Faith in action
Our Christian calling becomes practical care for people in distress.
About OWAID
Join our mission to care
for African orphans and widows.
Learn why the Venant and Joan Sindayigaya family founded Orphans & Widows Aid in Nashville in 2025.
A family commitment. An invitation to help.
Every donation.
For orphans and widows.
100% of donations go toward helping orphans and widows.
Since 2022, the Sindayigaya family has provided all monetary donations for this work, contributing $9,525. The family’s commitment began before OWAID was established in 2025.
The need has grown beyond what one family can manage. More orphaned children, widows and displaced refugees need tarpaulins, temporary shelter, food, medicine and a path toward lasting stability. We are inviting others to help continue and expand this care.
Help Continue This Care
Our story
Love that reaches beyond
where we call home.
OWAID began with a Christian family’s conviction that caring for orphaned children and widows should be a lived commitment. The Venant and Joan Sindayigaya family founded the organization in Nashville, Tennessee, in 2025.
James 1:27 calls believers to look after orphans and widows in their distress. That calling shapes our desire to help families affected by war and displacement find safety, dignity and a path forward.
From Nashville, we connect with people closer to the needs in East and Central Africa. Our focus includes Nakivale and Kyangwali in Uganda, refugee communities in Kenya and Tanzania, and displaced families in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Mission, vision and values
Restoring dignity.
Creating room for hope.
Our mission is to protect, care for and empower vulnerable families through housing, education, skills and essentials.
Faithful stewardship
We value clear records, responsible decisions and honest communication.
Dignity first
Every person deserves respect, safety and a voice in their future.
Lasting opportunity
We connect immediate help with learning, skills and independence.
Our vision
A vision of safety,
belonging and independence.
We want to see displaced widows supported as they rebuild their households, and children growing in safe, caring environments with the education and encouragement to pursue a purposeful future.
Practical help and sustained relationships belong together. A home, a school place or a useful trade can become part of a wider network of care, grounded in respect for each person’s dignity.
- Serve people regardless of their background
- Listen before choosing a response
- Pair immediate help with longer-term opportunity
Family-led. Community-connected.
People who care.
Partnerships that matter.
Venant & Joan Sindayigaya
The founding family’s Christian calling guides OWAID’s purpose and commitment to vulnerable children and widows.
Nashville Coordination
Administration, supporter communication and coordination help connect generosity with practical needs.
Community Relationships
Local leaders, volunteers and partners bring essential knowledge of families, available resources and appropriate support.
Together, we can help
a family begin again.
Give toward a home, a school year or the everyday care that makes a future possible.