📌 Edition #36

📆 September 2023

📌 Edition #36 📆 September 2023

For 14 more years🔋

For a remarkable span of 14 years, with comings and goings, numerous arrivals and departures, there was a loyal watcher of every moment. Like a fly on a wall, it made no demands but offered all it had. Used here and there, sometimes portrayed identical as it is, yet other times, with an improvised look.

People loved it so much that they drew portraits of it, colored it on white notepads, and even sewed it on shirts. It was on a camp sheet, on a Trekkers sign. Several times, they put twins next to it, hands of paintings printed on a large canvas.

It grew up with the organization. It was our ambassador, the one who spoke first, and yet, it was the last to leave.

We felt proud and happy because of it. We wore the image on our chest, forehead, hands, and hearts. Without it, we felt exposed, almost unrecognizable to others. Using it as a spearhead was the best armor. If we all agreed and called it at the same time, we knew the occasion was extra special.

During nights of bow ties and fancy dresses, there it was. On playgrounds and games, there it was. Whenever visitors arrived, it extended a warm welcome. If a volunteer departed and returned, it was the only face instantly recognizable.

Without asking for anything in return, without wanting any favoritism, it never wanted to be a camp leader or an executive director, even though we saw it as the fourth founder.

With sadness, we must announce today that it is departing, not because it wants to leave; it’s not fatigue; it's not because of its growing gray hairs. It’s alive and kicking as jovial as the first year. It understands the need to step aside.

It wants to witness another beacon lead this community, surpass it, achieve greater feats beyond what it dreamed of. It intends to empower another ambassador for these children, youth, staff, donors, visitors, and everyone in the UPH organization. No one can take its title away, it has not gone out of style.

Following the UPH way, it understands that the youth must have the tools for life, so it also trained its successor. A new star is born to us. This new star will guide us. It is prepared for 14 years and even more. It holds the same name peculiarly, it walks the same as the previous one, its tone of voice is identical, and it wants to impact more communities.

Today, as it is leaving, it only has a small request. Although it is embarrassing to say it, it wants this: it asks us all to love the new leader as much as the previous.

Thank you, UPH logo. We will miss you.