Some Ugandan Facts

The capital is Kampala with about 1.7 million people

 

English is the official language although over 40 different languages are commonly used

 

Uganda extremely poor with high illiteracy rates

 

Many children have been forced to live on the streets of Kampala. They are the called the “forgotten children” and have little hope for a future. This is not right!

 

God’s heart if for those who are orphaned, outcast, forgotten. He longs to lift them up.

 

In Kampala is an organization called A Perfect Injustice. Their mission is to show and teach marginalized people the love and hope of Christ and to secure for them a life off of the street.

 

This is where I hope to serve

For quite a while now I have felt a burden to travel somewhere that is poor. Over the last year it has grown increasingly strong. Even though I know that poverty exists I feel detached from it, blessed to the point of apathy.  And it scares me. I want to see it, touch it, let it get a hold of me and then start to be part of some type of change.

 Thinking it would be a good tool to have, I completed a TESL course (for teaching English) last spring and started praying about where God might need me. It was about this time that I first heard about an

organisation called A Perfect Injustice through a friend who had travelled to Uganda and volunteered there a few months earlier. This organisation reaches out to the “forgotten kids” of Kampala who roam the streets without homes or parents.  She mentioned to me their need for an English teacher for a number of the kids in their program who are now back in school but in order to be successful need to improve in their English. I contacted API to learn more.

 So this is the next adventure. They have very little resources they tell me, not even a chalkboard, but the kids are very eager to learn! Would I consider coming for three months at the least? I said yes.

 

I have yet to book my ticket but I will in the next few weeks. I will be leaving around the end of January 2013 for three months.

 

I am excited, but nervous at the same time.