Legacy World Missions’ third anniversary is coming up, and we’re taking the opportunity to take a deep breath and launch some new features, but most importantly, we’re taking a few minutes to reflect on how far we’ve come. That doesn’t mean we’re resting on our laurels; it means we’re examining our progress to see exactly how much tangible difference we’ve made in the lives of Uganda’s vulnerable children. Actual, measurable, tangible difference is how we show return on our investment. To that end, I’d like to share a case study.
COMDEV International is a home to 250 children in Mukono District, Uganda. Headed by Pastor Gessa Franklin, COMDEV has been one of our partners in our food program since the very beginning. Like many children’s homes, COMDEV was feeling the burden of so-called food security in southern Uganda. Over the past two years, many of the international food aid groups have shifted their focus to northern Uganda, where hundreds of thousands of displaced people are returning to their land and are in need of food. As food aid moved north to respond to the refugee crisis, however, many orphanages where left without resources. Children’s homes are particularly vulnerable to food insecurity; many of them are supported by donation only and many rely heavily on food aid. Legacy World Missions seeks to promote self-sufficiency and independence from aid, and that’s an important long-term goal. It’s hard to explain long-term goals to hungry children, though.
COMDEV International is a stand-out facility for a few reasons: Pastor Gessa Franklin is a motivated director, with a strong desire to build a safe, nurturing environment for learning and growing. The kids at COMDEV are bright and happy and never fail to capture our hearts in the photographs that Pastor Franklin frequently sends us. As a recipient facility of Legacy World Missions’ food program, COMDEV has recieved weekly food deliveries for a year now. Recently, we recieved an update from COMDEV that shows exactly how much positive change a simple food program can bring.

- Children at COMDEV International
In the picture above, the kids from COMDEV are saying a blessing over the food they received from Legacy World Missions. The blue and white wooden structure behind the children has served as their classroom for years. Run down and rotting, it needed to be replaced, but COMDEV staff struggled to simply feed and clothe the children, until Legacy World Missions’ food program. With weekly deliveries of food and a one-time gift of clothing for the children, COMDEV was able to begin construction on a new classroom building.
Pastor Gessa Franklin told us of it in a letter:
The financial and other resources saved as a result of the food delivery enabled us to mobilize resources to make these clay bricks. With these bricks, we’ve started the construction of a permanent classroom structure that will replace the dilapidated wooden structures, which were in a sorry state. These were being used by our younger children in Nursury and Primary grades.
The foundation at which the children are assembled was constructed as a result of the savings made on food. Legacy World Missions’ food deliveries enabled COMEDEV International to save funds with which construction materials were made. We have started construction of a three-room classroom block to enhance the learning enviroment, improve hygiene, and instill more confidence in children and the community.
Thanks to Legacy World Missions for the food delivery, without which this could not have been possible.

COMDEV and their new classroom building is just example of the progress we’ve made. One simple food program made a difference in the health of the children, but it also allowed this children’s home to undertake a building project, using local labor and materials, creating jobs and, in some small way, stimulating the economy in Mukono District. We haven’t forgotten that there’s so much more work to be done (in fact, COMDEV needs financial help finishing the structure; click here to donate), but seeing what we’ve done with the help of our donors, partners and supporters is both humbling and motivating.
In the coming weeks, you’ll see more about our third anniversary, our direction for the future and more success stories like this. For now, though, we’re proud of COMDEV and Pastor Gessa Franklin for his persistence and resourcefulness, and we’re proud that we’ve had a small role in improving the lives of these children.