Saturday, May 17th, and Sunday, May 18th, I had the honor of meeting and witnessing Beatrice Biira’s graduation from Connecticut College. For those of you new to my site I did a portrait of Beatrice about five years ago. It is included in my portrait gallery along with the story. Beatrice was ‘discovered’ by filmmaker, Dick Young, when she was nine years old in Kisinga, a poor village in western Uganda. Beatrice desperately wanted to go to school but could not afford the cost of a uniform. Heifer International (www.heifer.org) came into her village with goats. She milked the goat and with the money raised by selling the goat’s milk Beatrice was able to go to school. Long story short, she ended up atNorthfield Mt. Hermon Prep School in Massachusetts. She then won a scholarship to Connecticut College. In 2004 she was a summer intern in the office of U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton. In 2007 she had a summer internship with the Clinton Foundation in Quincy , MA.

On May 18, 2008 she graduated from Connecticut College with a degree in International Development and Gender Studies. She will be returning to Uganda the end of May to renew her visa and visit her family. She will then return to the U.S. in the fall to attend the Clinton School of Public Service in Little Rock, Ark.

Beatrice signed my copy of ‘Beatrice’s Goat‘ with …….”Suzi, it is a pleasure to meet you. Your artwork is inspirational! I love my portrait! I hope that my story continues to inspire you to appreciate the gifts of giving and sharing. With Best Wishes, Beatrice Biira, 05/17/08″ In addition to meeting Beatrice, my friend Chris and I had the pleasure of meeting Rosalee and Paul Sinn, Dick Young (the filmmaker), Page McBrier (author of ‘Beatrice’s Goat‘) , Peter Kato (Beatrice’s father who was visiting the U.S. for the very first time) and numerous other Heifer folks who were just wonderful! We feel like we have made new friends!