<?php 
$title = "Founder's Message | Wipe Tears Africa";
$tagline = "Bringing hope & a future to the African children in Uganda";
$description = "Wipe Tears Africa (WTA) is a nonprofit organization founded in 2010, dedicated to restoring hope and transforming the lives of vulnerable children and families in Uganda.";
$keywords = "Wipe Tears Africa, WTA, Education, Health, Girl Child Empowerment, Skills Development, Counselling & Guidance";
$featured_image = 'https://www.wipetearsafrica.org/assets/images/wipe-tears-africa-uganda1.jpg';
include "includes/header.php";
?>

<?php include "includes/menu.php"; ?>

<style>
/* ===== Founder Image Positioning (Top Left) ===== */
.founder-image-wrapper {
  position: absolute;
  top: 0;
  left: 0;
  max-width: 320px;
  z-index: 2;
  text-align: center;
}

.founder-image-wrapper img {
  width: 100%;
  border-radius: 14px;
  box-shadow: 0 8px 25px rgba(0,0,0,0.15);
}

.callout-box {
  background: #2eb217;
  color: #fff;
  padding: 10px 15px;
  font-size: 14px;
  margin-top: 10px;
  border-radius: 8px;
}

/* Push text away from image */
.founder-content {
  padding-left: 360px;
}

/* Mobile responsiveness */
@media (max-width: 768px) {
  .founder-image-wrapper {
    position: relative;
    max-width: 100%;
    margin-bottom: 25px;
  }

  .founder-content {
    padding-left: 0;
  }
}
</style>

<section class="header-services" style="background: linear-gradient(to bottom, rgba(46, 178, 23, 0.763), rgba(46, 178, 23, 0.963)), url('assets/images/slides/wipe-tears-africa-4.jpg') no-repeat;background-size: cover;background-position: center;">
  <div class="container">
    <div class="row align-items-center">
      <div class="col text-center" data-aos="fade-up">
        <h1>Founder's Message</h1>
        <nav aria-label="breadcrumb">
          <ol class="breadcrumb justify-content-center">
            <li class="breadcrumb-item"><a href="./">Home</a></li>
            <li class="breadcrumb-item active" aria-current="page">Founder's Message</li>
          </ol>
        </nav>
      </div>
    </div>
  </div>
</section>

<section class="home-intro-mid">
  <div class="container">
    <div class="row position-relative">

      <!-- Founder Image (Top Left) -->
      <div class="founder-image-wrapper">
        <img src="assets/images/team/Alex Mukose.jpg" alt="Alex Mukose - Founder">
        <div class="callout-box">Join us in making a difference</div>
      </div>

      <!-- Content -->
      <div class="col-12 founder-content">

        <h5 class="tdeco" data-aos="fade-up">Meet Our Founder</h5>

        <h2 data-aos="fade-up">
          <strong>Alex Mukose</strong> is the Founder & CEO of <strong>Wipe Tears Africa</strong>.
        </h2>

        <p data-aos="fade-up">
          I am married to Judith and a father of six biological children. I was born into a poor and drunkard family,
          where education was not considered important. Though both my parents tried to send me to school, poverty and
          hunger were so extreme that even one meal a day was uncertain. After their separation, life grew even harder.
        </p>

        <h5 class="tdeco" data-aos="fade-up">A Message from Our Founder</h5>

        <h3 data-aos="fade-up">
          <strong>Alex Mukose</strong><br>
          Founder & Chief Executive Officer, <strong>Wipe Tears Africa</strong>
        </h3>

        <p data-aos="fade-up">
          Thank you for taking the time to learn about Wipe Tears Africa. This organization was born not from theory,
          but from lived experience, faith, and a deep understanding of poverty’s impact on children and families.
        </p>

        <p data-aos="fade-up">
          I grew up in extreme hardship, in a family where education was often beyond reach and even daily meals were uncertain.
          Despite my parents’ efforts, poverty, hunger, and family breakdown defined much of my childhood.
        </p>

        <p data-aos="fade-up">
          In 1990, my life was transformed through faith in Jesus Christ. I was embraced by a community that believed in me,
          nurtured my growth, and showed me the power of compassion, dignity, and opportunity.
        </p>

        <p data-aos="fade-up">
          In 2010, I founded <strong>Wipe Tears Africa</strong> with a clear purpose: to restore hope and create lasting change
          for vulnerable children and families in Uganda. What began with sponsoring a small number of children has grown
          into a holistic organization addressing education, health, child protection, and family empowerment.
        </p>

        <p data-aos="fade-up">
          Our work is guided by accountability, transparency, and measurable impact. We partner with donors, churches,
          volunteers, and local leaders who share our vision of a future where every child can thrive.
        </p>

        <p data-aos="fade-up">
          Your support restores dignity, unlocks potential, and builds hope for generations.
          Together, we can wipe away tears and replace them with opportunity and purpose.
        </p>

        <p data-aos="fade-up"><strong>With gratitude and hope,</strong></p>

        <p data-aos="fade-up">
          <strong>Alex Mukose</strong><br>
          Founder & CEO<br>
          Wipe Tears Africa
        </p>

        <img src="assets/images/logo-wipe-tears-africa.png" alt="Wipe Tears Africa Logo" class="logo-icon mt-3">

      </div>
    </div>
  </div>
</section>

<?php include "includes/footer.php"; ?>
</body>
</html>