“Talent and ambition exist everywhere. What is often missing is opportunity.”
Last Sunday our founder had the privilege of giving eight orphaned children in Uganda their very first online maths tutoring lesson. It was a moment we will not forget, made all the more memorable by the sound of chickens clucking in the background as we worked through algebra together. For these children it was a milestone. The home where they live has only just had internet installed and recently received donated laptops. This meant that the session was their very first online lesson from a European tutor. The connection was slow and occasionally unstable, but what stood out far more was the students’ curiosity, determination and eagerness to learn. After the lesson we spoke about their aspirations. One student hopes to become a doctor. Another dreams of becoming a chemical engineer. Listening to them speak so clearly about the futures they hope to build was deeply inspiring.
A Personal Story
For several years now, our founder has been sponsoring a young orphaned girl named Macy through a local charity called Chances for Children. Watching Macy grow from a little girl into a determined and ambitious young woman has been one of the most quietly extraordinary experiences. Today she hopes to become a nurse. That ambition, born from nothing, is everything. Over the years she has written letters to Tina describing her studies and her hopes for the future. Her school reports are something we follow closely, and each one is a reminder of how powerful education can be when someone simply believes in a child. Macy has written to Tina on a number of occasions, sharing news of her schooling and her hopes for the future. Reading her letters is a reminder of the very human connection at the heart of this work. Her progress over the years has been deeply moving to witness.
Each update is a reminder that with care, consistency and education, a child’s sense of possibility can expand immeasurably. These letters, written in careful handwriting on Chances for Children notepaper, speak of gratitude, of Christmas gifts received, of dreams for the future. They are small and precious records of a life being shaped by the belief that someone cares.
A Charity Built Around Family
Chances for Children is a small Monaco-registered charity founded by Gabrielle and Russell Crump. Today it cares for just over fifty orphaned children in Uganda, raising them together as a family and providing them with shelter, food, schooling and, above all, a future. There is no overhead, no commercial layer, no profit. Every euro goes directly to the children, and full financial transparency is maintained. Accounting statements for all expenditure are available. The children have recently moved from a rented home in Kampala to land they now own in Busunju, a place they can truly call home where they will never be asked to leave. They are gradually completing the build: bathrooms, living spaces and a small medical and dental clinic. After school, the children help with construction themselves to reduce costs. They have planted crops, raised animals and are doing everything they can to become increasingly self-sufficient.
A Natural Extension of Athena Academia
Now that internet access is available at the home, several Athena Academia tutors have started volunteering their time to tutor the children each week. Even one or two hours of mentorship and tutoring can make a meaningful difference. For Athena Academia, this initiative feels like a natural extension of our mission. Education has always been about more than academic performance. It is about expanding what young minds believe is possible.
Looking Ahead
This first lesson marks only the beginning. Athena Academia tutors will continue volunteering their time, sharing knowledge and mentorship with these students as they continue their education. We are also always open to welcoming more tutors who may wish to contribute their time and support to this initiative. Moments like this are powerful reminders of why education matters.
If you would like to learn more about sponsoring a child or supporting the work of Chances for Children, please feel free to contact us.
With warmth and gratitude,
The Athena Academia Team
