Ddegeya, Uganda 
Youth association launches ambitious development programme
(Cornelius Gulere Wambi )

DDEGEYA, UGANDA - The Ugandan Orthodox Church Youth Association [UOCYA] launched an ambitious $500,000 Church and Youth Development programme entitled "OCYD 2001" and aimed at involving and reaching out to at least 13% [20,000] of the Orthodox young men and women in Uganda over a two-year period beginning 1 September 1999.
    His Eminence, Metropolitan Jonah Lwanga, has given his blessing and pledged support for the programme. He challenged the youth to lead while he follows, to talk less and do more, to develop self confidence by giving themselves to constant learning and the search of true knowledge and wisdom.
    Guiding the programme is Father John Kibuuka, a graduate of Athens University who serves Holy Transfiguration Parish at Ddegeya. "We must do something as youth." Father John said. "This is the reason why we exist in the Church as the Church. We can no longer run away from our responsibilities."
    Dr. Joseph Opio, a theologian, former youth Chairman, and communications expert, strongly supported the programme by donating two computers to the office. Personnel to run this programme will be trained as soon as seed money is obtained and until a level of self-sustainability is achieved in their abilities to address the crucial matters of spirituality; social and economic well being of individuals, families, parishes; Orthodox church institutions; and the civic community, where Orthodoxy is present up to the national and international levels. "All this calls for commitment, togetherness, hard work and friendship to contribute to the treasury", Dr. Opio advised.
    "Although the Orthodox in Uganda are only about 1%, or 2,000,000, of the population", said youth chairman Michael Labok, a high school science student, "we can make a big difference through our unique witness and service to mankind. We have in our Church five established community secondary schools, 17 primary level schools, over five health centres which are serving a significant population in this country since the 1940s, and yet we have only this to be proud of. Our youth are still unprofessional, poor, unemployed, unskilled, and experience inadequate access to Church and spiritual services. We must find a way out. The only way out is to start doing something beyond ourselves. We must look beyond what we have traditionally obtained, and seek above all the Kingdom of God which is at hand."
    The programme involves regular parish exchange visits, sports, games and music festivals and tournaments at local and national level; work ecology camps; concern for the children, aging, and terminally ill; career training; guidance and counselling for students, family and married couples; skills and leadership training for social transformation and spiritual development centered at the Saint Paul's Seminary, Ddegeya and Saint Nicholas Community Centre in Namungoona. Weekly catechism programmes will be developed at parish and national levels on Radio Orthodoxy.
    Among the most important projects in the program is the establishment of an AM/FM Community Radio Station which would not only reduce the costs of communication nationwide, but will provide employment for over 30 young people and will generate income to develop the programme further. With a scholarship fund of $50,000 it is possible to provide the necessary manpower to run the programme by building capacity in the areas of spirituality, health and education. Translation and publishing of liturgical texts is well underway with so much already in type awaiting printing as soon as funds are secured.
    Announcing the programme at Saint Sophia Parish, the people were so excited by news that songs and liturgical texts would soon be available to them in their own languages. Others welcomed the sports and music festivals which they say would bring life into the Church. "We pray and do good, but our life-styles are too dull to be attractive," remarked one young lady who was excited by the thought of playing net ball. "We need to exercise ourselves more."
    Father Dr. Peter Matovu, the assistant priest and youth counsellor, vowed to support the programme in all ways and pledged to work for its success during his sabbatical leave which commences very soon. Together with him, we are working on the book stocking of Orthodox school libraries, the establishment of proper administrative policies in schools in order to raise the number of students and the success stories of Orthodox church schools.
    We appeal to you, our brothers and sisters in Christ the world over, to join us in this great mission and commission. There is no way out. Uganda is the centre of Orthodox Christianity in Sub-Saharan Africa, and to let the young people down is to neglect our duty to mankind. We need training, exemplary mission youth workers, materials for prayer, games, sports, music, office equipment, radio station and, above all, your prayers.
    Those who are in a position to make a financial contribution to this most necessary programme are invited to contact Metropolitan Jonah Lwanga, PO Box 3970, Kampala, Uganda, East Africa; Telephone/Fax 256.41.542461.