Why Uganda?

Lately, many people have been asking me why we are taking students to Uganda.  The answer is simply because of students.  The trip is direct result of Wat alum Amelia Maggio '14 shaping her world and the world around her...Watkinson's mission.  For her Senior Project, she volunteered in Uganda, where her father lives, at an orphanage and sought to make a meaningful connection between Watkinson and the people of Uganda through service.  Last summer, Andy Aavatsmark and I traveled to Uganda and were hosted by Amelia's father, Christopher Maggio.  There we found a beautiful country, friendly people and many opportunities to do service teaching and contributing to the country's conservation efforts.

Today, six Watkinson students (Liz B. '14, Tianna E. '14, Mitchell F. '14, Daniel G. '15, Nate H. '16 and Sara K. '16) will join me along with co-chaperones Andy Aavatsmark and Rachel Myers.  There our students will become the teachers...teaching Ugandan students how to use the first computers they have ever seen...brought several weeks ago by UCONN doctors running a clinic in Kisoro, Uganda.  Students at the Lord's Care Primary School in central Uganda will also be taught by the Watkinson travelers.  And finally, we will work with the children who attend the school run by the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary where we will volunteer tracking these endangered rhinos and maintaining the sanctuary.

But, with about 24 hours until departure I am thinking about the impact of this life changing trip on the six Watkinson students...what they will learn about life, themselves, each other as well as Uganda.  I think about how they will come to appreciate another culture and their own in a new way.  When they return, they will have a better idea of what it means to be a global citizen and the world will seem a little smaller.  They will have stories they will tell forever, and they will have their own unique, nuanced answer to the question- Why Uganda?

Last summer, we asked one of the guides at the Budongo Forest where will be trekking chimps during our March trip, why should people come to Uganda.  Here is is answer:

I work at the lodge, the Budongo Eco-Lodge.  I can think of a billion reasons why people should come to Uganda. There is lots of wildlife. Lots of birds. About, I think, 1057 bird life [species]. We have lots of mammals, lots of lions, and elephants, antelopes. I am sure you would love to know.  Anytime you would love to take a trip, Uganda is the best place around.