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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday December 13, 2006 - 13 Stories of hardship heartbreaking, endless for Ugandan orphans Continued from page 12 And that's where she met the youths she's now asking others to help. "My desire to visit Kampala was two-fold. First, I was doing research for a children's book I am writing and wanted to better understand African teens. I had been feeling like a hypocrite. I constantly spoke about the effects infectious diseases have on the global community, but had never seen these forces at work and I was determined to learn more," said Mulvale. "My education was harsh and overwhelming. I was shocked by what I discovered. Their stories of hardship were heartbreaking and endless. I had trouble processing what I saw and heard," she said. Mulvale visited orphanages and outreach programs speaking with teens, parents, doctors, counsellors and teachers. She said she met teens who were HIV positive and living in extreme poverty. Many of them walked two or more hours daily to get to school, would then work late into the night without pay and lived in small, crowded, barren shacks shared with aunts or older sisters. "One of the greatest gifts I will be thankful for this year is the gift of choice. Before visiting Africa this summer, I had no idea how incredible it is to be able to choose who I work for, where I live, what activities to participate in, where to send my children to school or what to eat," said Mulvale. However, what touched Mulvale most was her experience at the place she had as her own residence in Kampala. One day while sitting in the yard -- under the watch of her guard -- she heard rustling. She soon spotted a small girl peering at her. The girl ran off after exchanging smiles, but in "I immediately absorbed the full impact of my surroundings -- the communal outhouses, the garbage, dust and disrepair. I looked at their torn clothing, bare feet and hopeful eyes." low voice, `You will find me a sponsor?' He was desperately and courageously asking for something they all wanted. Something our children will never have to consider asking a stranger." The Oakville woman said, "The question brought the full force of all I had witnessed into shocking focus. I immediately absorbed the full impact of my surroundings--- the communal outhouses, the garbage, dust and disrepair. I looked at their torn clothing, bare feet and hopeful eyes. The group of children had gone silent. My heart ached. Tears blurred my vision. I was unable to answer. I knew I couldn't help them all," said Mulvale. Upon composing herself, Mulvale said she told the boy she lived in Canada and was writing a book to help others realize that children in Africa needed help. "He smiled, thanked me and then dropped his eyes and walked slowly away. I believe he interpreted my message for those who hadn't heard or understood my answer. As he spoke with the children, they looked over their shoulders at me. Their hopeful faces were now full of disappointment. After a short time, they went back to playing. I have never felt so inadequate," said Mulvale. So now, as Christmas approaches and the hot sun of Africa is but a memory, Mulvale is asking people she knows to consider giving the gift of choice by helping educate some young teens in Africa. She is advocating support of the Uganda Orphan Fund --- an organization that aims to help teens achieve a secondary school education and so empower them with the opportunity to make choices about their futures. "I know the woman who started this See We page 18 PLANNING A FINANCIAL LEGACY Catherine Mulvale We Know MORTGAGES seconds more faces were staring at Mulvale. After grabbing some beach balls she had brought with her, Mulvale came to know a daily routine of playing with the youngsters who referred to her in the African term that means white person. "On my last day in Kampala, I went out back to take a few final photos and say goodbye. Once again, dozens of children seemed to materialize from nowhere. In an instant everything changed when a teenage boy came up to me and asked me a sobering question," recalled Mulvale. "Surrounded by his young friends, this striking child looked me squarely in the eye and said in a quiet, LOANS · LINE OF CREDIT "We specialize in hard to place mortgages" 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Mortgages Residential and Commercial Debt Consolidation Power of Sale Refinancing No Up Front Fees Up to 100% Financing O.A.C. 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