FROGANG IN UGANDA—Holding the sign are Nyla Alton, Samaudi Archibald and Kelli Shakur. Also pictured are Dr. Jamil Bey, Clara Kitongo, Kenzie Hawkins, Done Royster, and Auvai Archibald.
Every now and then, the stars align in such a way that it allows the universe to bring about something unexpected but wonderful. When Dr. Jamil Bey of the UrbanKind Institute, and Erin Huber, Founder and Executive Director of Cleveland-based “Drink Local Drink Tap” connected with the Pittsburgh-based nonprofit organization “Frogang,” a group of young, empowered girls from Beltzhoover, along with Dr. Bey, Huber, Frogang leader Kelli Shakur, and Tree Equity Manager of Tree Pittsburgh Clara Kitongo, found themselves on a cultural trip of a lifetime.
The Black girls, Nyla Alton (15), Auvai Archibald (14), Done Royster (16), Samaudi Archibald (19) and Kenzie Hawkins (19), traveled from Pittsburgh to the African country of Uganda.
The Frogang crew left Pittsburgh on Saturday, June 14 for Uganda, and returned to Pittsburgh on Saturday, June 28.
The triple-layered purpose of the trip was to participate in helping address the issue of water access and water sanitation, help build fruit trees, and take food to an orphanage. Overall, it was a life-changing experience that took the girls/young women out of their comfort zones, while participating in service learning.
“They interacted with students in the villages,” Shakur told the New Pittsburgh Courier about the Frogang girls. The girls also planted trees (something they’ve also done in Beltzhoover, the home base of Frogang), supplied schools with water filters, and “we actually took a trip on the daily journey for water; actually walking the eight miles to get the water,” Shakur said.
Kitongo, who is originally from Uganda, added: “The people of these villages walked the eight miles to and from a man-made reservoir, which was actually built for cows and other human use, and because the water supply to the villages was fragmented, there is no piped water in most of the areas. So locals came with a plastic can, filled it and returned to their homes.”
The Frogang girls walking the miles for the water “helped the girls get the lived experiences of what the native children did on a regular basis,” Shakur said.
The fundraising for this trip to Uganda was very grassroots, consisting of a spaghetti dinner, Bingo, selling merchandise and requesting financial support on Facebook. Another fundraising source was a concert held in Oakland that featured Kitongo, who is also a vocalist. The bar/restaurant Preeti’s Pitt also pitched in.
IN UGANDA, FROGANG GIRLS KENZIE HAWKINS AND SAMAUDI ARCHIBALD.
The funds didn’t come overnight. For nearly a year, the Frogang girls worked tirelessly to raise the funds, not just to cover the flight and accommodations, but to help build a toilet for girls at a Ugandan school, and create a borehole water project for another school. A borehole is a deep hole in the ground from which a pump is used to pull water out.
“Usually one borehole can serve up to 1,000 people, which is like a small village,” Kitongo told the Courier.
In all, more than $16,000 in cash and plane tickets were raised to get everyone to Uganda and back, and to fulfill the missions while in Uganda. “We worked very hard to get the necessary funds; so much so that we were raising funds up until the day before we left and continued coming in while we were there,” Shakur said.
The Frogang girls and crew found themselves boating in the Nile River. They found themselves standing atop Murchison Falls, known as the world’s most powerful falls. There they were, walking amongst rhinoceroses, monkeys, cows, giraffes, zebras, as Uganda is a top safari destination.
Now, two months after their return, the Frogang girls still feel the impact of their travel. Their excitement permeated the room where they met with the Courier to discuss their Uganda trip. They discussed the intense heat of Uganda, along with the fact that in certain places, there was no bathroom where they were in Uganda. Instead, the bathroom was actually a hole in the ground.
The Frogang girls and their chaperones all agreed that they were made to feel welcomed in Uganda, almost like family from the first day they arrived. They were impressed by the hard work and dedication of the young people in Uganda in preparation to receive their American guests. There was dancing, and drumming, and vivid costumes, and so much more.
Done Royster, 16, said that “it brought tears to my eyes. I honestly did not even feel deserving, when watching them I could see they really wanted us to know how grateful they were to us.”
“The way they welcomed us was unreal,” Shakur added. “It was very powerful and moving.”
ABOVE AND BELOW: FROGANG ORGANIZATION FOUNDER KELLI SHAKUR
Another Shakur observation was that Ugandan people had everything they needed to live. “The way they are presented to us is in no way representative of what their capacity is to function in their way of life. They may not have modern amenities, they may need assistance in accessing clean water, but I was happy for our girls to see that in the midst of their challenges, they were actually rich,” Shakur said. “It was fascinating to see how they carried on as was necessary to lead a powerful life. Boys as young as 5 or 6 could be seen moving cattle along and the students were extremely smart in classrooms without the technology we have (in America).”
Some of the Frogang girls discussed to the Courier about how Africa can sometimes be painted in a negative light in the media and on the Internet.
“Being there gave a different view,” some of the girls said. “Regardless of their needs, we saw that there is joy and happiness within them. So no matter the state they are in, they still have joy. That was very empowering to see.”
Uganda, located in East Africa, is known as “The Pearl of Africa” because of its beauty. It’s home to about 45 million people, with English as the official language, although Luganda and Swahili are widely spoken. Uganda has a significant part of its population that is under the age of 30. When it comes to ethnic groups, there are groups like the Baganda, Banyankole, Acholi, and others.
The Frogang crew visited cities like the capital, Kampala, and Entebbe, home to the country’s only international airport. They also visited Nakasongola.
For Shakur, who started the Frogang organization in 2017, it was her first time on the continent of Africa, along with the Frogang girls. Shakur, 38, grew up in Beltzhoover, graduated from Carrick High School in 2004, and holds a bachelor’s degree from the HBCU Miles College (Alabama) and a master’s in education from Point Park University. As an educator, she was impressed by the answers the Ugandan children gave when it was asked to them what they wanted to be in life as a profession.
“None of them said a rapper, none of them said a football player,” Shakur told the Courier. “They all said doctors, nurses, presidents, leaders.”
Seeing the Ugandan people in action showed Shakur and the Frogang girls that it’s not all about materialism, as it oftentimes can feel like in the U.S.
“They’re richer than us, even though they don’t have on the material stuff,” Shakur said. “They’re richer mentally. Sometimes I still handwash my clothes, just to be in the mix and mode” of many of the Ugandan people.
On Sunday, Aug. 31, the Frogang girls will host a panel discussion for the public to attend, to hear more about their experiences in Uganda. It will be held at 201 Chalfont Street, from 3 to 6 p.m. There will also be Ugandan food available while it lasts, and a dinner following the panel discussion. To reserve a seat, call 330-881-7897.
“Africa is not what it’s painted to be and it’s something that everybody should experience,” Shakur told the Courier. “I want Black children to know that it’s possible to go to Africa and be of service, amongst your people, your culture. There is no disconnect; everywhere we went, we were welcomed…we should have been doing that for them.”
CHILDREN IN UGANDA. THE PHOTO WAS TAKEN DURING THE FROGANG TRIP TO THE EAST AFRICAN COUNTRY IN JUNE 2025.
(Rob Taylor Jr. contributed to this story.)