The Joy That Poverty Could Not Steal
By Fr Benny Dennis
Travelling to Uganda with our college students for the outreach programme was a grace-filled experience. As a teacher, I was drawn to the classrooms and the eagerness of the children to learn. As a priest, I found myself reflecting on the quiet ways God is present in people's daily lives. We spent much of our time in schools, and what struck me most was not the lack of resources but the abundance of joy. The children welcomed us with smiles that seemed untouched by the hardships they faced. They celebrated life with a simplicity that challenged many of the assumptions I carry from a more comfortable world. One encounter remains particularly vivid in my mind. A young girl came to school carrying her toddler sibling because her parents had gone to work and there was nobody else to care for the child. She sat in class with responsibilities far beyond her years, yet there was a determination in her eyes whenever she engaged with her lessons. In that moment, I was reminded that the desire for education is often strongest among those who have the least access to it. Throughout the visit, I met people who worked tirelessly to provide for their families. Resources were limited, yet I heard little complaint. Instead, I witnessed resilience, generosity, and a strong sense of community. The experience was a humbling reminder of how easily we overlook the blessings that surround us. It deepened my gratitude to God and renewed my appreciation for the dignity and strength that exist within every human person. As I reflect on our time there, my prayer is simple: that these children may continue to find joy amidst their challenges, that education may open doors of opportunity before them, and that the bonds of faith, fellowship, and mutual care that I witnessed among them may continue to flourish. They taught me far more than I could ever have hoped to teach them.













