March 2012 Trip: Day 5

 Hard to believe we're well into the second half of our week. Today, we visited the good people at Cherish Uganda, an organization that ministers to AIDS orphans in Bulega, Uganda, near the shores of Lake Victoria.

Longtime friend, Brent Phillips, gave us a tour, showing us their classrooms, family-style lodges for the orphans and their food production capability. Considering the way the disease has ravaged Uganda, it's impressive to see a group of people so committed to caring to a population that is deemed "untouchable" by society.

It was also interesting to know that the anti-retroviral drugs are having such an impact on the longevity of those afflicted with the disease. Thanks to the effort launched by George W. Bush, these medicines are provided free of charge to some children who would have no hope otherwise.

We then ventured over to one of the schools that educates the members of the African Children's Choir. Robert gave a presentation on how to plan one's professional future, to give they young people a broadened perspective on life's possibilities.

The children's questions ranged from "how do you figure out your talents" to "what is it like to be a lawyer?" Fortunately, Barton Prideaux could speak from experience on the topic.

Seeing the young people who would eventually engage with Work for Life was an encouragement and a reminder that the stakes of organization are pretty high.