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Alec Munsen, with a One World Futbol atop a carton of 10 that are headed to Uganda |
As told by Cathy Munsen and Bernard Omuse
This is an unusual story: It starts with Margaret Anyokorit, an orphan with AIDS, who launched an orphanage before she died. At the end of this month, it involves a Seattle teenager taking 10 One World Futbols to Uganda to the school the orphanage became.
The story is rooted in the 1980s, a particularly dark period in the history of Uganda, when six out of ten children were orphaned either from HIV/AIDS, or war. Margaret herself was an orphan as a result of the civil unrest that engulfed Uganda during the reign of the then dictatorial president of Uganda--Idi Amin Dada.
On her return to her small village ---Osukuru in Tororo, Uganda-- she mobilized 35 orphaned children and with them, she started a poultry chicken project that later grew into the orphanage which was called The Uganda Martyrs Orphans Project (UMOP). Launched in 1990, it has become a home for more than 1,800 vulnerable children living in rural Uganda. It is the first indigenous nonprofit registered in Tororo, Uganda.
UMOP is named for Ugandans who were martyred and died believing In their faith. In order to support and provide for children’s needs, Margaret reared poultry, farmed, and dreamed of supporting more orphans. She also had a dream of becoming a Catholic nun. She completed a college degree and joined the religious congregation of the Daughters of St. Paul, but she was forced out before she took her vows as a novice because she was discovered to be infected with HIV. At that time, people were just becoming aware of the HIV/AIDS disease and they were frightened. Discrimination and segregation based on HIV/AIDS was at its height.
In 2000, as her conditioned worsened, Margaret reached out to her brother, Rev. Fr. Centurio Olaboro to ask him to carry out her dream. Following her death, the orphanage has evolved into three institutions from the initial home school: The Great Aubrey College, Ma’s Junior School, and Osukuro Skills Development Institute.
Sports are a key component and the institution has a competitive youth soccer league team.
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UMOP team members in uniform |
The UMOP vision is described as “A world of hope for the vulnerable”. It focuses on advocating for the welfare of orphans and other vulnerable individuals, literacy, HIV/AIDS awareness, development of technical skills, promoting savings, microfinancing, and engaging in social research.
Cathy Munsen, the other source for this report, shares the story from her family's perspective, which now includes her Ugandan son Bernard
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Alec |
How Alec got involved is a bit of serendipity. In 2016 he traveled to Pune, India for a two-week stay at the Maher Ashram Orphanage. It was there where he ended up rooming with Bernard Omuse. They both were there under the auspices of United Villages, which was founded by Gretchen Rowe, Seattle, to promote the vision of "building relationships from the heart with the mission of bringing out peace, healing, and harmony in humanity." Gretchen is a friend of the Munsen family, and brought Alec along on her trip to India.
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Bernard |
The following summer, Bernard traveled to Seattle to be a counselor for the United Village "Peace Camp", a month-long summer camp at which youth from both Uganda and India come to be counselors. Bernard stayed with the Munsen family and, when returning to Uganda, was gifted three soccer balls by Alec. From this initial donation, Bernard was inspired to start an official soccer league with twelve teams from all over Tororo. The Munsens have some skin in the game, as indicated by the image below.
The "UMOP Munsens" with a name inspired by Alec's original donation, consist of a junior team and a senior team, (and soon a girls team) from the schools for underserved children. These children are being afforded an opportunity to be part of a team experience that is truly giving them, as the motto states, "Hope for the Future."
Well, by now those of you who follow this blog won't be surprised at what I'm about to say:
By the power vested in me -- or which I assumed without consulting with anyone in particular, I hereby pronounce Cathy, Alec and Bernard the newest members of Team Wilson, for carrying the Power of Play to Uganda. This represents the third African country that Team Wilson has sent One World Futbols to (first Morocco through the Global Impact program two years ago, and the second, Malawi this past summer). I want to thank donors who have made this possible, not because they were asked, but because they self-initiated to support this program. Team Wilson has endeavored never to ask, only to inform. You donors stepped forward because you understood what it means to give the truly wonderful power of play.
Thanks to all of you, and have a wonderful Holiday Season.
Love,
Robert
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