To an African family faced with a gauntlet of dangers to overcome–malaria, war, famine–hope is tangible, vital. Despair, on a field of active hazards with the material odds stacked against you, is tantamount to death. Hope is that real reservoir of strength that the African family must draw upon to outwit multiple horrors.
As an indigenous, Christian organization working in Public Health and Education with policy makers in the capital and rural villages throughout Uganda, it is not that they believe that their work “brings” hope.
Instead, hope is the work itself.
Their Story
Led by Ugandan native Calvin Echodu, Pilgrim Africa was founded as an indigenous Christian response to the plight of more than 1.5 million refugees living in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in the war torn regions of Northern Uganda. From its inception over a decade ago as a small organization providing simple medical and nutritional relief and psycho-social support to desperate refugees, Pilgrim Africa has grown to be an international organization with regional and national interventions in Public Health and Education.
After several years of providing relief support to those suffering in the camps, Pilgrim Africa began to look to the future by working to resettle over 1,000 families from IDP camps to ancestral lands. Later, the Beacon of Hope Secondary School was founded in 2005, focused on educating abductees of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), and war orphans.
Driven by Uganda’s suffering the worst malaria intensity rates in the world, Pilgrim Africa was moved to enter the world of malaria control in 2008, and pioneered a comprehensive set of interventions in two different districts in Teso (Katakwi and Kumi). Since 2009, Pilgrim Africa has been engaged in an effort to enroll more administrative support for effective malaria control at the governmental level.
Mission
At Pilgrim Africa they are committed to helping African people create a future of sustainable prosperity and health.
Values
Dignity
They demonstrate respect for essential human dignity and are willing to offer and accept true friendship. They give theirselves in services to others regardless of economic, religious, or social standing.
Bold Love
They challenge apathy and despair with courage, ingenuity, and authentic relationships.
Indigenous Investment
Founded by and for Ugandans, Pilgrim Africa today has strong African leadership throughout the organization.
Indigenous investment provides:
Catalytic Change
Integrated, cross-sector transformation is necessary to revitalize the core aspects of African society.
Partnership
Pilgrim Africa pursues partnerships at local, national, and international levels.
