“The vision for Education & Development Opportunity – Uganda (EDOU) was born out of my real-life experiences. Orphaned at 10 and brought up by my peasant grandmother, I experienced the realities of poverty. Ours was a poverty-stricken home where otherwise basic necessities of life such as education and basic health care were hard to get. I nearly dropped out of school when my grandmother could no longer afford to pay my school fees. Along this difficult journey, however, I met Good Samaritans who held my hand up. Thanks to their support through school, I became the first graduate in my village in 2007!

“I had got an education, at least the first degree–a big milestone for the son of a peasant–but I still had a burning desire in my heart. I wanted to do something that would make a real difference in the lives of people. My journey of grace had made me understand everyone needs a hand extended to them so they could realise their dreams. I conceived a Dream. It was a joyful burden on my heart–joyful because the thought of transforming lives was pleasant to the mind yet a burden because I didn’t know how it would turn into a life-transforming reality. ‘Lord, how possible am I going to do this when I am not any better than the people I want to reach out to?’ I petitioned. A pen and paper however I had. Like Habakkuk, I wrote down my Dream.

“Convinced that education is key to transforming lives, I sold my land worth $1,500 and established the Brian Mutebi Dream Scholarship Fund. That was unconventional! People from a background like mine–an impoverished background–do not give away the little they have; they would seek to accumulate more. I sought to transform lives. The Fund has since benefited 50 in primary and secondary schools, technical colleges and universities. Yet it’s more than scholarships. We have been able to build an organisation that holistically impacts and transforms lives. It is a story of turning an impoverished, difficult childhood into a springboard for success, the success of humanity.

Have you been looking for a way to make a real difference in the lives of people? Come, let’s transform lives together.”