Y.E.S. Uganda.

Nestled away in the rollings hills of western Uganda is a small town called Fort Portal.  Although you may have never heard of Fort Portal, you won’t soon forget. Big things are happening here, and they have been happening for past 19 years. This is largely due to Carol Adams and Y.E.S. Uganda.

Y.E.S. stands for Youth Encouragement Services. This ministry was founded by a woman named Carol Adams, who felt the call of the Lord when she was 50 years old and decided to move to Uganda to care for the impoverished children of this community. And caring for the children is exactly what she is doing. Through Y.E.S. Carol is sending over 100 Orphan and Vulnerable children (O.V.C) to school. Without her help, these children would never receive an education. She also runs a rescue home for O.V.C kids who have HIV.  For these children she provides housing, food, medication, and education. Her assistance has literally saved some of these kids lives.

If you spend any amount of time with Carol it is clear that Y.E.S. Uganda is changing not only Fort Portal but many parts of the world. We couldn’t go anywhere in town without someone thanking her for what she has done for them. She has kids that have gone on to become nurses, doctors, businessman, and even one young man who was recently named one of Forbes 30 Under 30!

These kids are being given a chance to be successful in life, and most of them are taking it. They are well aware of the gravity of the opportunity that has been given to them. It is no surprise that when we asked some of Carol’s former sponsored children to share their testimonies, tears were shed and an even deeper level of thankfulness for Carol’s life and ministry was formed. You can read the testimonies below the photos!


My name is Bright Herbert, I am 28 years old and I am an accountant.

At what age did you come to YES: 14yrs

Why did you go to YES: I had lost my dad in 1996 to HIV/AIDS who had left 4 of us (children) and me as the 1st born and my last sister was just 2yrs. Our mum was very young and was very, very weak. Every day she was admitted to the hospital and we found out she also had HIV/AIDS. That’s when we heart about YES. We then went to seek for help and to God’s blessings we were considered.

How has Carol and YES helped you to be where you are today:

Great work done by YES program to my life, it helped me in many ways such as; education, medical and support to my family in income generating activities such as poultry and piggery, which boosted our domestic survival income which would facilitate us on small domestic needs such as salt, soap plus food since we had a small plot of land.

Again the YES program helped to renovate our house which was falling a part by then. Carol helped very much with the health of my mum, who was on and off and we had started loosing hope of her life to make it to this time. And as we talk she is very healthy and on her ARV drugs, working with Manna Rescue home as the House manager for kids and support staff!

What role did education play in your life and how would you encourage others to care/support orphan and vulnerable children’s education:

The education made me achieve a big difference in my life, i.e I have achieved such things as, a job, manage to learn how to read and write, got my own piece of land, am able to help my family which is an extended family. I encourage others to care for OVCs in education because it’s best road for a bright future. 

What would you want others to know about Carol and YES:

Carol is a blessing to the nation of Uganda, mostly to the People of Kabarole. She has done a lot for the OVCs with one heart/ being committed to her mission. Y.E.S OVCs have come out as doctors, engineers, nurses, teachers, Lawyers, Accountants among other professions which is a contribution to the social, economical and political well being of the people and Nation.


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My name is Dr Gilbert Ategeka. I am a Medical doctor in Kampala, Uganda.

I joined YES at the age of 14.

I did join the YES program originally called the Child Care Program ran by Carol Ann Adams in 2001 around June/June. Being raised by a single mother, it was always difficult for me to get school needs like books, pens, school fees and uniform. From primary one to primary seven my late mom used to struggle in all her effort to provide what she could get for me I study and other needs. When I I got a bit older I used to join her to work so that we could finish the casual jobs fast. Joining secondary school was much demanding where at one point I could not move on with school. At one moment I saw I could not afford the needs any more. Thoughts came to stop school and find other ways to live life.

It was that same month of June when one friend of mine told about Carol and her work to help he needy. Indeed I could not wait to go and find how she could help me with the school needs.

Reaching to her she did get interested in me and asked me to present my previous marks. I was on top of he class. From that one she took me up to be helped with school needs and other personal needs.

During that time she got me a dear family in the USA named the Knell family that started to cater for my needs in school and outside school. I continued to work hard in school with a dream of becoming a doctor because I saw how sick people suffer without good health service.

The Knell family cared for my school needs through secondary right to the University level in Ukraine where I have graduated as a medical doctor. Graduating in medical school was a dream come true which I could not have achieved without Carol Adams. Now I am working at the Uganda National Referral Hospital as an intern doctor.

As the saying goes, teach a man to fish rather than getting him fish ready on the table.” Carol holding my hand in his difficult time was like manna from heaven to me.  Knowledge is the key to success, it helps to understand the affection and morality within our communities. I can now fulfill my dream by touching the lives of other people, especially the sick, and giving them hope about life. I can now take care of my relatives like the little kids (orphans left behind by my relatives) so that in future they will be able to take care of themselves.

I would really love to see needy people like orphans, disabled, widows being supported so that they can have hope and being loved on the society. Through educating them and giving them a skill for life, their lives can change.

My big praise to the YES program is that they are doing an amazing job for the orphans, sick children.

It may be very difficult to understand what the YES really does but the only way to know this is to get involved in what YES does. You can do this by mentoring a child, or sponsoring a child so that you can see how this can change someone’s whole life.

I would like to thank all of the donor families who have been helping YES and the children to have a bright future. Your support always goes to the right hands.

Long love Carol Ann Adams long love the YES program.

I remain,

 Dr Gilbert Ategeka.

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