Mission & History

Mission & History

Mission

Desiring to “do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with our God” (Micah 6:8), the mission of YES (Youth Encouragement Services) is to empower orphaned and vulnerable youth with the educational opportunities and support they need to become self-reliant and successful members of the community.

As founder Carol Adams explains, “We have chosen to focus on education (and the needs surrounding it – food, clothing, supplies) as the best means of equipping the children we serve for meaningful work as the best way to honor their dignity as people created in the image of God. Additionally, we respect and consider local culture within our work and are conscious of how to most effectively allocate our resources.”

History

Carol Adams moved to Uganda from Hawaii in 1996 after feeling a strong calling from the Lord to serve vulnerable children in Africa. After arriving in Fort Portal, she established the Church of Uganda’s Child Outreach program that ran for many years before formally establishing YES in 2004. Since that time, YES has evolved and grown; and in cooperation with large international organizations and the generous support of many donors, has served the needs of thousands of children across Western Uganda.

 

 

Programs

Lead by a team of locally-based staff, YES’s programs offer a range of services to provide for youth of all ages and needs.