Background
Inspired by the widespread challenges of limited educational access and economic hardship in Uganda and across East Africa, Namanya Christopher established Standing Up for the Children (SUC) in 2014. His foundational vision was clear: to inject hope into the lives of vulnerable children, especially orphans and those from families impacted by parental loss or unemployment.
SUC's journey commenced by providing critical support, including clothing, accommodation, and medication, to an initial group of 29 children. The immediate, positive change within the community spurred rapid growth, with the number of beneficiaries expanding to 210 children who sought the organization's assistance.
Operating from a rented church building in Katoogo Ggaba – a densely populated, poverty-stricken area – SUC observed the acute lack of educational infrastructure. In response to this pressing community need, the organization strategically initiated and developed a school, thereby opening pathways to education for the orphans and other vulnerable residents of Katoogo.
What is SUC?
Standing Up for the Children (SUC) is a non-governmental organization established to address the critical socio-economic, health, and spiritual needs of children and their families in challenged communities. Guided by our Christian foundation, we are specifically dedicated to supporting innocent orphans, children from single-parent households facing financial hardship, and those in financially disabled families.
Our commitment extends to long-term empowerment through vocational training. We provide youth with accessible development and commercial skills, including the creation of handicrafts like bags, bangles, and necklaces, as well as practical trades such as bricklaying, mat making, and charcoal stove construction. While mindful of operational challenges, particularly concerning land and accommodation, our focus remains steadfast on delivering comprehensive support and fostering sustainable community development.
Our Mission
GIVING HOPE TO THE HOPELESS.
To restore hope by providing vulnerable children including orphans and those from financially struggling families and single parents with foundational support in education, nourishment, healthcare (medication), and essential clothing, empowering youth through practical hand skills for a life of dignity and opportunity.
Our Vision
We envision a future where every child, guided by faith and nurtured through discipline, finds renewed hope and the means to thrive. Our commitment is to raise a generation equipped with essential education, comfortable clothing, vital medication, and nourishing food, ensuring they overcome past hardships and emerge as confident, capable individuals prepared to lead and shape a brighter tomorrow.
Our key focus to the children.
Food
We believe that consistent access to nutritious food is the fundamental building block for a child's health, development, and ability to learn. For vulnerable children and their families, a reliable source of food means more than just survival; it means reduced malnutrition, improved physical and cognitive development, and the energy needed to engage in education and build a hopeful future. Our commitment to providing essential nourishment aims to alleviate immediate hunger and lay the groundwork for long-term well-being.
Education
Access to quality education is the most powerful tool for breaking cycles of poverty and empowering the next generation. We are dedicated to providing comprehensive learning opportunities that not only equip children with essential knowledge and literacy but also foster critical thinking, creativity, and a lifelong love for learning. Education provides the foundation for self-reliance, opening doors to future opportunities and enabling children to realize their full potential.
Clothing and medication
We prioritize the immediate health and dignity of every child and family we serve. Access to vital medication ensures prompt treatment for illnesses, prevents serious health complications, and allows children to recover and participate fully in daily life and learning. Providing clean, appropriate clothing offers protection from the elements, fosters self-esteem, and ensures that children feel comfortable and confident, enabling them to attend school and engage in community life without added hardship.