Corporate
US Envoy Lauds Spirit of Voluntarism
The United States (US) Ambassador to Uganda, Mr. William Wayne Popp, has acclaimed the spirit of voluntarism that Americans display in their dealings with others.
In marking the 249th US Independence this week, with a visit to the nearby St. Peters’ Secondary School, Nsambya, Popp said, “My U.S. Embassy colleagues and I are proud to be celebrating American Independence Day with our neighbours, for the first time ever,” adding that; “Our goal is to lower, at least figuratively, the walls between our Embassy and your school and share experiences that enrich your educational and professional connections with the U.S. companies.”
Popp noted that July 4th, holds great significance for Americans, as they commemorate the then-independence of 13 colonies from Britain in 1776. The US, he said, marks “mentorship and the Spirit of Volunteerism”, as core American values of community engagement that has shaped the US.
He said that community work had inspired US individuals, organizations and companies to display core values of accountability, transparency and corporate social responsibility (CSR). And he gave tribute to the Peace Corps Volunteers (PCV) for work in Ugandan communities on health, agriculture and education.
That dedication marked the participation of more than a hundred volunteer tutors from U.S. companies and Ugandan alumni of U.S. Government-funded exchange PCVs, to show to 1,600 students at St. Peter’s Nsambya, initiatives for professional skills and experiences in their classrooms. Also in this, the Embassy’s Nile Explorer Bus has demonstrated its work in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), health and civic engagement. The bus goes all over the country engaging with secondary students and young people to share experiences.
More, so the representatives of US companies, here such as; Simplifi Uganda, Wave, Sheraton Hotels, Pepsi, Marsh, Willis Towers Watson, Inbev, Citibank and the American Tower Corporation (ATC), were present at the occasion. Popp noted that ATC had installed their Digital Community Information Technology (IT) Learning Centre at the school, the first to do so. “Students, if you have a Peace Corps volunteer in your class today, they will be very happy to practice their Luganda, Lusoga, or Acholi with you!” he was pleased to mark.
In the same vein, he appreciated the participation of 21 Ugandan business leaders and companies in the recent SelectUSA programme in the US. They had gone to hone their commercial ties and extend their opportunities with the two countries for the benefit, mutual job creation and prosperity. Popp added: “There are even more opportunities to seize ahead of us as we look forward to continued cooperation and partnership.”
At the same occasion, Popp invited the students and the teachers to the Embassy for the Independence Day Picnic to sample and enjoy the traditional American lunch of “July 4 cookout-style”. He thanked the students for their performance of the US national anthem, and the US Marines for presenting the colours.
The Ambassador thanked the Headmaster, Mr. Remegio Mubiru Mungere, Board of Governors, parents and teahers faculty for honouring and celebrating the U.S. Independence Day and the spirit of American Volunteerism.
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