You Are There

When a landslide tore through the Kiteezi dumpsite in Uganda last weekend, the team you support through your giving was there to comfort those who lost loved ones. Twenty-six people died and more than a hundred homes were destroyed.

By Monday, David Kafambe and our Kiteezi team had a plan in place to ensure the 500 people without a home would have food and temporary shelter for the next 30 days until government support is expected to arrive.

That plan cost $44,000, and we sent an email out that night asking for help. Later that night, we gave David our approval to begin implementing the plan because people who had so little in life now had nothing.

In just three days since then, the parents of our scholars have been working alongside our team to lead the recovery efforts on the ground, and a community of 71 people across America has risen to meet that need. They so beautifully reflect the body of Christ from diverse faiths and all walks of life. Teachers, a football coach, and a crypto trader have joined CEOs, a law firm partner, a meteorologist, and a yoga instructor (just to name a few) to give more than $30,000 so far.

In this video call with David at the dumpsite yesterday, you can see how great this need is and how much your love matters. 

Through your prayers and your gifts, you are there with them.  It is an honor to be there with you. 

International Samaritan is a Christ-centered organization built on Catholic Social Teaching. Our mission is to walk hand-in-hand with people who live and work in the garbage dumps of developing nations to help them break out of poverty.

We provide holistic scholarships for students from kindergarten through college, and we’re currently supporting nearly 1,000 scholars in Central America, the Caribbean, and East Africa.

Would your church or school group like to partner and travel with us? Learn about our Learn, Serve, Grow program.

Empower our scholars to change their lives. Become a monthly supporter.

Mike Tenbusch, President

Mike joined International Samaritan in 2018 after two decades of leading social change in his hometown of Detroit, Michigan. He’s a University of Michigan Law grad and author of The Jonathan Effect: Helping Kids and Schools Win the Battle Against Poverty. He and his wife, Maritza, have three children who keep them young.