YWAM Hopeland

Training Christian Workers to transform Communities -
Bible Schools, Vocational Training, Community Outreach and more!

Why YWAM Hopeland?

Youth with a Mission (YWAM) Hopeland brings practical transformation to local communities through education and Christian leadership development: We believe every person is made in God’s image and is called to shape their world. So, we are dedicated to equipping people in Uganda and beyond with the tools they need to fulfill their calling from the inside out.

Problems in Uganda and much of Africa:

Poverty: $804 or less

The median income in Uganda is around 804 USD a month (for comparison, the median income in the US is 19,306 USD).

This means half of the population earns less than that, mostly significantly less: a teacher’s median salary in the capital city of Kampala is only $325 (range: $75-1400).

Source: World Population Review, Glassdoor

Low Education, High Corruption

Only 1/4 Ugandan children attend secondary school, which prevents them from getting good jobs later on.

Meanwhile, local leadership with the power to change the situation often prefer to accept bribes than favoring improvement: Uganda ranks at 141st place out of 180 countries on the Corruption Index.

Sources: Unicef, Corruption Perception Index

At YWAM Hopeland, we train Christian workers to transform communities. This means we approach our work from a place of discipleship:

While practical skills are important, only a relationship with Jesus changes us from the inside out. We started out in 1991 as a center to train HIV-effected people in job and family skills. Little by little, our ministries expanded to 70 acres of land and additional community outreaches.

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Some Ministries at YWAM Hopeland include:

Discipleship Training School

At the Discipleship Training School (DTS), students learn within 5 months how to know God and make him known:

In the first 12 weeks, we learn about things like our identity, prayer, hearing God’s voice, and more. Then, we go on 8 weeks of outreach to a location in Uganda, to apply these skills in a very practical way.

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School of Biblical Studies

In the School of Biblical Studies (SBS), students take their discipleship skills deeper:

With one year of study on the books of the Bible, students learn to understand the Bible in its history, what it can mean today, and how to apply this in a live-giving way (completed DTS is an entry requirement).

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Vocational Training School

Our Vocational Training School (VTS) is for local youth who need job training:

In Uganda, many young people drop out of school due to lack of finances, which keeps them trapped in low-income jobs. Within a year, students at VTS learn skills such as tailoring, construction or being a car mechanic. They also learn about financial literacy and how to turn their skill into a successful business.

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Nursery and Primary School

Hopeland Nursery and Primary School

We have around 270 students enrolled in our nursery and primary school. Some of the kids live in the community, some are boarding school residents, but all experience God’s love and a good education in a safe environment. In addition, we offer training for parents and teachers, so they also are better equipped to handle the task of guiding the next generation.

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Performing Arts School

Performing Arts School

Art isn't ``needed`` for survival, yet every culture expresses creativity. We share our hearts with one another and connect with people trough art. At the performing arts school, we do creative training in things like dance, instruments, songwriting, drama or filming. Then we take those skills and reach out to our community.

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Homes of Hope

Homes of Hope

People in Uganda end up on the streets for different reasons: Losing a job, an expensive medical emergency… It’s not uncommon for entire families to live in church courtyards or other public places, since they have nowhere to go. Homes of hope builds stable houses for the most vulnerable people of our community, and give back a sense of safety and dignity.

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Community Outreach

Community Outreach

We regularly go out to our community to serve them in practical, emotional and spiritual ways. For example, we visit local families at their home, do ministry with hundreds of kids in local slums, and go to prisons or orphanages. People receive food, clothing, games, and the message of a God who loves them and wants to transform their lives.

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Hopeland Farm

YWAM Farm

We raise things like bananas, tomatoes, onions, chickens and pigs on site. Not only does this help supply our YWAM base with income, but it also employs people from the community, thus offering more impact in a practical way.

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YWAM Hopeland in Numbers: Since 2022, we've seen...

70 Bible School Students annually

Between the DTS and SBS, we've seen an average of 70 students deepen their relationship with God and get equipped for ministry each year.

20 Vocational Students per Year

20 young men and women from Uganda are trained to have jobs like tailors, mechanics, constructions workers or more.

800+ Kids and Parents reached in local Slums

Each week, our evangelism team ministers to local families through things like food, clothes, children's ministry and more.

565 People reached in local Prisons

Life in a Ugandan prison is very hard and with little room for hope. The YWAM evangelism team visit several local prisons regularly to offer spiritual and emotional support.

1000+ People give their Lives to Christ

We regularly preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and see lives changed: As people accept Jesus into their lives, we see them also letting go of things like anger or addictions and embracing compassion and community.

500+ Kids reached in Schools and Churches

Our YWAM team is regularly invited to come teach or do an activity day with kids in schools and churches around Jinja.

Testimonials

Here's some of the stories from YWAM Hopeland:

By the time I was 16, I was homeless and slept on the benches of a church. This is where I met Jesus. I felt his deep love for me and wanted to live for him. But I still faced many challenges, such as failing businesses, my wife leaving me because I wasn’t wealthy enough... I was angry at God for allowing this to happen. Finally, a pastor recommended the DTS at YWAM Hopeland. Since being here I’ve experienced much healing. And I’m reminded that I am more than a victim. I am a child of God, gifted with the ability to be a change-maker in my community.

Edgar (Western Uganda)DTS

I grew up as a Muslim, and when I was a kid, we would throw rocks at the Christians who came to preach in our village. But a few years ago, I was interested in learning guitar, so I went to the performing arts DTS at YWAM. I became a Christian and God started showing me that my former way of life was driven by anger rather than love. Now, my Muslim village members say I have “found God”, because they notice I act differently. I want to increase my practical involvement with my community, so I decided to do the SBS (follow-up of DTS), and am excited for where God will lead me.

Nasser (Jinja Area)SBS

I grew up in a poor family with several siblings, so we struggled with school fees. By the time I reached senior 4 (around 11th grade), I dropped out because I wanted to earn money instead. My cousin in Jinja told me about a tailoring school there, so I came. While I was there, I got to know YWAM and how they do vocational training for school dropouts. I wanted to use my skills for God’s purposes, so I did the DTS and then stayed on staff at the vocational training school. Today I can use the skills I learned to help other girls like myself to earn an honest, dignified living.

Agnes (Central Uganda)VTS

I’m from a Muslim family in Arua. But one day I suffered chronic pain from the leg upward. I thought a demon was attacking me, so I went to the witch doctor and looked for anyone to try to heal it. Nothing worked. Then I went to a church, they prayed for me, and I was instantly healed without even paying any money! I decided to follow Jesus and got baptized. But my family was very upset, so they threw me out. I ended up staying with my godmother and getting to know a pastor who told me about the DTS. So, I came, because I wanted to grow in my faith. A year after giving my life to God, I’m learning to have peace even when my family curses me, because I have a heavenly father who loves me no matter what.

Sanyu Sarah (Northwestern Uganda)DTS

I grew up in a country plagued by war and conflict. Despite the troubles, I was able to study medicine and become a doctor. I got to know the work of YWAM and did a DTS in Kitgum (northern Uganda, near the South Sudan border), and I wanted to go deeper: I wanted to combine my medical training with an eye for the spiritual needs of my people. So, I went to the SBS at YWAM Hopeland in Jinja. Each day, no matter how difficult, I feel more equipped to face the real world back home, while trusting God for his provision in all things.

Pio (South Sudan)SBS

My family are from the Gumuz tribe, where they worship traditional gods. I was fully part of that life. At one point someone invited me to church, but I laughed at them, at first: I didn’t like that these Christians always talked about Jesus. But over time, I got to know them more and noticed they loved people. I eventually became a Christian and my behavior changed: Before, I was known to gossip and talk badly about people, and now I was speaking good words. My family noticed the change in me, and also accepted Jesus. Now I am at the DTS to learn more about my faith, but also to learn how to be a good influence in my community. I am good at soccer and my hope is to go back to my people and start a sports ministry someday.

Esther (Ethiopia)DTS

I grew up in a Christian household but didn’t take God seriously. I allowed bad influences into my life and got addicted to drugs and alcohol. One day, someone shared with me the story of Jesus healing a blind beggar. I realized I was blind and needed to surrender my life to Jesus for healing. This was at a DTS in 2019. I got clean and felt like God was calling me to reach out to drug addicts in Europe, but that I needed to first prepare. So, when a team of missionaries went to YWAM Hopeland in Uganda, I went with them and stayed for the SBS. The teaching helps me to understand the love of Jesus and his suffering in a deep way. Nobody is too far gone, there is real redemption!

Florian (Tonga Island, South Pacific)SBS

I was a single mother with 8 kids, because my husband had abandoned us to sell the house we were living in. I was renting a tiny place for my family, but it was not suitable or safe to be in. Since we were near the YWAM base, the Hopeland team got to know of our situation and chose my family to be given a house. They built it within 7 months, with 2 nice bedrooms and a kitchen and latrine. Now my family have a safe, dry place to stay. We no longer feel so useless, and my kids can store their clothes and homework in a place where it won’t get ruined. I thank God, this home has changed our lives!

Susan (Jinja Area)Homes of Hope

We are 11 kids at home and my father didn’t have enough money to pay for our education. My older siblings didn’t even go beyond primary 2, I dropped out after primary 7. Since I couldn’t find work, my father wanted to force me into a marriage, but I kept refusing. Finally, someone told my parents about the skill training at YWAM. After the second attempt of applying, I got accepted, and it has been a blessing: I can understand the learning here better than I ever did in school. And I am less afraid because I know God is good to us and provides. I am training in construction work and am helping to build a church as my internship. Now my prayer is to go back and build things in my village for those who need it.

Barbara (Eastern Uganda)VTS

Meet the YWAM Hopeland Team!

Charles-Base-Leader — Charles Syemi, Base Leader

John-Operations — John Bagatya, Administration

Lamech-Outreach — Lamech Mbabazi, Outreach

Mama-Watoto-Childrens-Ministry — Mama Watoto, Children’s Ministry

Eric-Homes-of-Hope — Eric Mukisa, Homes of Hope

Susan-Hospitality — Susan Syemi, Hospitality

Wilma-Member-Care — Wilma Gonlag-Kok, Member Care

Help us reach more People in Uganda and beyond!

Here's how you can get involved:

Donate

Donate a one-time or monthly gift to help pay for things like our schools, teachers and building materials.

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Enroll as a Student

Are you looking to get skills for your career or your walk with God? Be part of our next class of VTS, DTS or SBS students!

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Become a Volunteer or Staff Member

You feel like God wants to use you to build his kingdom? Whatever your gifting, if you are a Christian who wants to contribute to God’s work in Uganda, we are glad to talk to you!

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Contact

You have a question, want to serve or want to sign up for our schools?

I (Charles Syemi) and my team will be happy to talk to you!

Call or send a message addressed to “Charles and YWAM team” by phone or email. If you’re local, you can also come visit us in person right by the Wairaka area outside of Jinja.