Why I’m Going to Uganda – And What This Journey Means to Me
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If you’d told me a year ago that I’d be flying to Uganda with a suitcase full of pencils, I might have laughed. But here I am—just months away from an adventure that started not as a holiday, but as a project. A project that quickly became something much deeper.
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LinkedIn Connection
It all began on LinkedIn, of all places. I connected with Alex Atuheire, a Ugandan school founder with a big vision: to create a tour company with travel experiences that also give back to the local community. As we chatted, I saw the heart behind his business idea and immediately felt drawn to help him bring it to life.
Together, we built the brand identity and website for his new company, Amatsiko Tours—a tour company with a mission to create travel experiences with purpose. And during our conversations, he mentioned Amatsiko Preparatory School he set up in Kabale, Uganda. Something about it stuck with me. I couldn’t stop thinking about the children, the opportunities they’re working so hard to create, and how design—of all things—had brought me to this moment.
So, I said yes to something I’ve never done before:
I booked a flight to Uganda!
What’s the Plan?
This isn’t a work trip, exactly—but it’s not your typical holiday either. I’ll be going on safari (bucket list!), seeing some of the most stunning parts of East Africa, and spending time at the school to connect with the children and staff. I’ll be volunteering and perhaps delivering a personal branding workshop for the older students, bringing school supplies and storybooks, and hopefully leaving with more understanding, connection, and inspiration than I can yet imagine.
I’ll also be capturing the experience—through photos, stories, and video—for a fundraising presentation I’ll be sharing with my son’s school back home. I want their students to understand just how different (and similar) life is for children on the other side of the world.
Why This Trip Matters
This trip speaks to the heart of what I do. Yes, I design beautiful websites. But more than that, I build things that matter—brands and platforms that create opportunities. This is one of those moments where I get to step outside the pixels and see the real-world impact of connection, creativity, and saying yes.
I don’t know exactly what to expect, and that’s part of the magic. I’m heading into this trip with curiosity, an open heart, and hopefully enough bug spray.
