The students and staff of Tallwood High School are launching a year-long service project aimed at helping struggling children at a school in Uganda. The children first came to the attention of Tallwood students last year when they participated in a live video conference with students from Padibe, Uganda. The Ugandan children shared their experiences of being forced to serve as child soldiers before being sent to live in a camp for displaced persons. Their stories moved the Tallwood students and staff to take action.

“Our students and staff recognize how fortunate we are to live in a community that values its children and affords them outstanding educational opportunities,” says Jobynia Caldwell, principal of Tallwood High School. “We all feel it is our responsibility to do whatever is possible to help these Ugandan students, who have virtually nothing, not even someone to care for them,” adds Caldwell.

The service project, being undertaken by Tallwood’s students and faculty, comprises numerous activities to raise awareness about the poor living conditions and lack of educational opportunities facing the children of Padibe. Ultimately, the Tallwood school community would like to raise money to help rebuild the school in the Ugandan children’s camp. The service project kicks off Friday, October 19, with an “Agents for Change” lock-in at Tallwood. Students will stay at school from 2:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., taking part in a live videoconference, workshops on what it means to be an agent for change, brainstorming sessions, a Ugandan café, and work groups to make posters, fliers, and banners.As a sign of unity with the students in Uganda, Tallwood will hold a candlelight walk around the school track at 8:00 p.m.

The following day, Saturday, October 20, a team from Tallwood High School will participate in the Gulu Walk beginning at Norfolk’s Waterside at noon. The local Gulu Walk is part of a world-wide movement focused on supporting the abandoned children of Uganda.

To join the Tallwood team or for more information about the school’s “Agents for Change” service project, contact Gayle Haritgan, computer resource specialist at Tallwood High School, at 474-8555 or by e-mail at gayle.hartigan@vbschools.com.