The Friends of the Abayudaya Fund
For more than a century, the Abayudaya, Uganda’s Jewish community, have held fast to Torah, Shabbat and Jewish tradition, even when their faith was banned. Today their two schools need steady support to keep their doors open.
100% of your donation goes to the Jews of Uganda, without any service or transaction fees.
Meet the Abayudaya
In Luganda, Abayudaya means “People of Judah.” They found their Judaism in the pages of the Hebrew Bible, held on to it when it was outlawed, and rebuilt it with their own hands.
Their Judaism is joyfully their own: services in Hebrew, English and Luganda, with prayers set to traditional Ugandan melodies.
Two schools, one mission
Both schools were established by the Abayudaya. Both pair a full academic education with Hebrew, Torah and Jewish studies, and welcome students of every faith. Both need steady support to stay open.
A blended curriculum of mathematics, science and social studies with Jewish teachings, Hebrew and Torah study, in a school that welcomes children of every background.
So it was mainly founded to cater for the Abayudaya families and for the Jewish study because it was hard to find Judaism taught in other schools.
Prepares older students academically and spiritually for higher education and meaningful careers, in a school that brings together Jewish, Christian and Muslim students.
The headteacher of Semei Kakungulu High School, the only high school amongst the Abayudaya community in Uganda – East Africa
Where your gift goes
The schools’ own leaders describe what they need most. Your donation helps provide it. Press play on any quote to hear it in their own words.
Nutritious meals and essential resources, so students can focus on learning without the distraction of hunger.
The food that we are feeding children is also not so good because we are not balancing the diet. We only give them Posho and beans…
Critical hygiene products, so female students can attend school consistently.
Our girls have got a total problem of sanitary materials. This is very essential to them that to maintain them at school they must have that as a basic…
Upgraded dormitories and reliable electricity: a safe, productive place to study and live.
When power goes off, we remain in darkness and yet we need light to have normal classes even though it’s night, because we have night lessons and early morning lessons for the kids in upper primary.
Long-term stability for both schools, so dedicated teachers can continue their vital work.
We actually don’t have enough salary for our teachers who can enable us stay in school and teach our students
Computer literacy training, sports and expanded music instruction that equip students for the future.
…now the room that we have is very small that cannot afford to facilitate all the kids in the lab and also the computers of the old model because they came very, very, very many years ago…
Torah study, music, holiday celebrations and leadership activities that strengthen Jewish identity.
It’s not only education, yes there’s academics, we have a lot of other things like the co-curricular activities, we do sports, we do train kids to sing… We teach children how to make kippot and how to do the challah covers and everything so we have a variety.
See for yourself
Hadassah is a school that was founded by my late dad Aaron Kintu Moses and I am one of the pioneers at Hadassah and I’m so proud of myself because I studied from there and I’m working from there.
The Managing Director, the Director and Simcha, a former student who now works at the school, show you around and talk about what the school needs.
More about HadassahHeadteacher Seth Jonadav introduces his school, its students and staff, and describes its most urgent needs.
More about the high schoolGive today
Your gift to the Friends of the Abayudaya Fund supports the Jewish community of Uganda and its schools. Donate online through the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Mercer.
You’ll give on the Foundation’s DonorSphere form. 100% of donations go to the Jews of Uganda without any service or transaction fees.
All donations to this 501(c)(3) fund are tax deductible.
In good company
These organizations and families have contributed to the fund to make this life-changing work possible.
Join them. Become a Friend of the Abayudaya
More ways to help
Friends of the Abayudaya help in many ways, from the gifts they buy to the stories they tell.
Handmade in Uganda
Kippot, challah covers, tallitot and gifts, handmade by the Jewish community of Uganda. Choose your pieces and send your request in one email.
Browse the JudaicaQuestions? Email David Freiman at davidafreiman@gmail.com
Create awareness of the Abayudaya through programs, presentations, publications and any other ways we can collaborate with you.
Tell us what you have in mindShare this site with friends, family, your congregation or your community, and invite them to become Friends of the Abayudaya too.
Two schools. One community. A Jewish tradition more than a century strong, and a new generation ready to carry it forward.
100% of donations go to the Jews of Uganda without any service or transaction fees.
