African influence in Boggstown

The following was originally published July 30, 2016.

For Amy Downey, the journey from the suburbs of Chicago to Shelby County went through Uganda. The wife of Boggstown Presbyterian Church pastor Matthew Downey, the former zookeeper continues to dedicate time to the east African country by serving as an advisor to the notfor-profit Primate Education Network (PEN).

The degreed zoologist and biology teacher decided to ask for a leave of absence from her position at a zoo after four years of service to spend three months in Uganda.

“I was so passionate about (conservation),” Downey said this week. “In Africa, people accepted me. I fell in love with (the country) and found my confidence.”

Once she returned to the zoo, she had one goal in mind.

“My heart was to get back to Africa,” Downey said.

She did, this time for over a year, connecting with the Kasiisi Project, a non-profit that supports early childhood education.

Unlike those under the umbrella of some U.S. organizations, Downey had no safety net.

“I was robbed,” she said, recounting one of several mishaps. “But it’s life. I wanted the real deal, even though it broke my heart.”

But life in Boggstown is simpler. The couple and their young daughter, Anna, live on the three-acre church property, complete with chickens and a blacktop basketball court.

“Boggstown Prebyterian Church is a small church with a huge heart,” Downey said. “I’m so impressed, blessed and surprised by how everybody takes care of each other. The church and us really (connected).”

Downey’s present successes derive from her African experiences.

“I used to feel like I couldn’t make a difference,” she said.

Wearing her PEN advisor hat, Downey will talk about making that difference in an upcoming talk at the Bookmark, as she presents the need for donations and art/school supplies.

“When I was out there, I could make a difference and I did make a difference,” Downey said.

The presentation is set for Thursday, August 11 at the coffee shop.