Life on Iona has helped Dora grow into a loving, caring, kind, humorous young woman who never gives up looking for the goodness in people. Even amidst challenges that life brings, she still believes that nothing is permanent and that things can only get better. In fact, she sees the challenges as a means to growth. The book expresses her struggles, humour, love, loss and her ability to forgive, along with a positive attitude of never giving up and enjoying life in all its fullness. When asked what she misses from her home in Uganda, she replies, "people" and what will she miss when she leaves Iona? Again, the answer is "people". Despite Dora's love for ketchup and chicken, people are still the most important aspect of her life. While on Iona, Dora has been raising money to build accessible toilets for children with disabilities. You can find out more about this project and donate at:

Author Biography

While growing up in Uganda in a school for special needs children, Doreen Nyamwija became aware of the injustices and difficulties faced by people with disabilities. She decided to raise money and awareness to improve their lives by providing accessible toilets after she began working for the Iona community. She started with the school she grew up in, where her father, who was a founder, had polio himself. With the generosity of others, Dora has raised nearly enough money for facilities for four schools. She plans to have discussions with school inspectors and those involved in the ministry of education to include accessible toilets in their building plans for all future schools.