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June 2005 News Supplement

Eight Students to Travel to Uganda for Service Project

Athari 2005 Group Will Work on School

Contact: Holly Foster
Phone: (315) 859-4068
May 17, 2005

Students who will travel to Uganda for a month to work on a school in Jinja.
Students who will travel to Uganda for a month to work on a school in Jinja.
While many of their classmates begin vacations or summer jobs, eight Hamilton College students will embark on a month-long service trip to Jinja, Uganda, on May 21. The group, known as Athari, the Swahili word for "impact," will travel to Uganda to collaborate with the non-profit group Soft Power Education.

The idea was brought to the College by Meghan Moulton '07 after she traveled to Uganda with her family in 2003. While there they stayed with friends of Moulton's parents, who worked with a non-profit organization in Kampala. During a rafting trip, Moulton learned that the guide's wife had started Soft Power Education. Through her, Moulton was able to tour three of Soft Power's schools and speak with many volunteers working for them in Jinja. She said that since then she has been anxious to return.

The students participating in the trip, besides Moulton, are Alastair Cairns '05, Meghan Horman '07, Meghan Morrissey '07, Maria Nieto '07, Ben Norland '07, Tess Patalano '07 and Jessica Tepper '07.

Working at Lukolo Primary School, the group will build and paint classrooms, assist teachers with their lessons and organize recreational activities for the students. Lukolo currently has 957 pupils, 16 teachers and 16 classrooms. Overall the school lacks the supplies and resources to provide students with an effective learning environment. Students from Hamilton will work to assist Soft Power in bringing the school up to governmental standards.

The Hamilton students met weekly during the spring semester to prepare for their experiences. Besides educating themselves on the current state of the country, they held various fundraisers to cover travel expenses and supplies for the school. The Kirkland Project, the Kuhner-Baer Endowment and a fund through the Chaplaincy have provided grants to the students for travel. The Levitt Center is sponsoring the making of a documentary that the students will produce. The Clinton Kiwanis Club contributed $100 after Moulton and Patalano spoke to the group.

The students will return to the U.S. on June 22. Next semester they will host a panel discussion on the humanitarian crisis in northern Uganda.

Read an e-mail Meghan Moulton '07 sent to her friends back home and her correspondence with a third-grade class at Clinton Elementary.




Reunion Snapshots
A record number of alumni and guests returned to the Hill in June to renew old friendships and make some new ones during Reunions 2005. Share the memories by browsing the Reunion Photo Album.



Hamilton's 193rd Commencement
With much pomp and circumstance, 423 seniors joined the ranks of alumni during Commencement exercises in May. In addition to a summary of the event, including remarks from the speakers, view video coverage.

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