The September Photo:
TOGETHER WE CAN
In this image, you can see sponsored Child Joseph with his sponsor Ulrich Buchwald, sponsored child Kemisa, with her sponsor Daniela Beck.
A blogpost written by our sponsor herself: Daniela Beck
The start of our sponsorship journey
Saturday, December 7th, 2019. Sometime in the morning, probably around 9 AM. I woke up in my second home where I spent the weekend all by myself. It was a sunny, but very cold day. I scrolled through my phone while still hanging out in bed. Eventually, I got up at some point and grabbed cereal for breakfast. I opened my laptop while looking at the tree outside of the window. I loved how the sun was shining through the tree.
Not sure what made me open the webpage of the 22STARS foundation on that specific day, but somehow, I ended up on their webpage. It was meant to be.
I looked at the sponsorships. And then... I saw a girl... I immediately fell in love with her and her precious smile, and I signed up to sponsor her in an instant. 😊
Kemisa, 4.5 years old, from Jinja, Uganda.
Fast forward - Ulli signed up for sponsorship for Opio Joseph less than a year later. That boy's smile caught Ulli right away... Up until today, I love how Ulli looks at the pictures of "OJ" in our home (that's how we call Opio Joseph at home 😉). That smile of this boy... Little did we know back in the days that there are two of these smiles 😉 (Opio Joseph has an identical twin brother)... Opio Joseph, 3.5 years old and also from Jinja, Uganda.
When we signed up for the sponsorships, we always said, "Let's not be the silent sponsor in the background who just sends money—let's get to know these kids and their world!" With COVID back then, this was a challenge at first. And at the same time, it was a tough time for the foundation. We supported the fundraisers and shared them with family and friends. We tried to support as much as possible.
Fast forward again: April 2023 Finally, we were able to make it to Uganda. Weeks of fundraising and collecting item donations... we were ready to go. Thrilled. Excited. Curious. 🤩
A few more photographs from that day, shot by Serena Martineau
April 2023, the trip to Uganda
A few days before our departure, Stella (whom we had never met in person before; we had only been in touch through social media, WhatsApp, and email) dropped a note that the social impact retreat would take place while we were supposed to be in Uganda.
Yaaaaay!
Our time at the foundation was special, unique—a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Up until today, we cherish these moments. They have a special place in our hearts. Those days in Uganda were shaped by only seconds between laughing so hard that our stomachs would hurt and having tears running down our faces. What an intense few days filled with love.
Daniela and Ulrich (aka Ulli) on their way to Uganda
After Kampala we continued the journey to Jinja
Thursday, April 27th, 2023. I was nervous already the day before. The closer we got to Jinja, the more excited and nervous I felt. I was closer to Kemisa than ever before. With every kilometer down the road, I got closer to her.
That morning of April 27th, we went to the market in Jinja, buying vegetables for our cooking class. Once we got back, we cooked a fantastic meal with the help of the kindest people ever, teaching us how to make chapatis and so much more. I remember David and Aidah showing us their home and the foundation's office. Their love was one of a kind. Their pride as well. Oh, how much I admire their huge heart and love for their community.
We ate the delicious food, and shortly after we were done, while still sitting at the table, David went to talk to someone outside in their local language. The energy inside me changed. We continued to chat and laugh. A bit later (not sure how much later; time simply does not play a role when in Uganda), David stepped outside again, came back, and said, "Daniela, someone is here for you!"
Lunch time at the 22STARS center with project leader Aidah, sponsor Ulrich and photographer Serena who took the beautiful calendar pictures.
Daniela met her sponsor child Kemisa
I immediately knew it. Kemisa was here. I had tears running down my face. "She is here?" I stuttered. And there she was. Kemisa walked into the room and stood in front of me. I was truly overwhelmed. It is really a situation you cannot prepare for. It just happens. Trust and surrender. I loved every second of it.
Daniela and her sponsor child Kemisa meeting for the first time.
Ulrich met his sponsor child Joseph
A few minutes later the twins arrived and Ulli got to meet Opio Joseph. Opio’s twin brother joined as well. We spent an afternoon full of drawing, asking questions, playing, opening their gifts, and watching the music and dance program perform.
We saw the kids two more times: The following day at school. How much we loved watching them in their classes… Interacting with all the other kids and their teachers, drawing, playing, and learning. We were grateful for providing them with that opportunity.
We realized: sponsoring a child does not change the world, but it changes the child’s world!
Ulrich walking with his sponsor child Jospeh to his family home in Jinja.
Visiting the homes of the children
The other time we saw the kids was at the 22STARS weekend lunch. In the evening, we walked them home. Walking through Danida, Jinja, being shown their community where they live was overwhelming to see. Opio’s parents were working, so unfortunately, we missed them.
But we met Kemisa's mom—Aidah joined, and we spent a few minutes in Kemisa's home. It was an intense few minutes. I could not talk. I could barely breathe. All I felt I was capable of was giving Kemisa's mom a hug and trying to hold back my tears.
Two days later, we left Uganda (with a huge delay; I still believe up until today that was a sign). Heart full. Mind busy. Soul at peace.
Back in Germany
There are so many "what if"... What if we had never gone to the show “6 Jahre Weltreisen – die geilste Lücke im Lebenslauf” where we first heard about the foundation in 2017? What if I had not opened the 22STARS webpage that day on December 7th, 2019? What if visiting Uganda had never been an option?
What if... This all was meant to be.
A year after our return from Uganda, we signed up for our third sponsorship. Sponsoring two younger kids is awesome; however, after our visit, Ulli and I both felt that we wanted to co-sponsor an older child together. We welcomed Sofia to our family in March 2024. Sofia, 14.5 years old and from Acholi Quarter, Kampala.
This makes Ulli and me feel complete.
We are beyond thankful for the experiences that we have had and will continue to have with the 22STARS foundation. It truly changed our lives for the better.
Sharing is caring. We simply love to give. We never thought that we could love these children as much as we do. Every time there are pictures of kids, the weekend lunches, or their programs posted on the foundation’s Instagram and we spot one of the three kids we sponsor, it makes our hearts melt.
Still today, we regularly talk about visiting Uganda again. We want to meet Sofia and also spend more time with Kemisa and OJ, as well as all the people of the foundation.
Ulrich and Daniela keep pictures of their sponsored children back home and exchange letters with them a few times a year.
Thank you
Thank you, weebale, for giving us the opportunity to contribute to the kid's life.
Weebale Stella. Weebale Susan. Weebale Aidah. Weebale David. Weebale 22STARS Foundation.
Weebale Uganda.
With Love,
Each month, we will publish a blog post exploring the story behind the featured Charity Calendar photograph, offering insightful commentary and additional images. Check here which months we already posted.