Yesterday, I visited Connetquot Elementary School in East Islip, NY. I held two assemblies about BULA. In the assembly, I compared life in America and Uganda, told the kids about what BULA has done and will do, and show3e them the video of the school construction. The kids loved it!

They asked so many interesting questions. Hands were raised throughout the Q&A time and by the end we had to unfortunately cut off many questions as we ran out of time.

I loved sharing this with the kids and loved hearing their very thoughtful questions. The kids asked me things like "How did you feel after you built the school?" - "What did the kids think of you when they first saw you?" - "How did you get all the materials to build the school?" and loads more.

I told them about the art exchange program we are doing and they are all excited to take part.

I hope to continue to visit schools, holding assemblies for the entire school, speaking in individual classrooms or in whatever format is available. It was so much fun and I think the kids gained a better understanding of what life is like elsewhere around the world. Most importantly, they were exposed to the possibilities that are out there for them. They can do anything they put their mind to!

Board member, Joe Charchalis, has been working so hard on our website. I would just like to say thanks!!!

Incredible potential for development lies in communication. The rise of cell phone use helps to facilitate various aspects of daily life and business. This is particularly important in areas of minimal access to transport (be it proximity or income) and with widespread poor roads. The ability to make a call as opposed to delivering information in person, can obviously then speed up production dramatically.

With every trip to Uganda, I see more and more individuals and households with mobile phones. Beyond encouraging more effective communication it also provides the opportunity for more business opportunities. Phone charging stations are everywhere along with nearly every shop, regardless of its product, having airtime (minutes) available for purchase, supplementing their income.

When I'm in Uganda, this makes work on the construction site so much easier! When I'm home and Andie is in Uganda, it means I can talk to her as if she was in New York! This allows us to move forward steadily, remaining in constant contact, updating each other on our respective progress.

Obulamu bulungi! (Life is good!)

Andie and I try to stay current with the news around the world. When we're in Uganda, since we don't have a newspaper at our fingertips and we are particularly interested in the news of Uganda and the surrounding region, we pick up the National papers as often as possible. Our favorite is New Vision: http://www.newvision.co.ug/

Despite our best efforts to be informed, the reality is that as soon as we get it, it makes it into the hands of 27 curious and worldly children, and we never end up reading it...