When Janis Simon talks about Nyaka, her words come straight from the heart.
“I’ve been to Uganda a dozen times because I enjoy it so much,” she says. “I love the Nyaka schools. The children are warm, the teachers are lovely, and the classrooms are inclusive, even for students with special needs. It’s a very, very special place.”
Janis is no stranger to Nyaka. As the daughter of the late Barry Segal, Nyaka’s longtime friend and visionary supporter and a former Board Chair who served for nine years, she’s played a key role in helping Nyaka grow. This time, she returned from Washington, D.C. with her son Lee, his wife, and their two sons, including Jacob Simon, a current Junior Board member.
For Jacob, this visit was personal. After years of fundraising to support Nyaka, he finally met the students he’s been standing up for.
“It was amazing to see the schools in person and interact with the kids,” he shared. “It made everything I’ve done for Nyaka feel even more meaningful.”
Their visit included time at the Nyaka Vocational School, where they spoke with senior students and saw the real challenges learners face, lack of materials, long travel distances, and limited resources. They also saw the results of Nyaka’s hard work: thriving libraries, a strong secondary school, and the new Microfinance Centre that supports rural families.
But it wasn’t just about touring facilities. The family joined local builders to help lay bricks on a new house for a Nyaka grandmother. For them, it wasn’t just construction, it was a hands-on way to give back and connect with the community.
Janis put it simply:
“Everything we talked about in board meetings is now real. Nyaka is changing lives.”
We’re proud to welcome the Segal family back to Uganda and even prouder to see four generations continuing a legacy of service, compassion, and action. Your support reminds us that real change happens when people show up and stay committed. Thank you.
