TROY grad puts skills to work during Uganda mission

Troy University alumna Broghan Freeland recently took her passion for helping people with physical disabilities to Uganda for a medical mission trip focused on children.

Freeland, who is currently in occupational therapy school at Alabama State University, recently completed the fieldwork for her degree in Uganda in partnership with Our Hope International, a Birmingham-based organization that work with orphans. She joined a team of occupational therapists, students and others holding clinics and working with children facing a variety of physical and developmental challenges, including autism, cerebral palsy, down syndrome, epilepsy and hydrocephalus.

Broghan Freeland helping with physical therapy for a child in Uganda.

Freeland, who graduated from TROY in May 2017 with a major in Health and Human Services, called the trip a powerful learning experience.

“While in Africa, I saw what true poverty looked like; however, despite their lack of material items, food, beds, etc., the people in (Uganda) were the most gracious and thankful people I have ever met,” Freeland said.

Freeland said her time at TROY, with the campus’ diverse international focus, helped prepare her for fieldwork overseas.

“With TROY being known as an international college, I was surrounded by different people on a daily basis, and I began to learn the importance of valuing people’s differences and how they make each person unique,” Freeland said. “My time at TROY also taught me the importance of giving back and constantly trying to positively impact the lives of those around you.”

Freeland said her experience in Uganda has left her with a passion to continue supporting the orphans of that country. She will complete her master’s in Occupational Therapy in December 2019, and plans to make future trips back to Uganda.

“I look forward to traveling back to Jinja, Uganda, with the Our Hope International team many more times in the future and taking my family along with me,” Freeland said. “This experience has changed my life forever and I cannot wait to continue to give back to an organization who changes more lives than we can imagine.”