Seven Canadians — five volunteers and two World Vision Canada staffers — traveled to northern Uganda to help traumatized children who have known nothing but war.

For 18 years, the rebel group, the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), has abducted children and forced them to commit atrocities as soldiers and sex slaves in its war against the Ugandan government. Established in 1995, World Vision's Children of War Rehabilitation Center in Gulu, Uganda, helps children who have escaped the LRA to overcome their trauma before returning to their families.

The centre has sheltered, fed, and cared for an estimated 10,000 children, and was badly in need of a facelift. To ensure that it can continue to meet the needs of children, World Vision Canada organized this work trip to renovate and paint the centre.

World Vision staffer Philip Maher and volunteer Doug Currie arrived in Gulu on August 16, 2004, to lay the groundwork for five days of labour. A second World Vision staffer, Corbin Andrews, and the remaining volunteers joined them the following weekend. Read excerpts from the diaries of Philip Maher and volunteer Doug Currie for an insider's view of the trip.

• Monday, August 16th
• Tuesday, August 17th
• Thursday, August 19th
• Monday, August 23rd
• Tuesday, August 24th
• Wednesday, August 25th
• Thursday, August 26th
• Friday, August 27th
• Sunday, August 29th

Reflections on Uganda:  Lynn, Pat, Lisa, Mark