Lift Up Uganda recognizes that the education of children and adults provides opportunities to improve their lives and the lives of their families and communities. Better jobs will be available, and self-sufficiency will be a part of their futures. Lift Up Uganda encourages and sponsors children and adults who attend school by assisting them with school fees, school supplies, and transportation. This assistance is offered to Nursery School, Primary School, Secondary School, and Vocational and University students.
We are proud that the first nurse to work at the St. Nektarios Health Center was supported by Lift Up Uganda and the current midwife student is aligned with Lift Up Uganda.
As you will see, our support of education extends through all educational opportunities.
St. Nektarios Nursery and Primary School
The St. Nektarios Nursery School was opened in 2010 and focused on the educational experiences of three, four, and five-year-old children. Open five days a week, the school provides one meal a day to each child. A fence has been added for security, and the school has a fully equipped playground.
Since the parents know that education provides for a better future for their children, they asked the school to expand and include primary grades. In 2020, grades one and two opened to students. Lift Up Uganda provides students and teachers with all the necessary supplies and teaching materials. Lift Up Uganda is committed to providing Ugandan children with a good education.
Lift Up Uganda is proud to announce the 1st St. Nektarios School P7 Graduating Class of 2025!
Lift Up Uganda will continue to support and expand our investments in education. Our future projects will always include those associated with learning. To support our efforts please see our giving opportunities.
In 2025, Lift Up Uganda added additional classrooms up through grade seven. With your generous donations, this expansion was possible.
New 4th grade classroom.
New 7th grade classroom.Prior to building the Community Children's Libary, a man from Boulder, Colorado, generously made and donated a lending library for the school.
Sponsored students extend their appreciation and gratitude to the donors who provided them with the opportunity to attend school. If you'd like to support a student, please see our giving page on how to sponsor a student.
In 2025, Lift Up Uganda provided the first composting toilet at the St. Nektarios Nursery and Primary School. Composting toilets are a practical solution that doesn't require a sewage system or large amounts of water. By safely managing waste, a composting toilet can help reduce the spread of diseases and protect local water sources from pollutants. The compost produced may also be used to enrich the soil.
St. Anthony the Great Primary School
Funds from Lift Up Uganda helped renovate St. Anthony the Great Primary School. The school needed a new metal roof, desks, and chairs for the students. Lift Up Uganda also replaced the water well and now the school and surrounding communities enjoy clean, safe water. Latrines were also constructed for both boys and girls. School supplies are provided for students and teachers.
Archangel Michael Orthodox Secondary School
Lift Up Uganda provides Archangel Michael Secondary School with school supplies, sports equipment, and menstrual products on a regular basis. Every year, St. Luke Orthodox Church in Erie, Colorado, has a Christmas wreath sale to raise money for mosquito nets. Both teachers and the boarding students are vulnerable to Malaria, so the mosquito nets provide protection.
Seminary Students
Simon Menya was the first northern Ugandan man to attend St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary in New York. It was his educational need that initiated the start of Lift Up Uganda in 2015. As an official charity Lift Up Uganda was able to use fundraising as a means to help Simon and other students meet their goals. Now Fr Simon has graduated with his MDiv and returned to northern Uganda to serve his people as an ordained Orthodox Priest. He has started the Northern Uganda Self Sufficiency Project with goals of self-sufficiency. Fr. Simon continues to work closely with Lift Up Uganda on various projects.
Fr. Richard and Family at his Ordination
Richard Okello followed Fr. Simon at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary in 2021 as the second northern Ugandan man to attend. Richard graduated in 2025 and has returned to Uganda. There, Richard was ordained as a Priest and will start a new Orthodox community as a Parish Priest.
To see Fr. Richard's journey, please click through the slide show below.
Richard and Sue
Richard and family.
Richard meets Patriarch Theodore II of Alexandria
Fundraising efforts of St. Vladimir's Students provided a water well to the Village where Richard lives.
Fundraising efforts of St. Vladimir's Students provided a water well to the Village where Richard lives.
Fundraising efforts of St. Vladimir's Students provided a water well to the Village where Richard lives.
Eritrean Dinner Fundraiser for Richard to attend St. Vladimir's.
Eritrean Dinner Fundraiser for Richard to attend St. Vladimir's.
Eritrean Dinner Fundraiser for Richard to attend St. Vladimir's.
Eritrean Dinner Fundraiser for Richard to attend St. Vladimir's.
Eritrean Dinner Fundraiser for Richard to attend St. Vladimir's.
Eritrean Dinner Fundraiser for Richard to attend St. Vladimir's.
Eritrean Dinner Fundraiser for Richard to attend St. Vladimir's.
Eritrean Dinner Fundraiser for Richard to attend St. Vladimir's.
Fr. Simon and Fr. Richard together.
Fr. Richard Ordination
Fr. Richard Ordination
Fr. Richard Ordination
New St. Nektarios Church
Additional Educational Opportunities
Lift Up Uganda has supported the education paths for women and men to become nurses, mid-wives, accountants, and teachers.
In 2010, Lift Up Uganda supported a female translator who wanted to become a nurse at the School of Nursing in Gulu. She later became the first nurse at the St. Nektarios Health Center.
Lift Up Uganda will continue to support and expand our investments in education. Our future projects will always include those associated with learning. To support our efforts please see our giving opportunities.