Between May 2007 and July 2008, the U.S. Army 316th Expeditionary Sustainment Command (ESC) was assigned to Joint Base Balad, Iraq which served as the initial encounter between U.S. Soldiers and Ugandan security forces. It was during this engagement that Karen Jennings, Deputy Commander, 316th ESC developed a friendship with Adolf Kalyegria, a member of the Ugandan security force assigned to guarding the 316th Headquarters compound.

After their return from Iraq, Karen was in contact with Adolf through social media and learned that he was working at an orphanage in Kaguma, leading the day-to-day activities for the boys. He later became Director of the Kaguma Education Centre (KEC).

Karen established a Facebook page with members of the 316th and sought assistance to help the orphanage and later the school. Karen Lonis and Cynthia Campise joined Karen in starting the 501 (C) 3 non-profit organization called KEC- A Village of Hope, Inc. (KEC-AVOH).