lead New Life Orphanage, named in remembrance of the year I was born - 1994. My dream is to touch and change 94 lives of street poor children, providing them with the love, care, and opportunities I never had.

We're dedicated to nurturing talents, providing education, and shaping young lives into responsible citizens. Our dream is to educate these children up to university level, equipping them with skills to break the cycle of poverty. We're facing financial challenges, and that's where you come in. Your support can make a tangible difference in their lives.

Would you consider partnering with us to make a lasting impact? Your contribution can help provide essential resources, education, and care for these precious children.

Thank you for taking the time to hear my story. Your kindness and generosity will be forever etched in my heart.

Warm regards,

Joseph Nsereko

Director & Founder,New Life Orphanage

A little more about the New Life Orphanage:

I have toured the school by video and also seen footage of the grounds of the orphanage over the years. I have paid attention to the children and have watched them grow. These are children with no parents, or occasionally with parents/relatives who are too poor to support them. Joseph has taken this on as his life's work in gratitude to the orphanage where he was raised and the woman who ran it. Joseph is married to a woman named Edith. She works at the orphanage and is in charge of the girls.

What else? There are 27 children at New Life. The youngest is 14 months old. The children stay at the orphanage until they are ready to move out and live on their own. Fourteen of the kids travel to nearby schools, but it is Joseph's desire to teach more and more subjects at a school closer to the orphanage so they children don't have to travel quite so much. Right now he employs three teachers and one cleaner, but he hopes to expand the staff.

Get in on the joy! ---> I asked Joseph to send me a couple of videos to share with you. You can find them here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1LNGp6hea0raGqCPPN6eIpOZjLCmtxgBm?usp=sharing