Uganda: Meeting Ambassador Malac

Our Uganda delegation was honored this week to meet with Ambassador Deborah Malac, Ambassador of the United States to Uganda. Also present at the meeting were Colette Marcellin, the US deputy Chief of Mission and Susan Parker-Burns, Public Affairs Officer. This distinguished team of American diplomats was kind enough to spend an hour and a half talking with our students about their lives and careers in Public Service as well as the relationship between the USA and Uganda. It was a lively and engaging conversation and we learned so much from our visit. The students came away with tremendous respect for the work of our US Department of State as well as a much better understanding about the role of Ambassadors and about the critical work of our US Embassies around the world. It was a fascinating meeting and we are so grateful to Ambassador Malac and her staff for the time spent with our delegation. Thank you so much for welcoming us at the US Embassy in Kampala!

Day of Cultural Engagement - Uganda

On Wednesday, our Uganda delegation spent the day with our host, Father Joseph Luzindana, learning all about Ugandan life and culture. We learned how to harvest and cook Matoke (green bananas which are a major food staple in Uganda). Father Joe also arranged for us to learn about traditional African religions, The Catholic Ugandan Martyrs, Ugandan crafts and Ugandan dress. We spent much of the day at the St. Joseph's institute, an extension of the YES center, where our students had time to laugh, dance and interact with local youth. It was an amazing day!!

Thursday in school at St. Ursule

Thursday was a marvelous school day for our Paris delegation. First, they spent time in the primary school, laughing and visiting the children and explaining all about Texas life and culture to the youngest St. Ursule students. Later in the day, our students gave a presentation to the high school students and they visited an art class. The students were then split into three groups: one which created a Global logo for St. Ursule, another which drew a combined skyline of Dallas and Paris and a third that painted the history of St. Ursule on a wall. It was great fun and also an ideal way to learn about Ursuline past and present with eachother. What a wonderful day!

St. Peter's Catholic School in Kampala

Earlier this week, our Uganda delegation spent an afternoon at St. Peter's Catholic school. We were greeted with drumming and dancing and with lots of smiles and hugs from our dear friends. St. Peter's hosted us for lunch and then our students joined an art class for a screen-printing lesson. Several St. Peter's students gave us a wonderful cultural lesson where we learned more about some of the regions of Uganda as well as other East African countries such as Eritrea and Rwanda.  Finally, we planted a tree together to remember this very special day together. Thank you St. Peter's for your warm welcome and for teaching us so much about life in East Africa! We are waiting for you in Dallas!