At Home in Nansana

(Written Sunday, June 1st)

Our first full day in Kampala (in a section known as Nansana) was full and fabulous! Highlights included worship at a local church—we were invited to perform the song we learned yesterday in front of the congregation!—and an orientation to the Come Let’s Dance philosophy and programs.

CLD is an American NGO that intentionally does not own or run any of their projects solo (orphanage, slum outreaches & job training, youth leadership development programs, etc.) but works intimately with local folks at every level of planning and programming to empower young leaders and ensure sustainability. Essentially, they want to make sure that their presence in Kampala is not necessary to keep the programs running long-term. Sometimes this means trading in Western ideals of “efficiency” or “success” for a longer, messier process—but the long-term value of developing a generation of Ugandan leaders that will carry on the mission effectively and sustainably into the future is of much more value!

Just to give you a little glimpse of some of our reality for the next week, here are some pictures from the “Kidz Home” orphanage that CLD works alongside. Some of us will be spending each day this week with them, and we can’t wait! Another group will be helping with CLD’s various programs in the slum communities, and a third group will be assisting with a youth leadership program through a local church that CLD is connected with.

My goal, by the way, is to get at least one picture of every team member up here in the days to come…

Thanks for keeping up-to-date on our travels! I’ll try to write again before we head North on Saturday...