Charlotte pumping water
Raise the Roof Academy began in 2010 to provide education for orphans and at-risk children. In only five years, the number of students has grown from 30 to 600. Owen says the mission of the school is to provide hope, stability and wholeness to children in need.
“Education equals choices,” says Owen.
The trips to Uganda, which last between 10-14 days, include a variety of activities, such as Vacation Bible School for the students, sponsorship meetings and most recently, building drying racks for the assembly of mud huts.
Owen says she became involved with Raise the Roof Academy because she wanted to give back and wanted her son to experience a mission trip.
“It made me appreciate what we have here in the United States,” says Owen.
Raise the Roof Academy is currently campaigning to build three more permanent classrooms and acquire enough sponsors to support 90 more students. Known as the 390 Campaign, the goal is to reach it before the 2016 school year begins.
If you are interested in supporting Raise the Roof Academy, visit raisetheroofacademy.org for more information.
“A little bit here,” Owen says, “makes a big impact there.”
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Claire Brown is a senior public relations major at Lipscomb University. Claire graduates in May and wants to stay in the Nashville area.
