A commitment to Africa’s neediest

How one student brought hope to the orphans of Kampala

By Michael Klein
From the March 2006 Print Edition

With a land area of over 11 million square miles (over three times the size of the United States), the continent of Africa presents the world not only with considerable problems of political and economic development, but also with an imposing blight on the historical record of global progress. Despite the remarkable growth of the developed world since the Industrial Revolution of the late nineteenth century, the sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) region has consistently experienced little or no economic growth during that same time span.

Being that the SSA region includes more than half a billion inhabitants, the global community cannot neglect the fate of Africa without checking its conscience. Although the task of development appears insurmountable, some citizens of the developed world are choosing not to be complacent any longer. In a recent interview with George Srour, a recent graduate of the College of William and Mary, the California Patriot learned of the private initiative of one such citizen who chose to impact the development of Africa for the better.

George Srour’s desire to work with the United Nations World Food Programme led him to an internship with the Programme during the summer of 2004. Traveling with the Programme to Meeting Point Kampala, a children’s orphanage in the shoddy part of Uganda’s largest city of Kampala, he met poor African children who had lost parents to HIV/AIDS or had fled northern Uganda to escape abduction by guerilla rebels.

This was not the first time Srour had been to the developing world, yet the stories of women who had been raped and of children abducted by northern rebels shocked him. He admits, “You listen to their stories, your heart sinks and you think, ‘Why is this happening? What can I do?’”

After witnessing the enjoyment that the children took from eating the meals provided by the Programme, Srour took a walking tour of the school onsite with the director. While the director was explaining that the school was in shambles and in dire need of repair, Srour responded conscientiously, “How much will it take to rebuild?” Finding that $8,000 would be the price, Srour devised a plan that would utilize his private initiative and the generous hearts of his fellow college students back at William and Mary.

Traveling back to college to finish his senior year, Srour solicited financial support for the rebuilding of the Kampala school and managed to garner an amazing $45,000 — more than five times the cost of the new school. Looking back on the exact moment that this idea took shape, Srour says that going into the orphanage environment with empty hands made him feel troubled. Seizing the opportunity to give back, Srour emphatically asserts that the potential for educating so many eager children “got me hooked.”

As Christmas neared, Srour readied the $45,000 surprise check and hundreds of backpacks to present to the school. Arriving in Kampala, Srour presented the school director with the check and distributed the colorful backpacks to children who hurriedly put the backpacks on, even though school was not yet in session. In amazement, the director joyfully explained to the children that they would soon have their own permanent school building. Reacting with resounding happiness, the students shouted at the thought of replacing the old timber schoolhouse, “Bye-bye Embawo!” which means “Bye-bye timber.” These desperate children now have a new hope in the education they are soon to receive.

Explaining the dilemma of African development, Srour highlighted just some of the plights of the SSA region: 25 million with AIDS, 500 million with malaria, relentless intertribal warfare, corrupt governments, and several other health and violence barriers which undermine growth and stability. Despite so many tribulations in the SSA region, Srour says that the African people that he interacted with were “some of the most positive people you will ever meet.”

When asked what role private citizens and government can play in affording Africa a more promising future, he explains that both have to work together more often. Having met with the former U.S. ambassador to Uganda, Srour made contact with the U.S. embassy in Uganda to explain his vision for education so that they might recognize the present need. Some have asked Srour what college students could possibly do to help. To this Srour offers some advice: “Just collect one quarter a day from everyone on campus and you will have enough money to make a substantial difference in a child’s life in Uganda, or anywhere in the world.”

Extraordinary leadership and character marks George Srour’s ambition of bringing the dream of education to the Ugandan children of the Meeting Point Kampala orphanage. Today Srour continues to make an impact by speaking at schools around the country as executive director of Building Tomorrow, a non-profit organization Srour recently founded, which specializes in channeling aid to orphans impacted by AIDS. His goal is to motivate and organize students to participate in the worldwide cause. He adds, “If I can get people motivated, then I’d say it’s worth it.”

Many Americans see government aid as the best answer to Africa’s problems, yet there exists a strong community of private citizen donors, such as George Srour, that is actively creating a brighter tomorrow for those in need. One cannot overlook them, but instead should consider partnering with them in this service.

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