History
Abby and Mark Bartels lived on the campus of Uganda Christian University (UCU) for over ten years. During that time, they worked for the Uganda Studies Program (USP), a semester-long study abroad program for American and Canadian college students. Both USP and the Bartels have a long-standing relationship with the Honors College at UCU. In effort to help USP alumni stay connected with UCU and Honors College, Abby organized the first Uganda Partners Global 5K in 2015.
The Global 5K is a one-day event where students, individuals, friends, and families participate from wherever they live to raise support for Honors College students. Honors College is a leadership development program for the top undergraduate students at UCU. Through this program, the future leaders of Uganda are nurtured, mentored, and educated.
The Global 5K creates an opportunity for USP alumni to maintain connection with each other and with UCU, all while raising financial support for Honors College. In Uganda, Honors College and USP students and staff gather for a 5-kilometer walk/run around UCU for the benefit of their classmates, roommates, and friends. Though this event was originally organized for USP alumni, anyone is welcome to register and participate!
If you’re not a runner, don’t be discouraged! Participants are invited to use any method of transportation, including but not limited to biking, horseback riding, snowshoeing, hiking, driving, walking, and rowing. Historically, a prize is awarded to the most creative method! An African Proverb says, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want far, go together”.
The first three years (2015-2017) were global events. Though Uganda Partners wasn’t able to organize the Global 5K in 2018 and 2019, Honors College students and staff were determined to continue the event on campus along with current USP students in Uganda. The Global 5K returned as a worldwide event in 2020.
Last year’s Global 5K occurred on April 4, 2020, and we raised enough money to fund 12 scholarships for Honors College students. (Full story here)
2020 Global 5K
This year’s Global 5K occurred on April 4, 2020, and we raised enough money to fund 12 scholarships for Honors College students.
It was exciting to see how many people were eager to have the event back and to see photos from those creatively participating from all over the world amidst the coronavirus pandemic. From working out inside their home in United Arab Emirates due to curfew, to running in rural villages in Uganda, to families hiking to wave across the state border at each other, to sisters riding backwards on a horse, to USP alumni organizing a Zoom call to reflect on the lessons they learned in Uganda, to people formerly not connected to UCU seeing posts on Instagram and signing up on race day, it was moving to see people supporting Uganda Christian University together around the globe in their green T-shirts!
Our goal is to increase participation and net proceeds each year. All funds raised go to support UCU Honors College student scholarships.
We hope to add your name to our list of participants! Head to www.ugandapartners.org/global5k for more info about this year’s Global 5K on October 9th!
Questions? Contact Ashton at ashton@ugandapartners.org