Alumna, club plan fundraising for schools in Africa

March 9, 2009

NH Business Review Staff,

MERRIMACK – The photographs showed crumbled mud huts and slender dirt roads, farmers hunched over vegetable rows and a lush countryside.

Such are the images of central Uganda, where Peace Corps volunteer and Souhegan High School alumna Erin Morehouse served for two years.

Earlier this month, Morehouse shared the images with some Merrimack High School students who aim to kick off a major fundraising event next fall to help children in the east African country.

Members of a school club called Random Acts of Kindness will join a national effort, spearheaded by an umbrella organization called Invisible Children, to raise money for schools in war-torn northern Uganda.

This part of the country is different from where Morehouse was, as many children in the north have been abducted and turned into soldiers to support conflict.

Morehouse spent much of her time with children and educating teachers during her tenure, which ended in June. Last week, she enriched the group’s understanding of the country, which she said was about the size of Oregon.

Her village was about 150 miles outside Kampala, the country’s capital city. She discussed her day-to-day experiences with the villagers, who are largely farmers who make a living selling their wares during market time.

She touched on education, transportation, civil rights and many other topics that students and some community members asked about. Morehouse said she loved her time in Uganda and wants to go back, but the challenges are great.

“The problems there are a lot more complicated than I thought they were,” Morehouse said.

North of where she stayed are even more violent challenges. The situation there was highlighted in a 2003 documentary, which the Random Acts students watched earlier this year.

“When you see the video, it’s awful,” said sophomore Susan Watkins, 15. “A dictator is forcing them into war. They’re kids, just like us.”

Added junior Briana McBride, “When you see the video, there’s no way we couldn’t be inspired to do something.”

In January, club members joined worldwide efforts to help by organizing a book drive, collecting more than 1,500 texts to be sold, with proceeds headed toward renovating and rebuilding schools.

And this fall, Random Acts of Kindness plans to join Invisible Children’s 100-day fundraising challenge, Schools for Schools, which has in past years collected more than $2 million for Ugandan children. The program has helped refurbish school buildings and sanitation systems as well as buy school supplies.