Incredible news—every gift you give by June 30 will be doubled!
Thanks to a generous $200,000 Matching Challenge, you have the opportunity to make twice the impact on families living in extreme poverty. Your support can help bring lasting change to communities facing unimaginable hardships—just like Buyego, a small fishing village on Uganda’s Buvuma Island that desperately needed a clean toilet.
Imagine more than 400 people—mothers, fathers, and children—sharing just two pit latrines. In Buyego, where over 62% of the population lacks access to basic sanitation, open defecation wasn’t just a last resort—it was the only option. The rocky, swampy terrain made building safe toilets nearly impossible, putting families at constant risk of disease and indignity.
The result? A community blanketed in the stench of human waste. The shoreline water, once the source of life and livelihood, turned green from contamination. Children and adults suffered endlessly from diarrhea, typhoid and dysentery. A sense of helplessness hung in the air.
But even in the hardest of places, hope always finds a way.
A Toilet, A Turning Point
In 2023, Bright Hope met the people of Buyego and saw the heartbreaking sanitation crisis firsthand. Yet, amid the struggle, there was determination—especially from a small group of men who began breaking rock by hand, attempting to dig a hole for a community toilet. They didn’t have the funds to finish the job, but they had faith.
Truly, that kind of courage couldn’t go unnoticed. So, Bright Hope joined with the people of Buyego—not to hand them a solution, but to partner in building one together.
Through our Hygiene and Sanitation Program, we worked alongside the community to construct a five-stand toilet—the first of its kind in the community. Along with construction came community-wide hygiene education, teaching families how proper sanitation could protect their health and dignity.
When the project was completed, the handover ceremony was filled with tears, laughter, dancing and prayer. The community, overwhelmed with gratitude, celebrated as if a long-lost treasure had been found.
“This is the best building in the whole subcounty, and it is our toilet,” shared the community chairperson. “Words cannot express our gratitude. Bright Hope, your coming is truly a divine calling to this island.”
More Than a Building—A Symbol of Hope
The joy was contagious. Women carried water to fill the toilet tank. Children danced in the street. Men exchanged fist bumps in quiet celebration. For the first time in a long time, Buyego smelled not of waste but of dignity restored.
And the transformation didn’t end there.
To ensure long-term sustainability, the community agreed that each household would contribute a small monthly fee to maintain the facility. Ownership was handed to local leaders and the church committee, trusted guardians of the progress now underway.
“We’ve suffered long enough,” said Simon, hygiene chairperson. “Now we can show that we are responsible and will keep this toilet clean.”
“I’ve lived on this island for 15 years,” added James, a local fisherman, “but I’ve never seen an act of charity like this—not even from officials who take our money for fishing licenses.”
“Bright Hope, thank you for working with us, not just for us,” Pastor Moses said during the celebration. “You’ve brought joy that has not been seen in this community for a long time. We bless God for you.”
From Crisis to Celebration
Buyego’s story is a testament to what happens when compassion meets community effort, and when solutions are rooted not just in charity, but in sustainability, dignity and faith in Jesus.
This isn’t just about a toilet—it’s about rewriting the narrative of poverty into one of resilience and renewal. It’s about trusting that even in the world’s most forgotten corners, God is still moving, healing, and raising people from despair to dignity.
Join Our June Match Challenge and Make Stories Like This Possible
The clock is ticking! Help us reach our $200,000 Challenge by June 30. Your gift goes 100% to empower families, strengthen churches and build futures rooted in dignity and God’s love for the poor. Give today and be part of the story!
