The Bright Orphan Project was established in 2001 by Ugandan native, Abdallah Walusimbi. Walusinbi, who had grown up an orphan himself, developed the project in an effort to give back to the spirit of his adoptive father. Inspired by the life he was given after his biological parents’ death, Walusinbi started taking children off of the street into his home, providing them with food, clothing, and education. He was a teacher by profession and turned his home into a school to educate the orphans.

In 2004, Walusinbi passed away and the project disintegrated. It wasn’t until 2015 when it was brought to the attention of Walusinbi’s granddaughter, Zahara, that he had left a will asking for her to carry on with the project. Zahara, having just graduated with a communications degree, was pursuing journalism. She brought the will to her brother, Meddy. Together they took on the Bright Orphanroject while maintaining their respective career paths.