[Uganda] 2025
Sarah's second year of returning to the Pearl of Africa, Uganda with @oneloveexperience
Somehow, the trip was even more special this time!
50 strangers met at Heathrow, and within 10 days became like family.
I could talk for days about this trip, but I will try and keep it short.
We fit just under 300 children with new school shoes (150 pairs were purchased with the funds I raised)
A new building went up, soon to become a skills centre for the children who are not academic (the UK could learn from this concept!)
I got to see the triplets at school (Yay 😍)
For those who don’t know the story, last year I met a mother and her three-year-old triplets. They were homeless, hungry, and completely without hope. It broke me emotionally, and when I came home, I couldn’t just forget them.
With the incredible support of friends, family, and my generous SKINLAB customers, we raised enough money to buy them land, build a home, and sponsor the children’s education. Returning this year and seeing them happy, healthy, and safe in their new house was one of the most wholesome experiences of my life, a world away from how I first found them.
While I was there this time, we helped their mum start a small clothing business at the local market so she can sustain their life moving forward. Alongside two amazing girls who have become my friends, who have also been a part of this journey, we’ll continue to sponsor the triplets’ schooling.
The triplets' mum - Dina & Martin
Martin is the most amazing human being. He has been our middle man throughout and has facilitated the purchase of the land and the building of the house. He is a huge part of the One Love school too 🥰
It’s impossible to fully put into words what this trip does to you, it changes your perspective on everything.
❤️It's wholesome
❤️It's grouding
✌It's peace
It's life-changing
We also supported other families who have nothing, and provided urgent medical care to those who couldn’t afford it, a chance for me to put my nursing skills to good use.
Between all that, we trekked through villages, met incredible tribes, and even spotted zebras roaming wild.
Here are a handful of the millions of pictures I took on this trip.
Grandma Lehonia
We met a 92-year-old lady named Lehonia, who lives completely isolated and has been raising her five grandchildren since their parents passed away. One of the children is disabled.
When we visited their home (if you can call it that), the roof was leaking, the teenage boys were sleeping on a hard mud floor, food was scarce, and poor Grandma Lehonia could no longer reach her “toilet,” which was over 100 yards away. She told us she hadn’t smiled in months, and honestly, she had no reason to.
Thanks to the funds we raised, plus the NeoGen event money, we were able to buy mattresses, blankets, cooking utensils, food, and clothes for the family. We also left the remaining donations with Martin to make much-needed improvements to their home, including a new roof and a toilet closer by.
Just days after returning to the UK, Martin sent us photos showing the progress.
Over the past year, I’ve been able to use mine and Vicky’s amazing business to raise enough money to completely change the lives of two families, forever! That’s honestly incredible.
To everyone who donated, I can’t thank you enough. Being able to take the money myself, and make sure it’s spent exactly where it’s needed most means the world to me.
I’ll likely take a year off from going to Uganda next year. It’s a big year with my daughter’s 18th and my 50th, but I’ll definitely be returning to this amazing place the following year.
In the meantime, I’ll continue sending money to sponsor children at the school and to make sure the families we’ve helped always have enough food and support.
A few customers have asked for the link to my fundraising page, so I’ll pop it below.