Family Sponsorship
A three-year commitment connecting donors with a widow or family as they pursue health, shelter, nutrition, and self-sustainability.
Restoring hope and dignity.
Restoring hope and dignity in Africa.
Africa Family Rescue is a faith-based nonprofit working with local leaders in Uganda to help families move toward health, education, shelter, and self-sufficiency.
Our Mission
Lasting change begins with family transformation.
We use a three-year family sponsorship model focused on health, education, housing, and micro-business development. Our work extends into community projects and partnerships with local churches serving families in extreme poverty.
We believe every family deserves the opportunity to move from survival toward dignity, ownership, and hope.Discover Family Stories
What We Do
Practical support designed around the whole family.
We focus on family sponsorship, safe shelter, daily care, and church-centered community partnerships that create room for long-term change.
Homes and Shelter
We help families move toward safe shelter, including more than 150 homes built through AFR partnerships.
Health and Daily Care
Food, healthcare, mosquito nets, and life-changing purchases help families take practical steps toward stability.
Church and Community
AFR partners with local churches and leaders across Mukono, Mityana, Mpigi, and Wakiso.
Impact Statistics
Measurable care, rooted in long-term relationship.
In AFR's 24-year history, thousands of widows and children have received sponsorship, practical care, and relationship-based support that helps families move toward stability.
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Families Sponsored / Supported
8,500 widows plus 25,500 children through sponsorship and family support
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Businesses Launched
Micro-businesses and income paths started through family transformation
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Houses Built
Safe homes built for families moving from survival toward stability
0.0%
Program Graduation Rate
Families completing the program with a path toward self-sufficiency
2025 Accomplishments
- 152 new sponsorships
- 20 homes built for homeless families
- 2,200 lbs of food distributed
- 350 solar Bibles distributed
- 410 soccer balls distributed
Accomplishments Continued
- 18 full-time Ugandan staff members
- 2 full-time Ugandan nurses added
- 5 part-time U.S. employees added
- 33 donors visited their sponsored families
- 100 pastors attended the 3rd Annual Pastors Conference
2026 Goals
- $1.25 million in donations
- 183 new families sponsored
- 30 homes built for homeless families
- 120 pastors at Annual Pastors Conference
- 5 new church partners
- 68 graduated widows
- 400 widows in business training
Goals Continued
- 3 donor mission trips
- $6,500 monthly for Pahlow support
- Phase 1 of Legacy Guesthouse funded to purchase land
Stories of Hope
Letters from families tell a story of dignity being restored.
Josephine and sponsored familiesMukono, Mityana, Mpigi, and Wakiso, Uganda
We receive stories and letters from families filled with hope, dignity, and gratitude. As the new site grows, this space can share current family updates with permission and care.
Read Their StoryFeatured Stories
This month's featured stories.
A few selected updates help sponsors and supporters see the relationships, prayers, and long-term work behind each act of care.
Our StoryJul 12, 2026
Meet Ben and Melody
Hear Ben and Melody share the heart behind Africa Family Rescue and the work supporters join through sponsorship, trips, and prayer.
Read storyFamily Sponsorship
A simple path from compassion to committed support.
Sponsorship connects one family with steady support, prayer, and practical care over time.
1
Meet a Family
Learn about an assigned widow or family and the practical needs connected to their three-year path.
2
Begin Your Support
Begin monthly sponsorship through AFR's external giving platform.
3
Follow Their Journey
Receive stories, letters, and updates that show restored dignity, prayer needs, and progress toward self-sufficiency.
Ways to Give
Choose the kind of help you want to put into motion.
Every giving path connects to a practical need: family sponsorship, safe homes, clean water, business support, livestock, trip support, or the general AFR fund.
Most pressing need
General Fund
Give where it is needed most across sponsorship, community projects, and ongoing ministry.
Open formMost pressing need
Build a Home
Help provide safe shelter for a family taking major steps toward stability and dignity.
Open formMost pressing need
Partner with the Pahlows
Support the Pahlows as they serve families, local leaders, and AFR's work in Uganda.
Open formHomes and Water
Furniture for a HomeHelp furnish a newly built home with practical essentials once the donation form is available.Form coming soon
Water Catchment SystemProvide a rainwater catchment system that helps a family collect and store water for daily care.OpenLivestock
Uganda Impact
Focused partnerships across four Uganda districts.
AFR works alongside local leaders and churches in Mukono, Mityana, Mpigi, and Wakiso, supporting families through sponsorship, shelter, clean water, and practical care.
Homes
Sponsored Families
Community Projects
Ministry Partners
Four partner districts
The highlighted area shows AFR's current work around Mukono, Mityana, Mpigi, and Wakiso. Drag the map or tap a marker to explore the district-level work.
Loading map
Work in Uganda
Mukono: Family sponsorship
Mityana: Homes and shelter
Mpigi: District partnership
Wakiso: District partnership
Mission Trips
Serve alongside local churches and community partners.
Our mission trips center on local church partnerships, family sponsorship visits, practical projects, and encouragement for leaders serving vulnerable families.
Trip
Applications are open
Duration
9 to 14 days
Location
Uganda
First-time and returning trip member applications are available now.
About Us
A family-focused ministry built for lasting change.
Africa Family Rescue began after Ben and Melody Pahlow met a Rwandan refugee in 2002 and were moved by his story of survival, faith, and need. What started with family photos and biographies became a nonprofit committed to long-term transformation led through African partnerships.
Where AFR Serves
Working through local leaders in four Uganda districts.
AFR is a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving families in communities outside Kampala, Uganda. The current work is centered in Mukono, Mityana, Mpigi, and Wakiso through relationships with churches, pastors, caseworkers, nurses, and local leaders.
The mission focuses on families in extreme poverty who need food, shelter, basic health care, practical support, and a three-year path toward self-sufficiency.
Explore About UsFamily
Sponsors are connected to real families through prayer, letters, gifts, visits, and long-term relationship.
Community
AFR works through local churches, leaders, staff, and savings groups so families are welcomed into practical support and community.
Dignity
The program helps families move from fear and isolation toward confidence, safety, belonging, and visible dignity.
Hope
Support is designed to help a family build self-sustaining change during and beyond the sponsorship journey.
Faith in action.
AFR's work is rooted in Christian faith, local church partnership, and the conviction that restored families can help restore whole communities.
“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.”
John 14:18
Help a family build a stronger future.
Your support can help create stability, opportunity, and lasting change.