Looking Ahead: A Leadership Transition at BLC
From the Board of Directors of Bududa Learning Center
Over the past two decades, Barbara Wybar’s leadership and heart have been central to the growth and success of the Bududa Learning Center and its role supporting our community in Bududa, Uganda. She’s watched students grow, families flourish, and dreams that once felt out of reach begin to take shape.
Today, thanks to the collective efforts of Barbara and countless supporters like you who believe in the power of education, dignity, and opportunity, Bududa Learning Center is not only standing but thriving – over the years a beautiful campus has been developed in the town center (classrooms and girls’ and boys’ dormitories), the curriculum has expanded and strengthened, the school has been officially recognized by the Ugandan government, and enrollment has increased.
Like any living institution, BLC must continue to grow. And to grow well, we need to plan ahead.
That's why we’re excited to announce a leadership transition that will help lead BLC successfully into the future. While this transition has been in motion for some time, we are pleased to officially introduce Court Young as our North American Director.
Many of you already know Court. Since first getting involved in 2017, she's led more than a dozen trips to Bududa, worked closely with our Ugandan staff, and is now often the person behind the scenes helping things run smoothly. In 2022 a board-led transition committee, chaired by Barbara, formally invited Court to step into a greater leadership role.
Since then, she’s led annual trips to Uganda, conducted interviews with staff and students to strengthen our programs, and taken on increasing responsibility across operations, strategy, and finance. Court is also the point person our Ugandan staff turn to for guidance and leadership, and she handles it all with clarity, humility, and heart.
Today, Court is bringing in new donors, leading strategic growth, and working closely with our Ugandan team to ensure everything we do is rooted in the community and built to last. She, along with our Ugandan team, runs the organization's day-to-day operations. She's stewarding growth with skill and caring, guiding everything from budgets to program design to strategic conversations with remarkable insight.
This transition doesn't mean Barbara is stepping away. If you're one of the friends and supporters who’ve had the privilege of knowing her for years, you'll still be hearing from her. She will continue to support BLC's fundraising, donor engagement, and storytelling, which is the work she enjoys most. To hear more from Barbara about this leadership transition and her continuing work for BLC, see video below.
We are at a moment in time when planning for long-term sustainability is not just wise; it's necessary. Our Board, along with Barbara, are supporting Court's leadership to do just that. Already, Court has led some of our most exciting new initiatives, including the launch of our Agriculture Department and the COB Nutrition Initiative.
We couldn't be more proud of the work Barbara and Court have done, and we’re even more excited about the future and the legacy they’re building together. Please welcome Court Young as North American Director and join us in extending our deepest gratitude to Barbara Wybar, who, after more than two decades of leadership, is stepping down from her formal role but will remain involved as Founder.
As we look ahead, we invite you to help sustain Barbara’s legacy through our Legacy Builders community and ongoing programs that carry her vision forward.
With gratitude,
Bududa Learning Center, Board of Directors
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Here is our interview with Barbara regarding this addition to the leadership team and how things are functioning now: