About Our Founder, Mallory Fundora

In October 2011, when I was 11 years old, I sat down to write my Christmas list for my parents, I looked around my room and I realized there was nothing I needed, nothing I wanted. But the more I thought about it, the more I thought about the children in Africa, and how they weren’t going to get Christmas presents, and there was a lot of things that they needed.

So, I sent my parents an email with my Christmas list, one thing on it, to help Africa. See, in August of 2010 the Ugandan Orphan Children’s Choir came to my church to perform, and I got to meet the children, and they were amazing. They were so loving and just wanted to hug me and hold my hand.

The day after I sent the email my parents and I sat down and talked about what I wanted to do, and how I wanted to help. I contacted organizations already working in Uganda and I told them what I wanted to do, and I asked them how I could best help them. That is how Project Yesu was born.

My goals at first were simple, but my dream was big. You know what happens when you give God your dreams? He takes them and makes them bigger than you could ever have imagined.

So I started to tell people about Project Yesu, and my mom helped me start a blog so people could read about it. From there it continued to grow. It started with a dream, a desire, and bloomed into a passion. It changed my life and the lives of people around me. Project Yesu has continued to grow and evolve since starting in 2011. Today, Project Yesu has grown to be an impactful organization making a difference in the lives of vulnerable children in the village of Musima in Uganda.

I read a quote one day from Mahatma Ghandi that said, “Be the change you want to see in the world”. That’s what I want to do, I want to be the change, I want to make a difference, I want to help people. Everyone thinks kids are selfish or that we’re just kids and we can’t do anything like this. I want to show people what a difference one person can make. If someone, because they heard about me, or met me, decides that they can be a change too, then it will spread from me to that person, to another person, and so on.

I started Project Yesu when I was “just a kid” people told me I would never reach my goals, or achieve my dreams. But, you know what? Kids have good ideas and they don’t know all the reasons why it won’t work, they just know what they want to do. I know with Project Yesu, I am making a difference, not only in the lives of the children in Uganda who now have food, medicine and can go to school. But I am making a difference in the lives of my family, my friends, my community, and even people I have never met before.

I want Project Yesu to continue to spread and grow and to do that I need people like you, who are reading this post to spread the word and to help me.

So I have accepted the challenge to be the change….will you?

♥ Mallory

Our Team

Our Ugandan team are the boots on the ground and the key to our success. They work tirelessly to serve the children in our programs, and continually seek ways to grow our programs and support our children and families in the best possible way. As an organization, we believe strongly in hiring from within the community we serve. They know the struggles of our children, they can walk alongside our families and be a shining example of what is possible. We are blessed to have an amazing team, and we have a shared vision and work together toward the same mission, changing lives.

Akello Eunice, Social Worker

My name is Eunice, I have been serving with Project Yesu as a social worker and coordinator for about four years now since 2016. Throughout the years I have realized my potential and ability to serve Christ with the knowledge, wisdom, and skills that God has given me. I have seen how Hope has been restored to the children who would not have gone to school and families who would not have afforded to put their children in school through Project Yesu. I am happy that we now have 316 children going to 1st class schools, this wouldn’t have been possible for these vulnerable children and their families without Project Yesu.

Like any other organization, we have faced a number of challenges throughout the years including young girls dropping out of school, getting pregnant and going into child marriage. A number of factors could have led to this but the most triggering factor is the negative perception of the society which continue to view girls as fit for marriage and kitchen only hence discouraging them from staying in school and also the men who entice these young girls with petty gifts and because of poverty most of the parents can not offer such items like knickers, dresses, etc to these girls and in the end, they are used by these men, therefore, leading to pregnancy and school drop out.

Project Yesu has not only paid school fees for the kids but among other things includes providing sanitary pads to the girls, providing school requirements to the neediest kids, providing food and its kind to families, etc.

To me Serving with Project Yesu is not just a job which I earn from every month but it’s a platform where I see myself doing what exactly God wants me to do, I am glad that I am part of the change that Project Yesu is causing today and I would like to appreciate all the sponsors, supporters and well-wishers Project Yesu. May God bless you.

Afuna Mark, Social Worker

My name is Mark, a social worker in Project Yesu for a year now, I started in 2019. I am so honored to be part of and able to work with Project Yesu team both in Uganda and the United States to help give hope and a smile to many families in Musima community.

Children in Musima have gotten an opportunity to attain a good education from really good schools hence a brighter future for them. These children have also had a chance to access good medical care which has improved their general health thanks to Project Yesu.

I thank God for the chess program which has helped to expose our children during tournaments, they have had chances to travel and also make new friends outside their community.

Kilya Bonafice, Mentor & Property Manager

My name is Kijoph Pharazio aka Kilya Bonfice. I have been working with Project Yesu since 2020 as a property manager and a mentor at the same time. I am so grateful for the opportunity that PY granted me to serve the vulnerable families in Musima and the nearby communities at large to be part of the change. During my stay at Project Yesu, I have been given many opportunities to serve in different areas to which counseling of both parents and children is one of the areas that I have managed to handle successfully. To the parents who separated in marriage, they have been having a wrong mentality that once some body fails to be a husband or wife, he or she doesn’t qualify to be a father or a mother to his or her children. Hence leaving children to suffer in the hands of single parents. Thank God that to those whom I have managed to meet, even when they are not staying together, they communicate and work together for the goodness of their children. This would have not been possible without Project Yesu.

Munanuzi Alex, Mentor

My name is Mununuzi Alex, a mentor with Project Yesu. I started serving with PY in 2022. I am happy and grateful to be part of and serving with PY. Project Yesu is restoring the hope of vulnerable children in the community of Musima, who could not afford school, by taking them to good schools. Besides that PY also restored my hope and I am now the change in my family. I give thanks to God for Project Yesu and for the great Change that it has caused in the lives of the vulnerable children and families in the community of Musima.

Bigala Irene, Mentor

My name is Irene, a social worker, mentor, counselor in Project Yesu. I began working with PY in March 2023. I thank the management of Project Yesu in Uganda and U.S.A for giving me this opportunity to serve as well as to work. Being part of the transformation that PY is causing to the community makes me happy because it gives me an opportunity to serve, grow and also utilize my God given potential.

Project Yesu is an amazing organization demonstrating God’s love in action i.e many children who had lost hope their hope was restored through educational support and health support, this has given hope to their future and their health restored living them with smiles and joy. Great thanks to the founder, sponsors and everyone God is using to stretch his hand to our dear children. Happy to be part of the change and ready always to be used by God, God bless.

Our US Board of Directors

Project Yesu is led and guided by a group of dedicated people who volunteer their time to make Project Yesu be the best we can be.

Rory Fundora

My name is Rory Fundora and I am the proud mother of Mallory Fundora. My husband and I have been directly involved with Project Yesu since its inception in 2011. I feel my 30+ years in education, as well as my work with several other non-profits, provides valuable insight. My job is to offers support both in-country and state-side. I am the mother of 3, with Mallory being the youngest. I am also Gigi to two and proud to be called “mama” by an amazing young man and hundreds of children in Uganda.

Kathryn Walker

My name is Kathryn Walker and I joined the Project Yesu board last year. I visited Africa when I was younger and it started a never ending love for the continent and the people. I have been a sponsor through PY for several years to an amazing kid, Abubakari, and have always been impressed with the amount of information received from and about him. I have held positions at three different child-focused nonprofit organizations throughout the past ten years before becoming a board member for PY.

I am married to my husband, Ben, and I have one teenage daughter, Aniston. Together we have a heart for rescuing animals and currently have one dog, Mallory, and two cats, Cheerio and Eliza. I work from home as an administrative assistant for a locally owned company. I love being with my family, traveling new places, experiencing new foods, organizing, antiquing, and reading.

Michelle Taunton

My name is Michelle Taunton and I have the distinct honor of being asked to be on the Board of Directors for Project Yesu earlier this year. I became aware of Project Yesu many years ago through Rory. Once our 3 boys had left for basic training, John and I felt called to help children. So naturally, we thought of PY. We started sponsoring our sweet Sumayia and after a few years we added our boy, Martin. Shortly thereafter, our son, Andrew and his wife, Racheal, decided to help their girl Perepetwa. As the years went on, Martin graduated and moved on to university and we started helping our new daughter Evas!! I have been privileged to get to travel to Uganda 3 times to visit the village. Most recently, this past April and was AMAZED at the change in the village from my first visit in 2015 to now. The whole goal of PY is to eventually not be needed at all and I would say we are well on our way to that goal, and I am so truly HONORED to be a part of that. I fully believe we are giving them the hand-up they need and not just putting a band aid on their challenges.

I have been married to my husband, John, for 31 years and have 3 kids of my own, Kevin, Nathan, and Andrew. We have 2 pups, Bella and Angus and a cat named Remington. We love hanging out with friends and family (most times friends ARE family) as they are the most important things in life. We are avid race fans, car enthusiasts, hikers, travelers, and sports fans.

Taira Massey

My name is Taira Massey and I joined the Project Yesu board the beginning of 2024. I went on a mission trip in 2012 and it stirred something in my heart for Africa and adoption. I adopted a son from Ethiopia in 2014. I sponsor three girls currently through Project Yesu.

I am originally from Montana but I have lived in Tennessee for 19 years. I am married to my husband, Kenny, and I have three sons, Gavin, Kylar, and Beza. I love my three dogs, working out, eating healthy, and relaxing by my pool.

Allan Mugumya

My name is Allan Mugumya. I’m a husband, father, and a longtime friend of Project Yesu. I am extremely humbled by the privilege to serve Project Yesu as Board Member starting in April 2024.

My wife Eva and I were born, raised, and lived in Uganda until 2009 when I moved to the USA to be later joined by Eva in 2016. We currently live in Clarksville, Tennessee with our children Ella and Josiah.

I first came into contact with PY in 2011 when I met Mallory and her parents at a church that we both attended. Since then, the Fundora family have become more than dear friends and Project Yesu’s work has always been near and dear to my heart.

Over the years, my wife and I have been and continue to be honored by being part of what PY is doing for the vulnerable and underprivileged children in Uganda. We are proud sponsors of two amazing children through PY. We cherish Sophia and Elijah’s friendship as we look to a future full of promise.

Jeremiah 29:11

Officers

Korina Biemesderfer – Secretary

Korina Biemesderfer has been side by side with Project Yesu since its inception. Quite literally since Mallory is her sister! And what started as a supportive role of working events and helping when needed, has since evolved into handling events for Project Yesu as a whole. With a Bachelors degree in Communications and a concentration in Theatrical Design, she brings her eye for detail, unique ideas and organizational tools to each event. Those organizational tools also help her to handle some of the clerical work for Project Yesu as well. She is a mother to a wild toddler, whom she has created some amazing parties for, and married her college sweetheart! As a family, they sponsor of Kayumba and Responsible through Project Yesu and hope to add more!

Our UG Board of Directors

Our Ugandan Board of Directors is essential in leading and guiding Project Yesu with wisdom, discernment, knowledge of local customs and experience in working with CBOs, NGOs and other non-profits.

Ainembabazi Grace

My wife and I believe that serving God is the reason we exist, just like any other true believer of the Gospel of our Lord. We do not take who we’re for granted; every skill, every talent, every opportunity, every blessing, everything we’re, is to be used for the glory of God. That’s why we love to serve. The other day I was thinking about how God calls us to serve, and I realized it is such a huge blessing to recognize that actually God is calling. I was like out of 7.8 billion people in this world, it’s just a miracle that I am the one standing in this gap! It’s not a coincidence. So I am honored to be part of this vision that God placed in Mallory’s heart. Thank you for believing in me.

Nyakarungi Diana

My name is Diana Nyakarungi, married to Kasule joseph. We have one son Josiah Solomon Kasule. I graduated with a Bachelors degree in counseling and guidance from Kyambogo university. I have a five years experience working with Families and children with special needs . Currently I work as a family mentor with The Amazima school .