Father Joe and the YES center

Here in Uganda we have a special relationship with Father Joe Luzindana. Father Joe is the Catholic priest who oversees ministry to the youth of Kampala. Since Uganda is a nation where 78% of the population is under 30, Father Joe's work is very important. Father Joe has huge dreams for the YES center. He has already started a vocational school for local women to learn tailoring and sewing. He hopes to one day have sports facilities for local children at the YES center.

One big dream that Father recently shared with Alexis Hefley (founder of EAC who is accompanying our trip)  was to have a computer center where youth can come to learn computer skills and to connect with the world. He had no idea where the computers could come from but he prayed for this dream to come true. I am so, so proud to say that our Technology Department at Ursuline heard about Father Joe's dream and they decided to make that dream a reality. Led by Susan Bauer, our quiet technological hero, the technology department refurbished the "hot spares" (extra laptops)  from the Class of 2012. They cleaned the computers and made sure that they and their batteries were in excellent working order. Then, we had the great privilege of delivering those computers to Father Joe. 

It's hard to put into words how overjoyed we were to have the honor of making this gift. Father Joe and his whole staff of workers and volunteers greeted us with a special reception where Father Joe cried from joy, of course, we cried with him. We hope that this is only the beginning of a long and loving relationship between UA, Father Joe and the YES center.  

Note: We are having some difficulty captioning the photos. They are all from our time at the YES center - the lovely reception prepared for us, funny moments with Father Joe, our visit to the sewing class, some of the children served by the YES center and lastly, an artist painting a mural of the Ugandan martyrs on the wall of the YES center (just in time for Easter). 

Oh happy day!!!!!