Music in the Park to benefit children in Uganda, August 3

Shoreline residents, Dickson Senkunda, a Ugandan native, and his wife, Heather, have a passion for helping children in Uganda.

They founded the non-profit organization, Teach the Children, in 2007, feeling like they needed to do more to give back to children in Dickson’s native country, and get involved in providing children opportunities to become something more than their current circumstances allow. They have been actively involved in the cause ever since.

Most schools in Uganda are over-crowded and under-funded; most do not have sufficient textbooks or books for leisure reading. Only a small percentage of school children have books in their home, and there are many parents who can’t teach their children to read and write because they don’t have the skills themselves.

“I never had a textbook when I went to school in Uganda,” Dickson Senkunda said. “We did not have libraries or books for leisure reading in the schools I attended. Books are so valuable to a young mind in the way they can expand a child’s imagination, open their eyes, and stimulate their minds. Books cause thoughts and ideas that couldn’t have come through other avenues. Learning about people, places, opportunity, and the possibilities of life empowers children to become greater and more involved in their own future than they otherwise would have been. With poverty all around them, that is all the children come to know. Books open up a whole new world that they have never known existed.”

Over the past few years they have sent more than 5,000 pounds of donated books to schools in rural areas of Uganda, establishing libraries in fifteen schools. Other projects have included building bookshelves, creating reading groups, and providing community training on education, literacy, and health/hygiene.

“With books come opportunities to learn, grow intellectually, and become something great,” Senkunda said. “It allows for further education and entrepreneurship, which stimulates the country’s economy and helps to end cycles of poverty that have existed for generations.” 

“It is only through fundraising and the kindness and generosity of others that this is possible,” Dickson said. “Teach the Children couldn’t do this on its own.”

Teach the Children plans to make another shipment of books to schools in Uganda in early Fall. The organization hopes that its projects will help increase the literacy rate in Uganda, which is currently 68 percent, and a result, increase the opportunities available to the children there.

Part of the organization’s fundraising efforts this year includes a night of Music in the Park on Friday, August 3rd from 5:30pm-8:30pm at Cromwell Park in Shoreline. 18030 Meridian Ave N, next to the Courthouse.

“Ry”, a local Hawaiian reggae musician, will be performing, as well as a local dance group. There will be live music, food, prizes, and fun for the whole family; so bring your blankets and lawn chairs, and enjoy an evening in the park! There is a suggested donation of $15 to attend.

Proceeds go to Teach the Children, to help further their mission of helping children in Uganda. For information about Teach the Children, and how you can get involved, visit their website or contact Heather Senkunda at 801-671-6944.