PROGRAM SUMMARY

Our core focus is ‘youth leadership development’ - so all the various programs we run in addition to the Leadership Academies - serve this focus by providing a practical “training ground” where the graduates of the Academies can learn to serve and pass on to others what they have received.

Cornerstone Leadership Academies: These are "Advanced Level" boarding, high schools that aim at molding young people coming from poor backgrounds, but with high potential - into future leaders. Out of several hundred applicants each year 25 young men and 25 young women are selected from all over the country on the basis of leadership potential, financial need, academic potential and a willingness to study principles of leadership and character development.

In Uganda this level of High School covers two years so we have 100 students in these schools at a time. One of these Academies is in Rwanda - it’s a three year program and has both boys and girls in it.

A central aim of this program is to teach young future leaders from various religious backgrounds and different tribes – to learn to live together as brothers and sisters in the spirit of Jesus - despite their differances. And, then to help them advance a movement of 'men of integrity and women of virtue' that can work across these long standing divisions to build a more peaceful and prosperous society through out this region.

In addition to the academic studies the program involves a comprehensive discipleship program following the principles, precepts and person of Jesus. We are also gradually branching out to start-up similar programs in other countries in this region – such as Tanzania, Burundi and Sudan.

Cornerstone Academy Alumni Program: The schools are really just the beginning of a long-term relationship with these young people that continues on into University and beyond with a vision: To create a life long brotherhood & sisterhood of friends in the spirit of Jesus that will support each other in a movement of "men of integrity” and “women of virtue.”

We have weekly meetings at their various colleges so as to maintain our relationship and commitment to the values we hold in common and an annual retreat for all our past graduates.

We now have about 500 that have come up through the program since we began. So, this dream is steadily becoming a reality.

Many are in positions of leadership at their respective colleges and the university. Others in more quiet ways are making a positive impact on those around them.

The long term potential to positively influence society is increasingly becoming evident as we see the maturity and commitment exhibited in the lives of these future leaders who are working together to make a differance.

Youth Corps homes: This is a program that provides loving homes for homeless street kids from both Muslim and Christian backgrounds. Currently we have 12 homes and each home has 10 - 20 kids. College students who have graduated from our Leadership Academies are involved in running the homes. The homes work with kids that are tired of the street life and are ready to change. The children get a place to sleep, a 'family' to belong to and are taught a better way to live – in line with the principles, precepts and person of Jesus. Most go to school. They also do community service work in thier neighborhoods. We have homes in Uganda, Rwanda, Sudan, and Tanzania.

The "Wolves" Soccer Clubs: This is a year around soccer training program that attracts idle teenage young men around Kampala city. Most have dropped out of school and are unemployed. Presently we have around 200 boys grouped into 5 teams playing in the city leagues. Our program works on the prevention side of the street kid problem by providing a structured, disciplined daily sports program to keep teenage boys from broken homes off the streets, out of trouble and off drugs. The head of the program is Stone Ndibassa - a former professional player - who serves as coach, role model and father figure. The whole program is built around his love for these boys and the trust he has earned from them. Many of the guys are Muslims and we have a "Club House" in the Muslim suburb of Kibuli that allows for further contact in the evenings and provides a place for meetings, studies as well as positive entertainment. This program specifically tries to improve understanding and relationships between Muslims and Christians. This program has been featured in a video used in Stephen Covey's courses on "7 Habits of Highly Effective People." A copy of the video called "Stone" - comes with each hard copy of Covey's latest book "The 8th Habit."

The Ekitangala Ranch Community: We have a ranch outside of town on which the Boys Leadership Academy is based as well as the Ekt. Primary School and Secondary Schools for the kids living in that area. It’s a large commercial dairy ranch. The whole ranch community - including the schools’ staff - is comprised of about 200 people living on the ranch as well around 1100 student in our three schools there. It is our hope that as we work and live together we would shine as a light in the surrounding areas. (Ekitangalla means "the light" in the local language.) We also have facilities where college age young people from Europe and North America can come to volunteer and join in the life of our community - in the middle of the bush for a few months.

The Ranch Elementary, Secondary & Vocational Schools: The elementary school has 650 kids in it and the secondary (ordinary level high school) has about 450. The Secondary School was opened in 2003. It is the first high-school ever for the local area. It was a very simple building and only covered the first two years of high school with 50 kids. In 2004 we added another grade and it went up to 75 kids. In 2005 we added the last grade of high school and the enrollment went up to 200. In 2006 it reached 300. And in 2007 it went up to 450.

Another 20 students annually are undertaking vocational training - currently in the areas of carpentry and tailoring. These are simple day schools serving kids that come from an 8 mile radius around us. All the schools involve character development and life skills studies. Lunch is also provided daily free of charge. Most recently an institute for training in the fields of hospitality and hotel services has been set up, with a guest house facility available as well.

Community Development Program: The parents of the elementary school kids live in the countryside around the ranch. It is an area of chronic poverty and heavy alcoholism. To help them overcome these problems we operate a comprehensive community development program operating in 10 villages with a population of around 3000. The program covers issues of health, agriculture, water and other such matters related to well being - as well as the spiritual dimension of life.

Current Developments: Our current prospects are in developing a leadership academy in Tanzania and, in future, Sudan. We have also recently opened a youth corps home in Burundi and once established there we will begin the process of developing a leadership academy as well - God willing in the future.