Co-founder and president of Shelter Academy of Light Grace Sakwa has always been dedicated to helping underprivileged populations. Raised in a large family in Bukhabusi, a small village in eastern Uganda, Grace was instilled with a strong sense of charity and compassion. Her parents often cared for local children, treating them as their own, and Grace, along with her siblings, was taught to look after their neighbors and community members from a young age. Grace and her siblings were often sent by their mother to check on neighbors and care for ailing locals. This instilled in them a sense of care and responsibility for their community from a young age.
This compassionate upbringing had a profound impact on Grace. At the age of 16, Grace and her 13-year-old sister, Esther, established a nutritional support ministry for malnourished children in their village. Grace finished school and went on to pursue higher education at the National Teachers’ College at Kaliro, where she earned a diploma in teaching with a focus on English and literature. During her college years, she met her husband, George, through a mutual friend. Together, they shared a profound commitment to helping vulnerable children and have supported eight children in Uganda who are now grown and have completed their education.
Grace immigrated to the United States in 2000, following her husband. Despite the distance, the Sakwas continue to support their extended family in Uganda. Grace and George have four children of their own and have remained deeply committed to serving others, particularly in the healthcare field. Grace has volunteered extensively, most notably in her church’s youth ministries.
Inspired by her own upbringing and experiences, Grace co-founded Shelter Academy of Light in 2013 with George to support orphaned and underprivileged children. Her firsthand understanding of the challenges faced by students in rural Uganda fuels her passion to make a difference in their lives. Grace gives glory to God and is thankful for the extensive and dedicated network of support she has in this mission.