JD: My Journey

This Summer I have been blessed with the opportunity to partner with the AGRADU (Advocates for Grassroots Development in Uganda) Organization and work at the New Hope Children's Orphanage in Busia, Uganda for 8 weeks. (June-July)! http://www.newhopeafricanchildren.com/

 

For as long as I can remember, I have always wanted to travel to Africa and provide care for young children who suffered from malnourishment. Growing up, I would see a lot of television commercials about children in need of monetary assistance in Africa to sustain a healthy lifestyle and develop properly. It was unfortunate to watch this display of famine and deprivation on television, especially when seeing the faces of each and every child without food. I felt like an outsider looking in, especially when I started to learn more about the consequence of a poor political system in different parts of Africa.

 

As I continue to learn more about topics such as structural violence, cultural practices, and different healing methods in Africa, I was eager to experience the culture for myself. I wanted to utilize what I had learned from countless ethnographies written by scholars who travelled to Kenya, South Africa, Malawi, Botswana and many other countries so I could see through my own eyes the stories of the people I read about.

 

My goal as a future medical professional is to work with children in Africa while maintaining a heart for the work. I want to stay as motivated and caring as the young African physicians I read about in my classes. If they were able to provide the best form of care that they could for their patients in a resource poor setting, then I have no excuse to do the same in a country full of medical resources. I believe that traveling to Uganda will be a very humbling experience and will open my mind and heart to a new way of life. I am aware of the challenges I may face during my stay in Busia, but I cannot be more thrilled about the notion. I can say with certainty that my trip to Uganda will be one of many service trips I will take throughout my lifetime, working with others who are passionate about helping their community and creating a change in their lives.