For reasons I’m not entirely sure of, I’ve never shared much about my trips to Uganda.
I think part of it is that I’ve never quite known how to tell these stories. The experiences have meant a great deal to me, but the stories I’ve most wanted to share really aren’t about me. They’re about the remarkable people I’ve had the privilege of meeting along the way.
After 15 years with Field of Hope and more than 30 trips to Uganda, I’ve begun to realize that by staying quiet, I’ve also kept some of those people and their stories from friends who might enjoy knowing about them.
Fifteen years ago, Cathy and I helped start Field of Hope with a simple desire to serve others through agriculture and education. Over the years, that work has taken us in directions we never could have imagined.
We’ve partnered with agricultural specialists in Uganda and the U.S., worked alongside farmers and women’s groups to improve agricultural practices and build greater financial independence, and helped young people discover the possibilities of agriculture through classroom education, school gardens, crop demonstrations, and animal projects.
More recently, that journey has also led Field of Hope into helping communities gain access to clean water.
I’ve been the one fortunate enough to make the trips to Uganda, while Cathy has faithfully supported every one of them from home. There are many ways to be part of something.
I recently returned from another visit, and what I saw represents another chapter in a story that has been unfolding for 15 years. There were five new water wells and many celebrations I will never forget. There were farmers and agriculture projects, chickens and goats, classrooms filled with young people, students using poetry to challenge their generation to think about hunger, and four remarkable women living in circumstances most of us can hardly imagine.
But more than projects, there were people. That’s really what I’d like to share.
I’ve learned over the years that I often go to Uganda thinking I’m going there to encourage others. I usually come home realizing they have encouraged me. The people’s faith, resilience, joy, and determination continue to teach me a great deal about what really matters.
So perhaps it’s finally time I shared a few of their stories. I think they’re worth telling.
The Journey for Water
In Oyam District in Uganda, women collect water from ponds like the one pictured here for their families. It is not uncommon for women to walk more than three miles to fetch water. In this photo, you might notice that the woman in the green dress is pregnant.
Unfortunately, cattle and other animals also drink from these ponds, making the water unsafe. It is also not uncommon for people to wash motorcycles and bicycles in the same water.
The yellow containers the women use hold 20 liters, or about five gallons, of water. When full, each weighs approximately 40 pounds, and women typically carry the containers on their heads.
In this video, Agnes Obote, Field of Hope’s general manager in Uganda, demonstrates how women collect water from a similar source in Dokolo District. Agnes has been with Field of Hope since the beginning.
Not only is the quality of the water concerning, but these water sources can also present a hazard to children playing nearby. As you watch Agnes fill the container, you can see just how long this seemingly simple daily task can take.
Over the coming weeks, I’ll share more about the people behind Field of Hope’s work and some of the stories I’ve been fortunate enough to witness along the way.
About the author: Mike Hafner is a co-founder of Field of Hope, which he helped establish alongside Cathy Hafner and Brandy Young 15 years ago. Since then, Mike has made more than 30 trips to Uganda, witnessing firsthand the people, partnerships, and experiences that have shaped the organization. Through this series, he shares some of the stories that have stayed with him and the people who continue to remind him why this work matters.
