Journey to Uganda: Limerick woman takes an inspiring trip for a faraway friendship

IN AN inspiring journey, Christina O’Sullivan, a Newcastle West resident, travelled to Uganda with World Vision Ireland to meet her sponsored child, Doreen, and see the impact of her support firsthand.

Christina is originally from Donegal but lives in Newcastle West with her husband and two daughters.

She is a nutritionist, and recently wrote a children’s nutrition book called Colourful Foods and Activities for my Body and Mind, which she gifted to her sponsor child Doreen, when in Uganda.

Travelling to Africa with a copy of her book under her arm and hope in her heart, Christina flew across the world with World Vision Ireland, which is the charity pairing the Donegal native and her sponsor child Doreen.

Christina described meeting Doreen as a “magical experience”, upon touching down in Africa.

“My heart melted at that moment as Doreen took my hand and cut the ribbon,” said Christina.

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“Her smile was beautiful. She was happy, well-nourished and looked healthy”.

Despite the language barrier, Doreen’s parents spoke to Christina of their gratitude to World Vision, and what it has meant to them and their community.

“We exchanged many smiles and gifts and got lots of photos and videos to capture the moments. Doreen was particularly taken by a snow globe with Ireland written on it and a Leprechaun inside,” said Christina.

“I also gave Doreen’s mum a tea towel with the recipe for Irish Stew written on it. This created a laugh amongst the locals when the staff translated, as we learned that they grow what is known as 'Irish potatoes' in Uganda!”

The trip included a tour of local schools and community projects, so sponsors could see the direct impact that their donations are making.

Christina shared that visiting these World Vision and Irish Aid projects was “enlightening”.

She said: “We observed the positive impact of the WASH programme at local schools, which provides toilet facilities for boys and girls, reducing disease and allowing children to remain in school”.

“The importance of education in the community was evident. At schools we saw slogans like “education before marriage” encouraging children to get an education first.”

Sponsors had the opportunity to tour a Health Centre funded by World Vision and Irish Aid, which recently opened a new maternity unit.

This facility has witnessed a remarkable rise in birth rates, growing from four in 2007 to 150 in 2023, greatly enhancing maternal and infant care within the community.

“Previously, many babies were born at home, putting both mothers and infants at risk of mortality.

“Fortunately, thanks to this intervention, such cases have become rare,” said Christina.

In a very touching moment, Christina met a new mother who was struggling to decide on a name for her new baby girl.

Meeting Christina was the inspiration she needed, and she told Christina that she would name the baby after her.

For Christina, a nutritionist herself, the most “profound” aspect of the trip was the visit to the community cluster, where a community of 130 people collaborate on farming and income generation.

Sponsors also had the opportunity to hear directly from a community nutritionist, who expressed the community’s gratitude for having access to fresh produce through microcredit funding.

This support has enabled them to meet their food requirements and sell excess in local markets. Christina noted “the sense of community and empowerment, showcasing a hand up, not a handout approach”.

The journey has inspired Christina to advocate for child sponsorship through World Vision.

With 70 years of experience, the charity has helped more than 200 million children in almost 100 disadvantaged countries, providing water, education, food and emergency response.

“Personally, the experience has really made me grateful to be part of World Vision,” she said.

“It was a real humbling experience and such a beautiful exchange of energy.

“I felt this was an experience of a lifetime and has made me all the more passionate and determined to continue to spread the word on child sponsorship”.

To anyone contemplating becoming a child sponsor, Christina advises to “just do it”.

“You’ll be able to share the experience with family and friends and if you have children, your children will get to learn the beauty of giving at an early age,” she concluded.

In all, it is fair to say that Christina’s story highlights the profound connections and positive changes that sponsorship can bring to communities in need.