John Michael was a teacher at Wisdom Junior School in Bbembe, Uganda, when we first met.
Over six weeks, we worked alongside each other. He sat in on sessions with the children. He watched. He participated. He asked questions and we had coaching conversations together. And somewhere in that time, something shifted for him.
He returned to his home district of Serere in Eastern Uganda and opened a school.
East Star’s Academy now serves his community. Built from what he already had. Started before the conditions were perfect. Grown from a decision to begin.
John describes that time like this:
‘When I met Leanne she found me tied in a cage somewhere, pretending I was at work. One day she opened my brain and my eyes to see what I had never seen before.
She triggered a bullet inside my thoughts and my eyes opened wide to see my destination.
She taught me to start with the little I had. I thought you needed much more to begin, but I learned from Leanne that starting with what you have leads you to something big.
Right now life is changing every day. People in my community are getting transformed.
I thank God for Leanne. She has transformed my life, my family, and the community at large.’
John’s words stay with me.
His words stay with me because of what they say about him. About what becomes possible when someone recognises the resources they already carry.
That is the heart of the work I do.
