One of the core values at St. Michaels University School is service — a principle that Experiential Education Coordinator and Senior School Social Studies teacher Reagan Daly brings to life each year through an impactful partnership with Hope for Youth-Uganda (H4YU).
H4YU operates in the rural communities of Nama and Kyampisi in Uganda’s Mukono district, supporting more than 200 vulnerable children aged 5 to 13 in its primary school program, over 60 youth in high school, and more than 70 young people and young mothers through out-of-school initiatives. It is a community that has become deeply meaningful to SMUS.
The partnership was brought to light through the Montgomery family and boarding students Callum ’15 and Meg ’18. At the time, Reagan and his wife Aimee were house parents to Callum and Meg in Barnacle and Winslow House, respectively. What started as a boarding service project soon grew into a school-wide initiative.
“Throughout Meg’s time at SMUS, she really grew the partnership,” said Daly. "In her Grade 12 year, she was Head of the Service Council and led service days to raise funds and awareness for H4YU. These connections have remained in place.”
Last year’s fundraising efforts included a faculty chili cook-off, a barefoot soccer tournament, and a service day — culminating in $2,800 raised to support H4YU’s most pressing needs.
“H4YU always lets us know what their greatest needs are,” Daly explains. “This year, that includes student tuition ($400 per year per student), faculty salaries ($150 per month), and support for building projects like a new kitchen and bakery.”
The relationship continues to grow beyond fundraising. Last year, students from H4YU studying global issues collaborated with Mr. French’s Decolonization 12 class. They exchanged questions and video responses about the state of decolonization in their respective countries — a shared learning experience that will continue this term, growing to include Mr. Lynch’s and Mr. Daly’s Social Studies classes.
Another exciting new development this year has been the arrival of a large box of handmade arts and crafts from H4YU students — painted dolls, beaded necklaces, and knitted scarves and hats made from recycled materials. SMUS students have been selling these items at school events, further connecting the community here with the one in Uganda.
This ongoing relationship with Hope for Youth-Uganda reflects much more than annual fundraising — it exemplifies SMUS’s unwavering commitment to meaningful, global service learning. It’s about building bridges, fostering empathy, and giving students the opportunity to take action that makes a lasting difference.
