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One week into my sixth visit to Uganda and I find myself as excited to be here as my first. As I watch Trina, Elizabeth and Janet, and even Terry after 23 years of coming to Uganda, playing with the children, talking with the school staff and parents. I see their smiles, curiosity, interest and caring on their faces, and hear the joy in their hearts that come through their voices. All of that reminds me of why we are here.
Yes, it is to bring school supplies to schools, but it is also as ambassadors of hope. Hope for a better life for the children, but also the hope of connecting us together as one people wanting a better world for us all.
While at Bishops Central Primary School, we saw William Oreyama, who is the music teacher. Some of you may remember William from his visit to Seattle, five years ago. He now has two beautiful daughters, five and two years old. Elizabeth noticed and commented that Miriam, the two year old, has a bone by her ear that sticks out a little and that one of her daughters has the same thing. The fact that East Africa is considered the place where human life began…we are after all not that different from one another.
Tuesday evening we attended a Rotarac meeting with Asia, our Ugandan Coordinator. This is a group of Junior Rotarians, 25 to 30 years old. Watching, listening and talking with these young leaders, hearing about their careers as economists, currency traders, social workers, bankers, business owners, managers and educators, wanting to share what they have achievied so far and help build a better Uganda for the future; brought back that warm feeling to me as ambassadors of hope. We are making a difference in people’s lives and in a developing country’s future.
We are working with the children today, who will become the Rotaracs of tomorrow, and the country’s leaders in the future. It all begins with sharing and bringing hope, and then listening to the joy.
Michael Fardella
Sister Schools Board Chairman
Michael –
I just saw the first pictures and just wanted to send you guys a note to say that we are all thinking of you and those beautiful children. Knowing you are delivering hope and joy along with those school supplies makes many hearts happy on this end, too.
Travel safely.
Nancy
Thanks, Michael, for the reminder that this work is about the future, not only about making the present a little easier.
Michael,
What a wonderful blog Trina has developed. The pictures speak for themselves & tell the story of why you are all dedicated to the Sister Schools Project. Seeing the photos, and reading the words, makes me understand what you do in Uganda and also why my daughter spent almost 2 years in Malawi working in a refugee camp, and another friend of mine spends 6 months a year volunteering in South Africa.
Thank you all for your hard work & devotion to a wonderful cause. I just know that in the end you will make a difference to not just one child, but many, and they will be the ones to help unite the world.
Keep up the good work. Stay safe & healthy.
Joan
I just found the blog and have so much to catch up on before you get home. Michael, reading your first post brings home just how much a little pebble (or a notebook, or a package of pens) thrown into pool sends the ripples out for a long time. The joy in the pictures, both on your faces and on the childrens, just warms my heart and does give us all hope.
*****Happy travels.
The hope that is raised in the children’s lives as they see someone giving them school supplies, smiling at them, carrying them is indescribable. Thank you all Michael, Terry, Trina, Elizabeth, Janat and Asia for ensuring that the dreams of these children stay alive. I know that for a fact.