st. mary visitation teams up with st. mary kevin

Change the Truth friend, Suzanne Garr, has done it again! She has found a meaningful way to connect our children in Uganda with children in the United States. Read about it in this recently published community newspaper article. Suzanne's project connects kids from Milwaukee with kids in Kajjansi. Learning about and creating bonds with one another - that's got quite a nice ring to it, don't you agree?

Suzanne Garr sits among students at St. Mary Kevin Orphanage in Uganda, as they create art that will be exchanged with kids at St. Mary Visitation in Elm Grove.

The colorful pieces of art created by students at St. Mary Visitation in Elm Grove won't be sent home to hang on the refrigerator. Sorry, moms.

Instead, they'll be sent halfway around the world to Kajjansi, Uganda, to St. Mary Kevin Orphanage and boarding school as part of a cultural art exchange.

St. Mary Kevin is home to approximately 180 orphans and disadvantaged children. It provides shelter, food, security, medicine, education and training in vocational skills. The orphanage has few resources because of the limited government programs and extremely high poverty levels.

Shortly after returning from a 2006 trip to east Africa, Gloria Feinstein, a photographer and who used to live in Madison, established the Change the Truth Fund, an organization that assists Ugandan children who are orphaned due to HIV/AIDS and civil war. The nonprofit helps run the St. Mary Kevin orphanage.

Every year since then, Feinstein has brought a team with her each Christmas to spend two weeks at the orphanage to improve living conditions and spirits.

Suzanne Garr, a local photographer among other professions, stumbled upon Feinstein's book that captured the trips to Africa.

"I wrote Gloria an email telling her I think we have a lot in common — a love for children, Africa and photography. I asked her what I could do to get involved," Garr said.

Exchanging letters, too

In 2010, Garr took up Feinstein's invitation to travel to Africa with other volunteers. Before Garr left, she asked Mary Sue Protz, the human concerns director at St. Mary's, if she and her two daughters wanted to be set up with pen pals from Uganda.

Three years later, the Protzes have a thick and heavy binder of the letters exchanged between two young woman at the orphanage.

"Going into this whole pen pal thing, I was hoping that my daughters would get something fabulous out of it, so they could learn about other cultures, and how other children live. And yet, see the similarities in their lives as far as being a kid." Protz said.

Last Christmas, parishioners knitted caps, bags and shawls for the children as gifts. Protz knitted a shawl for her pen pal, Rose, a 17-year-old high school student.

"You really know how to knit. You are a very good mother. I already wrapped my shoulders in it. It felt like I was getting a hug from you," Rose wrote to Protz.

Protz said she's read every letter several times and they never fail to affect her.

"How neat to think that there is someone on the other side of the world that loves you to pieces," she said.

Learning through art

Each month, St. Mary's students pick a different charity to learn more about. The school calls it 5-11 day. Charity representatives visit the school to talk about their mission. For a $1 donation to the charity, students can come to school in jeans and a T-shirt, a welcomed relief from the uniforms.

In September, the kids decided to learn more about the St. Mary Kevin Orphanage, and it was then that school administrators decided to do the art exchange.

The children of St. Mary's and St. Mary Kevin would create 100 pieces to gift to one another. On the back of each drawing is the child's name, their favorite color and animal, and the grade they are currently in.

The art will be delivered by Change the Truth Fund volunteers when they visit Uganda at Christmas. Sending the letters by mail can add up and take up to three months to get there.

Principal Mary Tretow said the art exchange has been invaluable to the students.

"I think our kids get a whole new appreciation for another culture. The children here come from very well to do families. Just to see a different environment is huge for them," she said.

Garr exhibited the art from both schools last week in the Marian Gallery at Mount Mary College. It was a chance to show off the work to the public before they're eventually brought to Africa.

"Kids are kids no matter where. They play, they run, they color, they share and are curious about other kids. The kids of St. Mary Kevin are so grateful for anything they receive and they love to know that they are connected to kids here in the U.S.," Garr said.


- article by Scottie Meyers for the Elm Grove, Wisconsin community newspaper

save the date for "about face"

ABOUT FACE:

CONTEMPORARY PORTRAITURE

August 9, 2013-January 19, 2014

Location: Bloch Building, Gallery L11
Admission is free

"This exhibition will explore the breadth and global diversity of contemporary photographic portraiture since 2000, highlighting recent acquisitions to the museum's permanent collection.

About Face will include works by twenty-nine artists from the United States, England, Canada, France, Germany, Russia, Japan, Iran and South Africa. Though each of these photographers approaches portrait-making differently, certain thematic threads resonate throughout the show, including questions of racial, cultural, ethnic, class and gender identity; the relationship between individuals and typologies; the way photographic processes themselves inform meaning; the relevance of historical precedents to contemporary practice; and the impact of media stereotypes on self-presentation. Considered collectively, the works in About Face offer a provocative and engaging forum for considering the question: how do we define portraiture today?

For this exhibition, co-curators Jane L. Aspinwall and April M. Watson at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art are partnering with FlakPhoto.com creator Andy Adams to create a collaborative exhibition project focusing on contemporary portraiture.

The project will present two distinct, simultaneous exhibitions: About Face, our in-gallery exhibition at the Nelson-Atkins, and 'Making Pictures of People,' a digital exhibition presented online for web-based audiences worldwide. Visitors will be able to access the Flak Photo exhibition via touch screens in the gallery and on mobile devices outside the museum.

The goal of our collaboration is twofold: to celebrate the complementary experiences of engaging with photographs as objects and as images, and to connect museum visitors in Kansas City with an international community deeply engaged in thinking about portraiture and contemporary photographic practice."

.

Pieter Hugo, South African (b. 1976). Annebelle Schreuders (1), 2012. Inkjet print. 

I am very pleased to share that one of my pictures from Uganda, "Two Girls in Sunday Dresses" will be included in this exhibition!

a kitchen remodeled

The kitchen at St. Mary Kevin's used to be a smokin' place to hang out in.

Literally!

It was actually one of my favorite places to photograph. The smoke that rose up from the pots, combined with the smoke from the burning wood below made for some powerful visuals. But, after three or four minutes in there, I would have to run outside for a gasp of clean air... tears streaming down my face from the sting of the smoke. I never could figure out how the cooks and the kids stayed in the there for so long. With the smoke and the risk of burns, it was a place in need of help.

Now, thanks to Change the Truth donors, the kitchen has been transformed. It is a smoke-free place that is safer and much more efficient.

Little by little, the truth is changing for our beloved children. The truth is now, they have a safe, clean place to go to get their meals.

Old kitchen - the children line up to get their porridge

Old kitchen - the cooking pits

New kitchen - the smoke is diverted up and out of the building

New kitchen - spiffy new cooking pots

New kitchen - the children line up for food. What a difference!

breaking news: ctt team 7 leaders announced!!

I am thrilled to share this great news: Jeff Mildner and Jennifer Smith will be the leaders of Change the Truth's Team 7 trip to Uganda this December!

This will be the couple's third trip to St. Mary Kevin Orphanage. 

When they're not traveling to SMK and other exotic places, here's what they do:

Jeff works for a business solutions company in Lenexa, Kansas. He is a former social studies teacher, coach, and school district IT director. Jennifer is in her 18th year of teaching (and was recently named Blue Valley School District "Teacher of the Year"). She currently teaches 8th graders American history. Jenn and Jeff are avid sports fans cheering on the Kansas City Royals and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Jeff has completed several marathons (including a 100K - yes you read that right...100!) just yesterday. Jennifer enjoys reading and cooking. They will celebrate their 17th wedding anniversary in December.

Not only have these two humanitarians traveled to SMK twice already, they are actively involved in practically everything CTT does. They are the volunteers behind the successful silent auctions we've had at our past two annual fundraisers. They have spoken about CTT at their church, they have rounded up laptops galore for the SMK computer lab and they even sponsor one of our secondary school students. These two are committed to the children at the orphanage in very big ways. CTT is lucky to call Jenn and Jeff "friends."

I have no doubt they will make outstanding trip leaders. Between Jenn's expert organizational skills and Jeff's laid back demeanor, they will bring excitement, energy, fun, structure and compassion to the table and will share it with everyone on the team and everyone at St. Mary Kevin's.

So, if you've been thinking about joining Team 7, there are now two more excellent reasons to do so. Let me know if you'd like additional information. The team is now forming - you won't want to miss this incredible opportunity.

I asked Jenn and Jeff to write a quick introduction to share here. If you followed Team 4's journey, you already know a few things about these two wonderful people.

"We first learned about Change The Truth when Gloria visited our church in Olathe. Having traveled to South Africa and Lesotho, we were interested in an organization that was committed to building relationships and providing educational support for children.  As members of Team 4 in 2010, we led computer classes and education around HIV-AIDS, drugs and alcohol, and healthy relationships. More importantly, we began building relationships with the children. We returned to Saint Mary Kevin in July 2012 and participated in the school day observing classes, organizing the library, and even teaching a few lessons. We traveled to several secondary schools to see CTT sponsored students and tour their dormitories, classrooms and college campuses.

The children of Saint Mary Kevin have imprinted our hearts as the red soil of Uganda marks our shoes and clothes. We are honored to lead Team 7 and can’t wait to see our friends in Kajjansi again. Tubagala nyo! (We love you!)"

secondary school

Evalyn, Claire Faith and Scovia (beginning Senior 2)

Rose and Fiona (beginning Senior 1)

Another academic year has begun in Uganda. The students have received their uniforms, shoes, books, pencils and hygiene supplies and are off and running! 

CTT's sponsored secondary students take the following mandatory classes:  English, Mathematics, Geography, History, Chemistry, Physics, and Biology.  They also take enrichment classes, including classes such as:  Literature, Fine Arts, Christian Religious Education, Luganda, Kiswahili, Entrepreneurship, Communication, and Computer. Sixteen classes in all! That's enough to make one's head spin.

But just wait until you read about the typical day in the life of a secondary school student:

The school day begins at 3:00 AM, when students wake to complete morning dormitory chores, engage in morning study sessions, participate in organized prayer time, eat breakfast and prepare for their day.  Regular morning classes begin at 7:00 AM and conclude at 4:00 PM.  Each class is held in 40 minute increments. Students typically get a short break during mid-morning and for lunch. After classes, students have the opportunity for some social activities (like clubs or sports), complete personal tasks (like laundry), and eat evening dinner.  At 7:00 PM, student reenter the classrooms for Night Prep classes (evening study sessions) to revise notes or complete homework.  Classes finally conclude at 9:00 PM.  Dormitory lights are out by 10:00. Students have classes for a half-day on Saturday. No classes occur on Sunday.  

CTT is now sponsoring 24 students in secondary school, two in vocational school and five in college.

We've come a long way over the years, and so have these eager, hard working students!

could it be you?

Dawn Taylor, Team 5, with her new friends

Wanted: adventurous, generous people who would like to travel to Uganda to be with the children who live at St. Mary Kevin Orphanage Motherhood.

You must be able to travel in December and be away for Christmas.

You must pay your own way.

You must be prepared to jump rope, perform in a talent show, hold hands with lots of kids at once and dance.

You must be willing to step out of your comfort zone.

You must be prepared to fall in love over and over again. You must be willing to make room in your heart for this.

You should be able to work well in a group.

You must be willing to take off your watch and let things happen when they do.

You must be prepared to see and hear things that will make you cry.

You must be willing to be loved purely and unconditionally by many sweet, beautiful children.

You must be willing to get red dirt permanently on your clothing and shoes.

You must be prepared to (occasionally) be without power and (usually) without the other comforts of your own home.

You must be wiling to let your life change.

COULD IT BE YOU?

Team 7 is now forming. Contact Gloria for details. (Feel free to share this with others who might be interested.) gbfeinstein [at] aol [dot] com.

nelson-atkins museum of art

I'm happy to share that the Nelson has acquired these two photographs! This is truly an honor for me.

girls rock!

What better day than International Women's Day to announce that four of the five students who recently received Change the Truth sponsorships for secondary school are female!

The enthusiastic and delighted young women who have just begun first their term at St. Noa Secondary School are, from left to right: Joanne, Nahia, Rose and Fiona. Thanks to the continued and generous support of CTT donors, this bright group of students will now be able to fulfill childhood dreams of attaining higher education. The doors to their future are wide open. Success will require a lot of hard work on their part over the course of the next several years, but I have no doubt that these young women will step up and grab the opportunity by the tail. They are fearless, strong and determined.

Watch out, world!

rosemary and vincent + helena and jack

This is a great way to end the week!

Hopefully you feel like you know Rosemary and Vincent by now. They were befriended by my pal Anna back in 2009 when she was living and photographing in a small, rural village in southwest Uganda. The two children had no parents and were taking care of their ailing grandmother. Anna contacted me and asked if the children could go live at SMK. The rest is, as they say, history.

This past fall when I was at SMK, Vincent became very ill. You may recall that he had both malaria and pneumonia, and that we had to take him to a nearby clinic for a few days. I was absolutely blown away by the way Rosemary took care of her brother. During that time, I got to know both of them pretty well. I was told by big sis in a hushed but urgent tone that neither had cases for their belongings, no underwear and no school uniforms or shoes.

Remember Helena? She's a young friend of Anna's. She and her little brother Jack decided in 2010 to become best friends and supporters of Rosemary and Vincent. They have been raising money for them ever since. The money helps pay for Rosemary and Vincent's school fees.

And now that money  has gone toward uniforms, shoes, underwear and cases!!

A photo of the the happy siblings arrived in my inbox this morning. Thanks, Melissa, for brightening this gloomy, grey Kansas City morning. And thanks, Helena and Jack, for being the amazing children that you are. I hope one day you'll get to meet your friends from half way around the world. A pizza party would be fun, don't you think?

Rosemary in her village, 2009 (Photo by Anna)

Rosemary and Vincent arrive at SMK, 2009

Helena 

Helena and Jack's collection jar

Rosemary and her friend take care of Vincent in the clinic, September, 2012

Rosemary and Vincent, February 2013

leah

Here is a wonderful article about Leah (Team 6). It is hot off the presses of the Kansas City Jewish Chronicle. So proud of you, Leah!

Read it here.

suzanne and some bags

photo by John Ehlers

Please take a few minutes to read this article about our fabulous Suzanne Garr!  She never ceases to amaze me, as she is always thinking of new ways to benefit the kids at SMK through wonderful new connections.... and helping others at the same time.

brian!

Many of you regular blog readers often ask me about Brian, the young man who suffered a head injury in an accident when Team 5 was at St. Mary Kevin Orphanage (December, 2011). I'm happy to report that Brian is doing very well in school and is creating wondrous works of art in his spare time. He is still a CTT sponsored student, preparing to begin Senior 3 next month.

It's one thing to see photographs of the children; it's, of course, an entirely different experience to watch videos of them. I have recently learned that Team 6 member, Josh, conducted some short video interviews with kids at the orphanage.

I'd like to share Brian's. Just look at and listen to this special guy!! What a sweetheart he is, and how happy we all are that he seems to have made a full recovery from the accident.

Thanks for this wonderful 47 second gem, Josh.

photo revisited

I made one version of this image soon after I returned home from my September trip to Uganda. There was something about it that I didn't like. Now that I am working on a show, I decided to revisit the pictures I made of these sisters on their way to school.

This one is slightly different from the first, and I like it better.

It can be helpful/interesting to put some space between the time you make images and the time you finally select and print them. One's perspective can shift, leading to a different appreciation/better understanding of certain images.

team 6 post: reflections by leah

"If someone had told me a year ago that I would consider an orphanage in Kajjansi, Uganda a home to me, I wouldn’t have believed them. Home is a place where you feel loved and welcomed and yourself. The people of Uganda, every member of Team 6, and of course the kids at SMK made the trip to Uganda the most amazing thing I have ever experienced. There are so many people I would like to thank, and my gratitude extends far beyond these words. I want to thank Melissa and all of Team 6. Without any of you, I would have been lost. Everything we experienced together whether it was sitting on Natalie’s lap in the crowded car in the insane streets of Kampala, or conversations at the lunch table, makes me think of you as family. I want my Dad to know how much I appreciate him, and many of the kids reminded me how great it is that I have a father who cares about so much. An excerpt from a love letter: 'You are so strong, blessed and I admire the way that your father loves you. In my life, I have never experienced such a love from my father. Always you have to thank God for your life and your parents lives too because it is incredible how they have taken care of you.' I would also like to thank Gloria. Even though she could not be on the trip with us this year, I know that she kept us in her heart. She has been such a good friend and neighbor to me ever since I was little.

A good friend I made at SMK named Joan asked me what message I would take away from this trip. I have spent a long time thinking about an answer for her, and I finally have one. I learned to be thankful for what I have. It is so easy to take the little things for granted, and that is something that I admire in all of these kids. They appreciate everything that they have, and I look up to them for that. It is easy for me to forget how lucky I am to not have to worry about who will pay for my education. I try to look forward to school now (even though it can be difficult sometimes) because I am so fortunate to be able to go to school every day, have my own textbooks, and simply learn. Education should not be something taken for granted, and that is the message I have taken from this life changing experience."

- Leah

kitchen improvements

I am pleased to announce that the Change the Truth Board has approved a major new project for St. Mary Kevin. The kitchen is going to get a facelift!

In 2006, when I first visited SMK, the orphans had their own small area for preparing food. The kids were in charge of preparing the meals. I watched as they chopped wood (while barefoot), lit fires, cooked the food and then scooped it into their own cups and bowls.

By 2007 the orphans had become more integrated into the overall fabric of SMK boarding school, and they were no longer preparing their own meals. The porridge and posho were cooked in an open area by staff members, and all the children lined up there to receive their portions.

Soon after that, a kitchen was built. Inside the covered area was a fire pit and a grate that held three large pots for cooking. That's the kitchen that still exists today. If you've ever been to SMK, you know first hand how smoky that kitchen is. It's hard to stay in there for more than a few minutes at a time; the smoke stings your eyes and also makes it hard to breath.

With a generous grant from CTT, the current kitchen will soon undergo a remodel. Energy saving stoves will be installed, the smoke will be redirected (out) and the surfaces will be more difficult for young ones to reach, hence protecting them from potential burns. The kitchen and food storage area will also be expanded. Overall, it will become a more energy efficient and safer place.

Great news, don't you agree?

team 6 post by suzanne: a doll for a doll

"In my many bags that I stuffed with donations to take with me to SMK, there was one bag that contained a group of very special dolls made by some children in California. They were created at Open Air Studios for the children in Uganda. Each doll was made out of a variety of colorful and textural fabrics and was a personal expression of the child who made it. Elaine Armour, founder of Open Air Studios (see blog entry from December 11, 2012) and her students carefully packaged up the dolls so they could be given to the children for Christmas.

The children at SMK are familiar with dolls, of course; each year they make banana fiber dolls for the CTT annual friendraiser/fundraiser.  As the children were making their banana dolls and writing short little stories about themselves and the doll they had just made, I gave them each one of the dolls from California that also had a small story attached.  It was a doll for a doll.

There are no words to describe the moment you give a child a gift , especially one that is made for him or her by another child. This gift can be held and played with - and it will be at their side when the children say their prayers and go to sleep at night.

Thank you, Elaine and the children at Open Air Studios for making children who live so far away feel close to you through the love of your dolls."

 Suzanne

Here is one of the letters of thanks. It was written by Ronah and recently delivered to Lily, the girl in California who made Ronah's beautiful new doll;


Hi Lily,

I am very happy for the doll you have send me. I am called Ronah. My
favorite colour is orange. I am in primary six. My favorite game is
netball. This doll will be called Carol. Let me hope you will love
this name. Thanks. 

From Ronah

love letters

I'll be honest with you. Running a non-profit can be frustrating and challenging.

I've been having a pity party all day because of a particularly difficult situation that's come up. And, of course, to make matters worse, it's a gray and dreary day in Kansas City.

The sun just came out, though: I received a package of letters from some of my young friends at St. Mary Kevin, delivered via the USPS and team leader Suzanne.

Now that the tears (from reading my letters) have dried up enough for me to actually see my keyboard, I'll share some excerpts from these shiny little letters. Many are adorned with stickers and drawings of hearts. All of them brought me out of my doldrums and reminded me to get up, dust myself off and move forward. These children continue to inspire me and make me smile. Over and over again.

"I love you so much and I miss you. Thank you for the pictures of me that you sent. I looked beautiful. And thank you for making me your friend."

"I will never forget that time we drew together and you gave me a drawing. It makes me feel that I have many people who care and love me."

"I miss you because I love being next to you."

"In Team 6 I had three best friends. They were so kind to me and we played the following games with them - netball, rope skipping, etc. and we made flowers and we had lunch and we were so excited with the team but now we are going to miss them as we missed you."

"I remember that day we at the Serena Hotel. That day was the most good day of my life."

"In Team 6 I got a sister called Leah and a dad Josh. I was the first girl to give them a tour. I loved them  and even now I still do."

"Everyday I attend a lecture at the University I get inspired. Everyday I am able to dress up properly and walk around with people of great honor. I feel proud. Everyday you remind that I have a lot of contributions I have to offer to this great planet earth by being the best change that I can be. And surely I will achieve that one day, just one day!!"

"Thank you for not leaving me behind in the world."

a new tradition is born with team 6

I just received this post from Team 6 leader Suzanne. I am grinning ear to ear this morning; I don't think I've ever seen such joy on the faces of the kids at St. Mary Kevin Orphanage! Suzanne's photos are awesome and amazing.

"What do you get when you mix the following:

Mangos

Rope

Pillowcases (2)

Bandanas (2)

Balloons (many)

Whistles (2)

Kiddos (many)

Sense of adventure and fun

Wild laughter and jumps of joy

Screams and screeches of pure fun

And a competitive spirit?

You get a new  tradition... Spirit Day at SMK!  On three sunny, hot Ugandan afternoons we gathered as a team and rounded up the troops to have what was a High School tradition for me growing up - Spirit Day. A day of fun and games for all.  Laughter erupted, cheers encouraged winning teams to the finish line, and a spirit of joy filled the grounds of SMK.  We played pass the mango under your neck, limbo, wheel-barrow and potato sack races and a kiddo favorite, the water balloon toss. The matrons howled with laughter. At the end of the day tootsie roll pops were had by all, and there were prizes for the winning teams 

The pictures say it best. Team 7: get ready to have some fun with the new SMK Spirit Day tradition next December."