November 28, 2023
Overview of Friends of Kibbuse
Friends of Kibbuse (FOK) was established on the foundation of the Gospel and teachings of Jesus Christ to support the ongoing work of the Kibbuse Foundation. The Kibbuse Foundation is an indigenous Ugandan NGO doing community development in the Kibaale District of Western Uganda. Friends of Kibbuse was approved by the Federal Government as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in April of 2014.
The purpose of the ministry is to advance the Kingdom of Christ by seeking and managing financial aid to the Kibbuse foundation which in turn supports the Good Samaritan Clinic and the Kibbuse Vocational Training Centre. The Good Samaritan Clinic provides primary health care to a remote area where seven villages and somewhere between 20,000 and 30,000 people have no medical services within walking distance. The Kibbuse Vocational Training Centre (KVTC) is a Christian vocational school located in a severely impoverished rural area of western Uganda where many young people desperately need to learn how to be “job-makers instead of job-seekers.”
The purpose of the ministry is to advance the Kingdom of Christ by seeking and managing financial aid to the Kibbuse foundation which in turn supports the Good Samaritan Clinic and the Kibbuse Vocational Training Centre. The Good Samaritan Clinic provides primary health care to a remote area where seven villages and somewhere between 20,000 and 30,000 people have no medical services within walking distance. The Kibbuse Vocational Training Centre (KVTC) is a Christian vocational school located in a severely impoverished rural area of western Uganda where many young people desperately need to learn how to be “job-makers instead of job-seekers.”
Our primary goal since founding has been simple: to provide salaries for the KVTC faculty and staff. In turn, we have challenged the Kibbuse staff to effectively manage income from tuition and fees in such a way that all other operational expenses are met. However, the Kibaale District in which the Kibbuse Foundation operates is so impoverished that there have been virtually no infrastructural additions or improvements since 2012, when Friends of Kibbuse founders Bob and Brenda Schuyler finished their three year stint as resident missionaries in Nyamarwa (see map), a tiny village in southeast Kibaale. Since then, Nyamarwa has grown to be a sub-county center but the school and clinic have not been able to add or improve facilities to match the opportunities that have arisen with village growth.
The Kibaale District was reorganized in 2017 and is now one-third the size of the old Kibaale District, or about 6300 sq. miles. It is almost entirely agrarian and one of the poorest districts of the country. It is still without a single paved road- even in the District Capital. The current population is unknown, but the old District had the highest birth rate in Uganda. This puts and enormous strain on educational facilities both public and private, and makes the work of the Kibbuse Foundation all the more important to ALL people in the district in their perennial struggle to work their way out of poverty. We can help. YOU can help.
The Kibaale District was reorganized in 2017 and is now one-third the size of the old Kibaale District, or about 6300 sq. miles. It is almost entirely agrarian and one of the poorest districts of the country. It is still without a single paved road- even in the District Capital. The current population is unknown, but the old District had the highest birth rate in Uganda. This puts and enormous strain on educational facilities both public and private, and makes the work of the Kibbuse Foundation all the more important to ALL people in the district in their perennial struggle to work their way out of poverty. We can help. YOU can help.
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Friends of Kibbuse has committed to building a new Outpatient facility in 2019 for the Good Samaritan Clinic (GSC), a remote, rural health facility run by the Kibbuse Foundation, which is in desperate need of an upgrade. We intend to then (2020-2021) turn our attention to a vigorous campaign to raise support for much needed infrastructural repairs and additions to the Kibbuse Vocational Training Centre (KVTC), including a new multi-purpose assembly hall, a modern school kitchen, student dormitories and new sanitary facilities.
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Kibbuse Vocational Training Centre
At KVTC we support the school's students by providing salaries for all staff and teachers, thereby keeping tuition and fees as low as possible. We also financially support program and facilities development, aiming to give teachers and students alike the best possible opportunity for success in the various vocational programs.
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Good Samaritan Clinic
At the Good Samaritan Clinic we are involved with Facility Development to help create a functional and self-sustaining clinic.
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Mission Trips
In 2017, 2020 B.C (before Covid), and 2023, we have had groups that went to Uganda. We spent time helping to complete buildings, working with a local elementary school, spending time at the Good Samaritan Health Clinic, creating friendships and getting to know our brothers and sisters in Uganda. The latest trip included people from teens to those in their 70's, people who had been multiple times to those that have never left the country. We also had people from three states join us. We had builders, an electrician, a nurse, occupational therapist, as well as people on disability. No skills are needed, only a willingness to share the love of God. Won't you think about joining us for an upcoming trip? Make sure you subscribe to our newsletters to get the most up to date information.
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Officers of the Board
Chair |
Financial Development |
Treasurer |
Secretary |
Communications |
Nathan Kamps |
Ron Foster Esq. and Cheryl Zwagerman (co-chairs) |
Kara Kamps |
Amy Pollock |
Bob Schuyler and Jim Hagerup (co-chairs) |
Nathan has been with friends of Kibbuse since 2016 and has been on multiple mission trips since then. |
Ron is an attorney and adjunct professor. He enjoys life with his wife of 41 years and 3 children. Cheryl is new to the board in 2021. |
Kara is the treasurer of Friends of Kibbuse. Since 2016 she has seen many great things happening in Uganda |
Amy is the secretary for Friends of Kibbuse and is very passionate about the ministry in Uganda |
Bob has been on many mission trips including a three year stay. Jim is. retired Software Engineer and provides technical support. |