Irene Gleeson, a Christian School Teacher, left her comfortable home in Sydney, over 30 years ago, and drove to Northern Uganda, during a tumultuous time of war under the LRA. She arrived in Kitgum and set up her caravan under a mango tree. There she began teaching the children, tracing letters in the dirt. Her vision was to bring hope to a community that had little reason to hope at that time.

Irene’s legacy lives on through The Irene Gleeson Foundation (IGF) which continues to serve vulnerable communities focusing on improving the welfare and development of children, young people and vulnerable families through education, vocational training, healthcare, child protection, community development, clean water, agriculture and Christian ministry.

IGF currently implements and supports programs across the wider Kitgum and Lamwo areas. Its education program includes five nursery and primary schools, while its vocational programme provides practical and technical skills, such as bricklaying, carpentry, tailoring, welding and vehicle mechanics, to young people through the Childcare Technical Institute (CTI). KBI provides practical and professional training aimed at equipping students with the knowledge, skills and competencies required for employment, entrepreneurship and further education.

The Institute offers programs at both Certificate and Diploma levels, as well as short courses in Computer Applications and Entrepreneurship. IGF also operates a Health Centre on Kitgum Campus, providing inpatient and outpatient care, general health assessments, Antenatal care, Laboratory Services, minor surgeries, family planning, a small pharmacy, Mortuary Services, free Cervical Cancer Screening, preventative Health Talks on Radio and in schools and more. There are also four Nurse Led School Clinics that provide basic health assessments, Malaria testing, drugs and preventative health advice. Hope Children’s Home provides residential care and support for vulnerable children and provides a Nutrition Support Program when needed.

Mighty Fire FM Radio reaches some 1,100,000 people, sharing the Gospel, broadcasting health education and general community advice. Under the Water and Sanitation initiatives, IGF has established more than 30 bore holes providing some of the most disadvantaged communities a reliable source of safe drinking water. We have recently re-established a small piggery at Lapit Farm and are planning to add chickens to our farm, providing a sustainable source of eggs and income to support our work, as well as growing vegetables.