When Geoffrey Tindyebwa fled his home in Uganda, he left with nothing but the clothes on his back.
Tindyebwa was in his early 20s and was a student activist when the dictator Adi Amin took over the civilian government in the late B次元官网网址�70s. But with AminB次元官网网址檚 rule came bloodshed as he persecuted intellectuals and those who were in support of the ousted civilian government. Many people fled into exile.
After a number of escapes and near misses, Tindyebwa managed to flee to Kenya.
It was in the village community of Mukangu, a roughly two-hour drive from the capital city of Nairobi, where a family took him in B次元官网网址� housed and clothed him.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a dark period in UgandaB次元官网网址檚 history because many intellectuals fled Uganda,B次元官网网址� said Tindyebwa, who teaches English and world literature at Pearson College in Metchosin.
Since immigrating to Canada in 1995, Tindyebwa has not forgotten that family. ThatB次元官网网址檚 why he created the Kumbuka Universal Learning Experiences (KULE) Foundation, a non-profit organization that aims to make a difference in the lives of the less privileged.
Every year Tindyebwa and a group of students from Pearson College make the trip to Kenya to do humanitarian service.
While Tindyebwa originally planned on giving back to the community for two years, heB次元官网网址檚 continued that work for the past 15.
B次元官网网址淓very time I thought of pulling out, there was so much to do to support them,B次元官网网址� Tindyebwa said.
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In the past, the foundation has helped rehabilitate an orphanage, built a water tank for the kids, established a chicken farm and purchased two milk cows so the children could have access to fresh milk.
Volunteers have also helped build a large library, six permanent houses for destitute families, a bus shelter for commuters and helped salvage a road that links one part of the village to another.
The foundation is working on constructing a four-classroom elementary school.
Currently, five- to 10-year-old students have to walk roughly five to six kilometres one way just to attend school. The new facility will house 25 to 35 students in each of the four classrooms.
Last summer, students and volunteers in the community worked side-by-side to construct the foundation for the first two classrooms.
This year Tindyebwa and nine Pearson College students hope to continue that work when they return to Kenya July 2 to 23. The students will stay with the elder who took Tindyebwa in all those years ago. Not only do Kenyans benefit, itB次元官网网址檚 also a learning experience for students as well.
B次元官网网址淭he media has painted a particular picture of developing countries. Then when the students go there and they find that thereB次元官网网址檚 humanity behind the colour, that the colour doesnB次元官网网址檛 matter B次元官网网址� thereB次元官网网址檚 a lot that peels away in the process,B次元官网网址� said Tindyebwa, adding they also get a sense of what life is like in a rural community.
B次元官网网址淵ou remove a lot of layers prejudice and stereotypes. It excites me to see people relating as human beings regardless of their ethnicity.B次元官网网址�
Tindyebwa said the new facilities, as well as support from other stakeholders, have made a huge difference in the level of education throughout the village over the years as well.
B次元官网网址淭he quality of education has improved dramatically,B次元官网网址� he said.
B次元官网网址淟ast year the school sent almost 60 to national universities B次元官网网址� They see us as their friends, as people who support them.B次元官网网址�
For more information about KULE Foundation International visit .
kendra.wong@gold
