Etaala International is a youth led, youth focused organization, Etaala means "Light" in Luganda and our goal is to get youth involved in shining the light of Christ in their lives through caring for those in need. We are passionate about orphans, the poor, the widow; the "least of these." Jesus says in Matthew 25:40 that He is among "the least of these" and that whatever we do for them, we are actually doing for Him. Through Etaala International we hope to give you the tools necessary to serve the least in your area and around the globe. 

Growing up in America, then exposed to the needs of others in the world through meeting and caring for orphans, we realized that we often miss the point and greater scale of things. As we saw youth around us simply going about their lives and often unaware that there is so much more, our passion became to show young people what God has revealed to us through serving others. In the summer of 2009, God began to open doors and lead us to begin Etaala International. We have learned firsthand that seeing the need and having beautiful faces and names to associate with the 147 million orphans in our world today made all the difference. We want you to come and see.

Isaiah 1:17 says "Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow." God didn't put age requirements in there and we believe that was for a reason. God has created us with potential and for a purpose. We have voices that we can and should use to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves.

 The time that Jesus spent here on earth, He spent working and laboring and hanging out with the ones the world deemed as "not cool". He liked to be with the dirty, the homeless, the sick; the ones who nobody else liked. Jesus says "In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your father in heaven."- Matthew 5:16  Think about the way Jesus lived His life and compare it with how you live yours. It is not our works that buys our salvation but it is our works that show who God is to those around us.

1 Timothy 4:12 says "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity." Too often we let our pop culture and luxuries lull us into thinking that this is all there is to us. It's not. We are more than consumers to be entertained, filled, and obsessed with ourselves. We are redeemed and we have a purpose in this life that goes much deeper than the average standards of success we settle for. The light we have as Christ followers is meant to transform and reflect God's love into all we do. His power and love is within us, but it's our decision to open our hearts to the world and show them that our God is here. His kingdom come, His will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.