The mission of Family First is to equip vulnerable families to break the cycle of poverty and dependency.
Family First uses a holistic model of outreach and empowerment that equips both children and parents to step into an independent, bright future!
Our History
Family First founders Matthew and Kelly and their daughters Camille and Tabitha moved from Texas, USA, to Arusha, Tanzania, in 2013 to serve as the on-site directors for a local orphanage. Through that experience, they learned that many children were placed in the orphanage system because their families lacked the essential resources required to prevent such a separation. Convinced that even the best orphanage cannot be a substitute for a loving family, the Erdmans began developing the model for Family First; an organization designed to help families stay together and thrive.
In 2019, the Erdmans relocated to Kampala, Uganda, and founded Family First Uganda to support children and families living in one of the most impoverished slums in Kampala. Family First is a Christian organization that practices biblical discipleship and meeting physical needs. James 2:16 is the foundation of how Family First operates: “If one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?”
