About
Our History
Once upon a time, there was a young orphan girl named Petra Otee Mangesho who grew up in Uganda during a devastating war. Despite her difficult circumstances, Petra made a promise to her fellow orphans: “I am coming back for you!” she would say every day.
Her words were full of hope and determination to make a difference in the lives of those who were going through similar struggles to her own.
The school provides a nurturing environment where children receive a quality education and are empowered to become self-sufficient through employment and entrepreneurship. The organization believes that education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty and is committed to equipping students with the skills they need to succeed in life.
Through Petra’s promise and PKM’s commitment to education and empowerment, hope is being restored and dreams are being built for the children of Uganda. PKM’s vision is to create a Christian environment where students are valued, challenged, and grounded in Biblical principles, providing them with opportunities for a brighter future.
Today, Petra’s promise lives on through PKM’s work, changing the lives of children who once had little hope. Petra’s promise to her fellow orphans has been fulfilled, and her impact on the world will continue to inspire and empower others for years to come.
Our Vision
To provide a Christian environment where our where our students are empowered to become self-sufficient through employment and entrepreneurship.
Petra’s Story
Living Out a Promise. “I am coming back for you!” “…when I grow up, I will come for all of you, Amen…” were words promised daily by a young, orphaned girl in Uganda.
In 2009, those impassioned, never forgotten, words of Petra Otee Mangesho, became the driving force behind the founding of Petra Kids Ministries, a 501-c (3) organization in the USA. Today, those words continue to work to restore hope and build dreams for over 350 children in Aduku, Uganda.
Many children are forced into day labor to help provide for their families, and those who are fortunate enough to attend class must do so under trees or in poor quality government facilities. In northern Uganda, three out of four children are unable to continue their education beyond elementary school, resulting in a 90% illiteracy rate.
In response to those alarming statistics, Petra Christian School was formed to provide a learning environment grounded on Biblical principles that empower and develop children spiritually, socially, physically, and intellectually who are in desperate need of a quality education.
How We Work
Petra Kids Ministries (5013c) now partners with Petra Christian School of Aduku, Uganda by working with the Board of Directors of this school.
We seek to respond to the needs of the school through the donation of financial support as well as through mission trips to deliver manpower for projects and to establish positive relationships with staff and administration of the school. Our annual fund raiser and through the support of major donors and sponsors, we continue to work toward building the dream.
Won’t you join us in this important work? No contribution is too small and every contribution makes a difference in the life of the child.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are you a 501(c)(3)?
How are the funds used?
A monthly $30 donation provides a school uniform, meals, tuition, and class supplies for one student, broken down like so:
Tuition: 41%
Meals: 25%
Uniforms & shoes: 17%
Nutrition & health: 9%
Classroom supplies: 8%
Is this an orphanage?
Where do the students stay?
Dormitories
Matrons and patrons live in the dorms with the students, to provide that family setup.
Community Foster Homes
We work with the community to place these students in homes. That is our ultimate goal: to have them integrate in the community. I like them to feel they have family.
Some homes we find through networking with a local church in the area. The church knows the people, they recommend the homes to us, who is a good fit. That has worked really well. That’s a more sustainable kind of approach, more like a foster care ministry.
Extended Family Support
The ones we can trace who have distant relatives they are able to help. The reason they abandon the children is they have 5 of their own. When you can barely provide for your own family, most relatives don’t want to take on the burden.
But when the relatives know the ministry can help support the child, it changes everything. We provide meals, we provide a bed for the child, medical care, clothing. We will help you with the physical needs. Just make sure the kid does things just like any other kid in your household.
Every child deserves a community where they can come home to loving caretakers and mentors. People who are willing to take on those roles. People they can look up to. That kind of mentorship can make the difference between a child who makes it and a child who doesn’t.