From Edward’s dream to a living school.
The name honors a dream Edward carried through a terrible chapter of his life—and the possibilities children in Kasenge can now imagine for themselves.
A dream held through darkness
Mpagi Edward Edmary was wrongfully imprisoned on death row in Uganda for nearly eighteen years. While there, he imagined a school and a home for children in his home area of Kasenge, especially those facing the effects of imprisonment, illness, and poverty. Keeping that hope alive became part of his way forward.
After his release in 2000, Edward searched for people who could help turn the idea into a place children could enter. In 2008 he connected with Kathy Ozzard Chism. Their work with families and local partners eventually opened the first classes in 2014, even as the campus was still being built.
Built a piece at a time
The brick walls and handmade signs in this earlier photo show how the school grew. A classroom, a roof, books, food, and a safe place to learn each mattered to children waiting for the next step. Supporters helped with construction, while people in Kasenge gave the school its daily life.
Over time, classrooms and a library became part of a larger campus with a kitchen, a well serving the community, a medical clinic, gardens, and space for children needing additional care. The school continues to pursue a high school campus so students can keep learning as they grow.
Teachers, children, families, volunteers, and supporters all help make this school a place where a future can take shape.