Will you teach anything other than guitar building?

Are there natural resources such as exotic woods close by?

Yes. On our last research trip we found ebony, a beautiful, dark rosewood species and mahogany. Once we are established we will set out to find the mills from which we will source our raw materials. We will still need to import spruce, cedar, maple and hardware.

Would I know anyone who currently plays a ‘Duncan’ guitar? What kind of quality are they?

What is the local work ethic like?

Excellent. While I was there in November 2005, I witnessed 22 local guys build a 4000 sq. foot brick church in less than seven weeks – with no electricity! And yes, there are building codes and regular inspections.

Is electricity reliable?

Sometimes! So we will be investing in generators and alternative energy sources such as solar panels. Uganda runs on Hydro, from a dam on the Nile river, so during the dry season, there is not enough power to go around.

Is there corruption in Uganda?

Yes & No. The government of Uganda has implemented a program to fight corruption. However, the reality is that it takes a long time to change a culture. We applaud this first step towards transparency.

If I donate to DuncanAfrica, how will my money be spent?

Wisely. We believe in being as accountable and transparent as possible. We don’t believe in waste, and will strive to make your donation go as far as it can. We have surrounded ourselves with experienced advisors who have been around for a long time.

How will you control quality?

Jay will initially be living in Mpigi, Uganda for three years. In this time he will be striving to teach the students to reach for perfection in every area. The belief that our work can bring glory to God – and in that sense even our work becomes worship - is an amazing motivator. Suddenly hard work becomes a pleasure because of whom you are working for.

Are you doing this to spread your beliefs about God/Jesus?

Yes and No. This project is simply a response to the love Jesus has for us. We hope that wherever we work in the world, that we can ‘lighten the load’ on our brothers and sisters. We will not be preaching, though we are free to share about what we believe if opportunity arises. We hope to bring in great teachers from Kampala to teach about worldview, both for our students and local pastors. Fostering relationships within local churches will allow us to bring tangible help to a wide network of widows and orphans.

Is there a major religion already there?

No. At this point there is a fragile peace agreement in place. There is a huge movement of amnesty and forgiveness going on. It took a long time, but international attention finally caught up with 20 years of hell on earth. To learn more about what the country has gone through, there are two excellent, recent documentaries. Uganda Rising and the Invisible Children.

Is Uganda politically stable?

Yes. The government has been relatively stable for around eight years with President Yoweri Museveni now serving a second term. Democratic elections were held this past year, and though there were accusations of corruption, rioting and violence were minimal.

Is DuncanAfrica different from other charities?

Yes. We will become a self-sustaining charity, hopefully within three years. After that we will no longer need to raise funds in the west because of the way we have organized ourselves. In fact, the programs we run will be paid for by the work of our graduates. So the work they do will ensure that their communities are healthy, well educated and prosperous. Part of our program will ensure that they practice giving to the needy as well; they will direct 20% of funds coming back to their community into other nearby communities. This is the principle of understanding that we are blessed to be a blessing.

Will you live there? How long?

Yes. Initially for a three year period, and then the plan is to live in Canada again, but to make approximately 6 trips per year to ensure things are going well, and to continue to mentor the team. We have a plan in place to pull out of the Mpigi project completely in eight years. At this point our aim is to bring them to a point where their village will be completely self-sustaining, with steady economic growth.

Will you hire locals?

Whenever possible. We prefer to hire local teachers to teach most fundamental skills. This encourages a sense of local ownership of problems and solutions, while adding to the local economy. From time to time, experienced western professionals will supplement our staff.

What will become of the original building when the society has fulfilled its original purpose?

When fifty students have graduated, the guitar building aspect of the school will transform into an apprenticeship program. The original facility will be used for Continuing Adult Education as well as a base of operations for Micro-Enterprise start-up businesses.