When most kids are taking family vacations around the U.S., or going to summer camp, Kaitlyn Sisk, a senior at Lake Travis High School, spent her summer building Libraries in Africa.

Sisk first heard about Libraries of Love, a local non-profit organization, when the director, Trudy Marshall, came to talk to her Bethany United Methodist Church youth group in February.
“As soon she started talking about the library and going to Africa, [Kaitlyn] turned around and looked at me, and mouthed the words ‘I want to do that!” her mother, Kristie Sisk, said.
According to the program’s website, “the purpose of Libraries of Love is to partner with Africans to create libraries in individual schools. Through reading, students will develop a love of literature, as well as strengthen their knowledge in each curriculum subject area. Lifelong readers become lifelong learners. Therefore, the libraries will serve as bridges to a better future for the children of Uganda.”
Kaitlyn has long been an advocate for Africa, participating for the past three years in the 30 Hour Famine, which raises money and awareness for hunger around the world, and was “abducted” at the Texas Capitol for The Rescue of Joseph Kony’s Child Soldiers on April 25. She also sponsors a child named Monica in Uganda through World Vision.
“We, as a family, do a lot through our church,” said Kristie about her daughter’s early involvement in charity work. But the passion for helping those in Africa, “This is just something that has come from her; it’s just that hidden passion that she has.”
Kaitlyn, accompanied by her father, Randy, joined 17 others from the Austin area and Kansas City to build three libraries in existing schools in various towns in Uganda.
“She said it was truly amazing and I’m sure it will forever change her life,” Kristie said.
The Hudson Bend father-daughter team spent nearly three weeks physically constructing the library and then stocking it.
“It was hard work with hardly any sleep but it was fun because of the children. The people are all so, so friendly; so welcoming. In the U.S., we always talk about how we need to change conditions in Uganda. But I think that we could learn a lot from the people. They are so respectful and nice,” Kaitlyn said.
The children loved having their picture taken with her digital camera and seeing the picture on the camera. Watches were another fascinating item to the African children. One of the big highlights for Sisk was meeting her sponsor child, Monica.
“Monica’s family was so gracious and hospitable to us,” she said of the 8-year-old she has been sponsoring for two years.
Kaitlyn had only one complaint about Uganda — the drivers that put I-35 traffic at 5 p.m. on a Friday to shame.
“You thought our drivers were horrible, HA! There are no rules there. It’s like Greece only way worse. Especially because we take the hotel van, which has eight seats including the driver,” she said. “We always have more than that. The most we had was all 19 of us plus the driver. One day, I sat on the console up front facing backwards between the driver’s seat and the passenger seat. And a car came really close to hitting us.”
After 18 days of traveling, building, stocking, playing, singing and touring, Kaitlyn and her dad, Randy were glad to get home.
When asked if she would travel to Uganda again, Kaitlyn’s response, “Absolutely, but maybe not next summer!”
For more information about Libraries of Love, visit to www.librariesoflove.org