Andrew Briggs – E-mail Andrew
President and CEO –Andrew heads day-to-day operations outside of Uganda and serves the key contact for educational partnerships, collaborations, and fundraising. He holds a MA in Environment Development from the U.N. University for Peace where his research focused on sustainable food systems and a practical pedagogy related to empowering youth in agriculture. His worldview was greatly enhanced during his undergrad years (Taylor University) as he traveled to over twenty-five countries, participated in short-term service in remote areas of Bolivia and Kenya, and circumnavigated the globe as a student with the Semester at Sea program. With such exposure, his notion of social responsibility grew to encompass the global village. After contemplating, with whom shall I walk and for whom shall I advocate long-term?, Briggs learned about “Africa’s longest war” and the oppression endured by the children of Northern Uganda. He resigned from alternative school teaching in 2006, undertook research in Northern Uganda, and founded Freedom In Creation (FIC) in January, 2007. Briggs has served as a contributing artist, lecturer, panelist, and/or scholar-in-residence at embassies, universities, galleries, and with humanitarian organizations. His favorite opportunity to represent FIC was as guest lecturer with Semester at Sea on their 2011 transatlantic voyage with ports in St. Louis, Dominica, Manaus, Brazil, Cape Coast, Ghana, and Capetown, South Africa. He is husband to Abbie and father to Tobias, Jacob, and Naomi.

FIC Uganda
Volunteer Leaders

Peter Odoch
Country Director – Peter Odoch is Professor of Health Economic with the Faculty of Education at Gulu University and is the founder of Pena Ebenezer Primary and Nursery School. A passionate educator and Renaissance man, Peter is the perfect advocate for local agrarian children as he understands micro village complexities with a macro international health and economics. Outside of Uganda, Peter has served FIC at conferences in Rwanda, and during collaborations at The George Washington University (Art Therapy Program), The University of Vermont, Madeira School, and Proctor Academy. Peter enjoys mentoring young people, serving at his local church, and spending time with his wife Naomi and sons Matthew and Phillip.

Samuel Opiyo Baker
Lead Art Instructor – Samuel is the FIC lead art instructor. He has a degree in art and design and has two years of teaching experience within the Ugandan school system. When Samuel is not empowering the youth of FIC, he serves as a mentor with local youth programs (Hope Alive and World Vision), tends to his agriculture, and nurtures his family.

John Olowch
FIC Leader – John Olowch is a community elder, catechist (Church of Uganda, Anglican), member of the Acholi Religious Leaders Peace Initiative, and contractor helping reorder Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps as people transition back to their villages. John has received training from World Vision in areas of psychosocial care. When not participating in FIC activities, John enjoys time with family and friends within the Koro Abili community just a few hundred yards from the FIC Community Art Center.

Alice Oola FIC Leader – Alice is an FIC Leader, teacher at the Koro Abili Vocational Training School, Sunday School teacher, and community leader. She lives within the Koro Abili community. When not teaching, Alice enjoys singing, dancing, and spending time with her four daughters.

Ben Kilama FIC Leader – Ben is an elder and community leader in Koro Abili. He is married with children. He is an adult literacy instructor and certified mechanic. Ben is also a catechist with the Church of Uganda (Koro Parish).

Ben Ivan Nyeko FIC Leader – Ben is a businessman with a particular interest in textiles. He is a founding member of FIC. Ben begun association with FIC as a student and quickly demonstrated great leadership, compassion for children and giftedness in art.

Alfred Otim FIC Leader – Alfred is a farmer from the local Koro Community. His creativity and compassion for children brought him to leadership three years ago.