This September, after I graduate with my master’s in Speech-Language
Pathology from UT Dallas, I will be traveling to Uganda to work as a speech-language
pathologist for a Christian non-profit called Hope Speaks from 9 months.
Hope Speaks is a Christian charitable 501(c)(3)
organization based in the U.S. that exists to provide speech therapy and
rehabilitation services for children with disabilities in Uganda, a country
where these services are nearly non-existent.
Uganda, the Pearl of Africa, is home to 40 million people. One of the poorest
nations in the world, nearly 75%
of Uganda’s population currently lives on less than $3 per day.
Because of the high rates of poverty, many people
living in Uganda face various complex challenges on a daily basis, such access
to medical care and preventative interventions, lack of education, inconsistent
employment, unclean water, and higher rates of life-threatening illness. All of
these factors have led to an increased prevalence of disabilities. 1 in 7
children are living with a disability.
Children with disabilities in Uganda are often hidden
away from society, abused, and sometimes even killed. Across Africa, as is the
case in many developing countries, there is a significant lack of information
and education about disabilities. Hope Speaks’ main ministry is providing Speech
Therapy to hundreds of these children. They teach them to swallow, chew,
understand and express language. They also
educate and train parents, organizations, and up-and-coming
speech therapists working with children with communication challenges. In addition
to its primary work, Hope Speaks helps the poorest Ugandans by providing
relief to them in the slums; Hope Speaks also hosts other groups who help with
projects that provide food for families and children's day camps.
I am so excited
about the opportunity to volunteer for Hope Speaks as a speech-language
pathologist and to join them in their mission. I would be grateful if you would
consider supporting me through prayer and/or financially. Every
donation is important and will enable me to serve the children of Uganda. If
you have any questions or are interested in knowing more, please feel free to text/call/message
me.
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