On May 7th, everything changed. Derick, founder and director of Siloam Mountain Junior School & Orphanage, a large orphanage in Uganda that Hope of a Nation partners with, was rushed to the hospital unconscious after being involved in a vehicle accident. He sustained a very serious head injury and remained unconscious for several days. Additionally, he suffered a broken leg.
On May 30th, after over three weeks in the hospital, he was finally released home.
We praise God for that!
Derick, however, still faces several weeks of physical therapy and follow-up appointments, and unfortunately on June 20th required a follow-up procedure to drain fluids pressing on his brain and his broken leg was not healing properly and required additional surgery as well. He is currently in the hospital recovering from those surgeries now.
His initial hospitalization expenses have been thankfully covered and fully paid, but due to the seriousness of the injury and these necessary additional follow-up surgeries and hospitalization, there are currently more, and may be more depending on his overall recovery.
Unfortunately, while Derick was in the hospital the first time, the orphanage he directs struggled greatly. With limited funds and no one to effectively oversee daily operations, the children’s basic needs were not fully met. Meals were inconsistent. Care and structure were disrupted. And the weight of daily survival became even heavier.
And tragically, this was not an entirely unexpected outcome.
We’ve known for some time that the orphanage of over 600 children has been operating on the edge and faced immense financial strain. Derick has worked tirelessly to care for the children while also doing outside work to supplement the orphanage’s minimal resources. There has never been a financial safety net. So when this accident occurred, it wasn’t just a personal emergency—it exposed the fragility of the entire orphanage’s operation and support system.
This isn’t just about Derick’s recovery. It’s also about the future of the orphanage.
Even before this crisis, the orphanage was struggling to meet its monthly needs. Despite regular limited support from us, the resources have consistently fallen short—leaving food, school fees, and basic care hanging in the balance. Emergency appeals have helped some in the short term, but they are not a long-term strategy.
This is where change must happen—and we believe it can.
That’s why we’re partnering with them to develop a solution in the form of a Broiler Chicken Project—a path toward long-term sustainability to generate monthly income and break this cycle of crisis:
- Phase 1: A small pilot chicken house of 500 was built and successfully tested.
- Phase 2: The project was then scaled up, and now 1,000 chickens are being raised in a seven-week cycle.
- Phase 3: The next step is urgent, the construction of a second equivalent chicken house that will double the income potential and move another step closer toward financial independence.
Eventually, with a third and fourth house, this project can financially support a large portion of the orphanage’s basic operational needs—helping to eliminate the cycle of crisis.
But to get there, we need help right now.
Though a large portion of Derick’s medical costs to date are taken care of, the orphanage is still struggling. The children need food. They need stability. And the next phase of the Chicken Project cannot move forward without the resources to build.
We’re not asking out of desperation. We’re inviting you to partner with us in building something that lasts.
Here’s how you can help:
- Give toward Derick’s continued expenses – help cover medical bills, physical therapy, and transportation to follow-up appointments.
- Support the monthly needs of the orphans – ensure the children have consistent access to food, school, and healthcare.
- Invest in the Chicken Project – help fund this project to move the orphanage closer to self-sustainability.
This moment is painful—but it holds the potential for transformation. Together, we can help turn this crisis into a catalyst.
None of us want to perpetuate a system where the orphanage in Uganda becomes dependent on Western donors, nor do we want to position ourselves as saviors riding in to rescue the helpless. The children aren't helpless—they're caught in a system that hasn't given them the chance to thrive.
What we're proposing is different. Instead of creating dependency, we want to create partnership. Instead of emergency response, we want to build sustainable solutions. Instead of temporary relief, we want lasting transformation.
Let’s not just respond to need. Let’s change the story.
Imagine an orphanage that doesn't live crisis to crisis. Imagine children who go to bed each night knowing there will be food on the table tomorrow.
