Greetings!

My name is Gloria Connell. After I complete my M.A. degree in speech-language pathology, I am planning on going to Uganda for three weeks to serve the children and families in Africa. Though I will be a brand new clinician, I am very excited to apply the information that I have learned the last two years in my program. The children and their caregivers in Uganda have already stolen my heart. 

I will be going on this trip through an organization called Hope Speaks. Hope Speaks is a nonprofit organization based in Kampala, Uganda, with a mission to inspire hope and amplify the voices of people with disabilities. In Uganda, 1 in 7 children live with a disability, yet access to rehabilitative therapy is extremely limited. Hope Speaks exists to help close that gap by providing speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy to children and families who would otherwise go without. As mentioned above, I will be providing the speech and language services. 

Through therapy, children learn to communicate their wants, needs, and ideas, build social skills, and swallow safely. Just as importantly, Hope Speaks works alongside families and communities to provide education, advocacy, and access to resources so that people of all abilities can reach their fullest potential.

A core part of Hope Speaks’ work is partnering with volunteers to build the capacity of Ugandan therapists through training, mentorship, and collaboration. In addition to therapy services, Hope Speaks also hosts and supports programs focused on nutrition, pastoral care, respite for families, children’s day camps, and other community-based initiatives.

My biggest request is that you would pray for me to have strength and faith. My prayer is from Isaiah chapter 6, “Here I am, Lord. Send me” (v. 8, CSB).

If you want to contribute to the “Gloria missions fund,” this is also where you would do that.

Thank you for being part of my journey! It has taken a village to get me through graduate school (many prayers, encouraging chats, and letters), and I am beyond grateful for the love and support that has been showered on me. I know this same village will be behind me as I step off of this continent and into another one for a short while.

Gloria