About Us

In 2001, Fr. Don Dunson traveled to Uganda on an academic sabbatical to visit a fellow priest from seminary. Although the pair had to cut their visit short, the struggles of the children-soldiers swept up into the militia to fight in the civil war moved Fr. Dunson. Additionally, many of these boys' parents perished, leaving nowhere to return home.

Fr. Dunson started the St. Kizito Foundation to help a few boys assimilate and return to society. Since then, this small endeavor has flourished into the St. Kizito Foundation, which has supported thousands of boys and girls in Uganda. Fr. Dunson chose St. Kizito as the patron saint and name for our organization because he was one of a group of Ugandan martyrs who suffered death rather than renounce his Catholic faith. At the time of his death, he was only 14 years old. St. Kizito symbolizes the struggles and unending faith of many students in Uganda.

The St. Kizito Foundation's humble beginnings helping child soldiers at the turn of the 21st century have blossomed into a transatlantic scholarship foundation that supports approximately 300 students annually. Our primary focus is to provide students with appropriate and sufficient education to help them earn a living and attain success in life. Our students enroll in schools of their choice based on school and government standards of acceptance. St. Kizito's counselors and staff assist students to determine the best placement.