Author: lfrederick

Christmas Dinners

Would you consider donating $25 to cover the cost of Christmas dinner for one family in Uganda?

Gerald Ogenrwot, Grandmother, Brother & Family

We had such a positive response to our Christmas dinner initiative last year by both the giving and receiving families, we have decided to do it again this year!

Life continues to be hard in Uganda. Schools were shut down again in June and still not yet been allowed to open again. This has left many at home with not enough to do.  Teenage pregnancies have soared in the country. The weather went from too much rain in 2020 to too little rain in 2021 further destroying crops. The President and administration continue to shutdown markets and business activities, despite minimal cases and few deaths from COVID. Economic problems abound causing a ripple effect of despair and discouragement.  In this season of hope, you can spread God’s love and mercy with a small gift of $25 for one family.  

We want 50 families to experience the unexpected joy of Christmas this year.  Families with special needs children, as well as teachers, students, widows, orphans, and individuals with disabilities.

To have a good Christmas in Uganda is to attend Church followed by a dinner feast together that includes meat. Children look forward to this day all year long. Without our support this year shall be just another meal of beans and portio (corn meal).

Just $25 will buy 1 chicken (or equivalent beef/goat), plus rice, additional sides, sodas to share, and Christmas cake for a family of five to eight.

Will you help us bless 50 families with a Christmas Dinner gift?

We have already received contributions for 10 Christmas Dinners!  

May God bless you and your family this Christmas season for unto us the Christ child is born ever new in our hearts!

“O give thanks to the Lord for he is good; for his love endures for ever.”  

Psalm 107:1

Fr. John Chachu’s Story

Former Head Teacher at Ocer Campion Jesuit College, Fr. John Chachu, passed away on July 22 at 59 years old. His loss was a devastating shock to the OCJC community, as he had been involved with the college for several years, and was well established in the college community. Fr. Chachu was a Jesuit priest originally ordained in Sudan in 1988, later sent to Ocer Campion Jesuit College in 2014. Under his leadership, enrollment at the college had risen from just over 600 students to over 700. 

Fr John Chachu

Upon the news of his death, many in the OCJC community began to raise money to bring his body back to Gulu so he could be buried there. The community truly loved him, so much so that, when news spread that only 20 people could attend his burial due to Covid restrictions, a cause went up to request that his burial be open to the entire community. Parents, students, and teachers alike wanted to be able to attend, and after some discussion, the burial ceremony was opened, and 700 people attended (double the projected 250 mourners). 

Fr. Chachu came from a family of 6 children, and was one of two surviving members; he and one of his sisters. He had been raised in Sudan in a faithful family. In Gulu, he was the only Jesuit priest there that spoke the local language, a skill he was very proud of, noting that he was “very much in this place.” He embraced Gulu as his home, and felt very connected to the community. Likewise, the community loved him. Many students paid homage to Fr. Chachu at his burial, and others sent messages and stories to the school. The students at OCJC truly saw him as family. At his burial, one of his students, Susan Akera, noted “he was a father to many of us who were orphaned.” Another student expressed, “we will miss our father, our parent.” 

In an unreleased interview, Fr. Chachu spoke lovingly about the community. One of his biggest concerns was that many prospective students could not afford to attend OCJC, but even some who could not pay were still welcomed into the program. Fr. Chachu cared deeply for the situation of those children in Gulu, commenting, “they literally have nothing, and as a school now, we cannot… send them away.” According to many in the community, Fr. Chahcu was a stern, disciplinary teacher at OCJC, yet even so, he was loved and widely known to have loved everyone. He kept close contact with the families, even outside of school, and was very encouraging to all of his students. His student Susan Akera described him as “the most forgiving priest I have ever come across. He would quarrel on us and within minutes he would start making jokes to us.” Another student agreed, stating, “He created a social environment that was equal for us all irrespective of who you are.”

The OCJC families and staff will sorely miss Fr. Chachu, and his contributions to the community will not soon be forgotten. Fr. Chahu was known for truly loving his students and for being a well rounded, disciplinary role model to the children at OCJC. It is with great sorrow that the OCJC families and teachers say farewell to Fr. Chachu. May his soul and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

Tokyo 2020: Ugandans Win Two Olympic Gold Medals!

Uganda first participated in the Olympics in 1956 with a three-person team. Now, over sixty years later, Uganda has a team of twenty-five athletes participating in Tokyo in rowing, swimming, boxing, and athletics. This years Olympics is unconventional due to Covid, but that hasn’t stopped Uganda’s athletes from putting their best forward. At the opening of the games, Bwogi Shadiri and Namutebi Kirabo represented the country as flagbearers, and returned to carry their flag at the closing of the Olympic games on Sunday, August 8. Shadiri is a boxer in the games, having taken up the sport in 2009 with his father’s encouragement. Kirabo is participating as a swimmer for the country. She won the World Junior Championships in 2019. 

This year, Uganda’s team made history winning four medals, the most ever in a single Olympics for the country. Uganda won their last medal (gold) in 2012 Olympics in London. This is the first time since the Munich games in 1972 that the country has won more than two medals in any single Olympics.

Joshua Cheptegei ran a fabulous race to win gold in the Men’s 5,000m beating out Mohamed Ahmed (Canada) and Paul Chelimo (USA). In the 10,000m Cheptegei claimed the silver medal in a close finish behind Ethiopia’s Selemon Barega.  His teammate Jacob Kiplimo took the bronze medal. Joshua’s story is one of redemption. He participated in the 2017 World Cross Country Championship, which took place in Uganda, and placed a disappointing 30th. Just five months later Joshua would go on take the silver in London during the 2017 World Championships. And now he holds two Olympic medals with a bright future ahead in sport.

Jacob Kiplimo has been greatly influenced by his older brothers, who were also runners. Jacob developed a passion for the sport and aims to one day break a record for the 10000 meter. Both men are from Kapchorwa, Uganda, and were inspired by their families to pursue the sport. Today, they have become Olympians holding medals for Uganda.

Chemutai Peruth ran an incredible race taking gold in the Women’s 3000m Steeplechase final (9.01.45), beating out the veteran American runner Courtney Frerichs (silver) and Kenya’s Hyvin Kiyeng (bronze). She became the first Ugandan female to ever win a gold medal! Winnie Nanayondo participated in the Women’s 1500m placing 7th only 6 seconds from the gold medal time, which was an Olympic record. And Kathleen Grace Noble made it to the semi-finals of the women’s 5000m single scull event. All in all, it was a fantastic showing for the Ugandan team hopefully inspiring the next generation of young athletes in the country!

Wondering how you can help children in Uganda achieve their dreams? Support the poor rural children in Tororo, Uganda by offering prayers, donating today, or sharing this story with others. Perhaps you will be supporting Uganda’s next Olympian! 

Mobility, What a Gift!

Have you ever lost your mobility, even for a short while? I have twice in my life and it sure has made me appreciate gaining it back, pain free!  Gloria lost her ability to run, jump, ride a bicycle and squat easily when she was 11 years old due to a moped accident. Gloria was living with her Grandmother and three brothers at the time of the accident. Her father had died when she was 7 years old, after which she was pulled from school to help her mother at home. So she never had the opportunity to learn how to read and write. And a few later she lost her mother when the mud hut they called home collapsed on her. Following the accident there were no resources available to take Gloria to a hospital. She was left to simply “heal” on a mat at home.  Her right hip became infected and what the accident didn’t destroy the infection ate away. Ever since that time her left hip has supported her ability to move around.

The lack of a good right hip and an over dependence her left hip caused it to deteriorate. In 2011, after years of pain, she had her first left hip replacement surgery.  She became pain free for five years and it was glorious! In 2016, the pain came back requiring her to have a second surgery because the components and cement were not strong enough given her active labor intensive life. Once again life was good.

In 2017, she moved to Gulu, Uganda and began working in the new Jesuit Residency cooking meals and cleaning.  Unfortunately, last year, 2019, the pain came back with a vengeance and has not subsided. At first, they were not able to do the needed follow-on surgery in Uganda. We have been seeking opportunities outside of the country without success. This year however, the hospital has acquired the necessary surgery equipment and will soon be receiving a visiting doctor that has the speciality expertise for her third surgery. Consequently, we are seeking $3000 to facilitate this additional hip surgery to get Gloria pain free again.  Could you contribute this Lent to help Gloria regain her mobility pain free? Donate here!  Thank you!!

Interview with Gloria before her second surgery.

For A Few, A Hopeful New Year Begins

As a new year begins, bringing new opportunities, it also brings responsibilities as parents seek to find quality educational opportunities for their children. The students are full of hope for what the future may bring, should they get the chance to attend high school. While primary education is covered for all in Uganda, secondary school is not. Once the P7 national exam scores are released the scramble for placements is on.

For the fortunate few this is an exciting time. For those whose scores are low or the parents finances limited it is a sorrowful time. At Ocer Campion Jesuit College one third of the students are on scholarship (200+) because without it they would sitting at home learning nothing. Eastside High School lead by the Franciscan Sisters has an even a higher rate closer to 75% of students who attend on scholarship. Without the generous support of donors like you in the US these youth would not have the opportunity to study at all let alone at a Catholic high school.

Will join join our circle of giving with a one-time contribution for the year or as a monthly giver? It only takes $50 a month or $600 for the year to give a student a chance at a high school education in Uganda. Give today!

Following Your Dream – Nancy’s Story

For the youth of Uganda it is time to begin a new academic year, but sadly not all students will be able to attend.  Due to a lack of funds too many youth will remain sitting at home instead of studying with their peers.

Thanks to generous sponsors like you and me, one in three students at Ocer Campion Jesuit College (OCJC) are able to attend school today.  Many more would like to join.

Nancy first dreamed of being able to go to high school.  Now she is attending Ocer Campion Jesuit College and she dreams of becoming a judge to help make Uganda a more just country.  

Nancy was born in the bush of Northern Uganda. During the war time she lost her father, leaving her mother deeply stressed regarding the safety and survival of her family.  After escaping the war, Nancy’s mother with the help of her aunt enrolled her in a primary school specifically for war-affected children in Gulu. Nancy’s love of education blossomed and she performed well.   

Knowing that her mother, a war widow, couldn’t afford the tuition cost of high school, Nancy still continued to study hard and placed her educational fate in God’s hands. She passed her primary leaving exams and waited at home for an opportunity to continue studying. After a year she had the chance through her Uncle to work in the fields at Ocer Campion during the holiday season when the other boarding students were away.  Once she was able to meet Fr. Tony, SJ and Director of OCJC, she was able to apply for both acceptance and support. Nancy’s prayers were answered with an educational scholarship confirming for her that good does exist in the world.

Nancy, now a Senior 4 student, is active in the Ocer Campion community as a member of the Educate Club, Young Christian Society, and Debate Club. Within the Educate Club, Nancy works alongside students to make the campus and community better to study, and in the Young Christian Society, she guides and counsels youth during their difficult adolescent period. She recognizes the high-quality education Ocer Campion offers and is grateful for the ability to interact openly with her teachers. She finds the educational environment very encouraging.

Nancy dreams of continuing her education beyond Ocer Campion and one day hopes to become a lawyer. She recognizes the turmoil that surrounded the last presidential election and the corruption within the country. In becoming a lawyer, and one day a judge, she hopes to allow the people of Uganda the freedom of speech, and all freedoms. She wants to shape the world to be more just.

Nancy’s educational dreams and opportunities would not have been possible without the good works of our wonderful missionaries serving in Uganda and our faithful donors.  For a mere $660 per year or $55/month you can help support a student like Nancy for a year of high school. Will you help give a student the opportunity to dream big and join a classroom today?    Join our Endeavors Giving Circle!

Annitah’s Story

We are inspired by the extraordinary love and kindness of Annitah Kawuma.  She is a wife, mother, accountant, and community leader. She and her husband have five children, four of their own and one adopted girl. Her fourth child has special needs due to an accident sustained when he was in her womb.  In addition, she supports Fr. Tony Wach, Director of Ocer Campion Jesuit College, as the senior accountant for the college.

Born out of her own experience she founded Children’s Community Care in 2015 to help support other mothers and families in her community struggling with the daily challenges of care for a child with special needs. Uganda has limited support systems for these children, additional life challenges, and misunderstanding of disabilities that lead to stigmas and isolation.  For many of these mothers, there is no place to take the children during the day while they are working that is safe, clean and stimulating for the children. And affording a caregiver at home is beyond their means. In addition, special transportation to doctor visits and treatment is expensive, extra clothes and blankets needed are all washed by hand, and food preparations are manual and time-consuming. Emotional and spiritual support nominal.

As professionals with jobs, Annitah and her husband are better off than most families in Uganda, but resources are still very tight.  When Annitah could rightly just focus on her own child and large family, she continues to see and help those suffering around her. Through Community Children’s Care, she works tirelessly to help increase livelihoods, resources, and emotional support for mothers and families with special needs children. In addition, in her limited time, she fosters the broader community by working to raise awareness and convey the beautiful gifts these children are from God.  In coming together and raising one unified voice, Annitah and the mothers are better able to collaborate with educators, students and other families to transform the attitudes of the community one person at a time.

Currently, Annitah and her husband are working to establish a joint rabbit farm to provide an additional source of income for CCC families with special needs children.  They have donated the land and are seeking additional funds to renovate and expand the facilities needed to house the rabbits and the additional feed. As we anticipate the arrival of Jesus this Christmas season, we prepare ourselves in our Advent journey through prayer, penance, and good and joyful works!  Please support our efforts this Christmas to raise $1,000 for Annitah and the other members of Community Children’s Care. Every little bit helps. Join our Endeavors Giving Circle today!

Jackie’s Story

In this season of Thanksgiving we would like to thank you for your enduring support of our programs, especially the students at Ocer Campion Jesuit College.  With the help of your donations and prayers, missionaries and lay Catholics such as Fr. Tony and Jackie have been able to build anew the futures of children affected by war and displacement through education, faith and compassion. 

Jackie Lourdes Alaroker is from the Acholi tribe in northern Uganda.  During the war years her family sent her to Kampala for safety and to finish her education.  After graduating from Makerere University with a degree in education, she worked for the National Association of Women Judges.  When the conflict in the north was resolved she began looking for opportunities in Gulu to help with the restoration of the community. Through a referral she was introduced to Fr. Tony Wach, S.J., Director of Ocer Campion Jesuit College.  Not long after the school opened its door he invited her to work alongside of him helping on a part-time basis with the students on scholarship.  Quickly, the work became too much for Fr. Tony to handle alone, and Jackie came on board fulltime in her current role as the Sponsorship Coordinator for the College. 

 The financial capacity among the student of Ocer Campion Jesuit College varies greatly, with many families unable to support their education at all.  Through the sponsorship program students receive support for school fees, books and uniforms as well as soap, bedding and beyond. As a sponsorship student herself, Jackie knows firsthand how valuable educational contributions are in the lives of children living in poverty, especially those growing up in a war-torn community. The power of donations towards education is immeasurable transforming families for generations.  Jackie has dedicated herself to seeing a child with no hope receive the opportunity to attend school, which she considers her greatest joy. 

Scholarships received are never detached. At Ocer Campion, the sponsorship program begins with admittance and follows the student throughout their academic career. Once admitted into OCJC on their own accord, Jackie begins her work to build a relationship with the student and their family. She sees value in blending school and family life, as visiting the home and understanding the family members provides insight into the student and the challenges facing them. She monitors the students academically and socially throughout their time at Ocer Campion to ensure that they are maintaining sponsorship standards and reaching to achieve the school motto: Beyond Academic Excellence.  As well, those students that are orphans are assigned a foster family, either a teacher, staff member, or friend of the school community to ensure their wellbeing.  Throughout the program, Jackie and staff work to bring up children who are well rounded, who “love to serve,” and go beyond their classwork to help people. 

While extremely rewarding, Jackie finds her position at Ocer Campion to come with great challenges. The greatest encompasses the sadness and fear of disappointing people when she is unable to help. Though sponsorships increased from 50 students to now more than 160 students since she first began, Ocer Campion continues to turn away students due to a lack of funds. 

Although she and the students do not always know where the money will come from, they maintain their faith in God and believe that their prayers will be answered. Jackie is ever grateful for and excited to see the impact of heartfelt donations for Ocer Campion Jesuit College as they ripple throughout the community to the whole country. 

We invite you to give the gift of education to more students needing sponsorship, and support and prayers to wonderful lay Catholics, such as Jackie. Join our Endeavors Giving Circle today!

Brother Silas’s Story

As our children have been hard at work in the classrooms, our missionaries are working hard to spread God’s love farther. eChange Endeavors is proud to support our Brothers and Sisters on their journey in Uganda while bridging communities across the ocean together and closer to Christ.    

Born and raised in Western Kenya, Brother Silas joined the Jesuit Novitiate in 2009.  Following the Novitiate he was sent to India to complete his Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and Biology. Before going on to finish his Master’s in Philosophy he has been assigned to teach at Ocer Campion to help fill the gap in a shortage of good science teachers in Uganda.  

Uganda, and Northern Uganda specifically, Brother Silas notes, has lost the value of education because of the conflict that once raged there. As a result, the students at Ocer Campion carry the burdens of the war and longstanding poverty with them, even though they may not have experienced it themselves. Though this adds a psychological element into the lives of the students at Ocer Campion, Brother Silas believes the attention to a student’s psychological wellbeing has made him a better educator. Through his teaching, he is determined to captivate the minds of his students and provide multidimensional lessons that stretch beyond science and into their daily lives.

Brother Silas values Ocer Campion’s unique approach to education, to the community and to the Northern Ugandan culture. Ocer Campion exudes a Jesuit philosophy of education, which promotes the formation of special student-teacher relationships that provide students individual care and allows for free interaction between students and their teachers. This philosophy extends beyond the classroom and encourages Ocer students to do more. This is done through the school’s clubs which target specific student interests, such as choir, Magis community service club, or the science club, headed by Brother Silas.

Brother Silas recognizes that Ocer Campion, its goods works, and its amazing student population would not be possible without faith and support from its donors. As Ocer Campion Jesuit College continues to grow its student body and faculty, and develop its unique culture through through Christ, Brother Silas believes that the futures of Ugandans are getting brighter and Ocer Campion is on its way to becoming a village of champions.

With the help of donations and prayers, missionaries like Brother Silas and Fr. Tony, SJ, are able to help rebuild a war-torn community encompassed in faith and compassion. Brother Silas is excited to see Ocer Campion Jesuit College becoming a place where children come and walk out men and women for others. We would like to thank you for your enduring support of our programs. We invite you to give the gift of support to other teaching missionaries and the gift of learning to a deserving member of the Gulu community. Join our Endeavors Giving Circle today!

 

Rebecca’s Story

As children around the world rejoin their classrooms, eChange Endeavors is proud to continue our support of Ocer Campion Jesuit College in Gulu, Uganda. Through your donations, eChange Endeavors plays a pivotal role in developing the next generation of educated young Ugandans.

Rebecca has grown up knowing the power of her faith and education. Her father was a soldier so they lived near the barracks early on.  Her mother, Judith, one of five children, ran a successful hair salon. Following her father’s death during the insurgency in Northern Uganda, her mother began taking in orphans and families affected by the war while also sending Rebecca to primary school. Soon after, however, Rebecca’s mother fell ill with a meningitis-like illness, causing her to lose her strength and mobility, and leaving her incapacitated and unable to take care of herself or the children. Without her steady hand the salon soon closed.

Since her mother’s illness, Rebecca’s maternal grandparents have emerged from retirement to aid with caregiving and the financial burden. Active members of their parish community, the grandparents continue to model their faith not only in their home, but also within the community. Her grandfather, a retired accountant is the chairman of their sub-parish and member of the parish council. Her grandmother is a member of the parish Catholic women’s group that provides study, fellowship and support to woman in the parish and community. Through a small vegetable stand in the local town market Rebecca’s grandmother provides food for the extended family and an income to cover medical costs. Still it is not enough. While Rebecca’s grades were quite high, her education was halted after primary school due to a lack of funds. She remained at home for a year with no hope of continuing her schooling.   

Thanks to the help of Fr. Tony Wach, SJ, Director of Ocer Campion JC, and eChange Endeavors, Rebecca is now among the numerous scholarship recipients given an opportunity for education. Rebecca is an active member of Ocer’s many clubs and activities, and has grown fond of dancing, singing and drama alongside her other subjects. She is also involved in the Magis club, a group dedicated to the service of others within the local community, such as St Jude’s orphanage. Rebecca believes in modeling her faith, as her grandparent and parents have shown her, and recognizes that those with the ability should help others as they can. She similarly values her education and sees it as an indispensable asset to her wellbeing and a way to escape the difficulties often faced within her society. She aspires to one day be a TV announcer and support other children to also complete their education.  Rebecca and her family remain shining examples of our dynamic global Catholic family living and thriving through faithful discipleship. They are ever grateful for your support and hope that other families in need around them may also benefit from your generosity.

While education is an opportunity we often take for granted, for a family facing difficulty, it becomes a significant advantage to a better life. We would like to thank you for your enduring support of our programs.  We invite you to give the gift of learning to another family and young member of the Gulu community. For only $60 per month or $720 per year, you can support a student for one year of high school. Join our Endeavors Giving Circle today!