Last week, we had the opportunity to hear from Grace Ushindi

 Grace shared her personal story and the work of Serenity House Africa. Originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Grace described leaving her home at age 11 with her family to seek safety in Uganda. During that time, she witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by children living without access to education, stable housing, and basic resources.

After later moving to the United States and completing her education, Ushindi began sending money back home to help a small number of children with school tuition and supplies. That effort gradually expanded into Serenity House Africa, an organization now supporting children in both Congo and Uganda. The organization focuses on providing access to education, safe housing, and after-school support programs that offer meals and a secure environment for children during vulnerable hours.

Grace shared that in many communities, even modest costs such as uniforms and school supplies can prevent children from attending school. Through its programs, Serenity House Africa has helped address these barriers. In one example, approximately $600 was used to provide school supplies for 70 children, allowing them to attend school without being turned away.

The organization also operates an after-school program in Congo, where children receive homework support, meals, and supervision in a safe setting. For some participants, this program provides their only consistent daily meal. In Uganda, Serenity House Africa is working to complete construction of a home that will provide stable housing for more than 15 children who are currently without safe living conditions. The project is partially completed but currently paused due to funding needs.

Grace emphasized that access to education played a critical role in her own life and remains central to the organization’s mission. She also outlined a long-term goal of building a school to expand access to education while creating employment opportunities within the community.