Everywhere You Go, They Want to Know Your Dream
Mia McLaughlin (pictured above) accompanied COU’s Executive Director, Pamela Brannon, and Board Chair, Cheryl Hargrow, on this year’s summer expedition to Uganda.
Mia is the daughter of Shawn and Kristi McLaughlin – two of our most generous donors and faithful friends. This remarkable family became passionately involved with us after seeing our 2014 Tour of Light dance troupe perform in Denver. They also served as a host family for our Artistic Director and two COU performers on the tour: Robert, Francis, and Ssuuna.
Mia has previously volunteered in Haiti, working at an orphanage and focusing on community outreach efforts.
During her time in Uganda, Mia taught religious education classes at Sabina Primary School and visited other schools in the region.
Mia shared that before this trip, she had zero teaching experience. She told us, “It was not easy, but after a few lessons, I got the hang of it!” One of her favorite experiences during the trip was learning about everyone’s dreams and ambitions. She said that in Africa, everywhere you go, people want to know what your dream or vision for the future is. This is something that stuck with her the entire trip. No matter your background, everyone has hopes and dreams.
This fall, Mia will be starting her first semester at Denver University. She is aspiring to earn a degree in Early Childhood Development. In the future, Mia said that she would like to start a school of her own in Haiti and would love to continue volunteering. She also wishes to one day return to Uganda and reunite with the amazing people she met there.
