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!

Simon Peter’s Story

Thanks to your support Simon Peter Omollo has become a vibrant young Catholic leader in his community.  This wasn’t always to be his story. The second oldest of 5 children of faithful Catholic parents, his father was a Mentor teacher at a Teacher’s College and his mother a peasant farmer.  While it was Simon Peter’s dream and that of his parents that he should graduate from university, there were no extra resources available for him to attend university after finishing A levels.  Active as a youth leader in his parish, St. Theresa in Achilet, in the Archdiocese of Tororo, he was recommended by his parish to participate in the youth leadership camp designed and lead by eChange Endeavors founder Laura Frederick in collaboration with the John Paul II Justice and Peace Center.  This two-week youth leadership camp provided Simon Peter and many youths the opportunity to grow in their faith, learn about Catholic social teaching, build community, and develop leadership skills. In addition, through this experience, he was introduced to the Mill Hill Missionaries in Uganda, which lead to his joining their formation program for three years.

Following his time with the Mill Hills Simon Peter finally had the opportunity to begin attending University.  He was accepted to St. Lawrence University and began studying education to teach at the secondary (high) school level.  In the middle of his second-year disaster struck their family. His father, Raphael Owori, was diagnosed with esophagus (throat) cancer.  In a country that has only one radiation machine and limited medical support for cancer this a devastating blow, not only emotionally, but financially affecting both current and future livelihood of the family.  Without insurance, all the family resources were directed towards his father’s medical needs to fight this terrible disease, thus leaving nothing for Simon Peter’s education fees. He would have had to drop out of university.  With your generous support, we were able to step in and fill the gap covering his university fees for the last two years of his education. With immense gratitude from the whole family, Simon Peter continued on with his coursework, his father kept fighting to regain his health, and his mother worked to feed the family from her garden labors.  

Sadly, Simon Peter’s father succumbed to cancer shortly before his graduation.   While the loss of Simon Peter’s father brought great sorrow to the family, Simon Peter’s graduation brought much joy and hope!  As a university graduate and qualified teacher, Simon Peter would be able to get work and help his younger siblings finish school too, something his mother would never be able to have afforded on farming alone.  This has brought status and support to his mother, now a widow in her community, and ensured that the family does not fall into abject poverty. Simon Peter’s education achievement has also continued his father’s legacy of prioritizing education for the good of the family and the next generation of Ugandan youth.

Subsequently, Simon Peter was chosen as a scholarship recipient to enter a one year program in Franciscan Spirituality at Tangaza University College in Nairobi, Kenya. Leveraging our existing investment in Simon Peter, eChange Endeavors contributed to the scholarship, helping with room, board, books and supply costs. Simon Peter graduated in May of 2018 ever grateful for our prayers and support he received from our Endeavors Giving Circle.  He continues to be a very active youth leader in his parish and to work for the good of his community, even galvanizing food aid in the midst of the drought in the Spring of 2017. He looks toward his dream of becoming a high school teacher and is open to one day entering a masters program in education.

With your generous support, we were able to turn a devastating crisis into another story of joy, enriching people’s faith in God and renewing hope in our Christian community globally.  Thank you!  

If you are not yet a member, consider joining our Endeavors Circle today.

 

Meet Fr Tony Wach, S.J., Missionary to Africa

In 1989, Fr. Tony Wach, a Jesuit from the Wisconsin Province, went on a summer trip to visit a fellow priest on a mission in Uganda. A teacher at Creighton Prep for 18 years, a Jesuit high school in Nebraska started for immigrant children, Fr. Tony felt a calling to the missions. Two years following his first visit to Uganda, he volunteered for a mission of his own in the Province of East Africa.

He has been serving now 27 years as a missionary in this strongly Catholic country and focused his efforts on rebuilding the war-torn nation, spiritually and educationally through the human connection. Upon his arrival, he recognized the need to help educate Ugandans on Christianity and show them that our faith reaches beyond the Mass and praying the rosary, and should also focus on serving the community and its people.

In 1996, Fr. Tony became a Jesuit Community Superior of Kampala and alongside his fellow missionaries worked on forming a local clergy, providing spiritual direction and enhancing community centered resources. In 2007, he helped found the John Paul II Justice and Peace Center to reach beyond those in religious life, promote awareness and help the community strive to create a more just and peaceful country. The center focuses on training, research and advocacy surrounding faith, social justice issues and human rights with Catholic Social Teaching as its foundation.

As Jesuit Community Superior of Uganda, Fr. Tony recognized a need to restore and rehabilitate the country’s northern region, the area most affected by the 25 year Lord’s Resistance Army reign. The imposed instability, lack of education and displacement made the need for aid greater than ever, and Fr. Tony made northern Uganda his newest mission. He and the Jesuit Refugee Service began talks of opening a school.  After 5 challenging years of effort Ocer Campion Jesuit College was finally opened in 2010, championed by the East Africa Province of the Society of Jesus and funded by St Campion Jesuit High School Alumni from the US.

Ocer Campion integrates Jesuitic values for the wholesome formation of its students who achieve educational, spiritual and human growth through their relationship with Christ. It targets the underprivileged, children and families directly affected by war-time Uganda and builds personal development through education, enriching Christian values and inspiring service to build a stronger community and nation. Fr. Tony calls Ocer Campion “an answer from God to the long-suffering cries of the people.”

Today, Fr. Tony proudly continues his mission of service in northern Uganda as Ocer Campion’s Director. With the help of other missionaries, he has continued to develop efforts like Ocer Campion and JPIIJPC to spread the good works of Christ throughout Uganda.

Support our missionaries in their life-changing work, and in turn help students and families of Ocer Campion receive funds for schools.

Endeavors Circle

Join us as we launch a monthly giving circle to share our blessings.  We are called to build up the Body of Christ, the Church.  At eChange Endeavors we do this by supporting widows, single parents, orphans and those with disabilities either directly or through local Catholic institutions. We seek to leverage previous investments made in education, personal development or institutional capacities to ensure those at risk won’t fall by the wayside. Together we are helping to transform problems into opportunities inspiring hope and strengthening community!

We help hardworking mothers such as Gloria to ensure they can provide for their children. When she needed a hip replacement surgery due to an accident, we stepped in to help. We also supported Pascal to finish University after his Mother died and his Father was no longer able to generate enough income for both him and his younger brother who was still attending high school. When Esther’s husband died, we assisted with food and helped her start a micro business. Later when the eldest reached high school we helped with the higher fees. We have given a small grant to Children’s Community Care to finish a classroom for children with mental disabilities so that mothers would have a safe, clean, and stimulating environment in which to leave their children while they went to work in the street markets.

We also raise funds for OcerCampion Jesuit College both scholarships and an additional housing for international volunteers to work at the school. We are seeking resources for technology and textbooks for St Athanasius Primary School, which serves mostly poor families living in the slums of Kampala. St. Elizabeth’s Home & Vocational Institute rescues young women from the streets, trafficking and prostitution.  We are seeking to raise funds for a solar solution and sewing machines so that local money collected can feed and support more women. We are seeking to help rural health clinics diversify their service capabilities to create a more sustainable model. None of these good works would be possible without your generous support over time.

So join us today and become part of our circle of giving to ensure we can say YES to helping our brothers and sisters in Uganda when we receive their requests. To join simply click on our DONATE button that will take you to a PayPal payment page. You can pay via PayPal, credit or debit card. Just make sure to tick the box for re-occurring payments and your giving will be automatically processed each month.

$10/month enables an entrepreneur to start or grow a microenterprise

$20/month enables young adults to participate in Catholic youth camps

$25/month provides one teacher with a mini-laptop

$30/month supports a student in primary school

$50/month provides a small grant to a health clinic or partner

Thank you for becoming part of our Endeavors Circle of love and hope in the world!

 

Girl’s School in Uganda Needs Solar Solution to Offset Costs

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St Elizabeth’s Home & Vocational School gives young women a second chance at life.  The St Elizabeth team rescues young women from the streets, human trafficking and prostitution in Kampala Uganda.  They provide love, a safe place to live, food, counseling, life skills, and income-generating skills, such as sewing and baking.  St Elizabeth’s is seeking $5000 for an electrical solar solution and industrial sewing machines.  Our investment in this solar infrastructure enables them to apply all locally raised resources towards food, mattresses, personal necessities, and teaching resources to increase their outreach and impact.

Will you join hands to help give these young women a second chance at life? Donate Today!

Back To School!

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A new academic year has begun at Ocer Campion Jesuit College in Gulu, Uganda. More students than ever are requesting scholarship support. You can make a difference in the life of a child by sponsoring their high school education for just $60 per month. Or make a one-time donation to contribute to the scholarship fund. Together we can make a difference for a better tomorrow in Africa.  Give Today!

Mission Trip 2018

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Join us for a service and learning visit to Uganda in June 2018.  We will visit several Catholic apostolates in the greater Kampala area.  The second week we will visit Ocer Campion Jesuit College in northern Uganda. We will end the 2-week journey going on safari to Murchison Falls National Park.  This is an opportunity for you to share your talents and passions with other young adults and in-service to the local communities.

For more information click here or email us at endeavors@globalechange.com.

Textbooks & Technology

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Students at St Athanasius Primary School lack sufficient access to books to learn.  Teachers lack access to the technology tools required to create a winning and creative lessons.  This Lent consider giving to improve the educational experience of these students living in the slum of Kampala, Uganda.  We are gathering $6000 to purchase more textbooks, computers, a photocopier, printer and related technology for the teachers and administration.  Help leapfrog these students into an exciting and creative environment of learning!   Donate Today!

Christ hears the cry of the poor.

“This school is an answer from God to the long suffering cries of the people here.”  Fr. Tony Wach, SJ, Director of Ocer Campion Jesuit College, Gulu, Uganda  

International volunteer teachers are an important contribution to the staff and students at Ocer Campion Jesuit College.  Their energy, spirit, different way of thinking and learning brings new ideas and opportunities for everyone.  We are working to create a space on campus that enables these international volunteers to live together in community, to share friendship and service together.  Help us reach our goal of $25,000 for Ocer Campion Jesuit College so that they may accept more volunteer teachers in the year to come.  Give today!

The Acholi people in northern Uganda suffered through nearly three decades of conflict involving the abduction of tens of thousands of children forced to be soldiers or soldier’s wives.  The Society of Jesus is working to help heal these wounds, reconcile the people, and empower them for a better tomorrow through education and love.

“There are wonderful things happening in Uganda, in Africa, and with the Church here.  God works through human beings. If we want a better world, we all have to be part of that work.”  Fr. Tony  Wach, SJ, Director, Ocer Campion Jesuit College.

We need only $2200 more to reach our goal of $25,000 for the college.  Give the gift of peace, joy, love and opportunity this Christmas!

Many thanks and Merry Christmas, Laura