Otatai church(pioneer church) in Teso region was started in 1964 and the Child Development Centre was set up in 2008.The school was an initiative of the church, as Bishop. Simon Peter Emiau applied to Compassion for support after coming up with an idea of giving a hand to the needy children.
Upon Compassion receiving the request from PAG, all churches in Kumi and surrounding villages were contacted and a church assessment process was done where PAG was found eligible to receive funding from Compassion. That led to the birth of Otatai Child Development Centre.
It started with 203 children but it now has over 300 children. A number of success stories have been registered. Parents have also been supported by giving them goats and starting up businesses for them to improve on their livelihoods. Children usually stay on the programme till when they are 22years of age.
It is a church founded organization, located in Kumi Municipality, supported by Compassion International. The project currently supports 328 vulnerable children who are direct bene ciaries coming from 6 villages surrounding the Municipality namely; Olungia, Otaaba, Osioda, Kabata and Abubur and within Kumi town.
The project has been in operation since March 2008 and started with the total number of 200 children, they later increased as a result of good performance and the need by the funders. The number of children has now reached 328 bene ciaries who are direct, this is exclusive of their caregivers who are indirect bene ciaries .
Amongst the caregivers are those who live with HIV/AIDs and they total to 50, they are also supported under different intervention given to them by the project called church partnership committee who take the overall supervision of its activities and oversees its works in a holistic manner.
The committee also lays strong emphasis in developing the child in the 4 aspects of Spiritual, physical, social and cognitive. The program is meant to address the economic, social and political needs of the primary bene ciaries through partnership.
The activities that children are involved in, include trainings on livelihood skills, community service, evangelism, games and sports, praise and worship, aimed at making the children responsible and to teach them the spirit of taking initiatives for positive impact in their own communities
The photo above shows a group photo of the Church Planning Committee from left to right. (Robert Mongusho, Umo Francis, Phoebe Akello, Lokut Bongolo, Aruo Charles, Suzan, Andrew Ayopo, Longoli James, Korobe Samson, Moses Okurut, Pr. James Opiolo and David Omiel.)
The photo above shows a group photo of the Church Planning Committee from left to right. (Robert Mongusho, Umo Francis, Phoebe Akello, Lokut Bongolo, Aruo Charles, Suzan, Andrew Ayopo, Longoli James, Korobe Samson, Moses Okurut, Pr. James Opiolo and David Omiel.)
PAG Amudat Town Church/ CYDC
Play ground of Nakapiripirit Child Development Centre
- Survival Participants = 64
- Center Based Participants = 323
- Total number of participants = 386
Lamwo Child and Youth Development Center UG-0597 Office Block and the Church
Overseer of Lamwo CYDC, Rev. Mathew Okwir at his office.
Established in the year 2017, operates in Kitgum Municipality, Kitgum District, Northern Uganda. This project is a collaboration between Compassion International Uganda and Pentecostal Assemblies of God (PAG) Kitgum Town Church. With 346 participants, the project focuses on holistic child development, addressing spiritual, physical, cognitive, and socio-emotional growth, under the leadership of the senior pastor of the church Amos Paito and the Church Partners Committee.
1. Survival Participants = 0
2. Center Based Participants = 346
3. Total number of participants = 346
Kitgum Town Child and Youth Development Center UG-0598 Office Block.
Overseer for Kitgum Town CYDC, Rev. Amos Paito at the project center.
BUSABI CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER UG589
P.O.BOX 883 TORORO. Email:busabicdc@gmail.com Tel:0717928587/0753946667.
BUKEDI PASTORATE – CYDC PROJECTS
PROJECT NAME: BUSABI CHILD AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT CENTRE
PROJECT NUMBER: UG0589
CHURCH: BUSABI PENTECOSTAL ASSEMBLIES OF GOD
PERIOD THE CYDP STARTED: MARCH 2015
PROJECT LOCATION: BUSABI SUB-COUNTY BUTALEJA DISTICT
CURRENT NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS: 347
NUMBER OF CHILDREN/ YOUTH COMPLETED PROGRAM: 00
NUMBER OF STAFF MEMBERS: 03
SUCCESS STORY:
- Transforming Young Disciples Through Awana Discipleship and Media Evangelism
Busabi Child and Youth Development Centre was honored to be among the 54 Frontline Church Partners (FCPs) selected by Compassion International to pilot the new Program Cycle Adaptation (PCA) initiative. PCA represents a major shift from the traditional “one-size-fits-all” program model to a more personalized, child-centered approach. This new model emphasizes understanding each child’s unique context, amplifying their voice, and designing interventions that respond directly to their individual needs.
As part of this pilot, the church selected the Awana discipleship intervention to strengthen the spiritual growth and leadership capacity of children and youth. The results have been remarkable. Since the program began, measurable improvements have emerged across all key discipleship indicators:
- Bible reading increased from baseline 4% to 23%
- Understanding of Scripture rose dramatically from 4% baseline to 55%
- Bible verse memorization jumped from 55% to 93%
- Weekly small-group discipleship participation increased from 62% to 77%.
- These changes reveal a vibrant culture of spiritual growth taking root in the church. Participants consistently testify to how the discipleship program has shaped them: they have grown in confidence to share God’s Word with non-Christian classmates, learned how to pray more effectively, developed teamwork skills, strengthened their ability to follow instructions, improved their assignment completion habits, and have become more confident in public speaking. Many also express that memorizing Scripture and reading the Bible has become part of their daily lives, an important milestone in nurturing deeper faith and spiritual maturity.
- To extend the impact of discipleship beyond church walls, the church also launched a media and videography evangelism program. Through hands-on training, children and youth are learning how to operate various media equipment, manage audience engagement, write news articles, develop scripts, and produce podcasts, webinars, and panel discussions. They are also being equipped to film advocacy stories and create documentaries that amplify community voices.Today, the youth can confidently produce gospel music videos, capture ministry outreaches, and document church activities with increasing professionalism. This training is cultivating a new generation of digital evangelists—young people who share the gospel through compelling stories, creative media, and impactful content. It is also nurturing leadership, creativity, critical thinking, and communication skills that will serve them for a lifetime.
Together, the Awana discipleship program and the media evangelism initiative are shaping a community of spiritually grounded, skilled, and confident young leaders. Through PCA, the church is not only meeting the spiritual needs of its participants but also empowering them to influence their schools, families, and the wider community with the gospel—both in word and through modern media.
SUCCESS STORY:
- Transforming Households Through the Heifer Rearing Project
In 2024, Busabi Child and Youth Development Centre, through support from Compassion International, implemented a life-changing Heifer Rearing Project aimed at strengthening household incomes and long-term economic resilience. With UGX 54,000,000 received by the church, a total of 42 in-calf or ready-to-be-served heifers were procured and distributed to 42 caregivers under a revolving model where each caregiver will pass on the first calf to another family. Through this approach, the project positioned itself as a sustainable livelihood initiative capable of transforming families beyond the initial group of participants.
The intervention directly benefitted 462 individuals, including 336 children and 126 adults, whose daily wellbeing is already improving as a result of more stable household economies. Monitoring reports indicate tangible progress, with households experiencing an average 20% increase in income, many now earning approximately UGX 200,000-300,000 per month through sale of milk. These earnings are expected to grow as the heifers begin producing and selling milk. Caregivers have also gained increased access to soft loans from village saving groups, using the heifer project as a foundation for additional agricultural investments.
Beyond income gains, the project has restored dignity and pride among caregivers who once depended on strenuous and often demeaning casual work to survive. Families have reported improved relationships, reduced financial stress, and a renewed sense of self-worth. The project has lifted many households closer to or above the international poverty line of USD 2.50 per day, creating a positive ripple effect throughout the community.
The heifer project has also strengthened the presence and image of the church. Community members now view the church as compassionate, development-focused, and deeply invested in improving lives. This goodwill has opened new doors for evangelism, as families tangibly experience God’s love through practical support like receiving a heifer. The project has therefore advanced both economic empowerment and spiritual transformation within the community.
