16
82% was the average age of the head of the household.
children living as part of 160 households in 2024.
94% increase in average annual income for households who graduated in 2024.
100% of households introduced to a trained guardian and growing their own food.
1,116 vulnerable children supported to date. of school-aged children back attending school full-time, up from 52% when they joined the program.
Children who have lost their parents, been abandoned, or are left caring for an elderly relative face incredibly tough realities. With no adults to care for them, many are forced to grow up too fast - becoming the heads of their households while still children themselves.
No matter how young, the eldest child must take on the heavy burden of providing for their siblings and keeping the family together. With no safety net, every day is a fight just to survive.
Since 2018, our Child Headed Households Program has been
a lifeline for these children. We work directly with the eldest child - the one carrying the heaviest weight - offering the support and skills they need to build a more secure and hopeful future for their family.
We teach them practical, lifechanging skills - like how to earn a living through small businesses, grow food, and care for animals to make sure their families aren’t going hungry. Trusted adults from their communities are also trained to look out for them and offer guidance and protection.
In just three years, the difference is profound. From loneliness and deep struggle, these children rise - gaining confidence and strength - becoming powerful examples of hope in their communities.
“My income helps me to support my family and improve our standard of living. We are now eating three meals a day and my siblings are all back in school.”
Fiona, 17, from Uganda, who lives with her four younger siblings and their grandmother.
“All
my siblings are attending school and we have a safe place to live. I am very happy now and looking toward the future.”
Emmanuel, a determined 18-year-old from Opit North in northern Uganda, didn’t always have this hope. Having been orphaned at a young age, he became the sole caregiver for his four younger siblings - just children themselves at ages 6, 10, and 12.
They lived in a cramped, unsafe rented room near a busy market, struggling to survive each day. Uganda is home to an estimated 2.5 million orphans, and with limited support systems, many children like Emmanuel are left to fend for themselves, leading households far too young.
Once Emmanuel’s situation was identified in 2022when he was just 15 - everything began to change. Through our Child-Headed Households Program, he was introduced to Irene, a trained guardian from his community. Guardians offer more than just mentorship - they’re a steady hand, a listening ear, and a bridge to connection and hope.
With Irene’s support, Emmanuel launched a small grocery business, starting with just a few basic supplies - dried fish, soap, rice, and maize. Determined to secure a better future, he also began cultivating a food garden. This year, he harvested maize, beans, potatoes, and rice - enough to feed his family for many months as well as a surplus to sell for extra income.
Emmanuel’s dedication is transforming his future. Over three years, his income has grown by an incredible 288% - from just over 1.1 million UGX ($314) in the first year to 4.4 million UGX ($1,225) in the third.
This means that Emmanuel has significantly improved his family’s standard of living and lifted them above the International Poverty Line of $3-a-day, guaranteeing them three meals a day, school fees and renewed hope. Most remarkably, Emmanuel has built a home of his own. No longer renting, he and his family now live in safety and dignity.
Emmanuel’s story proves that with the right support, children facing extreme challenges that seriously limit their life chances can not only survive, but thrivebuilding secure, hopeful futures for themselves and those they care for.
Since 2018, our Child Headed Households Program has given some of the most vulnerable children in the communities we work with the chance to learn vital skills that can truly change their lives.
A heartfelt thank you to all the individuals, companies, trusts and foundations who have supported WeSeeHope USA over the past year. Your generosity makes everything we do possible. Working with people who share our belief in community-led, lasting change is at the heart of who we are. If you’d like to get involved or support us, we’d love to hear from you at Hello@WeSeeHope.USA.org.
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You can now support WeSeeHope everytime you shop - without changing your budget!
We’re thrilled to announce that we’ve partnered with RoundUp, a simple tool that automatically donates the spare change from your everyday purchases to help us empower vulnerable children in Sub-Saharan Africa.
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