For many girls in Uganda, one opportunity can alter the course of their entire future—and that opportunity often begins with education. Around the world, poverty creates barriers that shape a child’s path long before adulthood. But through the work of ministries and local partners, those stories are being rewritten with hope, dignity, and the love of Christ.
Aaron Griggs joins the show today to share how Cross International is helping young women stay in school, discover their God-given purpose, and step into a future that once felt out of reach.
The Mission: Serving the Most Vulnerable
Cross International exists to serve some of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable children and families for the glory of God. Rather than operating independently, the ministry works through trusted local churches and organizations across Africa and other regions—partners who understand the communities, relationships, and long-term needs on the ground.
This approach allows them to provide immediate help—such as food, clean water, and education—while also fostering sustainable, long-term change. Local leaders remain present long after programs begin, ensuring care that is relational, consistent, and rooted in the Gospel.
The Everyday Realities of Poverty
For many families in countries like Uganda, Malawi, and Zambia, daily challenges are not simply inconvenient—they are life-altering.
A single meal may be the only food a child receives all day.
Clean water often requires walking for hours to contaminated sources.
Preventable diseases spread quickly due to limited medical care.
Education is frequently out of reach because families cannot afford school fees.When children cannot attend school, their opportunities shrink dramatically. For girls in particular, the consequences are often more severe—and more permanent.
Why Girls Are Especially Vulnerable
When resources are scarce, girls are often the first to be pulled out of school. In some communities, families facing desperate financial strain may feel forced to arrange early marriages for daughters—sometimes as young as 11 or 12—simply to survive. This leads to a heartbreaking cycle:
Education ends early
Marriage and motherhood begin prematurely
Economic opportunities disappear
Poverty passes from one generation to the nextWithout intervention, the very pathway that could break the cycle—education—remains inaccessible.
Local Partnership in Action: Project Princess Initiative
One of Cross International’s key ministry partners in Uganda is the Project Princess Initiative, based in Kampala. Together, they walk alongside vulnerable girls by:
Helping them stay in school
Providing mentorship and spiritual guidance
Teaching practical career and life skills
Building confidence rooted in their identity in ChristThe goal is not only academic success but whole-person transformation—spiritual, emotional, practical, and relational.
As many girls grow older, something remarkable happens: they begin mentoring others. The hope they received becomes the hope they give.
Karen’s Story: From Hopelessness to Purpose
Karen, a young woman from Uganda, once faced a future filled with uncertainty. After her father abandoned the family, her education stopped. Surrounded by poverty, drugs, and despair, she felt trapped and hopeless. Through
