Wide Smiles for All Through Education is a Ugandan registered charity whose mandate is to provide access to education for underprivileged children in rural Uganda. The founder and Executive Director is Kenneth Kasule.
In an attempt to speak with and learn more about the school-aged students who Kenneth saw playing foodball around his residence hall while he was sudying for his Bachelor of Education, Kenneth learned that they had all been asked to leave school because they did not have any of the supplies needed to complete their studies. Upon further investigation, Kenneth realized that the majority were orphans and from child-headed families and therefore did not have anyone checking in on them or assisting them with these basics.
Kenneth began sharing his supplies with them to keep them in school, and, in 2004, this humble beginning was transformed into the formation of Wide Smiles For All Through Education. Operating in the Mpigi District with a greater focus on the Gomba District, Wide Smiles has enabled over 400 students to graduate in different fields of study, and has over 100 students currently enrolled in a varitey of different programs.
Today, Wide Smiles has been in operation for over 20 years and assists children and young people in a number of ways. They sponsor school fees and provide uniforms and other basic school supplies necessary for studying. Wide Smiles is also in the begnning stages of building the new Central Buganda Academy and Career Centre. This purpose-built centre will allow even greater number of students to be supported through education.
The Church of St. John's Eganville has been in partnership with Wide Smiles for much of its existance, and we have welcomed Kenneth Kasule to the Ottawa Valley twice. First in 2017, and again in 2025 when he was able to visit with parishioners across the Parish of the Valley and beyond.
For an update on the Career Centre building project, please see the attachment below.