Canada Visits Our Lady of Kibeho Orphanage

Over the past several years, I have served as a proud board member in support of 98 girls living and being educated in Our Lady of Kibeho Orphanage in Uganda. Most of the girls lost their parents to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Through fundraising efforts and the generosity of our donors, we have managed to provide them with a safe home, food, formal education, and life skills training. The girls are equipped with what they need to thrive now and into the future. Our Lady of Kibeho Orphanage is a Catholic run operation, and nurturing the girls’ faith life is a top priority.

To maintain our status as a registered, non-profit organization, we had to commit to at least one site visit to the orphanage. Much to my delight, the board chose me to go on this exciting adventure, and after numerous shots and travel arrangements, I left on November 14 for two weeks in Uganda. Upon my arrival at the airport, I was met with an emotional welcome party of 20 smiling, shy girls holding bouquets and their little Ugandan flags. In less than a minute, they stormed me for a group hug! If that was not enough fanfare, a further extravagant reception awaited me as we drove onto the orphanage property. All of the girls were dressed in culturally traditional attire, dancing at a fever pitch to thunderous drummers, all taking place in the intense heat of midafternoon. Such an exhilarating experience, I was overwhelmed!

My visit consisted of very full days as I toured the facilities. Our Lady of Kibeho Orphanage has been in operation for over a decade, I was impressed to see how established the infrastructure was. I toured the dormitories, cafeteria, arts and craft room, the chapel, the nurse’s station and finally the outdoor kitchen. Based on my previous life as an educator, I was particularly impressed with the classes I sat in on. The choir, under the guidance of a talented music teacher, not only sang the Ugandan anthem for my benefit, but also sang note-perfect O Canada!

Further highlights of my trip were the tour of the 14-acre farm, which supplies the orphanage with vegetables and fruit. Father JJ, the priest who comes for Mass every Thursday, presided over a special blessing of the fresh water system that was installed thanks to our board who generated funds from the Calgary Rotary Club, a Rotary Club in Uganda and the Daniel Seaman Memorial Fund at Calgary Foundation. This has been an absolute, miraculous game changer to have safe, clean, dependable water for these precious girls.

Reflecting back on my two weeks visiting the orphanage and the school, plus the many interactions I shared with the children and the staff, it was a great comfort and affirming to witness how these faith-filled children are loved and so very well taken care of. From the outset, I appreciated the common Ugandan greeting, how they warmly hold on to your hands and say with such sincerity, “You are most welcome!”

Not only did I feel most welcome the entire time I spent in this beautiful country, but I also felt so abundantly blessed and grateful to experience up close and personal the joyful energy of the students and the unwavering commitment of the staff. As the name of the establishment might suggest, Our Lady of Kibeho Orphanage lives up to its namesake, instilling a palpable spirit that permeates all that they do, evidenced in their profound love and devotion to Mary, the Blessed Mother of Jesus.