Meet the team who leads Our Hope International
Meet the dedicated team of leaders, therapists, and partners who make our work possible — from the United States to Uganda.
The people who lead Our Hope
Jenny Taylor Agricola is an occupational therapist and the founder, director and Board of Director's president of Our Hope International. Our Hope began in 2011 after Jenny had the opportunity to go on a mission trip to Uganda, Africa. While serving in Uganda, Jenny had the opportunity to meet Edith Lukabwe, the director of Home of Hope, an orphanage that serves children with disabilities. She had been praying for a way to use her occupational therapy skills through missions and forming a 501(c)(3) non-profit to become the stateside partner for these children was the answer! The Lord has been faithful to provide for Our Hope and has sent people to journey with her and provide a helping hand in running Our Hope. Jenny is married to Corey, a hospital chaplain, and they have one son born in 2022 named Noble.
After traveling to Uganda with the Our Hope team in 2015, Kristen felt called to become more deeply involved in the mission of serving the children of Home of Hope. She partnered with founder Jenny, to coordinate the sponsorship program and help lead the daily operations and growth of Our Hope. Today, she serves as Vice President of the Board of Directors and remains actively engaged in advancing the organization's mission.
Kristen is a pediatric nurse practitioner, healthcare leader, and educator with a passion for caring for children, supporting families, and developing the next generation of healthcare providers. In both her clinical practice and teaching roles, she is committed to investing in others and creating opportunities for growth, learning, and service. Through her work with Our Hope, she have witnessed firsthand the incredible resilience of the children at Home of Hope and the life-changing impact of a community that chooses to invest in them. Kristen is continually amazed by the way God uses ordinary people to make an extraordinary difference in the lives of others.
She believe lasting change happens through faithful service, meaningful relationships, education, and a shared commitment to providing hope and opportunity. Kristen is the proud mother of three children, Ethan, Mayer, and Adalyn. When I am not working, teaching, or serving with Our Hope, she enjoys spending time with my family and caring for her flock of chickens.
Organizations we partner with
Our Hope International works alongside these dedicated Ugandan organizations to bring care, education, and therapy to children and families.
Home of Hope is an orphanage that is home to 107 children with various disabilities and is the primary organization Our Hope serves. The children at Home of Hope are cared for 24/7 by an amazing staff of men and women; including 35+ nannies, a cook, nurse, doctor, physical and occupational therapist, social worker and recreational therapist. Through our partnership, the children are able to receive occupational therapy services on a daily basis to help these children reach their full potential.
Edith Lukawbe is the founder and director of Home of Hope. Edith founded the orphanage after having a child with cerebral palsy and realizing how difficult it was to find needed services for him. Edith's son, Derrick, passed away in 2014 but his legacy lives on through the precious children at Home of Hope.
Kisaakye Rehabilitation Center is an outpatient walk-in clinic serving the local community. They are a part of the Ugandan NGO, KICERO — Kisaakye Child Empowerment and Rehabilitation Organization. Moses Ismail is an occupational therapist who runs this program, where they provide several services, including occupational therapy, special education, and with our partnership they are now able to offer nursing services to families. They also complete community home visits to help adapt the child's environment and give recommendations to the family on how best to assist their child in reaching their full potential.
Mt Zion Primary School (Nursery) is an inclusive school for young children and a part of the Ugandan NGO KICERO. Their primary focus is on children with special needs, especially children who are deaf. Charles Ssemusu oversees the special needs program and works with Kisaakye Rehab to ensure children in the community have the opportunity to learn. Charles is a special needs teacher who is fluent in sign language. They have a vocational skills program that we support — teaching skills such as jewelry making and doormat weaving, while improving fine motor and problem-solving skills.
Life at Home of Hope, Kisaakye and Mt Zion
