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About Uganda
Connections in Haiti led PCPC and Village Partner International (VPI) to a relationship with the impoverished village of Papoli, Uganda. In Papoli, PCPC has, with VPI, constructed a preschool, an elementary school, a library, The Robert H. Cooley Pediatric Clinic (for children with HIV, malnutrition, and malaria), and the Jay and Janice Jester Maternity and Outpatient Clinic. We have also dug over 8 wells and built homes for widows and orphans. VPI continues currently to focus on Pennies for Papoli (projects allowing school children in the U.S. to help support school children in Papoli) and The Moringa Project. Each day we provide a hot meal of porridge to nearly 1,000 students in the school in Papoli (Porridge for Papoli), and our scholarship program helps students in need (often orphans) to graduate from high school and go on to college. You can learn more about Papoli and our partnership by contacting Dr. Sylvia Campbell.
The Uganda Counseling Ministry, supported by the PCPC Social Work Committee, has provided training to Ugandan mental health counselors since 2008. If you have a desire to offer counselor training, contact Rick Hardesty, Chair of Social Work Committee.
The Uganda Counseling Ministry, supported by the PCPC Social Work Committee, has provided training to Ugandan mental health counselors since 2008. If you have a desire to offer counselor training, contact Rick Hardesty, Chair of Social Work Committee.
What is Village Partner International (VPI)?
Village Partners International grew out of the mission work of people of faith from different churches beginning in rural Haiti in 1995. A young Haitian boy had fallen into a vat of boiling water and could only receive help in the United States. A medical team arranged for a UN helicopter to bring him to Tampa, Florida for treatment; his story was published in an international surgical journal. (Read more about this boy’s story here.)
Five years later, Martha Kawala, a young girl from the village of Papoli, Uganda was diagnosed with a life threatening cardiac condition. As this could not be treated in Africa, she walked 8 miles to an internet café to send Dr. Sylvia Campbell an email asking for help. Dr. Campbell helped arrange for the Rotary Club to provide transportation and the St. Joseph’s Hospital’s cardiac surgical team to provide surgery. Martha’s life was saved and changed. (Read more about Martha’s story here.)
Martha returned to her village and scholarship money was raised for her education through the efforts of Palma Ceia Presbyterian Church. It was soon discovered that water was a more critical need if the village was to thrive, so a well was built. The AIDS epidemic has devastated a generation, leaving behind homes headed by orphans and widowed grandmothers. Housing for orphans and widows became an ongoing need that began to be addressed. The opportunity to serve grew to include the efforts of friends from a number of faith traditions. The merit of partnering an interfaith organization became clear, leading to the creation of Village Partners International which demonstrates how communities can be changed one person at a time.
Village Partners International, a 501(c)(3), was created as a way to open the work that the church has begun to the broader community. The four major areas of focus are:
Our goal is to partner with villages for projects that create independence and are self-sustaining.
*Taken from VPI Website
Five years later, Martha Kawala, a young girl from the village of Papoli, Uganda was diagnosed with a life threatening cardiac condition. As this could not be treated in Africa, she walked 8 miles to an internet café to send Dr. Sylvia Campbell an email asking for help. Dr. Campbell helped arrange for the Rotary Club to provide transportation and the St. Joseph’s Hospital’s cardiac surgical team to provide surgery. Martha’s life was saved and changed. (Read more about Martha’s story here.)
Martha returned to her village and scholarship money was raised for her education through the efforts of Palma Ceia Presbyterian Church. It was soon discovered that water was a more critical need if the village was to thrive, so a well was built. The AIDS epidemic has devastated a generation, leaving behind homes headed by orphans and widowed grandmothers. Housing for orphans and widows became an ongoing need that began to be addressed. The opportunity to serve grew to include the efforts of friends from a number of faith traditions. The merit of partnering an interfaith organization became clear, leading to the creation of Village Partners International which demonstrates how communities can be changed one person at a time.
Village Partners International, a 501(c)(3), was created as a way to open the work that the church has begun to the broader community. The four major areas of focus are:
- Health
- Education
- Housing
- Entrepreneurship
Our goal is to partner with villages for projects that create independence and are self-sustaining.
*Taken from VPI Website
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PCPC Children's Ministry
3501 W San Jose St
Tampa, Florida 33629
3501 W San Jose St
Tampa, Florida 33629