Meet Simone Puccinelli | Founder + President

We had the good fortune of connecting with Simone Puccinelli and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Simone, how does your business help the community?
The social impact of my work comes from building environments where children can learn, grow, and feel safe. I lead a team that provides education, nutrition, and holistic support to students in Uganda, and we’ve seen how investing in one child can uplift an entire community. My focus is on sustainable, relationship‑driven impact—not quick fixes.

What should our readers know about your business?
Simone’s Kids began with a simple desire I had as a teenager—to make sure children in Uganda had the chance to go to school and feel cared for. What started small has grown into a full education system that now serves thousands of students with schooling, meals, safety, and long‑term support. I’m proud that our work isn’t charity in the traditional sense; it’s partnership. We employ local teachers, leaders, and staff, and we build programs that strengthen entire communities, not just individual students.
What sets us apart is our commitment to long‑term, relational impact. We don’t just step in for a moment—we walk with our students from early childhood through graduation. We know their names, their families, their stories. And we measure success not only by test scores, but by the stability, confidence, and opportunity our students gain over time.
Getting here wasn’t easy. I started this organization when I was young, with no roadmap and no resources. There were seasons of financial uncertainty, leadership challenges, and even moments where we were wrongfully taken to court. But each challenge taught me something essential: resilience, humility, and the importance of surrounding yourself with people who believe in the mission as deeply as you do. I learned to ask for help, to build systems instead of relying on adrenaline, and to trust that slow, steady growth is still growth.
Today, I’m most excited about the future—about expanding our programs, strengthening our schools, and continuing to create generational change for families in Uganda. What I want the world to know about Simone’s Kids is that our story is one of faithfulness, perseverance, and community. We’re proof that ordinary people can create extraordinary impact when they refuse to give up on what matters.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend were visiting, I’d take them straight to Uganda—where our programs are and where some of my favorite memories live. I love adventure, so we’d start with something unforgettable, like a safari. There’s nothing quite like riding through the savannah, watching elephants, giraffes, and other wildlife in their natural habitat. It’s peaceful and thrilling all at once.
We’d also take a trip down the Nile River—one of those experiences that stays with you forever. The scenery, the history, the sense of awe…it’s impossible not to feel small in the best way.
And because I love trying new foods, our evenings would be all about enjoying local Ugandan dishes and lingering over long conversations. There’s something special about sharing a meal after a day full of adventure. Uganda has this way of slowing you down and opening you up, and I’d want my friend to feel that too.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
A huge shoutout has to go to my parents. They’ve supported my heart for helping children in Uganda since I was a kid. I still remember my dad preparing for a trip to Uganda and letting me pack an entire bag of clothes for children in orphanages—completely my idea, and he carried it all the way there because he believed in what I was trying to do. That’s who he has always been. He has stood with me through every high and low, including moments when we were wrongfully taken to court. Their steady love, belief, and resilience have shaped the way I lead and the way I show up for others.

Website: https://www.simoneskids.org

Instagram: https://instagram.com/simoneskids

Facebook: https://facebook.com/simoneskids

Youtube: https://youtube.com/simoneskids

Other: https://www.simonepuccinelli.com

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