Youth – eChange Endeavors

Alternative Christmas Market

November 15th & 16th, Saturday 4-7pm, Sunday 8am-2pm @ O’Donnell Hall, AMC Manhattan Beach, CA

American Martyrs is hosting their annual conscious Christmas Market for meaningful holiday shopping experience, offering a unique opportunity to support fair trade artisans, non-profit initiatives, and socially responsible businesses.

Find beautiful, handcrafted gifts while making a positive impact in the world. Every purchase helps support sustainable livelihoods, empower communities, and promote ethical practices around the globe. Let’s celebrate a season of giving that truly gives back.

eChange Endeavors will have a table offering three wonderful opportunities to support families and missionaries in Uganda!

It is more blessed to give than to receive. Acts 20:35

You can donate to our Christmas Dinner initiative $25 dollars which provides a family of 5 a dinner with meat, sides, soda and Christmas cake or cookies. Bless a family or 2 seniors with unexpected joy this Christmas. Give today! Learn more.

For the Diocese of Lira and YOUFRA (Young Franciscans) Advent Retreat program we are seeking $2,000. This will provide 500 young adults between 25-35 with a 1-day opportunity for prayer, reflection, healing and community across 4 deaneries bringing peace, hope and joy to their Advent journey to Christmas. Give today! Learn More.

Give the gift of education this Christmas and receive a Wearable Blessing bracelet handmade in Uganda.

Support our scholarship program with Ocer Campion Jesuit College, St Joseph College (Franciscan), Children’s Community Care, and YOUFRA. $200 sponsors one high school student’s tuition for a term, $600 covers a full year. Alternatively, $200 supports one primary student for a year with all their personal requirements. We currently support 30 students ranging from primary 5 through university who otherwise would not be attending school. It is our generosity that makes education possible for the students and their families.

If you make a scholarship donation of $200 or higher, we will bless you with a thank you gift of a My Saint My Hero Little Saints bracelet with hand casted metals from Italy and handmade by women in Uganda.

Give today!

Christmas Dinners & Bundles 2025

Our Christmas dinner initiative has been greatly enjoyed both by our giving and receiving families! This year we want to ensure 100 families and more experience the unexpected joy of Christmas! We touch families with special needs children, poor families, elderly, orphans, and individuals with disabilities.

We connect with children through our partners: Children’s Community Care, YOUFRA Youth Centre Lira, YOUFRA Tororo, YOUFRA Disabilities group Soroti, the Xaverians, and St Joseph College Padhola.

A good Christmas in Uganda is to attend Church followed by a dinner feast together. This includes eating meat–beef or goat along with tasty options of rice, matoke (banana), potatoes, and veggies with soda, then enjoying Christmas cake or cookies. The children look forward to this day all year long. Without our support this year’s Christmas dinner will be just another meal of beans and portio (corn meal).

This December we seek to bless 25 families with Christmas dinners, 75 seniors with Christmas bundles, and sponsor 3 Children’s Christmas parties. Will you help break the tedium of poverty and fill their hearts anew with love, hope, and joy this Christmas? Will you give $25 today to help one family or two seniors have a blessed and joyful Christmas dinner?

Donate here!

May God richly bless you and your family this Christmas season for unto us the Christ child is born ever new in our hearts!

3rd Term Final Push Before Exams

We have raised nearly two-thirds of our 2025 scholarship fund target of $15,000. We are still seeking $5,500 more to help students finish the academic year. Will join your hands and hearts to ours to support these well deserving students?

Our partner Ocer Campion Jesuit College in Gulu northern Uganda offers high quality educational opportunities with Catholic formation to youth whose families were negatively effected in the region by the conflict years. At least one-third of their students are on scholarship. They have 1200 students between high school (O-levels) and junior college (A-levels). We sponsor 3 students at $600 per year and we would like to support more! Faith is central to the students learning experience. Students participating in choir at Mass (photo above), learning & service projects (photo below), and academic work. Wonderful opportunities that are not common at public schools in Uganda. Could you give a full or half scholarship $600 or $300 today to give a student an opportunity of a lifetime? Give Today!

(Photo above.) Students help attend the maize for elderly sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. They easily slip out of their school shoes so as not to spoil them while working in the garden.

St Joseph College, provides high school education with a Franciscan spirituality school in Tororo district eastern Uganda. They have nearly 100 students with ALL on partial or full scholarship. Most of the students’ parents are farmers struggling to eke out a livelihood. Without your generous support these youth would be growing up without a proper education. As we know, Catholic education in collaboration with the Holy Spirit is key to helping children become fully who God desires them to be. For $50 per month, or $200 per term, or $600 for the year you can help ensure one more youth is able to reach their dreams. Will you help to transform their lives and the whole family? Give Today!

The YOUFRA Youth Centre in Lira Town (photo below) is helping 15 primary students with boarding and accessing a quality school, which they are not able to do living deep in the rural areas.

Their parents are former war victims and abductees who lost their chance at education leaving them with farming as their only source of income, which is unreliable and limited. We are making sure the next generation doesn’t also loose out on education. It costs $50 per term per student for boarding and requirements. Can you help us with food, backpacks, uniforms, shoes, school books and other school requirements for one or two students? Give Today!

In Kampala, Children’s Community Care (CCC) empowers families with children that have disabilities through medical support, community awareness, and educational scholarships. We help provide scholarships because the higher costs of the children with disabilities puts their siblings at risk of not attending school. In order to affirm the dignity and worth of all children, we sponsor 3 students through CCC: 1 high school student and 2 A-level students at $600 each annually. This helps honor their assistance in helping care for their siblings too. Will you help ensure these hardworking students have a chance to reach their educational dreams? Give Today!

A New Franciscan Congregation for the Youth!

With great rejoicing the Association of the Sons of St. Pius of Pietrelcina, a new congregation of the Franciscan Family in Uganda dedicated to the formation of youth in Africa is ordaining their first two deacons on September 4, 2025. This is the next step for the candidates: Br. Brian Obbo and Br. David Onyango towards full priestly ordination within one year following more service in parishes. This is a great partnership with Bishop Sanctus Lino Wanok and the Lira Diocese that will bless the entire country.

With 77% of the population in Uganda under the age of 25 there is a great opportunity and responsibility for the Catholic Church to form the young generation well. This requires having more priests to provide the sacraments and catechizes to the youth. This work also needs resources. The priestly garb alone for these two young men including cassocks, albs, long sleeve clerical shirts, double colored stoles, cincture, dalmatic, shoes, and more is $900 each. Funds are also needed for their activities with the youth and the education costs for the next 8 young men currently in formation. This cohort alone is a blessing from the Lord! Donate Today! {Brian in photo above far right w/red colored shirt at YOUFRA Youth Centre.}

Kindly consider helping this new congregation start strong! We are seeking to raise $900 to cover half of the costs of these two young men who are giving their life to Christ and the service of his Church. Additional funds beyond this goal will be used to help in the formation of the next cohort of 4 candidates. Following an initial 3-6 months of formation the candidates begin their 3 years of university training in philosophy. They join 2 other candidates studying theology. This new congregation is being founded in Uganda by Sr. Margaret Awor, L.S.O.S.F., National Director of YOUFRA, and Fr. Michael Onyango, S.S.A. The hope is to have many more priests available to assist with Mass, confessions, catechises, and formation of the youth in Uganda and throughout East Africa. Donate Today!

{Photos from Youth Advent Retreat in Soroti Diocese 2022.} Donate Today!

Lenten Appeal 2025

We are seeking to raise $12,000 for our partner YOUFRA Youth Centre in Lira to renovate their indoor kitchen and dinning area. We are on a long-term development path with Sr. Margaret Awor, LSOSF and the team at the Centre. Funds will be used to repair structural issues in the kitchen and dinning area including the foundation and walls, complete the ceiling, replace windows, and finish building out the plumbing, cupboards, counter tops, painting, and purchase much needed appliances and furniture. Today the kitchen and dinning hall is an unfinished room. In a subsequent phases, we will refurbish the two main large gathering halls with new windows and doors, add ceilings, lightening, trim and fresh paint.

With these renovations completed the YOUFRA Team will be able to host 50-150 young adults in their 20s, 30s, and 40s at the Youth Centre for workshops, trainings, and retreats. This provides the youth with a place to take a break from home to gather, sing, pray, laugh, learn and connect with other young adults and renew their hearts, minds and dreams. As well youth will be able to build an array of skills. These opportunities are a rarity for young adults! Retreats are focused on the sacraments, spiritual formation, and strengthening families. Trainings covers topics such as farming, shoe making, baking, hair styling, entrepreneuship, team building, communication, reconciliation, financial management, and beyond. Will you join us and make a gift of $100 to $1,000 or more today? Donate!

Christmas Dinners & Bundles 2024

Happy Advent Season!

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; Upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone. You have brought them abundant joy and great rejoicing. – Isaiah 9:1-2a

Where are the places in your heart and in your life that you need hope? Where do you need peace? Where do you need joy? Jesus is standing out side knocking on the door of your heart. You just have to let him in! He will cast out the despair, the distress, and the disappointment. If you let Him in, He will transform your heart and life. One way to let Jesus in is to make a good confession before Christmas. Another, is to go to Eucharistic Adoration or daily Mass. May your Advent be blessed by prayer, generosity, and reconciliation so that your heart may be prepared for the fullness of joy come Christmas.

This Christmas we seek to bless 25 families with Christmas dinners, 75 seniors with Christmas bundles, and sponsor 2 Christmas parties for children. A good Christmas for a faith filled Ugandan is attending Mass, eating meat along with tasty options of rice, matoke (banana), and potatoes, with soda and enjoying Christmas cake or cookies. With $25 we can feed a family of 5 or support 2 seniors. Would you help us bless all these families this year? Will you help break the tedium of poverty and help fill their hearts anew with love, hope and joy this Christmas? Give Today!

Thank you, Thank you for your generous hearts! We wish you a very Merry Christmas from all of us at eChange Endeavors, our partners and those we serve in Uganda. Love & blessings, Laura, Founder

Fall Scholarships to Finish Strong!

Fall is here! While that means the start of new academic year in the US, it is the final term in Ugandan. We need to raise $4000 for our scholarship fund to clear the students fees in time for exams. Will you help us and contribute $200 for one needy high schools student per term? Without your generous support these children would not be studying, causing the cycles of poverty to persist in their families.

We support 3 students at Ocer Campion Jesuit College in Gulu, which has 600 plus student with one-third on scholarship (top photo). At St Joseph College, a Franciscan high school in Tororo with 150 students and nearly all students on partial or full scholarship we support 6 students. (See photos above.) We have another 6 female students we support at various Catholic Schools, including Sr. Jackline, LSOSF. Most of their parents are farmers struggling to earn a basic livelihood. Without your generous support these youth would be growing up without an education. For only $600 per year, $200 per term, or $50 per month you can help a youth stay in school and reach their dreams. Graduating from a Catholic school experience is transformative in their lives and that of their families for generations to come. Collectively we help bring a brighter and more faith filled future for all of Uganda. Will you help a high school student reach his/her dream of education? Donate Today!

In Lira diocese, we are helping to support 20 students in primary school with boarding at the YOUFRA (Young Franciscans) Centre and personal requirements. Their parents are former Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) abductees whose lives and education were disrupted when they were captured, dragged into the bush and forced to fight or assist fighters under the threat of death. While the conflict is over many years now, the parents have yet to recover–emotionally, educationally, socially, and especially financially. We are working diligently with Sr. Margaret Awor, LSOSF, and staff of the YOUFRA Youth Centre to help improve their livelihoods, heal their traumas, and ensure a next generation does not also loose out on education. Will you help us compensate for a great injustice by supporting their children’s education? Donate Today!

Personal requirements for the primary students includes meals, mattresses, sheets, blankets, school uniforms, sturdy shoes, socks, books, paper, pencils, pens and markers, and sports gear. We are seeking $500, $25 per student, per term for these children, plus an additional $750 for one-time purchases. Will you help the parents redeem and reclaim their hope and dreams for their families and a good future? Will you help ensure their children have access to quality education? Donate Today!

We also support three students engaged in university studies. (photos above) Mercy is studying for a Bachelors in Education to become an English teacher. Gerald is seeking a Diploma in Laboratory Technologies to step his way to becoming a doctor. Emilly is working on a Master’s in Family Counseling to empower her to counsel the families she is working with at the YOUFRA Youth Centre. It costs $700 per term, $120 per month to support them. Will you make a contribution today to ensure their dreams and a better Uganda? Donate Today!

Solar Power Solutions for Growing Souls

Three of our partners are in need of electricity to power their activities. We are seeking to raise $30,000 for solar power solutions for them as they are off the main power grid. Will you make a contribution to help switch on the lights, showers, appliances, and technology so as to create better living and learning opportunities for these communities?

Young Franciscans of Uganda (YOUFRA) has a Youth Centre in Lira town that provides counseling, livelihood training, agricultural demonstration gardens & partnerships, personal skills & communication training, and spiritual formation. As well, they board 20 students attending public school near by because the parents are former abductees of the war and live in rural areas not accessible to schools. YOUFRA is helping ensure the next generation will not loose the opportunity for education as their parents did because of the internal conflict. The simple solar power solution they had died back in March. Consequently, they have been without power and lights for 4 months, which is the only source of security for the facility. We are seeking $8,000 to complete wiring of the building, buy a higher power battery and inverter, and increase their solar panels sufficient to run day and night lights, 4-6 computers, photocopier, projector, sound system, kitchen appliances (blender, mixers, refrigerator, oven etc.), and charge phones and devices for the team, plus 20 students and up to a 100 guests. Will you help us light up the facility anew? Give Today!

St Joseph College in eastern Uganda, Tororo region needs sufficient electricity to power their student computer center with 20 PCs, plus computers for administration and teaching staff, printer, photocopier, projector, sound system, irons, and security lights for the classrooms, dormitories, and offices. Plus power for the kitchen appliances and health center equipment. We are seeking $10,000 for a new solar power solution for them, battery, inverter, solar panels, and accessories. Will you help the staff & students get back to using technology as part of their curriculum? Give Today!

Chiro Camp serves two youth movements the Xaverians and the Catholic Scouts. The have a large hall containing a kitchen and dining area to host 100-200 youths at a time. They offer weekend and week-long training camps for the children who sleep in small camping tents. They have a herd of goats to keep the place well groomed but also provide income for the facility. We are seeking $12,000 to make the camping experience more impactful for the youth. The camp needs enough power for the commercial kitchen appliances, office equipment, sound system, and projector plus a solar pump to get water up from Lake Victoria for the kitchen, outdoor showers, gardens and goat care. Will you help Fr Ceaser Matovu build up Chiro Camp so more youth can grow up to be great disciples, citizens and leaders? Give Today!

Summer Fun Dancing, Drinks, and Donations!

All proceeds benefit our needy scholarship students in Uganda through our amazing partners. Without our support these youth would not be in school. We are helping to make their dreams of education and a better life come true! Pay at the door. Cash appreciated.

Thank you everyone for attending!! We had a lot of fun cutting up the dance floor thanks to DJ Mike Leach and Rockette Becky Stout MacIntyre. We have raised $3,800 towards our goal of $5,000. There is still time to support our scholarship fund and help us close the gap. Use the our secure PayPal link for a one-time or monthly contribution. Your dollars transform lives and families!

Donations Accepted too!

Scholarship recipients include Emmanuel (red shirt) whose mother was abducted by the LRA and spent 3 years living in the bush under the threat of being killed. She lost her chance at an education and struggles now to support her children as well as carrying the memories of that trauma in her life. Through the Young Franciscan of Uganda (YOUFRA) Youth Centre in Lira Emmanuel’s boarding and personal requirements are provided as he attends a local public school. His mother has received counseling and additional training in shoemaking to supplement her agricultural activities from the Centre.

Shaddrach was about 8 years old when his father Francis a primary school teacher died from liver cancer, which came from hepatitis C not being probably treated. He is now a 2nd year student at Ocer Campion Jesuit College as high school student with our support. Also, thanks to our support his sister Mercy is studying education at University to become an English teacher. She is following in her father’s footsteps. Her mother a widow only completed 2 years of high school struggles as a farmer to meet the family’s basic needs.

St Joseph College has a majority of the current students on scholarship. We help with 6 of the students and further development of the school. Their parents are farmers barely eking out a living and cannot even afford to provide for all the basic personal requirements of the students.

Lekebwam is an amazing individual with a very positive outlook on life and concern for others. Through our support with Children’s Community Care he is working to complete a diploma in communication and journalism. We cover tuition fees, personal requirements, boarding and the cost of a care assistant.

A big THANK YOU To our event Sponsors:

Xero Solar in El Segundo, 358 Coral Circle – view website

Lido di Manhattan Ristorante & Bar in Manhattan Beach, 1550 Rosecrans Avenue – view website

Chef Hannes in El Segundo, 411 1/2 Main Street – view website

Coyote Cantina in Redondo Beach, 531 North Pacific Coast Highway – view website

Gelato Go in El Segundo, 417 Main Street – view website

Queen Nails in El Segundo, 222 W. Grand Ave – view website

Skin Topic in Torrance, 4201 Torrance Blvd., Suite 740 – view website or @skintopicskincare

Tara Landauer make-up artist extraordinaire for weddings and special events – TaraLandauer@yahoo.com

Catholic Education Transforms Lives. Will you help?

As we begin anew calendar year, Uganda also begins a new academic year. Ocer Campion Jesuit College in Gulu has 600 plus student with one-third on scholarship. St Joseph College, a Franciscan high school in Tororo has 150 students with nearly all students on partial or full scholarship. (See photo above.) Most of their parents are farmers struggling to eke out a livelihood. Without your generous support these youth would be growing up without an education. As you know, Catholic education is key to helping children become fully who God desires them to be. For only $50 per month, or $200 per term, or $600 for the year you can help one youth stay in school and reach his or her dreams. Graduating from a Catholic school experience is transformative in their lives and that of their families for generations to come. Collectively we help bring a brighter and more faith filled future for all of Uganda. Will you help one of these students reach their dreams? Donate Today!

In Lira diocese, we are helping YOUFRA (Young Franciscans) to support 20 students in primary school with boarding and personal requirements. Their parents are former abductees whose lives and education were disrupted when they were captured, dragged into the bush and forced to fight for the Lord’s Resistance Army or assist with their personal needs. While the conflict is over 17 years now, the parents have yet to recover–emotionally, educationally, socially, and especially financially. We are working diligently with Sr. Margaret Awor, LSOSF, and staff of the Young Franciscan (YOUFRA) Centre to help improve their livelihoods, heal from the traumas, and ensure a second generation of families doesn’t loose out on education. Personal requirements for the students includes mattresses, sheets, blankets, school uniforms, sturdy shoes, socks, books, paper, pencils, pens and markers, rulers, and meals. We are seeking $300 per term for these children, plus an additional $700 for one-time purchases. Will you help the parents redeem and reclaim their hope and dreams for their families and a good future? Will you help ensure their children have access to quality education? Donate Today!