Our Story
After identifying Pallisa, Uganda as a sister city, Elena Mosley, Carol Gans, and Susan Saltman traveled to Uganda and began efforts to assist the people of Pallisa with achieving a better way of life.
When they first arrived in Pallisa, the entire village came out to greet the Americans. Through Operation Unity NY, the group began addressing a myriad of needs. A short time after their initial trip, Greg and Elena took two groups of Columbia County, NY high school and college students to Uganda as an educational program.
During the first few years, with the assistance of donors and the Rotary International, Operation Unite NY has provided financial assistance, clothing, books, shoes, educational programs, medical supplies, solar lights, solar ovens, ox teams for plowing, and the installation of a well for fresh drinking water.
After assessing the numerous needs and witnessing the cultural dynamics firsthand, such as the devaluing of women - observing women and children working in the fields with hand tools, oftentimes without shoes, the team determined that investing in local women farmers would generate the greatest return with respect to improving the lives of people in Pallisa Uganda.