The constant tap of running echoed down Brock Commons during the late afternoon of Friday, April 5. It was a mile run called the Duuka that students and faculty alike paid $5 to enter.
The purpose of the Duuka was simple: to benefit the Ugandan-based Doors Ministry, founded by Longwood alumna Mallory Short and her friend Katie Cartwright to provide outreach for young boys, primary school education for children and jobs for local women.
The run, which started at 5 p.m., was preceded by a sign up that gathered between 40 and 45 participants with the sale of jewelry and other products made by Ugandan women.
Cups of water were set out for the runners’ return and draw-bags holding single soccer balls were passed out to runners who wanted to carry the weight of a baby. Runners were also encouraged to run barefoot to see how it feels for the average Ugandan.
Before the start of the actual race, Amanda Krzywicki, the event’s organizer and a Doors intern, gave a short speech about the organization’s mission and the event’s purpose. She then launched a short preliminary race around the Chi fountain and the grass behind it from the front of Lankford Student Union to a light pole in front of Dorrill Dining Hall.
The twist was that the participants were carrying heavy jerricans of water, and the winner of the race stood to receive a $5 gift card. After the victor was decided, the race began and was over in a few minutes, giving Longwood students a chance to flex their calves and give back.
Krzywicki said that Doors is the culmination of three ministries based in a compound in Uganda. The first ministry Krzywicki described was the women’s ministry, which gives work to women making small craft items, including the necklaces and journals sold at the run. Krzywicki explained, “It’s a cool community where women can come and be there for each other and disciple each other while the kids are at school. It also gives jobs to women because they don’t usually have jobs in Uganda.”
The second ministry under Doors is a school servicing the Ugandan equivalent of Kindergarten to eighth graders called Doors Primary. After only one year of operation, the school has already gained 87 students and provides uniforms to them.
The third and final ministry on the list of outreaches is a boys’ home called Doors Discipleship Home that currently has nine wards.
Krzywicki said, “It’s just a wonderful environment where they are nurtured and loved, and Ugandan men own the home too ... If anyone is interested in sponsoring them, we have a sponsorship program too. They can email me, and I can tell them how to do it.”
Krzywicki described the compound in which Doors is housed as a place where Cartwright, Short and former Residential and Commuter Life Staff Member Angela Jackson live with two Ugandan men who are also its owners.
A security guard is on watch, and many fun activities happen there regularly. Krzywicki, however, is quick to point out that “It’s also not one of those organizations where they’re saying America is better and we’re going to bring
America to Uganda and Uganda needs America’s help. That’s not what they do. It’s more like we feel called to live in Uganda and work with the Ugandan people. We want to be there to help our family.”
As far as the event’s organization, Krzywicki points to an idea sparked by Jackson before she left for Uganda, which came to be called the Duuka, a word for “run” in one of the Ugandan languages.
Krzywicki said, “I just wanted it to be a community event, not something people felt like they had to participate in.” With this in mind, she assembled runners, non-runners and volunteers alike to make a lazy afternoon far less lazy.
After the race, sophomore participant Austin Bonney had a few things to say about the event. Bonney set it apart from usual events, saying, “This really peeked my interest as something I could be over and done with quickly and fit into my schedule.”
Austin also stated, “[the Dukka] didn’t have that much of a financial requirement. I think that appeals to students, and the fact that it gets you out on a gorgeous day like today and exercise and all that. It’s a good, well-rounded way to get you involved on campus. If it helps get people involved as well as [helping] children in Africa, I think it’s a wonderful idea.”
Prior to the actual Duuka, runners participate in a short "mini-race" carrying jerricans filled with water
