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Global Seva Challenge 2009: Uganda

The Challenge

The Seva Challenge 2009 engaged and connected communities throughout the U.S., Canada and beyond. The 125 participants raised funds with an eclectic mix of events, products, auctions and donation classes.

The Results

This year the community collectively raised $577,000 to support projects in Uganda. Twenty-one women each reached the goal of 20k, traveled with Seane and Suzanne to Uganda and were a joyful and integral part of yet another life changing Bare Witness Tour. Like last year, the participants were so inspired that they are currently creating their own long term projects to continue their support and committment to our partners in Uganda.

The Participants

Amanda Stuermer, Carrie Herscovici, Colleen LaDelia, Cyndi Weis, Danielle Tornambe, Davian den Otter, Galadriel Rael, Heather Snyder, Jennifer Silvestri, Jessica Welborn, Kathy McHugh, Kristen Boccumini, Lani Lindstrom, Megan Ridge, Megan Sugiyama, Nancy Sells, Sarah Longacre, Sofi Dillof, Terri Cooper, Tracey Campbell, Victoria Schuster

Our Partners

The Global Seva Challenge 2009 supported the work of four non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Uganda:

Shanti Uganda is a Vancouver-based organization dedicated to improving the physical, emotional and spiritual well-being of communities impacted by war, poverty and HIV/AIDS in Uganda.
Building Tomorrow is an international non-profit organization empowering people to raise funds & awareness to build and support educational infrastructure projects for underserved children in sub-Saharan Africa.
The New Hope School, Entebbe, Uganda, is run by a local Ugandan and provides shelter and schooling for orphans and young children without adequate homes.
PSI/YouthAIDS is an education and prevention program that uses media, pop culture, music, theatre and sports to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS and reach 600 million young people in more than 60 countries with life-saving messages, products, services and care.

Bare Witness Humanitarian Tour

This year's Bare Witness Humanitarian Tour was filled with deep gratitude and joy. There are no words to describe the feeling of standing on the rich red earth of Africa and witnessing the creation of an eco-birthing center and school, as well as an orphanage for children living with HIV/AIDS. All of these projects were a direct result of an entire year of fundraising and coordination for everyone involved. In collaboration with our partner NGO's Shanti Uganda and Building Tomorrow, we were able to work closely with the local communities on all projects, bringing local staff, labor, midwives and teachers together with our team of participants in a unique blend of hard physical labor and joyful collaborative service. To further enrich our time in Uganda, we practiced yoga every morning, visited families in their homes, worked side by side with local villagers making and laying bricks and digging in the earth, played games, taught yoga and danced with the children. A couple of us were even able to attend and assist some live births in the local clinics. We also learned about the ravages of HIV/AIDS in Uganda from YouthAids, the psychological toll of child soldiers from Invisible Children, and even heard stories of wartime displacement from inhabitants of the Acholi slums.

Everywhere we went, we were greeted by singing, dancing and celebration. It was truly a profound experience of the joyful service that is at the heart of the OTM philosophy and we are incredibly grateful for the dedication of the participants and all of the fundraisers, as well as the integrity and intelligence of our partners in Shanti Uganda and Building Tomorrow.

Go to Yoga Journal to read stories about this amazing experience.

Snapshots from Uganda

Click here to see snapshots from Uganda!

Testimonials

"The minute I said 'YES' to this project, my life shifted in ways that I never could have imagined.  The connection I felt with the people of Uganda was immediate and steadfast!  Even though I wasn't able to make the trip, I am eternally grateful for this experience; and the people of Uganda continue to inspire me to RISE and are with me as I walk my path." - Kathy McHugh, Brownsburg, IN

"Traveling to Uganda with OTM was a little like going to Karma Yoga boot camp. From the moment we arrived until the moment we left we were either working outwardly to serve others or inwardly to learn more about ourselves. It was far and away one of the most intense and joyful times of my life and will continue to influence the way I see the world and the choice I make for a long time to come. " - Sofi Dillof, Burlington, VT

The 2009 Seva Challenge inspired me on so many levels.  Raising the money empowered me- I now feel I can accomplish anything I put my mind to.  Traveling to Uganda humbled me- I fell in love with the country and it's beautiful people.  The opportunity to travel with 23 amazing women gave me a new sense of sisterhood- I experienced support and love like never before. Thank you, Off the Mat! 
- Megan Ridge, Bethlehem, PA