Up until 4 years ago, I didn’t have philanthropy on my radar.

Not because I didn’t care but because I’ve always been cautious. Skeptical about how charitable organizations operate, you may say. 

I knew the statistics - most nonprofits spend the majority of their funds on overhead, paying salaries to executives, or chasing political influence rather than directly supporting the causes they claim to support. 

The idea of donating to something that would end up lining someone else’s pocket didn’t sit right with me.

But then, I met Jennings.

It was four years ago when I interviewed her for my podcast. 

She was running a nonprofit organization,10Eighteen.org dedicated to helping young girls in Uganda escape a cycle of poverty, exploitation, and, frankly, hopelessness. 

During that conversation, I had to stop four times just to gather myself. 

The stories she told were devastating. They struck me to my core, especially as the father of young children myself. 

At the time, my wife had just given birth to our second child, and I couldn’t stop thinking about how these Ugandan girls, some not much older than my own kids, had their innocence stolen from them.

I’ll admit it… I wept after that interview. 

I’ve always known the world can be a dark place, but hearing first-hand accounts from someone like Jennings, who has spent time with these girls and witnessed their struggles, broke something inside me. 

I had to act.

Jennings is not your average nonprofit founder. 

She’s a fellow libertarian, a freedom-minded individual who, like me, believes in taking personal responsibility and creating meaningful change. 

She’s an incredible woman - an author, an entrepreneur, a homeschooling mom, and a relentless advocate for these girls. 

…And let me tell you, what she’s built with 10Eighteen.org is nothing short of extraordinary.

Unlike so many bloated nonprofits, every single penny donated to 10Eighteen.org goes directly to the girls in Uganda. I’ve seen the balance sheet myself. Jennings doesn’t take a salary. 

The only wages paid go to the Ugandan staff who provide security, teach the girls, and ensure the programs run smoothly.

Full stop. 

There are no Westerners parachuting in for photo ops or "feel-good" Instagram moments. This is real, grassroots work, and it’s truly making a difference.

After that interview, I spoke to my wife for hours. 

I explained how deeply I felt about this cause and how I wanted to support it - not just financially but by using my reach and influence to help Jennings grow her impact.

I explained to my wife what I had learned about Uganda - it has one of the world’s youngest populations… its basically children raising children there.

It is an extremely poor country, and as much as I hate the public education system, in Uganda, school is important to these girls as it is the only place they can get a solid meal.

Oftentimes, the parents or parent (one has usually already died from AIDS or HIV) don’t even send the girls to school…. they send them to work in “the city.”

But with no skills, finding a job is no small feat.

…and sadly, some sick men prey on this reality.

An older man shows up and offers a roof and maybe a little food…. A “lifeline,” essentially.  

But there’s an expectation…. always an expectation.

She’s supposed to be “available” to him.

Eventually, after a month or two of this, she gets pregnant.

These are girls as young as 13.

And guess what, she’s thrown out, just like that. 

No roof. No food. No help. Tossed to the street like a piece of trash.

So now, here is a child, barely a teenager, pregnant, on the streets with zero skills.

Could you imagine the hopelessness?

Why not just go back to their village, you may ask?

Well, only if it was that simple…

They have now “disgraced” themselves, and the parent or parents won’t take them in… even their own community turns their backs on the girl.

This informal version of prostitution happens all the time. All. The. Time.

So, after sharing all this with my wife, she agreed - we had to help.

Since then, I’ve been involved in every way I can.

Today, I’m proud to sit on the board of directors for 10Eighteen.org. I’ve helped raise awareness through my personal and professional network. 

I’ve introduced them to platforms like DonorSee, which secured $100,000 in funding for their projects. My own IT specialist, Thulani, even runs their website.

And I’ve contributed my time, expertise, and heart to ensure this organization continues to thrive.

As someone who struggled with dyslexia growing up, literacy holds a special place in my heart. I know first-hand how transformative the ability to read and write can be. 

For years, I couldn’t read or write properly, and it was only after attending a “special school” that everything started to change for me. 

That’s why I worked alongside Jennings to develop a literacy program for these girls. Every year, we help 60 young women gain this essential skill. 

But it doesn’t stop there - those 60 girls go on to teach their friends, neighbours, and future generations. 

I call this the ripple effect. 

We also run a tailoring and hairdressing program that equips girls with the skills to sew, make clothing, and earn money by cutting hair in the community.

Recently, we upgraded their equipment and introduced an advanced curriculum to help them further their craft. 

These aren’t just life skills - they’re opportunities for financial independence.

When a girl can support herself, she can break free from the cycle of poverty and create a better future for her family.

These women are now quite literally entrepreneurs. They are building businesses, and soon, they will be self-sufficient - fully supporting themselves via the skills they learned with our help. We are giving the gift of a future, not just another day, week, or month of survival. 

Food inflation in Uganda is no joke. With the cost of feeding the community skyrocketing, we decided to take matters into our own hands. 

We purchased a piece of farmland outside the city, installed a well, and set up solar electricity so we can grow our own food - and we provide over 3,000 meals every month. 

The girls love visiting the farm to learn about agriculture and sustainability—a vital skill in their environment.

We’ve also built a computer lab so the girls can research and learn about the world beyond the slum.

Access to technology opens up opportunities they never imagined possible, giving them the tools to dream bigger and achieve more.

Perhaps the most heart-wrenching aspect of our work is supporting teenage mothers - some as young as 13 or 14, many of whom became mothers through horrific circumstances. 

To ensure they have access to proper care, we hired a nurse and set up a clinic dedicated entirely to their needs. 

These girls are some of the most vulnerable individuals on the planet, and providing them with medical support is absolutely critical.

When we help one girl, we’re not just changing her life—we’re changing the trajectory of her entire community. 

As proud as I am of what we’ve accomplished, the reality is that running these programs isn’t cheap. 

Between the farm, the clinic, the literacy program, and everything else we do, we need to raise $12,000 in order to continue to run these programs in 2025, which will be the 4th group of girls we will have successfully taken through the program. 

That’s why I’m reaching out to you today.

I am reaching out to you on behalf of the teenage mother who showed up at our compound this past year.

Barely a teenager, this poor soul walked into our compound holding her newborn baby. 

The umbilical cord was still attached.

Let that sink in for a second.

Barely a teenager, she had given birth completely alone. 

In a ditch. On the side of the road. No doctors. No midwives. Not even a hand to hold. 

I don’t know how she survived or how the baby survived. Barely—but they did.

This girl’s story could have ended right there. 

Another young life over before it had a chance to begin.

But she showed up. She made it to us, exhausted and broken, with her baby still clinging to her.

We took her in. We got her medical care. And now? She’s safe. She’s healing. She’s learning. In time, she’ll have new skills and a new future - not just for her but for her child, too.

Will the trauma ever go away? 

I can’t imagine so.

But what I do know, with every bit of certainty in me, is that the future she’s walking toward is far brighter than the one she left behind.

And here’s the thing: there are more girls out there. Right now. Alone. Pregnant. Hungry. Desperate. 

The cycle repeats itself over and over again - until someone steps in.

That’s what we do. We step in.

This isn’t about guilt or obligation - it’s about an opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of young girls who have the odds stacked against them and were dealt a shitty hand.

The opportunity to support an organization that operates with integrity, transparency, and heart.

Every dollar you donate goes directly to the programs that are changing lives in Uganda. 

There’s no bureaucracy, no waste - just pure impact. If you’ve ever felt compelled to give, this is your chance.

To donate or learn more about our work, visit https://donorbox.org/expat-money-year-end-fundraiser-literacy-2024

Together, we can ensure these girls have the support, skills, and opportunities they need to build brighter futures.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. Your support means the world to me, to Jennings, and to every girl whose life we’re changing.

Speak soon,

Mikkel

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