Steps toward Uganda

Before I depart for Uganda…

I figured that since I was about to embark on a pretty significant journey I thought I would pause and reflect a bit.How did this all start? Well, have seen these “I Hack Charities” T-Shirts at various security conferences and a few years ago I stopped by the booth and bought a shirt and heard about Johnny Long and what he’s been up to in Uganda.

I followed Johnny’s blog for a while and finally met and talked with Johnny at Shmoo last year. This year at DEFCON I saw my friend from Australia and Johnny talking and said hi and looked at some of their leather goods. I saw a pretty vast improvement in the quality of the leather and the quantity he had with him. We talked about the leather program and I told him I wanted to help.

Johnny gave me a few ideas on how to help and we finally decided on what I could do. It was expensive and would probably require a trip there to get things up and running. I agreed and promised an upcoming bonus to the effort. The bonus came through and I am happy to report everything is in place for me to go.

Being a global traveler I looked for a required VISA for Uganda. Its pretty simple, US citizens just pay a new $50 bill. O_o Apparently a bill newer than 2006 is accepted. Odd, I agree.

Next, vaccines. Right after I bought my tickets the whole Ebola thing blew up (and wasn’t in this part of Africa) but being former Navy I remember getting vaccinated for everything. CDC says Yellow Fever, Typhoid and Anti-Malarials. Given I have had most of this, but it was long ago, and being risk averse I decided to get the shots.

After paying for and getting Yellow Fever and Typhoid I am ready to set off. Buying a few last minute items and keeping in touch with Johnny I learn there is a guy in-country with Johnny right-now! So I start following his blog. Check out http://www.pilgrim.ninja

This just gets me more and more exciting I am now all set except for packing and making the very long flights there.

From my home I will travel to DC then DC to Dubai, UAE. I am going to take a day in Dubai to look around then fly toward Jinja, Uganda utilizing the airport in Kampala, Uganda.

The question I feel needs answered the most is “why go?” Its pretty easy for me, I am not good at finding these things and getting them going but, I am good at finding resources and putting them with need. I don’t feel fulfilled without helping people and I want to help. Finally, I have children. If I can leave the world in their care and they do all they can to help others, imagine how great the world will be. My grandmother Martha helped me to understand that we all should care for our neighbors and demonstrated it to me time and time again.

Being the change you want to see in the world is way harder than quoting Ghandi, who’s ashes were spread nearby BTW.

BTW, I posted this on Postagon but their stance on HTTPS caused me to move it here.