“This is the greatest trip of my life…..” Four YMEN High School senior leaders spent 13 days this Spring traveling to Uganda to work with Partners in Mission. During this trip, we had the opportunity to spend time at the Kamwenge Secondary and Vocational School (KSVS) where YMEN has roofed buildings, sponsored students, and brought supplies to help grow this school to serve 350 of Uganda’s most impoverished people. YMEN also had the chance to visit the Nakavale Refugee Camp to encourage the people from the Congo, Sudan, Rwanda, and Kenya who have fled to Uganda to escape tribal war and civil unrest. Jason Henderson, Antoine Brewer, Jameson Parker, and Kollin Epps joined Michael Trout, Malachi Trout, Ken Hooten, Graham Hooten, and Randy Shaw to spend their spring break learning about Ugandan history and culture.

Here were some of their highlights:
Visiting the equator and the African drum market, teaching Ugandan children how to play American football and golf, attending the District Soccer Championship where KSVS won the tournament, sharing a matoke lunch at the refugee camp – a generous gift of hospitality from the “least of these”, participating in a local Good Friday tradition by carrying wooden crosses with more than 1,000 others through the town of Mbarara, eating raw sugarcane, riding a boda-boda (a taxi motorcycle), going on a safari at the Queen Elizabeth National Park (seeing lions and a leopard), and living with and learning from the Ugandan people!

Thank you to all those who donated to make this trip possible!!!

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An investment is being made in future leaders.

Sammie has been in the YMEN program for 4 years. He is one of the program’s most dedicated participants. YMEN has offered Sammie many opportunities through business and education programs. Sammie has been on about 90% of the YMEN trips and his favorite was South Dakota. The trips have been beneficial for Sammie because he has been able to impact others lives and experience new environments. YMEN has taught Sammie how to keep relationships with people and how to prioritize.

Sammie is currently a part of the After School Matters program on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays and is dedicated to two classes. On Tuesdays mentors Sharona Drake and Schilon Alexander try to break through to the students in order to help build a better perspective on life. His Wednesday class is Beast Mode where he works out with instructor Sharona Drake. On Thursdays he is in Music Production with Kareem Manuel where they learn how to make beats, write lyrics, and edit songs.

Sammie is also currently planning a community service project for the YMEN program. His project is for the homeless or families in the community to come as one for the Christmas holiday. Food and presents will be given for free as well as blessings and holiday cheer. This will help Sammie earn service learning hours and a better rank in the YMEN program.

-Authored by Brittany R. (as part of our After School Matters, Tech Class)

As our days and weeks progress, you should expect more of this — but authored by our apprentices.

–Mike

PS> If you’d like a preview of our auction items, click here.

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Present: Trucks are currently preparing and pouring the cement for our new sports court on YMEN’s southern campus on Avers Avenue. This project will be a toll used for mentoring and community partnerships for many decades to come. Something good is definitely coming to the “hood.

Future: On Saturday, May 28 at 6PM at 1240 S Pulaski we will be celebrating over 60 students and their achievements with YMEN and EVE. It is a night of great food, inspiration and encouragement, and strong community support. Don’t believe the negative stories you hear every night on the news — the real truth is that God is raising up a new generation of leadership that care about education, their faith, and serving the community. Hope you can join us. Tickets are $25 and the food alone will blow your socks off!