Summer Trip

This is a picture of the group in Uganda that I took at the airport in Burlington just before they left. I just moved into my new apartment with my wife in Rochester and am going to explore the city today. Later on tonight I have a meeting with a PR professional (Alexandra Tursi of KSV). Hopefully I'll learn about how to get the word out about 52 kids. John e-mailed home recently and said that the trip is going really well so far.

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Off to Kamuli

After spending two nights in Kampala we are finally leaving for Kamuli in just a few minutes! The past 36 hours have been filled with so many amazing experiences. As Lindsay mentioned, we visited Bead for Life which gave us a snapshot of how another nonprofit organization was trying to help out in Uganda. We were able to speak and observe so many motivated and wonderful women who were really trying to make a difference in their lives. Later that day we got to take a van down to Seeta Boarding School, where a fourteen year old girl Ritah, who is in the 52 Kids program is attending school. Ritah is really special, because right now John is in the process of adopting her. When we arrived Lindsay, Caleb and I had to wait outside the gates so that Colleen and John could get a chance to greet her alone. During those 20 or so minutes we were able to bypass language barriers, and begin playing a hilarious game of Simon Says with a group of little kids. By the end of the game they were jumping all over us asking for kisses and hugs! All of the sudden we saw a young girl start running full speed in a green dress towards us. Once she had reached us, she gave everyone a strong embrace; it was Ritah. As the last part of our visit to Seeta we were able to enter a classroom of about 60 students and interact with them for a while. The children were so eager to talk to us, and so welcoming a kind; this was surely one of the best parts of our day.
That night, after dinner with our whole group John, Kristin, Lindsay, Caleb and I decided to accompany Pichu, Collin and Frank to a bar near our hotel. We had so much fun talking, dancing, and shooting pool that we were out until 3:30 in the morning!
There's so many more stories to tell, but right now we have to go catch a bus to Kamuli. I am so excited to be here, the people are so welcoming and kind, the culture is so rich, and the country is so beautiful. I can't wait to see what's in store for me down in Kamuli!

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We are here!!

We are finally here. After almost thirty hours of plane flying and car riding, we arrived in Kampala around midnight here (that is about 5 o clock eastern time in the US). There is a seven hour time difference here, but after going overnight on our plane to Brussels, I have lost all sense of time. Our group is staying at a great hotel called the Speke Hotel, I highly recommend it to anyone who comes to visit Kampala. We met Dr. Frank Woitera, Collin and Pichu last night before bed. Everyone is so nice and welcoming. As I went up to introduce myself to Frank, I was a little intimidated, but when he shook my hand he swept me up into a huge welcoming hug that made my breath catch in my throat. Never had a been so warmly welcomed into such a foreign country. Those welcomings did not end there. All of today (July 28) wherever we went, we were welcomed with smiles. Our first journey through Kampala lead us to the Bead for Life head quarters. This foundation is the most organized project I have ever seen. I would also recommend visiting the website if you would like to find out more. All the women there are amazing beatiful people. They allowed us to take pictures and watch them work on beads, bags and bowls. Those who did not understand us merely smiled or giggled when we tried to address them. The bracelets, necklaces and various other products these women made were remarkable and gorgeous. I could not believe my eyes when I saw the final products. These women who live in poverty unlike any I have every seen, build a life for themseleves and their family by creating beads out of shiny, old magazine pages!!!
As we travel the streets of Kampala in an old bus, I find my eyes to be glued open. travel on the streets is absolute chaos. I can not believe the traffic and the crazy driving. You will be driving and venders will come right up to your window and heckle you to buy some of their products. There are a ton of motor bikes racing around sliding right by our big bus. Also, it was really cool that everyone drove in the left hand lane and on the left side of their car.
I have to say, I did not know what to expect from the people, food and culture, but I am thouroughly happy. I do not feel intimiated, instead I am quiet the opposite; I have been talking to Frank and many of the people freely and jokingly. I already feel as if I have been In Africa for weeks! Tomorrow we are giong to be heading to Kamuli for the next stage of our trip....
Until then,
Lindsay Kingston

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Final Preperations

As the three of us: Caleb Ladue, Lindsay Kingston, and Zoe Adams, come together at about 9 to finalize our packing and hopefully tie up all the loose ends, we have a mix of emotions. All three of us are about to leave for an adventure unlike anything we have done before and are seemingly apprehensive, a little stressed but overall curious for what lies ahead and elated to be given this opportunity. Like Zoe and Lindsay, I will be wrapping up my high school career with this oncoming academic year, being 17 as well, and am beginning to think about the future and what it may hold. In terms of minutes and hours, i will be boarding a plane to begin a perspective changing experience. In days I will be immersed in a foreign country, culture and climate with an expanse of new experiences, relationships and vistas. In weeks i will have returned, most definitely different that when i left, with a different persona and past. The more distant future will be full of unknowns that will be more easily accomplished by these next weeks.
I couldn't be more excited to embark on this journey and i am ready to write about, capture and share the experiences and stories i encounter.

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Uganda here we come!

In 24 hours we will be on our way. I am so excited to return to Uganda and see my friends. This is going to be an amazing adventure!
Colleen

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One more day!

Hi everybody! I'm Zoe Adams and I'm seventeen years old, about to be a senior at CVU. In just 36 hours our crew of nine will be boarding the plane in Burlington to begin our trip to Uganda. I am so excited for this trip, and I feel so lucky that I have been given the opportunity to be a part of such an eye-opening and life changing experience.

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Introduction

On July 27th 2009, I will be heading to Uganda, Africa. My name is Lindsay Kingston, I am 17 years old and heading into my senior year of high school. I am extremely excited for this trip and I know it is going to be an experience that will change my life. I am a bit nervous and this trip is a huge step for me personally, but I am going to be with two of my great friends (Zoe and Caleb). I can not believe the lift off date is only two days away! I still have a lot to do, but I thought I would take some time and introduce myself more personally than what is written on the website. I will be back later with more.

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Going to Leadership Seminar

Today, I will attending a leadership seminar at Rhino Foods, in Burlington Vt. run by Ted Castle (president and CEO) One of the goals is to establish a core competency that if improved on would better my leadership skills. The competency if have chosen (actually chosen for me) was patience. Will let you know how it comes out

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52 Kids Foundation selects 3 CVU students for Leadership Program

Lindsey Kingston, Caleb Ladue and Zoe Adams, all seniors attending Champlain Valley Union High school will be traveling to Kamuli, Uganda for a 2 week Leadership Program. While there they will see firsthand how the medical system works in a developing country by assisting nurses and doctors at the Kamuli Mission Hospital. The group will then be asked to form women's groups in local villages to discuss gender advancement, family planning as well as adult education. The final part of the trip will be learning then leading groups in building fuel efficient stoves as part of the environmental recovery movement initiated by the 52 Kids Foundation. This is the third year CVU students have participated in the Leadership Program. A second trip is planned for the winter break in February for interested applicants.

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Well project

May 2009

In March '09 we finished the construction of a 70-foot covered well, that pumps clean water to a village of over three thousand people. Four of the students that we support alerted the Foundation to the water situation in their home village; people were faced with the choice between a 1.5 hour walk (each way) to get clean water, or to use a water hole shared with livestock.

The Thursday Night Hockey group in Burlington Vermont took on the challenge of raising the $5,000 needed to build the well. After raising the funds, the Foundation worked with village leaders to find a suitable site and organize a maintenance scheme. The well is now in operation, and the video is from the ribbon cutting ceremony attended by John Koerner, Peter Brady, and Bill Butler, three members of the Thursday Night Hockey group.

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Fundraising 2008

The sum all of the donations for 2008 increased 10x, a remarkable increase from 2005 when we started with a small amount. In addition to raising more money, we are receiving donations from a more diverse group, including annual gifts from individuals, foundations, and events (like the Lobster dinner at CVU). Jagger recently got in contact with friend from the UK who is considering fundraising for us there, which would be our first international fundraiser! Donate now or through our H.O.U.S.E. campaign

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Home improvement projects

The home improvement projects at the families' homes are nearing completion. Together with Foundation employees and volunteers, the families have constructed fuel efficient stoves, water collection facilities, backyard gardens, pit latrines, and hand washing facilities at nearly all of the homes.

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Dorm construction underway

John, 52 Kid's Foundation program director, left for Uganda and is staying in Kamuli for approximately one month to oversee the construction of the dorm, and participate in meetings to gather ideas and generate consensus about how to best use this new space. He recently sent a brief e-mail home and reported that the trip has been very productive.

This is a picture of Monica's house. Monica is HIV positive as is her daughter Stella. Stella was born with the disease and is a member of the 52 Kids Foundation. Stella's father died of Aids several years ago and left the family this half completed building. The Foundation, Monica and her family (along with 4 other sisters) partnered to secure an affordable lease that would allow us to use this as a dorm and for her family to have a steady source of income. 52 Kids Foundation signed a 20-year lease giving Monica an income of $950/year, half the market rate (thank you Monica).

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Board of Directors

Our Board of Directors had its first online meeting last month that connected people from Vermont, New York, Connecticut, and Uganda via Skype. It was great to have everyone chatting and sharing ideas all at the same time.

Board of Directors

Jagger Koerner: I recently graduated from Cornell University, and am excited to start medical school in the coming fall at the University of Rochester and business school at the Simon Graduate School of Business. I live with my wife in Ithaca NY, and split my time between working at a pharmacy and working for the Foundation.

Kate Ittleman is a clinical research coordinator in the multiple myeloma unit at Dana Farber Cancer Institute based in Boston. She has her Masters in Public Health from Yale University and an undergraduate degree in biology and English from the University of Vermont. She has worked at the Harvard School of Public Health researching children affected by adversity and at the Office of Sustainability at Yale. She grew up in Charlotte, Vermont.

Dr. Frank Woitera: I graduated from Mulago School of orthopedics - Kampala Uganda, in 2007. I have committed a lot of my time since then implementing the ground activities of the Foundation with a lot of emphasis on the health care needs of the 52 kids, their families and the communities in which they live.

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