AUGUST 2015

On trip to Uganda with National Geographic, Ernie Boch Jr. found himself living the daily life of a typical resident of the rural village of Wajinja, approximately 55 miles (90km) west of the capital city, Kampala.

While staying in the village, Boch begins to realize the limited resources and desperate conditions of the villagers. Along his journey, Boch meets community leader Matovu Derrick, who gives a first-hand understanding of the lack of infrastructure and other pertinent needs of Wajinja, like clean water, education and medical facilities, commerce, and agriculture.

Clean water and a new school were Boch’s first order of business. In partnership with Drop4Drop, a non-profit organization that provides clean drinking water to countries that need it most, and its Founder and CEO Simon Konecki, Boch plans to bring wells to the village for access to water. After learning there was just one school in the area, Boch plans to expand the school with new buildings, new classrooms, a new roof with solar panels for power, a library, musical instruments, and separate bathrooms for the children.