Blue House Life

When the Peace Corps came to the Blue House

Peace Corps Volunteers: Kelly, Mackenzie, Scott, Charles, and David

When Charles Lilley joined the Peace Corps at age 60 (yes, they take them that “old”), he was surprised to be assigned to Uganda, a country he knew of through his sister, Karen Lilley, US Board member. Karen had visited the Blue House in Kazo Uganda during the 2013–14 Christmas holidays, along with their sister Marian and her daughter Hannah. She knew Charles would love the people and the country as much as they had. And he has.

In March 2017, Karen and her husband, Dave Hansen, went to Uganda to see “PC Charley” and of course, the girls at the Blue House. Charles did what Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs) do best: organize, engage, involve, educate, and have fun. He invited other PCVs to put on a camp for the Blue House girls and the Kazo community.

Charles, now having lived in eastern Uganda almost 2 years, teamed up with four other PCVs: David McHolland, Kelly Drummond, Scott Walters, and Mackenzie Leonard, who came from the north, south, and west of Kazo, to converge at the Blue House for a couple of days of learning, games, and camp t-shirts.

The Blue House girls and staff, as well as the girls who live with relatives, the sewing school students, and some Kazo-area farmers, benefited from the Peace Corp Camp. The photos below tell the rest of the story.

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The Peace Corps Camp made learning fun

A beautiful day to learn about malaria, and the importance of using mosquito nets.

Mackenzie encouraged a shy girl in a nutrition exercise.

Kelly taught a class in making RUMPs— ReUseable Menstrual Pads, which help prevent missed school days every month.

Mosquito tag! A girl with a cardboard mosquito tries to ‘infect’ her mates with malaria.

Primary school-age girls learn proper hand- washing methods.

David taught everyone how to dig a permagarden, using a technique that provides vegetables year-round, even in drought.

The girls planted seeds in the permagarden much closer than in their traditional garden.

Charles chatted with Elphaz Tumuramye. He serves on the Ugandan board, and is the brother of Beatrice, the late founder of Blue House. At one point he was caring for 20 children under his roof.

Fortunate Abaho, the district probation officer, gave an inspirational talk.

Scott played a game with the younger kids outside, while inside, the older ones talked about HIV/AIDS, consent, and safety.

The Peace Corps Blue House Camp involved the home-based girls shown with Aine Abel, director.

About the Peace Corps
Peace Corps Volunteers are US citizens who work at the grassroots level in over 60 countries, to create change that lasts long after their service. Volunteers live in the community where they work, sharing the same language, living conditions, food, and culture. They commit 27 months of their lives to work in agriculture, environment, community economic development, health, education, or youth in development.

President John F. Kennedy started the Peace Corps in 1961 as an opportunity for Americans to serve their country and their world. Its mission is to promote world peace and friendship by fulfilling three goals: To help the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women; to help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served; and to help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.

In Uganda, more than 165 Volunteers currently work with their communities on projects in agriculture, education, and health. More than 1,600 Peace Corps Volunteers have served in Uganda since 1964.