This last week we formed some incredible relationships while digging up sweet potatoes, mopping floors and teaching subtraction. 

We will never forget our first week in Africa, volunteering at Cherish Uganda.

Cherish Uganda is a faith-based organization that works with vulnerable, abandoned and orphaned children living with HIV.

The property of Cherish, named Akaloosa Village, is made up of a homes for the orphaned children, a health clinic, an organic farm that produces food for the children and sold to the community, and Hope Academy, a school for the children living in Akaloosa Village as well as children in the community. About 200 children in total.

We spent our time all over the property, working alongside staff members and children as we saw a glimpse into their daily lives and how the property operates. In short, it’s a well run, hard working, love making machine. 

From the women who live with the children in onsite houses to the farmers who produce the eggs to the grounds crew to the security guards to cleaners, cooks and teachers, everyone is doing amazing work in the name of these children. Each person we shadowed felt they had the best job at Cherish. It was like a secret treasure they didn’t want anyone else to know about.

We peeled metoke, separated beans, worked security, slapped avocados down from trees with 20 foot sticks, fed chickens, gathered eggs, hand washed clothes, gathered water in jerrycans, hand washed pots and pans, trimmed hedges and sharpened pencils for children with razorblades. Then we realized how much we take for granted.

There is hard and important work going on at Cherish. All of which is gives the children who have unimaginable backstories a place to live that they’re loved, adored, lifted up and encouraged. They’re living a story of hope.

Recently we’ve had friends enquire about Cherish and how they can help, which is truly amazing. As with any organization, there is an intense need of funds to keep it going. You hear it all the time, but every little bit helps. And we can both attest to the joy it would bring the children and staff to know you’re thinking of them.

We left a huge piece of our heart at Cherish and if you check out their link below, we’re sure you will, too.

Here is more about Cherish: http://www.cherishuganda.org/

And the link to donate: http://www.cherishuganda.org/fusce-consectetur/