<No more dead aid. We RUN differently.> #3

After Visiting Uganda - A RUN Korea Member’s Epilogue

Five years ago, when we first met our children, we noticed that there was some commonality beyond our different languages, nationalities, and skin colors.

"I cannot fully express what it was, but I think it was a human feeling of connection, bonding, and a precious relationship."

When we visited Uganda again last Christmas, we were deeply moved by how a small baby boy, who had just learned to walk in our memories, had grown up so fast to be able to approach us to play.

This experience reminded us that we had also matured, becoming college students and adults, but also gave us an opportunity to reminisce about who we were five years ago.

We had also been growing up with our children.

<Pepe in 2014>

<More grown up Pepe in 2017>

Due to Ronald recently joining our family, we had only been able to talk to Ronald over the phone and see him in photos. Meeting him during our visit helped us realize how much of a warm-hearted and talented (both in soccer and drawing) young man he is. It was amazing to finally meet him in-person. I am excited to see how much he will have grown up the next time we meet.

< A photo of Ronald from when we only knew him from photos>

<Ronaldo drawing a dragon (rear view)>

<Mr. Yang (President of RUN) helping children brush their teeth>

“After your meal, you should brush your teeth.”
We taught the children how to brush their teeth. At an average age of 23 years old, we had only recently graduated from our own parents’ same “nagging” just a few years ago.
The “nagging” we had received had become our own words to our children- whilst handing out toothbrushes one by one, squeezing toothpaste for them, and demonstrating ourselves.

We received about a year’s worth of toothbrushes and toothpastes from the Benco Family Foundation. After giving them to our children, we asked the next day, “Hey guys, did you brush your teeth well?” We had already become the parents of 45 children without realizing.

< Children who received their toothbrushes and toothpastes>

Since when we had heard from our local staff regarding our lack of children’s books, novels, and board games, it had always been on my mind.

Since most of the funds raised had been used for basic living expenses and tuition fees, there was not enough supplementary educational tools available such as art supplies and toys.

Every visit to Uganda, we take clothes, books, and games for our kids, but they fail to last long due to our children’s active lifestyles.

Nevertheless, this time around, we were able to give 40 books to our children, either bought or received from our family and friends.

When handed the books, they became very excited and gathered in different age groups to have group read-alouds.

The older children asked us for the meaning of difficult words to understand the books better and explain it to the younger ones. The younger children read aloud the words one by one and were interested in the drawings in the picturebook, trying to replicate them on white drawing paper.

The curious children seemed to develop a better understanding of a greater world by looking up definitions in dictionaries and, if not sufficient, picture dictionaries.

< Children who are gathered together to read a book>

< Children replicating drawings from the picturebooks>

The day after we shared the books, when we were done with our busy work schedule and began to read for pleasure, all the children brought out books one by one and joined us. They had been motivated by us reading our own books. More than mere helpers or guardians, we had become their examples.

<(From left) Adi, Samuel, and Sahadhi reading a novel together>

As we saw them read and reread every single one of the books that we had brought, we started growing a desire to build a small library in our orphanage.

The dream that if we were to build a library next to our orphanage and teach letters to the illiterates in Uganda through educational programs, we would start a change to revitalize disappearing African languages, build a place for the unique traditions and culture of Uganda to be passed down through generations, and help Uganda flourish.

From seeing our rapidly grown children, we realized that we have become not only their guardians responsible for their livelihoods, but also their older brothers and sisters to serve as role models and mentors of life to guide them along to a wider and better world. We felt more responsibility than ever and the need to grow with our children. We are their partners for life.

The story continues…

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