Jalia Kayondo
"I began helping needy children in my own village, but word quickly spread. People started bringing more and more children but at that time I could only afford to help 50 of them. That was in 1998. Today, we have over 550 students with another 50+ on a waiting list. It is overwhelming to look out over our 35 acres and watch the children have plenty of space to sleep and play. This is proof that God does amazing things - all he requires is trust in him and he will do the rest." Jalia Kayondo, Headmistress and Founder of Royal School and Orphanage
"Auntie Jalia," as the children affectionately call her, has made the mission of James 1:27* her life's purpose. She did not merely observe the suffering of orphaned children in her village, praying that would God to help them. Rather, she offered God her hands and feet to be used as instruments of rescue and invited the orphans into her home. Although Jalia already had ten children of her own, she did not let the challenges of feeding, housing and teaching more than forty others deter her from the calling God had placed on her heart. In 2006, with the support of her husband, Dr. Edward Kayondo, and a partnership with a group from a church in America, Jalia was able to purchase the land that Royal School and Orphanage occupies today. It has truly become a piece of heaven on earth, housing over 550 students and employing more than 40 staff from Jalia’s local village.
Jalia speaks openly about her ultimate vision for the school when she says, "God uses people like me and the sponsors in America to parent these children and give them hope. Our prayer is that the children grow to speak of Jesus and help others here in Uganda."
*Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you. James 1:27, NLT