When Jane Nanfuka graced Shepherd University's stage to perform over 10 years ago, she never could have imagined that today she would be a graduate student at the very same university.

But, here she is!

Let's take a look back on Jane's amazing journey:

Jane's mother died while giving birth to her and at 7 months old she was left at Kiwanga Children's Home then run by Sister Rose Muyinza. Sister Rose, known as "Uganda's Mother Theresa," was a humanitarian and the driving force behind the creation of Children of Uganda. She was a mother figure to so many children - like Jane - who joined our sponsorship program.

Jane received a quality education thanks to her loving sponsors, Nathan and Alison Webb, and was chosen to travel to America on both the 2012 and 2014 Tours of Light. It was then that she had the opportunity to meet the Webb family and many other Children of Uganda supporters - including Rob Hoxton and Mary Logan Hoxton from Shepherdstown, WV.

Back in Uganda, Jane earned her Bachelor's Degree in Economics and Statistics from Kyambogo University and her sponsor, Nathan, made a special trip to attend her graduation.

After his visit, Nathan shared with us, "My main reflection was when Jane took me to visit the children's home she grew up in. It's now only for disabled people, but Jane and others that grew up there still help out. It was a striking example of how helping just one person like Jane can enable them to help so many others, and do much more good than I could alone."

After graduating, Jane attended Baker's Culinary Institute in Kampala, Uganda where she gained skills in baking, pastry arts and cake decorating. She then opened her own bakery - Janan Bakers - which is still in business today.

Remember the Hoxton family that Jane met on the tour? Well, over the years they stayed in touch and were reunited when Rob and Mary Logan visited Uganda in 2023. Jane expressed an interest in continuing her studies and Rob helped make it possible for her to attend graduate school at Shepherd University. Today, she is pursuing a Master's Degree in Business Administration and Financial Planning.

Jane's remarkable journey and the family-bonds she's made through Children of Uganda demonstrate the power of sponsorship. We are so excited to see where life takes her next!

"Hope is everything to me...hope is life. If you have hope you can wake up and find a way always and that's what Children of Uganda has given me." - Jane Nanfuka