Inspiring Times

When asked to reflect upon our lives, most of us will define ourselves by a few key experiences or moments that stick out in our memory. Most events we just simply don't remember. The details fade into the background. I was talking with a friend recently about moments in our lives that have offered incredible inspiration. We reflected on how rare these events are and how hard they are to hold to.

Recently, on April 20th, I was blessed with one of these such experiences. On this day, an incredible man arrived on KIS campus to speak to our students and staff. Twesigye Jackson Kaguri grew up in rural Uganda and suffered the death of numerous family members to AIDS. Despite his influences, he always believed in the ability to improve his own life and the lives of his friends and families. Sneaking to school and studying by candlelight every night, he eventually became a college graduate and guest lecturer at Columbia University. This is all incredible in its own right, but what he went on to do is even more incredible.

Twesigye Jackson Kaguri is the founder and director of the Nyaka and Kutamba AIDS Orphans Schools in Uganda. First, background on AIDS in Uganda:

"The AIDS pandemic in Uganda has resulted in over 2.2 million orphaned children who have lost one or both parents. Due to limited government-subsidized education, extended families and orphanages face enormous obstacles in attempting to care for these children. In addition to the trauma of losing a parent, children orphaned by AIDS go without many of the basic human needs: food, shelter, clothing, health care, and education. With a parent’s death often come overwhelming responsibilities as well. Orphans are often forced to be responsible for income generation, food production, and the care of sick parents and/or siblings. They may be the first to be denied education when extended families cannot afford to educate all the children of the household. Children living with the disease may not be physically able to attend school (the trip to school can be miles away with no transportation readily available)."

"In 1996, Twesigye “Jackson” Kaguri’s life took an unexpected turn. He was living the American dream. He had an excellent education and was ready to explore opportunities, travel and have fun. Then Jackson came face-to-face with Uganda’s AIDS pandemic. His brother died of AIDS, leaving him to care for his three children. One year later, his sister died of AIDS, leaving behind a son who also went to the care of Jackson. It was through his own personal experience that Jackson, a native Ugandan, saw the plight of orphans in his village of Nyakagyezi. He knew he had to act. He took the $5,000 he had saved for a down payment on his own home and built the first Nyaka School."

The Nyaka school provides a high-quality, free education, both formal and informal, to children who have been orphaned due to HIV/AIDS and operates largely on donations and volunteers. That's right, I said FREE education. In fact, the school often supports these students on into college if they desire it. These orphans with provided with opportunity and hope.

Jackson wrote about his experiences in a book called, "The Price of Stones." I read this book and was deeply moved. But simply nothing can compare to talking to Jackson personally and shaking his hand. This man has a presence and it is powerful. He had the entire student body hanging on every word. He talked about the responsibility we all have to make this planet a better place. He made us realize how blessed we have been and how limitless our potential is. "I studied by candlelight and walked 7 miles to school and I've never failed a test in my life," he said. There are no excuses except for the ones we create. Set your mind on something worthwhile and don't let anyone tell you that you can't.

Being part of this initiative at KIS and meeting this man in person, is one of the most inspirational experiences in my life. The feeling of responsibility is overwhelming. What exactly am I doing? Where exactly am I going? One thing is obvious, I have no idea. My new mission; a clear, distinct and meaningful purpose.

Jackson Kaguri, on stage, speaking at KIS! He's holding a pencil. As a child, his father would literally break the pencil into five pieces that himself and his siblings had to share.

Students at the Nyaka AIDS Orphans School. SO cute! Love the purple theme :)

On the left is the amazing, the fabulous, Linda Park. This is the 8th grader (yes, I said 8th grader) that spearheaded KIS's fundraising for the Nyaka school. We raised $10,000 to build TWO classrooms! Incredible! On the left is one of our fundraisers, "Brick Sales". We have amazing students!