Fields of Life

The Field of Life Trust was established in 1995 to set up an agricultural project in Uganda.  Under the leadership of Trevor and Ruth Stevenson, 110 acres of land were purchased 16kms from Kampala.  The objectives were to teach Ugandans better methods of crop and animal husbandry and to create employment.

While the farm was being set up, local leaders approached Trevor to request that Fields of Life Trust build and run a primary school.  There was no local school for their children to attend.  As a result of the local community’s appeal, the Fields of Life Academy opened in 1997 with 180 pupils.  Two extensions have been added since that time by Irish volunteer groups in 1997 and 1999.  Currently, the school has a maximum capacity of 500 children per year from nursery to primary seven.  In addition, a literacy programme for teenage children was incorporated into the school curriculum, helping them with basic skills and encouraging them to take on income-generating projects.

Moving on from that first school, Fields of Life has been doing its best to positively impact the lives of children in East Africa.  At the end of 2008, we will have built 88 schools in over five countries (with one project pending in Sudan), 4 health centres, and have 48 established boreholes (wells). Our work has evolved and grown from that initial baby step of building one local school.  Many of these accomplishments are listed in Achievements and we are proud of progress to date.

For the staff, it has been a tremendous privilege and blessing to see God's work unfold in so many different ways.  On a recent visit to the schools, it was encouraging to see the impact these projects are making on the lives of the East African people, especially the children.  Where once there was no hope or a future for so many of the children, there is now a purpose and a meaning for their lives.  Every time each of us sees one of those infectious smiles on the faces of an East African child, it makes one want to help so much more.  

Since Fields of Life became a Trust in 1995, we have grown not only in staffing but in respect to the programmes which we now offer.  It was evident that after constructing each school that programmes to support and alleviate other areas of concern were necessary: the lack of clean drinking water, poor health, lack of educational standards, and the need for moral and ethical guidance for the student was apparent.  In response, health, education, micro finance and outreach programmes were initiated.  There is more detailed information regarding Fields of Life in action (the details of each of our programmes) on this website:

Child Outreach
Education
Gifts of Life
Health
Love for Life
Micro Finance
Short-Term Mission
Wells of Life

We have been blessed with tremendous, dedicated, and heart-felt support over the years. As a staff working together towards a common purpose, we feel privileged to be the recipients of such support from our donors, volunteers, and short-term mission teams.  Such loving concern for these children has proved tangibly that it takes very few to make an ongoing, life-changing difference to the lives of these children of East Africa.  It is our hope that with God’s blessing we will continue to flourish and grow in service to the children of East Africa!