ACT Uganda Blog

  Since 2006, we have sent 14 Travel Teams to Uganda. These teams were and are comprised of folks who express an interest in going and donate their own costs for the trip - usually $2,000 - $2,500 USD. What a gift they have made in addition to their time and experience and love they share with our partners in Uganda! Here are the teams over the years: 2006: John and Sue Waechter 2008: David Kelley, Rick Drimalla, John Waechter, Doug Brinklow, Lucy Waechter Webb Sue Waechter, Linda Drimalla, Charlie Bash 2010 (Jan): Tim Yuergens, Israel Pacheco Santos, Sue Waechter, Ced Currin, David Pierce 2010 (Dec): Dale Anderson, Holly Oemke, Bill McHenry, Ashley Bair, sue Waechter 2012: Sue Waechter, Dave Viele, Lazara Aragon, Curt Zastrow, Karen Viele, Sydney Roeder, Katie Brinklow, Dale Anderson 2013: John Waechter, Dave Viele Michelle Busch, Liz Neithamer, Kelsey Neithamer, Karen Viele 2014 (Apr): Lisa Corso, Liz Neithamer, Dave Molzahn, Barbara Corso, Dave Viele,  Karen Viele, Diana Stubig 2014

This coming week, we will be launching a very important fund-raising campaign: Completion of the new Science Lab at Muko High School   Allow me to share with you the before and now photos! The old "lab" was a single, small, very dark classroom. In the words of Mathias Atuheire (Science Teacher): [In the old room] "students would not be able to see, touch and handle what little science equipment available or not enjoy the science teaching and learning process because of the small room. Learners had a negative attitude towards sciences with the ideology that they cannot pass sciences from here because there is no well-equipped and improved science laboratory." In addition to the science-related materials, the violins and violas were also stored there. Not only was the room decrepit, the supplies were very old and limited. The students literally did not have the supplies to be able to take and pass practical exams to move ahead. Tr. Wenzi Twebaze (Physics/Mathematics)

In 2006, when John and I travelled to Uganda for the first time, our friends there had prepared what was once a home in Muko Marketplace into a space for ACT and for us to stay in for our visit. It was a 5-room house with concrete floors and stone walls. And, something unusual about it for Muko, they had created a stone driveway up to the house where we parked the van/ambulance!  Muko Marketplace There was a small room (now our locked storage room) that we set up our REI cots and sleeping bags. The "kitchen" was outside over open fire to prepare meals as in the case of most homes in Muko. This home was owned by a former teacher of Generous' in the village and ACT was renting it from him. In 2010, when the travel team went to Muko, I negotiated a price with Mr. Stanley for ACT to purchase the building to be used for our Center. I remember the conversation was mostly in Rukiga so I had Generous helping me understand. We have a handwritten "deed" to the property. 

  In 2008, the first team travelled to Uganda! Here is a photo and the names of that team:      Back Row L-R: David Kelley, Rick Drimalla, John Waechter, Doug Brinklow, Lucy  Waechter Webb Front Row L-R: Sue Waechter, Linda Drimalla, Charles Bash This team had some major accomplishments in Muko!  1. A program that Generous started called Muko Destitute Children Assistance Program (MUDCAP) was renamed Save Our Situation (SOS) and we hired the first and only paid staff, Blessing Kyokwijuka. Generous at this time and for 3 years volunteered her time with ACT. This program later to be renamed MukoHOPE and now HONOR Scholarship, began with 20 kids receiving sponsors in Midland and backpacks full of school supplies.  2. We created the ACT Empowerment Handcraft Program (now called Uniquely Uganda Handcrafts). We had 42 women in the beginning who all had HIV/AIDS.  Generous with the MEP Women  3. At the Ikamiro Clinic we installed the solar power system designed by Ced Currin, to power the vac