During Winter Break 2010, Amanda Krzywicki took her first steps into Kampala, Uganda as part of a two-week mission trip to aid its children. Introduced to Abaana (the Christian charity that sponsored the trip) by 2010 Longwood alumna Mallory Short, Krzywicki became a part of something that would change her life. "[When I got there], I loved it there, loved what I was doing, [and knew I was] definitely coming back."
This year, with help from Abaana, Krzywicki is helping facilitate another trip to Uganda this December to return to the same streets in Kampala she walked a year before without the help of any school sponsored organization. She is one of 14 college students from the United States to go on this trip. Other Longwood students attending will be Katie Beals, Anna Grieb, Erica Hazelwood, Kate Locke, Emberli McGann, Shannon Rosedale, and Holly Smith. The trip will bring along three students from Virginia Tech, one student from Tennessee and two students from Georgia.
"I have spent my last five summers working in Central America, and though my heart has been there for quite some time, I'm ready to experience something new," said junior Shannon Rosedale. "I'm excited to see how my heart and mind will be opened to new things, meeting new people and getting to be a part of some amazing healing that is going to be taking place on this trip."
While in Kampala, the students will be staying at a host home sponsored by Abaana and spend two weeks helping both homeless children around Kampala and the boys living in an Abaana New Life Home, a transitional home for young boys 11-18 years old. These boys turned to Abaana after being orphaned, running away from abusive homes or being turned out when their families could not afford to take care of them anymore. They stay at the New Life Home for several years, doing chores and learning about different trades and how to enter the workforce, then leave the home at 19 when they are considered adults.
"It's disappointing that I won't see some of them, but it's nice to know that their bed will now be full by someone who needs it. Those are the boys I really connected with," said Krzywicki. "The average age is 15 and they are really, really mature. They live on a dollar a day and are one of the youngest populations in the world. Here they are, 15, and I'm 19, and they know more about life than I will ever will."
"I have lived such a privileged life as far as material things and education goes, but these boys have had very little and have been through so much and still are filled with so much joy! They have so much faith and my hope is that I will learn to appreciate what I have been given more and my faith grows exponentially," junior Holly Smith explained. "While there we will be doing ministry with the boys in several different ways, like leading Bible studies in small groups with them, serving food and doing what Abaana calls "street reach" by going into the streets, talking [to them], and giving out [things like] soap, toothbrushes and toothpaste." Krzywicki said that due to the quality of dental care in Uganda last year, many children were unaware how to use a toothbrush, let alone know what it was. While in Kampala, Krzywicki also hopes to start a movement to improve the quality of drinking water that the children drink there, as she was informed by previous residents of the New Life Home that they were developing typhoid and malaria. "I'm excited for my eyes to be opened more," said Krzywicki. "I know what I'm getting into, but there's so much more that I can do."
Fundraising is still underway and members of the group are not only accepting donations, but are also hosting event nights and selling T-shirts and necklaces (made by John, one of the boys Krzywicki met in the halfway home) for $15 each. The next fundraising event will be on Oct. 24 at Buffalo Wild Wings from 5-7. If anyone is interested in attending a future fundraising event, donating, or buying a shirt or necklace, they can log on to the trip blog at www.edembe.tumblr.com or contact Krzywicki at amanda.krzywicki@live.longwood.edu.
