Field Trip Day!
It was the trip of a lifetime for Goretti, Ruth, Christine, Nyapendi, Rose, Faith, Elizabeth, Jane, Joan, Manjeri, and Fazirah
Recently, 11 students from our Girls' Vocational Center in Buwudha set off on an unforgettable field trip to Jinja, the city where the Nile begins and dreams got a little bigger.
For most of the girls, the day was full of firsts: first time leaving their village, first time in a taxi, first time eating in a restaurant, first time in Jinja, and choosing their own fabric at the market!
They planned their outfits (many wore dresses they'd made themselves), arranged childcare for their little ones, and met at the Center bright and early, full of excitement. Hilda, our amazing team director, made sure every detail was perfect.
Their day in Jinja started with a tour of a textile factory. Here, they saw firsthand how the fabrics they love to sew are actually made. They also had the opportunity to speak with some of the supervisors about business, tailoring, and jobs!
Then came a stop at the market, where each girl got $10 to spend on her favorite prints. You've never seen such joy over color and pattern! The traditional fabrics are really beautiful, and on my last visit, I was able to do some shopping in this store. As a “recovering fabric-a-holic,” I really wished I were on the trip with the girls!
By lunchtime, everyone was hungry and thrilled to eat in a real restaurant! This was a first for nearly all of them. Ordering a meal that included meat or fish was a big, memorable moment. Most of the girls had never had this much food in front of them at once. Some were even a bit overwhelmed.
These smiles from Betty and Goretti say it all!
Before heading home, they explored Main Street's tourist shops, gathering ideas for what they could make and sell through our Women's Craft Cooperative back in Kamuli.
They returned tired but glowing, not just from the adventure, but from what it showed them: there's a bigger world waiting for their skills, their creativity, and their dreams.
This field trip wasn't just fun. It was transformational. The girls saw women working confidently in business and leadership, proof that their training can open doors they once thought were closed.
We're already planning the next one, this time for our hairdressing students!
None of this happens without you. Your support makes these life-changing experiences possible. You're not just teaching girls to sew, you're helping them see what's possible, and giving them a real future.
Big thanks to Hilda and to you, our incredible community, for believing in their potential!
With Gratitude,
Mary
P.S.- We're launching our “Her Future Starts Now” campaign to raise $12,000 to educate 30 girls at our Vocational Center for 2026. This covers supplies, instructors, and counseling.
