ACT Uganda Blog

I learned of an NGO in Portland, OR, called, Chess For Success. Phil Margolin, an attorney who became a NY Times best-selling author ( https://phillipmargolin.com/)  was one of three founders in 1996. He shared his story with me about being a wayward young man who learned how to play chess and it turned his life around. He decided to share that experience with other young folks. The U.S. Congress commissioned a study of the Chess for Success program ( www.chessforsuccess.org ).  The final 2006 report of the two-year study showed that Chess for Success had accomplished its primary goal of enabling children to be patient and analytical in all problem-solving situations so that there is an increase in their academic achievement and self-esteem. Chess for Success also had an impact on increasing the interest of strong proportion of girls in analytical problem solving. We decided to start a Chess Club at Muko High School. Chess For Success (CFS) donated 50 chess sets and piece...

May our fond memories and funny stories be a blessing to you! Karen Viele remembers: Karen Viele and Generous Turinawe During one of our trips, our team members were each assigned to travel to a Sunday worship with a ACT Ugandan staff member. We were dispersed all over Muko Sub County! I drove up the hills to an area about an hour drive from our Centre. (Let me preface the story by saying I am not fond of birds. One time a crow found its way into our basement and you would have thought it was a terrifying monster) So during the worship service, I heard a chicken squawking and told myself how glad I was to be up in the front and not near that chicken. However, the service progressed and at one point I was called forward in front of the entire congregation. I realized I was going to be presented with the chicken and I would have to accept it- and hold it! Fortunately, its legs were tied and it was friendly and docile! I returned to my seat with my chicken and it waited patiently there wi...

Stories are the fabric of our memories. Stories can bring us a range of emotions. In sharing share some of our favorite stories with you this week and next, we hope that you can step into the moments with us as if you had been there! A memory for Dave Molzahn (ACT US Board member and Team Leader of the HANDS Program): "In 2014, on my first trip to Muko, Uganda, I was really excited to be going, but apprehensive about what to expect. One of the normal activities for our US Travel Teams is to attend local church services on Sundays with one of the ACT staff or Volunteers. On the first Sunday we were there, our Travel Team arrived at the ACT Resource Center and were met by the people that would accompany us to different churches in the community. I was paired with Tukamushaba Moses, who, at the time was a Volunteer with the HANDS agriculture team. As Moses and I were waiting to leave for church, we stood, conversing, in front of the Center. People were passing by on their way to chur...

Dr. Lynn Pottenger has been the Chair of the ACT US Board nearly since its inception! Incredible dedication and focus is Lynn's leadership style which has served ACT very well over the years. Here are her thoughts about it: Back in April, you saw a blog post about how ACT got started - with letters exchanged between Generous & Richard Turinawe and Sue Waechter. That beginning, over 20 years ago, evolved into today's partnership between two NGO's, ACT-US and ACT-Uganda, both registered in their respective countries, USA and Uganda. That evolution, from just John & Sue and some funding from several churches underwent transformation several times - from a 'Committee' under the wing of Memorial Presbyterian to a full-fledged, independent 501(C)3 register in the US, with the requisite Board and Officers (Chair, Secretary and Treasurer) to the current situation with two registered NGO's, one in the US and one in Uganda. The first ACT-US Board was established i...