By Joanne Trangle, founder of Select Treks (www.selecttreks. com), a company that organizes custom travel for groups of all sizes, specializing in service and adventure travel. Joanne also is the founder of Global Village Connect (www.globalvillageconnect.org), a non-profit organization that connects classrooms and communities by developing practical solutions that improve health, education and economic opportunity through sustainable micro-enterprise.
Photos by Mike Tucker
Recently, to celebrate Kulanu’s 25th anniversary and the 100th anniversary of the Abayudaya Jewish community, Kulanu sponsored a trip to Uganda which I was honored to lead. As the founder of Global Village Connect, I have been accompanying people to Uganda to visit the Abayudaya community for the past eight years. This particular trip was very special. There was a palpable feeling of gratitude from the community for all the work Kulanu has done throughout the years. Their appreciation was on full display during many speeches, especially at Hadassah Primary School in the main village of Nabugoya Hill. Aaron, the headmaster of the school, Sam the accountant, and Stephen the financial officer, showed the group around and shared the students’ progress reports. From classrooms to the newly-built kitchen and new dorms under construction, the school is thriving.
We also visited Tikkun Olam Primary School in the small village of Namutumba. There, Kulanu has contributed to a new computer lab and supported a Days For Girls program, where girls make reusable menstrual pads and learn about repro- ductive health and women’s rights. The program has been successful in keeping girls in school.
At a visit to the Hope Music and Dance Troupe, we had a great time attempting to learn tradi- tional African music and dance. That was a real treat! We had Shabbat dinner at the home of headmaster Aaron, whose wife Naomi cooked a beautiful dinner for all of us. Visits with local artisans in several villages—including a drum maker, a mat maker, and a furniture maker— taught us first-hand about life in Uganda. We made new connections and were able to witness up-close the successes of the projects Kulanu has supported in the Abayudaya community. I encourage all to visit and to contribute to the enterprising work of the Abayudaya community in partnership with Kulanu.
Now we are looking forward to another trip to the Abayudaya in November in collaboration with the Minneapolis Jewish Federation. Everyone is welcome to join this trip — you don’t have to live in Minneapolis. Spend time with the Abayudaya in eastern Uganda amid lush agricultural plains surrounded by hills and mountains. Meet the community, learn about Ugandan Jewish life,
and celebrate Shabbat African style. We will be assisting the Tikkun Olam Primary School in building a kitchen and an organic farm on-site so that the students can have healthy lunches every school day. For more information, visit www.jewishminneapolis.org/uganda.