Mission Makers
Sozo Children, a ministry to children in Uganda, lives up to the meaning of its name. “Sozo is a Greek word meaning to save and rescue,” said Suzanne Owens, founder and CEO of Sozo Children. “The beautiful thing about that word is it means to save and rescue not only in the physical sense, but also in a spiritual sense.” 
impact on the next generation of Ugandan society.”
In 2009, Owens served as a youth pastor in a Birmingham church and helped support two college graduates engaging in long-term mission work in Uganda. Their nine-month trip revealed the needs of a poorly maintained children’s home where the children suffered abuse, unsanitary conditions and starvation. As a mother herself, Owens was compelled to stand in the gap and opened the first children’s home in 2010, supported through a collaboration of Ugandan and U.S. missions.
Since that time, the ministry has grown from 17 children and one home to a 38-acre campus with eight homes and 138 children in its care. Its mission to “empower vulnerable children to become thriving leaders for Jesus Christ” is carried out through programs providing daily essentials, health and nutrition, spiritual guidance, quality education including college and more, all led by a dedicated Ugandan staff. 
Safina, 6, is one child finding health and hope through Sozo Children. Found by police in May 2025 after a call from concerned neighbors, Safina had severe burns on her hands and was extremely malnourished and traumatized. Police brought her to Sozo Children where she receives daily care and love. Today, she is a healthy, outgoing child with a promising future.
Sozo Children is primarily funded through monetary donations along with income from Sozo Trading Co, its upscale thrift store located at 4 41st Street South in Avondale, featuring global goods, vintage finds and boutique fashion. Volunteers help staff the store, which is stocked with donated items from the ministry’s supporters.
Throughout the year, Owens and her team welcome volunteers to visit Uganda as mission teams. Sozo Children also hosts an annual two-day medical camp—in 2025, the event drew around 1,700 Ugandans in need of medical care, and an estimated 100 received Christ as their Savior! Already, multiple churches throughout Alabama support the work of Sozo Children. “We invite churches to join us to help Ugandan children thrive and become leaders for Jesus in their communities,” Owens said. “Please pray for our staff in Uganda and in the States that we receive holy wisdom to lead, guide and grow our children up in Christ.” For more information about Sozo Children, mission opportunities, fundraising and events, visit www.sozochildren.org. To stay updated on its latest developments, visit its social media page @sozochildren.
– Juliana V. Larocco
In the video below, Sozo Children Founder Suzanne Owens shares more details about what inspired her to create the ministry, how she has seen the Ugandan children they serve flourish, and more.
