From war-torn beginnings to a beacon of hope — the true story of Ellen White Memorial School.
Read MoreMy name is Pr. Maate John Speke and I am the Managing Director of the Ellen White Memorial School and Orphange. I serve as volunteer Church Pastor at Kabutabule Seventh Day Adventist Church. I also am an orphan now as my mother died in 2019 after battling with cervical cancer for some years.
I am married to Prucka Jesyleen and we have three children
Bachelor of Arts degree in Secondary Education from Uganda Pentecostal University, Fort Portal
Ellen White Memorial School was established in 2016 in Busoru Village, Busoru Parish, Kisubba Sub-County, Bundibugyo District. It was founded to provide a safe and nurturing environment for orphans, children from disadvantaged families, children with disabilities, and others in the community. For many, the school is not only a place of learning but also their only home.
The vision for the school grew out of the challenges faced by the community. With a desire to share the love of Jesus and proclaim the three angels’ message, the school was created to bring hope, education, and spiritual guidance to children who might otherwise be left behind.
At the time of its founding, the parish had only two government primary schools, both located far from many homes and unable to meet the expectations of parents. With a population of over 1,000 people —most of them school-aged children— there was a pressing need for accessible education, especially nursery services, which were completely lacking in the area.
Ellen White Memorial School was born to fill that gap and to serve as a beacon of opportunity for the community.
From 1997 to 2001, people died in the ADF war. People lived in camps for many years and never had a chance to cultivate crops for both food and commercial purposes. This caused the remnants to become poor and children to suffer at the expense of the ADF’s war ideologies.
The ADF trauma in people’s minds has remained unforgettable, causing many parents and guardians to send their children to distant schools far from their homes. Therefore, young children of three and a half years and those under primary have failed to join school due to lack of nursery and primary school services. This has caused Busoru Parish to remain behind in education compared to other places in the district.
Children in Busoru Parish face significant academic hurdles, particularly when preparing for the Primary Leaving Examination (PLE). Compared to their peers in other areas, they struggle to compete effectively and often fall behind in performance.
For many families here, achieving even a third-grade score is considered a major accomplishment. In fact, those who manage to reach this level are celebrated as the best in the parish. This reflects both the determination of the children and the difficult circumstances they face, but it also highlights the urgent need for stronger educational support and resources to help them reach their full potential.
Faith has always been at the heart of Ellen White Memorial School. We regularly share the message of Jesus with our students and, whenever possible, with their parents as well. Chapel programs are held every Tuesday and Friday, providing opportunities for worship, teaching, and encouragement.
This ministry has not been without challenges. Some children who have embraced the truth have faced rejection from their families, whose parents do not want them to know Jesus. At present, ten such children have been taken in by the school, where they have found both a guardian and a home. While supporting them financially has been a struggle, the school continues to do its best to provide for their needs, trusting that God will sustain this mission.