George Kizito Mubanda is an award-winning, internationally acclaimed fine artist in Uganda who enjoys uplifting others. When African Orphan Educational Foundation [AOEF] published Mercy’s Magnificent Dreams, George jumped at the chance to champion the project.
We remained in contact for close to a year and conveyed an interest in meeting during our travels to Uganda/Kenya in July. With a few light days on our schedule, we found an opportunity to travel to Namugongo to meet George. Following a tour of his art studio and lunch, we invited George to join us on mission the next day. We planned to read Mercy’s Magnificent Dreams to children living in leper colonies. We were thrilled when George said “yes”.
For those who haven’t followed the journey, Mercy‘s Magnificent Dreams is a story and coloring book (literacy tool) we wrote and published for young learners in Africa. AOEF prints and distributes the books to aid in English literacy and inspire the children to DREAM BIG! Of course, art is a big part of Mercy’s Magnificent Dreams as the Palm Beach County art community contributed illustrations making the book possible.
Mercy and George were big hits in the leper colonies. George was in high demand as an art instructor, offering feedback on the children’s drawings after hearing Mercy’s story. Of course, all the children earned A’s from George!
The experience in the leper colonies served as an impetus for ongoing development. George has organized several Art & Literacy Days for children in Uganda using Mercy’s Magnificent Dreams. He also convinced a Local Councilman to declare “Mercy Literacy Week” in Uganda and place our Mercy’s Magnificent Dreams books into 10 local schools. With the help of one or more sponsors to cover printing and transport, we can place Mercy in these 10 schools.
Please inquire about sponsoring all or part of this effort by emailing kathie@africanorphaneducation.org.
We are grateful to George Kizito Mubanda for his selfless contributions to AOEF and our partner Tujje Ministries, and for keeping Mercy in motion.