How the Ravens Ministries Model Works
“We believe that to thrive, a person needs more than the provision of tuition. The Ravens model is a holistic approach, caring for the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the individual. How can a person study and do well in school if she is sleeping on the floor or if he lacks food to eat?”
—Abel Muwanguzi, Founder of Ravens Ministries
How the Ravens Ministries Model Works
First, a vulnerable youth applies for support through Ravens and is placed on a waitlist until funds are available. They are eager to further their education but need assistance.
Many of our Ravens Youth hear about the Youth Empowerment Program through a neighbor, friend, or at church. And some hear about the Y.E.P. from former Ravens Youth! It’s always special when a Ravens graduate can share about the program with a friend or relative.
Second, the Ravens team gets to know their story and encourages them to attend weekly youth gatherings at Christian Family Fellowship Church.
In a perfect world, there would be enough funding so that there would be no waitlist. But for now, while our youth wait, they are included in the Youth Empowerment Program (Y.E.P.) community, which makes a huge difference in their mental, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing. Many of these youth need to have their hope restored and attending weekly fellowships is an impactful first step.
Third, these youth experience community and learn that they are seen and loved.
Attending the Y.E.P. weekly fellowship meetings begins to rebuild hope and gives youth the opportunity to experience the love of Christ in community.
And it provides a stable place for these young adults to be while they wait for their chance to enter the Youth Empowerment Program.
Fourth, once sufficient funding is secured, the youth is taken off of the waitlist and joins the Youth Empowerment Program!
This is it! When a youth officially enters the Y.E.P., they are on their way to breaking the cycle of poverty and becoming a self-sufficient adult!
Once a youth enters the Y.E.P., Ravens Uganda provides them with everything they need to progress to independent, self-sufficient adulthood. This is the start of hope being fulfilled! And it’s exactly what Ravens Uganda exists for. Do you want to get involved in changing lives? You can donate here!
What Ravens Ministries Provides
When a youth is off the waiting list and officially part of the Ravens Uganda Youth Empowerment Program, Ravens Ministries provides them with holistic support:
Tuition to complete secondary school, university, and/or vocational training
A safe room to rent in Kampala (and funding for that rent) if housing is needed
A monthly stipend for food and transportation
Access to healthcare and medication
Leadership development, discipleship, and regular check-ins for emotional support and wellbeing
Each Ravens Youth is in the Youth Empowerment Program for years—as many years as it takes to complete their education. So each young adult represents a massive investment of resources, time, commitment, and perseverance. And the return on that investment is incalculably high: hope restored, lives transformed, and people empowered to change their families, their communities, and their country for the better.
The last part of the Ravens Model is Celebration!
Ravens Ministries stays with youth all the way through their educational journey and the whole community celebrates graduation and the transition to a job and independent living! This is what we exist for: to see the cycle of poverty broken and lives transformed.
Ravens Uganda meets the immediate needs of one person at a time so that, one person at a time, we can see change, uplift, and renewal take hold across the whole country. Thanks be to God!
