Why we love the people of Uganda and are passionate about helping them

Our Story

Our love for Uganda started in 2015 when we adopted two children from Uganda. While there, we fell in love with the Acholi people and witnessed their amazing resilience and heart-breaking struggles. Fig Tree and Vine was born out of the amazing vision and success of the Kids Inspiring Kids organization that originally helped us with our adoption and later started the critical groundwork to create a self-sustaining Acholi village. When the KIK organization shifted their focus to other projects in 2024, we decided to carry on with the vision of the self-sustaining village and created Fig Tree and Vine.

We are a registered non-profit organization in the United States and a registered non-governmental organization (NGO) in Uganda. Once the non-profit corporation was formed in 2024, we started the submitted the paperwork to receive our 501(c)3 tax-exempt status from the IRS, a process which can take 6-12 months. We anticipate that official tax-exempt status to be granted by mid-2025. Our EIN is 99-4992213.

Through the dedicated Fig Tree and Vine staff in Uganda and the help of generous donors, the our organization dreams of relocating up to 3000 Acholi refugees from their refugee camp in Kampala to their homeland near Gulu. We have purchased 100 acres of fertile land just south of Gulu and are ready to create a fully functional and self-sustaining village that will have a generational impact and provide these deserving people a community of their own.

We are excited to have partners in our journey. Please let us know if you would like more information or would be interested in volunteer opportunities!

-Jen and Ryan Ramaekers

Meet the Team

Jen Ramaekers

FOUNDER
Jen serves as the president of Fig Tree and Vine. She brings a passion to this project from her experiences adopting Ugandan children and volunteering with projects to help the Acholi people for many years. She previously worked as a pharmacist but now spends her time managing a busy household of 6 children and several volunteer efforts.
Filda Lakite

VICE PRESIDENT, DIRECTOR OF UGANDA NGO OPERATIONS
Filda is the Vice President of Fig Tree and Vine and serves as the head of our NGO within Uganda. She is a native Acholi who has an incredible story of resilience that should be read in full to appreciate how amazing she truly is. She has the knowledge and the skill set to accomplish the mission of Fig Tree and Vine. She has dedicate her life to serving the Acholi people and has made the success of our village project her singular focus. Read her story here.
Rebecca

VILLAGE PROPERTY MANAGER
Rebecca oversees the village land operations including the crops and the livestock. She is a native Acholi and endured many hardships during the prior rebel fighting and through her years living in the Banda Acholi Quarters.