It has been four years now since I have been to Gulu, Uganda, but all the images came flooding back last month as I talked with Fr. Tony Wach, SJ, Campion Class of 1960 and President of the "New Campion" (ocercampion.org) in East Africa. I thought Fr. Tony looked good and that he was recovering well from his quadruple bypass done earlier this summer. He is headed back to Ocer Campion this week. News of the school was also carried to us just this past month by Dr. Jim Murtaugh, DDS, (Campion '60) and others after their return from a Medical Mission Foundation (mmfworld.org) trip to Gulu last month.

The most amazing change at Ocer Campion, this school project which we are supporting, is the growth in enrollment from 30 in 2010 when the school opened, to 400 this coming January. So much has been accomplished in such an incredibly short time. Two large dormitories have been constructed on either side of the campus, housing girls in the first, and boys in the just completed second building. These are built around large quadrangles which serve as the location for mass and all-school meetings.

The initial bore-hole and large solar powered water tank has been followed with a second and there are large tanks and three underground cisterns that harvest much of the rainfall. That is important for this site which must be self-sufficient. There is a large farm worked by the students which includes facilities for cattle, chicken and pigs, large vegetable and grain fields and a newly planted orchard which will be producing fruit in another year or two. The fish pond is productive now.

It was heartwarming to hear Fr. Tony's report about the commitment and financial assistance that the school has received from Jesuit headquarters in Rome, and from the regional East African Jesuit office in Nairobi (particularly the assignment of young African Jesuits to be full time teachers and administrators there - there are 5 present now). The Jesuit Partnership in Milwaukee and your contributions through it have been instrumental. An USAID grant has been received for a kitchen and dining area.

An International Grant has resulted in the construction of the first large classroom building. But the critical immediate need now, with the expansion of the enrollment, is for a second 10-classroom building.

Dave Zamierowski, Class '60