History

Pearls of Africa, Inc. is a newly formed US 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. POA received this tax status in 2001. However, the work that POA supports goes back much further than that.

Since 1989, a nonprofit organization called People With Disabilities Uganda has been providing services and support for people living with various disabilities. Located in Kampala, Uganda, PWD has been a very successful, yet mostly local organization. Then in early 2000, director Richard Mugisha began to involve online volunteers through NetAid . Through the work and support of these online volunteers, PWD has grown into an international force. Not only does PWD enjoy the support of volunteers from around the world, but it also benefits from the generosity of individuals, foundations and corporations from all corners of the globe.

Laurie Moy and Richard Mugisha onsite with local program staff. Mrs. Moy traveled to Uganda thanks to the coordination and efforts of the United Nations Volunteers program

The Directors Laurie Moy and Richard Mugisha onsite with local program staff.

Because of this growth, a need developed for an American based organization to support the work of PWD. Pearls of Africa, Inc. was created in 2001 to fulfill that need. Now the important work of PWD can be spread even further, and donations made to Pearls of Africa are tax deductible to the extent of the law.