A decade ago, I used to have dreams about a photo like this one:

I remember late-night, long-distance phone calls to Uganda a decade ago where Collines and I would build castles in the sky imagining what it would look like to build a dream school for kids in her home community. It seemed so far away. And then you came along…

*Co-Founders of Far Away Friends in 2014 (check out that sunburn 🙃)*

Far Away Friends has always been about friendship. It’s part of who we are and how we identify ourselves: as a group of friends from across the globe who believe fiercely that no matter who you are, how far your village or how distant your community — we are all connected. Together we stand for equity in education and the belief that every child the world over deserves access to the tools they need to thrive. Together, we’ve stood in solidarity with teachers, parents and community members in rural northern Uganda who dream of more for their children.

Together, this group of friends (including you, lovely reader) in partnership with our Co-Founder Collines’ friends, community and local leaders, have build that “castle in the sky” we dreamt of once upon a time. We’ve turned a once roofless building on a plot of empty land (see below) into a colorful campus bursting with life and laughter and full of even BIGGER dreams for the future.

Global Leaders Primary School is an oasis for education in one of Uganda’s most rural communities, built on friendship, collaboration and trust. Everyday, our students are coming to school and having a completely different experience than their parents had before them.

“Baby Fiona” (as we affectionately call one of our first, and youngest, boarding students) will never know what it’s like to attend a school without toilets for girls. Or without paid Teachers. Or without water or lighting or a place to sleep. She will never know the feeling of having to sit through Math class on an empty stomach.

Because of your support in developing Global Leaders Primary School into what it is today, Fiona and her classmates will have the tools and time to dream, to play, to be kids and someday, break generational cycles of poverty in their families (and communities) forever.

I cannot express to you fully in words the importance of what we’ve accomplished together through COVID, through the distance and through the turbulent world we’re all trying to navigate.

46% of children in Uganda don’t access three meals a day.

Our students are the exception.

1 out of 4 girls in rural Uganda will become pregnant by age 19.

Our girl graduates will be the exception.

75% of children from rural Uganda won’t continue on to high school.

Our students will continue to be the exception.

Today, as I write to you, there are 500 students attending Global Leaders Primary School. Showing up, everyday, joyfully meeting their Teachers at the door, ready to change the future of Uganda and shape a prosperous, healthy and powerful future for themselves, too. Thank you.

Today, I want to ask you to continue standing with Far Away Friends as we work tirelessly to maintain the quality of education we’ve been providing students in rural Uganda since 2016. As instability around the world affects fuel and food prices globally, we need your support now more than ever to ensure we can continue feeding, housing, and educating the leaders of tomorrow.

$25/month can cover meals for one of our 500 students a Global Leaders.

If you have the passion and drive to create sustainable change for children — we’re looking for you. If you’re not already part of our community, I would like to personally invite you to become an Advocate and help us sustain the incredible work we’ve just begun to see blossom. Click the button below to learn how you can make an impact, every single month, alongside us.