What is Karis Kids?
Watch this 90-second video interview with Ketrah Turyakira (director of the Karis team in Uganda), introducing Karis Kids.
The Mission
A family and a future for children trapped by poverty in Kampala, Uganda.
The Model
Church to Church links
UK churches link with Ugandan churches who serve slums local to their community.
Each UK church contributes towards…
local community workers
secondary school fees
special celebrations
Family to Family links
100% of the money given goes to supporting the families in Kampala.
It helps support…
school fees
beds with mosquito nets
supplementary food, water, filtration, household basics
medical care
pastoral support, career guidance, and life skills training
Karis Kids Link Families support in Uganda…
100+ families
500+ children
£2+ million
Key Distinctives
- 100% of your donation helps your family
Private donors plus the Gift Aid on donations cover our operating costs, so 100% of your donation goes towards helping your family in Kampala.
- We support the whole family
Child sponsorship programmes can sometimes lead to family divisions. By sponsoring the whole family we help every child progress together.
- The local church do the work
We build relationship and give resources to empower the local church to rewrite the story of their community.
- Families grow to support themselves
We help each child break the cycle of poverty through education, opportunity and job training. This, in turn, helps families become self-sustaining.
- Two-way transformation
This is not a one-sided programme of social relief. God’s grace (Greek: charis) is at work in both UK and Ugandan families as we build his kingdom.
- We share Jesus
We share the good news of Jesus. And we see many respond to his love and give their lives to him.
Before & After
Hear first-hand from carers and children the difference Karis Kids has made in their lives.
Become a Link Family
Email edward.law@kariskids.org or apply online below.
Support a whole Ugandan family
£100/month
FAQs
What happens after I sign up?
If you sign up, here is what happens next:
Edward Law will email you an online application and the giving forms.
The ‘run-in’ phase begins. This 3 month time allows…
the team in Uganda to identify the most eligible family
to build funds ready for the starting date
Your family is chosen!
They’ll receive bunk beds, mattresses, mosquito nets and other necessities. We’ll contact you right away with a family profile and some letter writing prompts so you can start getting to know one another.
What is ‘Support along with others’?
You can still become a Link Family starting from £10/month. This works by adding your gift to a group fund along with other donors. This way the whole family is supported — which costs £100/month.
Can I form my own group?
Yes! You can join with another family or as part of a house group. We ask you to consider people who you are going to be connected with for several years to come.
How do you pay for the cost of staff and admin fees?
100% of your donation goes towards supporting the family. However, Gift Aid on the donation go towards staff and admin costs. This overhead cost is also supported by private donations from generous supporters.
How many children are in a typical family?
On average, there are five children and one carer. However, there is no typical family in the slums. In some situations, some carers have looked after up to 13 children. Many of the children are orphans, having lost their parents to HIV.
Can I just give financially without the communication with the Link Family?
Yes. It is possible to enable financial giving without letter-writing or video messages between you and the Ugandan family if this is your preference. In this scenario, we would find another group or person to help support the relationship through messages. Please talk to our team if this is your preference.
How do I send messages to my family?
You can send messages to your family in a variety of ways! It’s your choice.
through writing letters
through emailing our team
through video messages sent to our team over WhatsApp
Our Ugandan families especially love photos, so we always encourage sending a family picture either digitally or physically.
How often do I have to send letters/videos?
We prompt our UK Link Families 2 or 3 times a year to do this. Some families stay in more frequent contact through certain seasons of life and some do less. In either case, this is your relationship which we help support through reminders.
Will I receive messages from my family?
You will receive letters from the family that are checked by our Ugandan staff. This is to ensure no inappropriate boundaries are crossed.
Our team will also inform you if there are any important situations with your Link Family for you to pray or help with.
How long am I committing to give for?
When you join Karis Kids you partner directly with a family in Uganda, whose needs are unique to them. For this reason you can expect a commitment for around 5 to 10 years.
As the years progress, our strategy changes to help the family support themselves, which is known as our “Finishing Well” programme. We budget for this in your monthly donation from the beginning.
I have another question!
Please see our FAQ section on the Link Family page of our website. If your question isn't answered there, email Julie Winning or, if your question is related to finances, email Edward Law.
Make a Donation
Donate online or through your bank…
Sort code: 40 52 40 Account: 00020159 Name: Karis Kids Bank: CAF Bank Ltd
Become a Link Family
Email edward.law@kariskids.org or…