three more volunteers head to st. mary kevin children's home

Change the Truth is thrilled to announce the next group of volunteers that is now making its way to Uganda!

Andrew Musgrave is a father of two young girls and works full time as a Social Justice Director. He will be making his first trip to Uganda. He is very excited to experience firsthand the wonderful things happening at SMK, and he looks forward to sharing his love of sports and computers with the kids. He also plans to visit some of the schools that CTT/SMK students attend to gain some perspective for his work in Padibe and Gulu, Northern Uganda. 

Joining him will be Erin Alexander. Erin has traveled to Northern Uganda twice before, but this will be her first visit to SMK, and she is thrilled. As a former English teacher and now owner of All Souls Yoga, Erin plans to do yoga, journaling and creative story-telling that will help students tap into their innate courage during her time there. 

Suzanne Garr will be making her fifth trip to SMK to spend time with her kiddos, introduce some new art projects, tour various schools of CTT sponsored students and simply have fun playing games, reading, having a movie night and a few other fun-related activities. She will be splitting her time between SMK and some schools in the North where she will travel with Andrew and Erin to continue their collective work, which includes helping students with their educational dreams. The team travels September 16^th and will return home October 2^nd. 

Stay tuned for posts and pictures!

news from natalie

The Disney film, Queen of Katwe, starring Lupita Nyong'o and David Oyelowo is scheduled to be released in just a few weeks. Based on the book of the same title by Tim Crothers, it's the true story of a Phiona Mutesi, a young girl who defies the odds of growing up in one of the toughest slums in Uganda to become an international chess champion.

The story itself seems a little unbelievable from an abstract perspective. What are the odds that this young girl who is struggling to survive, would happen upon a mentor, who grew up much like herself, and he could arm her with the skills to discover a talent that would enable her to change her circumstances? The unlikelihood of it all is perhaps why it will make a great movie.

The thing is, it's not that unbelievable. In fact, I know a lot of Phionas--children who have defied the odds and found their passions in music, art, dancing, and academics. 

This past week I invited five of these young people to join me in reading the Queen of Katwe as part of a small book club. We met after they read the first half and they have already identified so many parallels between their own lives, and the lives of the two main characters, Robert and Phiona. 

As a visitor in their lives for only a few weeks a year, I have struggled with finding a balance between being a role model, and encouraging the children at SMK to find the role models that surround them everyday. This book, and the conversations that have arisen from discussing it, has helped strike that balance. We have been able to talk openly about the challenges they have--and continue to--face, and the pride they should feel in working to achieve their goals. Despite the fact that Change the Truth has been there to help along the way, their accomplishments are a result of their own hard work. Nothing our volunteers can provide can do the work for them, and what they dare to achieve is a result of their own dedication to their dreams.

post from brittany

It has been proven that music incorporated into schools improves the overall academic achievement of students. With a quick google search, you can find study after study that links music classes to improved brain function and increased test scores. Offering opportunities to the children at St. Mary Kevin to study music is just one of the ways CTT volunteers are able to encourage future success. Not to mention it is just a really good time!

For the past week, the younger students at SMK have received an immersive musical experience thanks to the ladies of Uptown Violins. Here's a brief update of their activites:


We finished our first week of music camp with the younger children! The children are so cute and high energy! Their creativity and innovative spirits shine through each day.

Some highlights were: a call and response clapping song titled "Flee, Flee, Fly," a musical painting craft, learning note names and Rhythms incorporating them in a spirited game of basketball. However, performing a song from the movie Tarzan using rattles, boom whackers, violins, and clapping was the ultimate in fun!

                                                                                                                          --Brittany Peterson

                                                                                                   

first impressions

First impressions can be a tricky thing. Sometimes they are totally wrong. Other times they are spot on, like they have been for Sherèe in her first days at St. Mary Kevin. In her own words, here is what she has to say about what she has observed so far.

We have been at SMK for two days! We are living, breathing entertainment. From our violins, our funny names, Ben's extreme height, and the color of our hair, we almost seem from another planet! However, what perhaps has been the subject of greatest interest is that we are family. Family—what a loaded word for many of us. Be it one that brings to mind pride, love or possibly trouble, it is something many of us understand. At SMK family isn't a known entity but rather an intellectual concept. How can we even begin to teach it? We are here all together—a father and mother, who are also simultaneously jjajas (grandparents in Ugandan), sisters, a brother. This does not even include our other three sisters, brothers, niece, 11 uncles, 10 aunts, and 30-some cousins. That is simply unbelievable! But there is also family at SMK. The kids demonstrate there love for Melissa and pride in their matron Josephine. The older children help the younger with their English, their washing, etc. Family is something not to be overlooked, be it the one you are born into, or the one that you form. We are very blessed to be here and help share the love of family while also witnessing a very close-knit Ugandan one.
   
                                                                                                                          --Sherèe Lutz
               

                                 
                                                                   Ben and new friends. 


                                           
                                                                               New hair-dos.


                                           
                                                                                New music. 


                                                           
                                                                                             New experiences. 

chapter 11 begins

Change the Truth chapter 11 officially begins!

It will be launched right here featuring blog posts submitted by some very lovely volunteers who'll be traveling to St. Mary Kevin Children's Home in just one week. The Peterson/Lutz family of five will be in Uganda until September 3rd, and their visit will overlap with Natalie's (who will be there until the 12th).

Stay tuned for their journal entries and photos.

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Thanks for hanging with us all these years, and welcome to those of you will be following along for the first time!