YCVM is a community-based
organization aimed at creating a better future for the orphans in Kumi,
Uganda. Its governing board is derived from community leaders in Kumi,
Uganda. YCVM is a fully registered Community Based Organization (CBO). Board of Elders Silver Omakenyi Silver
Omakenyi is the founder, vision bearer, and director of YCVM. He is a
gifted musician, composer, and a Ugandan national champion Adungu
(Ugandan Traditional bow harp) player, and instrument maker, who has
trained a band of traditional instruments. It was by making instruments
and selling them that he was able to finance his own early education. In
2002, he came to study music in the Ugandan capital city, Kampala, at
the Reformed Theological College, where he met Aeri Lee. While at RTC,
Aeri got to visit Silver’s home village near Kumi, where she found out
that Silver, a young single man, was struggling to raise 9 orphans. It
was in the following couple of years that Silver and some of his fellow
visioners shared their dream of caring for and raising up the vulnerable
children in their community. A few years later, Youth and Child
Visionary Ministries (YCVM) was born. Silver has been the tireless
leader YCVM’s three-fold ministries: taking care of the sponsored
children, going out on outreach ministries, and the on-going “Kumi
Christian Visionary School” building project.
Grace Among
Grace
Among is YCVM’s administrator and is responsible for the education
and nurture of the sponsored children. Following her 2 great passions in
life, worship and education, Grace has been an English teacher at Ngora
High school since 2000, and a worship leader, choir mistress, and a
worship singer ever since her secondary school days. She has a Bachelor
of Arts Degree in English Literature from Makerere University, and is
now pursuing a Master of Arts Degree in Organizational Leadership and
Management. As it is Grace that takes primary responsibility for the
care of each of YCVM’s sponsored children, she is the one that shares
with YCVM’s partners all the details of each child’s welfare.
Katherine
TukeiKatherine
Tukei, has been a member of YCVM’s Board since its inception. Kathy
runs “Hope Nursery, Primary, and Teacher Training School for Early
Childhood Development” in Kumi, and serves as the regional coordinator
for Early Childhood Development with the Uganda Ministry of Education.
She has also served as a staff member for Youth With A Mission (YWAM),
an international Christian mission organization for a number of years,
and has visited Colorado Springs for YWAM training. Kathy’s field of
expertise and her own heart’s calling has been and continues to be of
great help to YCVM in navigating the practical and legal aspects of
planning for the eventual opening of Kumi Christian Visionary School.
Kathy is married to James Peter Tukei, and they have three children,
Jonathan (13), Joseph (10), and Molly (4).
Rev. Martin Odi
Rev. Martin Odi is a retired
bishop of the Pentecostal Assembly of God church, and the representative
for East Africa for Equipping Pastors International, having served with
them for more than 10 years. Rev. Odi is a well-respected leader in
the Kumi community, and provides spiritual guidance and strategic vision
to the YCVM leadership team. Due to his frequent travels in East
Africa to train pastors through EPI, Rev. Odi stepped-down as chairman
of the YCVM Board after having served in that capacity since the
inception of YCVM. Despite stepping away from the day-to-day oversight
of YCVM, he remains committed to its vision and continues to offer
insight and guidance while traveling.
Aeri
Lee
Aeri Lee
has served as friend and partner to the visioners of YCVM since its
inception. She is the worship coordinator at Chinese Community UMC,
Oakland, and Music Director at the Pacific School of Religion, Berkeley.
She has been sent as a short term missionary to the Reformed
Theological College in Kampala, Uganda since 1997 by her home
congregation.
Rev. Emily Lin
Emily
Lin is the Lead Pastor of Chinese Community United Methodist
Church in Oakland, CA. Pastor Emily is a Bay Area transplant who hails
from Taiwan via Chicago, IL, Columbus, OH and Gaza, Palestine. She
graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University and later went on to study
at the Pacific School of Religion where she earned a Masters of
Theological Studies. Pastor Emily brings a thirst for learning together,
an openness to making mistakes, and a deep commitment to cultivating a
passionate and transformative life of faith with CCUMC.
Patrick Okore - Secretary
Patrick Okore is the secretary of YCVM. He is a gifted
worship leader and athlete, having played on the Ugandan National
volleyball team. In 2007, he came to study Business Administration at Makerere University in Kampala. Patrick’s beaming
smile, dance moves, and infectious spirit bring energy and joy to
everything he is a part of, especially as an outreach ministry
participant and worship leader.
Emmanuel
Oonyu - Finance
Emmanuel Oonyu is assistant to the
administrator and a member of the YCVM executive team. Emma has been
friends with Silver since their primary school days and came to respect
his leadership while Silver was the leader of their youth choir. Emma
says Silver’s focus and commitment to the vision and his consistency
drew him to participate in the YCVM ministry. He works as the business
manager at the Hope primary and nursery school and Hope teacher training
school. Emma is married to Beatrice and they have 1 son, Jabez, age 3.
Patrick Olupot - Construction
Patrick Olupot serves as YCVM’s
in-house building contractor and architect for the Kumi Christian
Visionary School Building project. Patrick is a professional contractor
who has built many structures and churches in the Kumi region. After
graduating from the prestigious “Kings College, Budo”, he went on to
receive diplomas in Civil Engineering and Architecture at the Uganda
Polytechnic at Kyambogo University. Besides his field work, Patrick is a
lecturer in Environmental Sciences at the Mbale School of Hygiene,
training environmental workers. Patrick is also a gifted drummer in
Silver’s band. Patrick is engaged to one of YCVM’s alumna, Susan Achom,
and is looking forward to a wedding sometime in late 2011.
Francis Okiria - Agriculture
Francis
Okiria has been a member of YCVM from the very beginning. He plays
the thumb piano in the YCVM band and heads the agricultural projects of
YCVM. He is married for 20 years to Mrs. Among Florence with one 7
year-old daughter in the 2nd grade, Adeke Mercy Grace. He was
able, with the help of CCUMC partners, to go back to school last year
and enroll in his last year of Primary school. He will be sitting for
his Primary Leaving Examination at the end of the school year in
November. If he passes, then he will qualify to go on to Secondary
education. He sends ‘warm and heart-felt greetings’ to CCUMC partners,
and has asked that you would pray with him for his health, especially
since he has been suffering with kidney problems, and that he may be
able to continue with his studies.
Cuthbert Okalebo - Community
Liason  Pastor Lawrence Mukeda
Pastor Lawrence Mukeda is the pastor
of the Tilling PAG (Pentecostal Assemblies of God) church where Silver
worships when he is in his home village. Pastor Mukeda has known Silver
from the time Silver first came to know Christ and has been a member of
YCVM’s band, playing the thumb piano. He also takes care of the
sponsored children along with Grace Among. Pastor Lawrence has been
married to Alupo Jessica for the last 10 years with 3 children - Among
Teddie (6), Okwao Silver (3), Aisu Angela (6 months). Pastor Lawrence is
studying for a certificate in social works and social administration at
Kumi University with the help of some of the YCVM partners. He says
that he is very happy and grateful to be back in school. It gave him
hope and he ‘saw the hand of God in him’.
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