People4Tomorrow: Soroti, Uganda 2019
Donation protected
Background
In 2009, a native Ugandan named Richard Pius Okiria was serving as a priest at St. Thomas The Apostle Church in West Hartford, Connecticut. Father Richard’s visa that allowed him to live and work in the United States had expired, and all efforts to extend it had been rejected. He was ready to leave; he had already shipped some large items home to Uganda, and most of his belongings were packed and ready to go. One Sunday, the Deacon at St. Thomas mentioned the possibility of Okiria leaving the parish. After mass that day, a man walked up to him, and the two began discussing the immigration issues. Father explained to the man that the only way his residency could be extended was if he took immediate legal action, but that it would be very costly. The next day, Okiria received a call from the man, and the man told Father Richard that he and his wife were willing to pay the fee. Father Richard immediately reopened the case with his lawyer, and was able to pay the fee accordingly. A few months later, he received a call notifying him that he was granted permission to stay in the United States. Father Richard’s joy was indescribable. This man that decided to help him is my grandfather, Frank Hursey, and his wife is my grandmother, Nancy Hursey.
Following this series of events, my grandparents became quite close with Father Richard. One day, he shared his dream with the Hurseys: to build a center in his hometown of Soroti, Uganda that would rehabilitate a community that had been ravaged by political turmoil, social unrest, and rampant poverty.
As a result of extreme instability following Museveni’s rise to power in 1986, a neighboring warrior tribe invaded Soroti and stole a majority of the community's livestock. Then, there was a civil war against the Lord’s Resistance Army, during which the government displaced villagers into enclosed camps guarded by the military; a strategy to win the war while protecting its citizens. This well-intended plan ended up leaving hundreds of humans hopeless as their access to resources were removed. Father Richard worked for two years as a mediator with the church in attempts to end the war. During those two years, in 1991, Father was caught in an ambush that was meant for another military vehicle, and he lost his brother. Ten years later, he left for the United States to attend Yale University to continue his work as a priest. But in 2003, the LRA reappeared in the region. They again wreaked havoc on families who were settling back into their homes and livelihoods.
When my grandparents heard this story and the dream Father Richard had to restore peace and prosperity to his hometown, they graciously agreed to fund the project. I’ve travelled to Soroti twice now, and the warmth and generosity of such a place is simply amazing. The project is named Camp Saint Mary after the camp my grandfather attended as a young boy, and its goal is to teach, train, and inspire the next generation. The property contains two dormitories, an event hall and kitchen, working farm and fishing pond, small clinic, administrative offices, chapel, and a hotel. The Hursey Resort is a 15-room hotel that accommodates Ugandan social workers from all over the country, as well as many international guests. It also features a restaurant, hall for workshops, and a beautiful garden that’s welcome to all. These facilities will be used in tandem to host a wide array of educational training programs, all geared towards teaching practical skills and self-empowerment with the goal of healing a community that has seen so much suffering.
Many of the issues plaguing the area revolve around malnutrition, food insecurity, and a lack of educational resources. Years ago, the people of each region had an intimate relationship to their food and knew so much about the nutritive and medicinal qualities of each ingredient, as well as effective practices for optimal growing and harvesting. But, through the political turmoil, family units were uprooted or destroyed, and many people were killed, causing a drastic loss of knowledge that had been passed down for generations. Now, malnourishment and vitamin deficiencies are rampant, farmers have reverted to outdated, unsustainable growing practices, and social issues span from marginalization of women to public health crises. These issues penetrate all aspects of life, leaving these Ugandans with a difficult trek out of poverty, and a lack of hope for the future.
Mission
Camp Saint Mary is now complete, and has become something that is beyond the vision of any of its creators. We are humbled and beyond excited to be the first group from the United States to come and utilize these facilities to train, educate, heal, and inspire some of the people in this area. We will be running a multi-faceted mission trip over the course of five days in the areas of culinary arts, agriculture, nutrition, and medicine. The medical team will be hosting a free clinic just down the road at Princess Diana Hospital in conjunction with local doctors and nurses. They will be providing examinations, diagnoses, and over-the-counter medication to hundreds of people that otherwise could never afford, or even see, this kind of care. At Camp Saint Mary, the culinary and agricultural teams will be running both educational and practical workshops across a wide variety of subjects. The culinary team will be teaching and training in the areas of food safety, international cuisines, food preservation and waste, and proper service to chefs and managers from restaurants and hotels in town, and to students at the local culinary schools. The agricultural team will be utilizing the farm to discuss and show techniques of regenerative agriculture so the local farmers can increase yields and nutrient-density. This will improve the health of the soil and save on chemical and physical inputs.
Our goal for this mission is to teach the people of Soroti skills and lessons that they can pass on to their families, colleagues, and friends for generations to come. We believe in the power of self-sustainability, and aim to equip the people of Soroti with the knowledge and confidence necessary to spread this information across their own community. Each trainee that we work with will ultimately become a trainer to others, so that this place can rebuild from within. We believe that food and health couldn’t be a better place to start, as so much becomes possible once these basic needs are met. We are thrilled to start our work in Soroti, and we can’t wait to see the transformations that have yet to come.
Itinerary
Days 1-3: Travel
Days 4-6: Meetings, Preparations, and Set-Up
Days 7-11: Culinary/Agricultural Workshops and Medical Clinic
Days 12-13: Murchison Falls National Park
Days 14-15: Travel
Media
In order to keep our donors and supporters in the loop of the work we are doing in Soroti, we’ll be posting daily video blogs and live updates to our website and social media (people4tomorrow.com and @people4tomorrow on Instagram). We’ll also be creating a longer video that will cover the entire mission and the culture, cuisine, and traditions of the area. This will be available for viewing shortly after our return.
Funding Goal
We have the opportunity and ability to execute this, but most of us are college students and lack excess funds to pay for this ourselves. The reality of traveling to and staying in a place like this becomes quite costly when all things are considered, in addition to the supplies and educational materials we plan on bringing. We encourage you to take a look at our detailed budget to understand some of the costs associated, and why your support directly benefits our success. Any amount of money will help, and we are so thankful for anything you are able to give.
Conclusion
Camp Saint Mary is truly a beacon of hope and light for the people of Soroti. It is a genuine inspiration to witness the changes that have already occurred in the community, just through the construction of the project. My grandparents’ generosity has profoundly inspired me, and I am honored to be able to utilize what they’ve built to carry out this project.
Growing up in the United States, we have been blessed with the ability to achieve high levels of education, and even luckier to pursue our dreams. Our entire group is dedicated to utilizing our skills and connections to transform a place that hasn’t been as fortunate. This mission will be the first of many missions orchestrated by People4Tomorrow, all to help better the world around us through education, training, and inspiration. All funds donated will be used to support this initial mission and all of the costs associated with it, with any excess funds being put towards projects for tomorrow and beyond. We are so excited to begin work in Soroti, and we greatly appreciate your generosity.
In 2009, a native Ugandan named Richard Pius Okiria was serving as a priest at St. Thomas The Apostle Church in West Hartford, Connecticut. Father Richard’s visa that allowed him to live and work in the United States had expired, and all efforts to extend it had been rejected. He was ready to leave; he had already shipped some large items home to Uganda, and most of his belongings were packed and ready to go. One Sunday, the Deacon at St. Thomas mentioned the possibility of Okiria leaving the parish. After mass that day, a man walked up to him, and the two began discussing the immigration issues. Father explained to the man that the only way his residency could be extended was if he took immediate legal action, but that it would be very costly. The next day, Okiria received a call from the man, and the man told Father Richard that he and his wife were willing to pay the fee. Father Richard immediately reopened the case with his lawyer, and was able to pay the fee accordingly. A few months later, he received a call notifying him that he was granted permission to stay in the United States. Father Richard’s joy was indescribable. This man that decided to help him is my grandfather, Frank Hursey, and his wife is my grandmother, Nancy Hursey.
Following this series of events, my grandparents became quite close with Father Richard. One day, he shared his dream with the Hurseys: to build a center in his hometown of Soroti, Uganda that would rehabilitate a community that had been ravaged by political turmoil, social unrest, and rampant poverty.
As a result of extreme instability following Museveni’s rise to power in 1986, a neighboring warrior tribe invaded Soroti and stole a majority of the community's livestock. Then, there was a civil war against the Lord’s Resistance Army, during which the government displaced villagers into enclosed camps guarded by the military; a strategy to win the war while protecting its citizens. This well-intended plan ended up leaving hundreds of humans hopeless as their access to resources were removed. Father Richard worked for two years as a mediator with the church in attempts to end the war. During those two years, in 1991, Father was caught in an ambush that was meant for another military vehicle, and he lost his brother. Ten years later, he left for the United States to attend Yale University to continue his work as a priest. But in 2003, the LRA reappeared in the region. They again wreaked havoc on families who were settling back into their homes and livelihoods.
When my grandparents heard this story and the dream Father Richard had to restore peace and prosperity to his hometown, they graciously agreed to fund the project. I’ve travelled to Soroti twice now, and the warmth and generosity of such a place is simply amazing. The project is named Camp Saint Mary after the camp my grandfather attended as a young boy, and its goal is to teach, train, and inspire the next generation. The property contains two dormitories, an event hall and kitchen, working farm and fishing pond, small clinic, administrative offices, chapel, and a hotel. The Hursey Resort is a 15-room hotel that accommodates Ugandan social workers from all over the country, as well as many international guests. It also features a restaurant, hall for workshops, and a beautiful garden that’s welcome to all. These facilities will be used in tandem to host a wide array of educational training programs, all geared towards teaching practical skills and self-empowerment with the goal of healing a community that has seen so much suffering.
Many of the issues plaguing the area revolve around malnutrition, food insecurity, and a lack of educational resources. Years ago, the people of each region had an intimate relationship to their food and knew so much about the nutritive and medicinal qualities of each ingredient, as well as effective practices for optimal growing and harvesting. But, through the political turmoil, family units were uprooted or destroyed, and many people were killed, causing a drastic loss of knowledge that had been passed down for generations. Now, malnourishment and vitamin deficiencies are rampant, farmers have reverted to outdated, unsustainable growing practices, and social issues span from marginalization of women to public health crises. These issues penetrate all aspects of life, leaving these Ugandans with a difficult trek out of poverty, and a lack of hope for the future.
Mission
Camp Saint Mary is now complete, and has become something that is beyond the vision of any of its creators. We are humbled and beyond excited to be the first group from the United States to come and utilize these facilities to train, educate, heal, and inspire some of the people in this area. We will be running a multi-faceted mission trip over the course of five days in the areas of culinary arts, agriculture, nutrition, and medicine. The medical team will be hosting a free clinic just down the road at Princess Diana Hospital in conjunction with local doctors and nurses. They will be providing examinations, diagnoses, and over-the-counter medication to hundreds of people that otherwise could never afford, or even see, this kind of care. At Camp Saint Mary, the culinary and agricultural teams will be running both educational and practical workshops across a wide variety of subjects. The culinary team will be teaching and training in the areas of food safety, international cuisines, food preservation and waste, and proper service to chefs and managers from restaurants and hotels in town, and to students at the local culinary schools. The agricultural team will be utilizing the farm to discuss and show techniques of regenerative agriculture so the local farmers can increase yields and nutrient-density. This will improve the health of the soil and save on chemical and physical inputs.
Our goal for this mission is to teach the people of Soroti skills and lessons that they can pass on to their families, colleagues, and friends for generations to come. We believe in the power of self-sustainability, and aim to equip the people of Soroti with the knowledge and confidence necessary to spread this information across their own community. Each trainee that we work with will ultimately become a trainer to others, so that this place can rebuild from within. We believe that food and health couldn’t be a better place to start, as so much becomes possible once these basic needs are met. We are thrilled to start our work in Soroti, and we can’t wait to see the transformations that have yet to come.
Itinerary
Days 1-3: Travel
Days 4-6: Meetings, Preparations, and Set-Up
Days 7-11: Culinary/Agricultural Workshops and Medical Clinic
Days 12-13: Murchison Falls National Park
Days 14-15: Travel
Media
In order to keep our donors and supporters in the loop of the work we are doing in Soroti, we’ll be posting daily video blogs and live updates to our website and social media (people4tomorrow.com and @people4tomorrow on Instagram). We’ll also be creating a longer video that will cover the entire mission and the culture, cuisine, and traditions of the area. This will be available for viewing shortly after our return.
Funding Goal
We have the opportunity and ability to execute this, but most of us are college students and lack excess funds to pay for this ourselves. The reality of traveling to and staying in a place like this becomes quite costly when all things are considered, in addition to the supplies and educational materials we plan on bringing. We encourage you to take a look at our detailed budget to understand some of the costs associated, and why your support directly benefits our success. Any amount of money will help, and we are so thankful for anything you are able to give.
Conclusion
Camp Saint Mary is truly a beacon of hope and light for the people of Soroti. It is a genuine inspiration to witness the changes that have already occurred in the community, just through the construction of the project. My grandparents’ generosity has profoundly inspired me, and I am honored to be able to utilize what they’ve built to carry out this project.
Growing up in the United States, we have been blessed with the ability to achieve high levels of education, and even luckier to pursue our dreams. Our entire group is dedicated to utilizing our skills and connections to transform a place that hasn’t been as fortunate. This mission will be the first of many missions orchestrated by People4Tomorrow, all to help better the world around us through education, training, and inspiration. All funds donated will be used to support this initial mission and all of the costs associated with it, with any excess funds being put towards projects for tomorrow and beyond. We are so excited to begin work in Soroti, and we greatly appreciate your generosity.
Fundraising team: People4Tomorrow (13)
Dylan Leary
Organizer
St. Petersburg, FL
Chase Mills
Team member
Sidney Broome
Team member
Nicholas Mathis
Team member
Chase Victoria Broome
Team member
