Children in informal settlements, Uganda
Hands for Hope provides education, healthcare, nutrition and social care to some of the most disadavantaged children in the informal settlements of Uganda.
Eight-year-old Wanyana Promise lives with her mother in a fragile mud house in the Namuwongo slum of Uganda, where survival is a daily struggle. With her mother earning just a few dollars a day — barely enough to cover rent — Promise spent up to 14 hours alone, without stimulation, proper nutrition, or care. Frail and withdrawn, she suffered ongoing stomach complications linked to poor health and often relied on neighbours for scraps of food. Her childhood was marked more by isolation than play.
With support from Hands for Hope and The Taylor Foundation, Promise’s story began to change. Transport to the project, a specialised diet, and regular physiotherapy have rebuilt her strength and confidence. Today, she is healthier, more engaged, and surrounded by other children — no longer alone, but smiling, playing, and learning. What was once a life of quiet vulnerability is now filled with connection and hope.
