Today was the long-awaited “HIV/AIDS Extravaganza,” a community-wide fair-style production to sensitize people (especially youth) in Lugazi about HIV. Several of our volunteers have been working on this for over a month, partnering with the local Youth Outreach Mission (a local NGO made up of some of the finest youth and college students in Lugazi who want to build and serve within their community). The day began with a parade through town led by a band playing from the back of a truck with loudspeakers, and followed by literally hundreds of children and youth who were to perform throughout the day.
The performers were excellent and were key to getting a lot of youth there, along with their parents and teachers. Over 15 primary and secondary schools performed traditional dance, music, and song. One local high school (Metta Secondary School) made an original dance with traditional dance moves about how HIV is spread- quite an interesting dance once you knew the context! There were a couple of local hip-hop groups that were ridiculously talented- they would have made MJ proud.
Several volunteers on our team learned a traditional dance together with local youth who are part of the Youth Outreach Mission. We each wore the traditional cloth wrap-around and a long-haired fir strap around our hips to accentuate the shakeage. The crowd went wild seeing mzungus trying to dance like Africans.
Ali Archer and I choreographed a modern dance called “Coming Up.”Before the dance Alexis said a monologue that went something like this“I will not fear. I will accept what I feel. I will not be astatistic. I will protect my body. I will overcome HIV.”. A few of us did a dance with a group of HIV positive women to the High School Musical song “We’re all in this together” referring to the fact that HIV is a problem for the entire community, and people must work together- both those positive and negative- to battle the problem.Cheesy, but they loved it!
The new mayor of Lugazi (Ozuma- campaign name was “Obama”- how could you lose with that genius campaign scheme in Africa?!) came and gave a speech about HIV and then lip-synced a popular song. The director for the Ugandan Human Rights Commission also spoke, along with a very prominent and renowned preacher.
To cap off the experience, the latter part of the day I got to help organize the booth that was running free HIV/AIDS testing. I couldn’t sit by and just watch the action take place, so I got HIV tested! I’m negative. Obviously, it wasn’t a stressful situation for me as I had my friends take a picture as I got pricked, etc. But the real sobering part came when we had only one hour to get everyone out of the rented space and there was a huge line of people waiting to hear their status. The public health nurse said “Melissa, do you know how to do HIV counseling?” Noooo. “Then you will learn.” I watched her do it a couple of times, and then began. The questions would go along these lines: “What do you think your status is going to be? What will you do if your results show you are negative? What will you do if you are positive? Who do you have in your life that you could tell your status to?” Then after telling them they were negative (I only had negatives), I would ask what they will do to remain negative. The answers and reactions were so interesting. Some were so nervous and let out a huge sigh of relief when they were found negative. Some seemed okay with the idea and possibility of being positive, and were comfortable in the fact that they could live meaningful lives.
Out of the about 150 people tested, 3 were found positive. A young15-year-old girl, a 23-year-old woman, and a woman who is currently breastfeeding (so her baby will get tested as well). Crazy that their whole life has just changed. I didn’t meet any of them, but they are now connected with the hospital to begin counseling and treatment. If our event elicited nothing else, at least 3 people now know their HIV status and can now go forward in getting treatment and prevent its spread to others. But luckily, I think that is just one of the many good effects that came as a result of this project.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Monday, July 6, 2009
Radio Interview- June 26th
Last night I was invited to be interviewed and answer questions for one hour on the “Insolo Yamagezi” (“The Source of Wisdom”) Radio Station that is aired all over Uganda and Kenya. I should have been more nervous, but I have become kind of accustomed to giving on-the-fly speeches here and Ugandans are so encouraging and forgiving it is no longer intimidating.
Also on the show were two of my good friends, Wilson and Robert, who have founded and are leading The Youth Outreach Mission, a local NGO focused on getting the youth involved in developing their community. The talk show host had us each introduce our organizations and then asked us follow-up questions. I talked about all of our cool projects, the mission of HELP International, my role in the group, etc. THEN people could call in with questions for any of us. That’s when it got really funny.
The majority of the show was in Lugandan and then questions for me were translated by the host. I always knew when a question was directed at me because I would, without fail, hear the words “Mzungu…. Obama.” The first question for me was pretty good, followed by some real doosies. Here’s some samples of our dialogue:
Q: “As your mission is to alleviate poverty, how do you identify who the poor are?”
A: “Rather than trying to identify them ourselves, we partner with the local town council, the Youth Outreach Mission, and other local community-based organizations to help us identify the areas of greatest need in the community.”
Q: “Will you bring Obama to Uganda?”
A: “Well… I’ve never met him myself, but if I do, I’ll tell him to come!”
Q: “What is your marital status?”
A: “ [surprised laughter] Uh… I’m… single.”
Radio Host: “But still searching?”
A: “Yeah, still searching….”
Ha! So yes, all of Uganda and Kenya now know my relationship status! Cool.
Also on the show were two of my good friends, Wilson and Robert, who have founded and are leading The Youth Outreach Mission, a local NGO focused on getting the youth involved in developing their community. The talk show host had us each introduce our organizations and then asked us follow-up questions. I talked about all of our cool projects, the mission of HELP International, my role in the group, etc. THEN people could call in with questions for any of us. That’s when it got really funny.
The majority of the show was in Lugandan and then questions for me were translated by the host. I always knew when a question was directed at me because I would, without fail, hear the words “Mzungu…. Obama.” The first question for me was pretty good, followed by some real doosies. Here’s some samples of our dialogue:
Q: “As your mission is to alleviate poverty, how do you identify who the poor are?”
A: “Rather than trying to identify them ourselves, we partner with the local town council, the Youth Outreach Mission, and other local community-based organizations to help us identify the areas of greatest need in the community.”
Q: “Will you bring Obama to Uganda?”
A: “Well… I’ve never met him myself, but if I do, I’ll tell him to come!”
Q: “What is your marital status?”
A: “ [surprised laughter] Uh… I’m… single.”
Radio Host: “But still searching?”
A: “Yeah, still searching….”
Ha! So yes, all of Uganda and Kenya now know my relationship status! Cool.
Experiencing the wild side of Africa
While our group works hard in the community from dawn til dusk every weekday, on the weekends we’ve been able to do some pretty fun activities. Here’s a few:
Visited the famous “Source of the Nile”- where Lake Victoria narrows and becomes the mouth to the river which gives life to much of Eastern Africa. Near the source there is also a monument to Muhatma Gandhi, who wrote in his will that he wanted his ashes scattered at the source of the Nile to represent the continual flow of peace and non-violence throughout Africa. Being the silly sentimental person that I am, I wanted to buy a necklace there at Gandhi’s monument- and in the process convinced the girls I was with to do the same- so that I could have a “Gandhi necklace.” You can buy the same ones anywhere in Uganda, but now it’s got that added memory.
All in one day, I bungee jumped 150 feet into the Nile River and then rafted 17 miles down the Nile. Yes! It was quite the adventure. Several of the rapids are level 5 (6 being the highest possible), which is the highest that amateur rafters are allowed on. The majesty and power of the Nile was just remarkable. At one point as I viewed the massive waterfalls and lush tropical greenery around me while crashing high speed through crazy rapids, I thought to myself, “This reminds me of a ride at Disneyland.” And then I realized “OH, this is what the ride at Disneyland was meant to replicate!” Silly Westerner.
We went on a safari at the Murchison Falls National Park. Another example of first associating the real experience with the contrived zoo one. Riding in a safari truck where the roof pops off, we went through the grasslands territory and were able to see dozens of giraffes so classically eating from the tops of trees, several hippos bathing in a shallow pool to keep out of the sun, little antelopes (called “kobes”) prancing through the grasslands, families of elephants chilling, crocodiles sun-bathing with their mouths wide open (I can’t remember why they do that… but there is a reason…), water buffalo, baboons, and… we were able to track FIVE lions (and they said that some days they don’t see any). Yeah, we pulled our vehicle up to this tree where 3 of them were resting- we were so close we could hear them panting! We camped in the park, and every morning there were warthogs just chilling outside of my tent. And I figured out that I already know a bunch of Swahili: pumba = warthog, simba = male lion, nala = female lion, rafiki = friend, and hakuna matata means- yup, you know it- no worries…
Visited the famous “Source of the Nile”- where Lake Victoria narrows and becomes the mouth to the river which gives life to much of Eastern Africa. Near the source there is also a monument to Muhatma Gandhi, who wrote in his will that he wanted his ashes scattered at the source of the Nile to represent the continual flow of peace and non-violence throughout Africa. Being the silly sentimental person that I am, I wanted to buy a necklace there at Gandhi’s monument- and in the process convinced the girls I was with to do the same- so that I could have a “Gandhi necklace.” You can buy the same ones anywhere in Uganda, but now it’s got that added memory.
All in one day, I bungee jumped 150 feet into the Nile River and then rafted 17 miles down the Nile. Yes! It was quite the adventure. Several of the rapids are level 5 (6 being the highest possible), which is the highest that amateur rafters are allowed on. The majesty and power of the Nile was just remarkable. At one point as I viewed the massive waterfalls and lush tropical greenery around me while crashing high speed through crazy rapids, I thought to myself, “This reminds me of a ride at Disneyland.” And then I realized “OH, this is what the ride at Disneyland was meant to replicate!” Silly Westerner.
We went on a safari at the Murchison Falls National Park. Another example of first associating the real experience with the contrived zoo one. Riding in a safari truck where the roof pops off, we went through the grasslands territory and were able to see dozens of giraffes so classically eating from the tops of trees, several hippos bathing in a shallow pool to keep out of the sun, little antelopes (called “kobes”) prancing through the grasslands, families of elephants chilling, crocodiles sun-bathing with their mouths wide open (I can’t remember why they do that… but there is a reason…), water buffalo, baboons, and… we were able to track FIVE lions (and they said that some days they don’t see any). Yeah, we pulled our vehicle up to this tree where 3 of them were resting- we were so close we could hear them panting! We camped in the park, and every morning there were warthogs just chilling outside of my tent. And I figured out that I already know a bunch of Swahili: pumba = warthog, simba = male lion, nala = female lion, rafiki = friend, and hakuna matata means- yup, you know it- no worries…
Experiencing Gulu
A couple of weeks ago I traveled to Kampala to visit with “Honorable Betty,” a member of the Ugandan parliament over the Gulu district. Gulu is in northern Uganda, and was occupied by the infamous LRA as recently as 2005. The LRA (Lord’s Resistance Army) is basically a group of young child soldiers led (controlled) by a terrible man named Joseph Kony that has been functioning for over 20 years. Kony has maintained power by torture, murder, and terrorizing communities, and kidnapping children that are then forced to be child soldiers. The LRA has left northern Uganda but has continued their terrible work in the DR Congo.
Earlier this year I applied for and received a SID (Students for International Development) grant from my university. The grant proposal was to build energy-saving stoves in the refugee camps (they are actually IDP Camps- Internally Displaced Persons- as they are refugees in their own country) in northern Uganda. However, upon meeting with Honorable Betty, she informed us that they are currently working to destroy the IDP camps and are encouraging people to move back to their home villages. She explained how the IDP camps are destroying their culture as children who grow up in the unstable and temporary environment of the camps do not learn of their tribal history, arts and crafts, music and dance. Therefore, she told us that what the people of Gulu need is for us to build their communities rather than the IDP camps. We were able to modify our focus to work with the same population, and deliver what is really needed (rather than what we thought they needed).
We split our group of 15 up to work in 3 areas: Laroo, Paicho, and Ajulu. In Laroo we were able to partner with an existing organization called “Laroo Bedo Dano Tek” (“To be a human being is difficult”), which is a support group for people who are HIV positive. Paicho and Ajulu were definitely out in the bush- there was no public transportation to get out to there, so we got to take 30 minute motorcycle rides (“boda bodas”) out on the dusty roads every day to get there.
In each of these locations, we were able to train locals on how to build the stoves, and most often THEY taught us more effective techniques for building them. They have the skills, we are just able to share with them this particular money and time-saving application of their skills in the building of the stoves. For example, as we have built stoves in the area surrounding our home of Lugazi, we typically use clay found near bodies of water to fill the stove. However, as clay is not plentiful in the northern region where we were for this experience, the locals taught us to actually use the dirt from anthills (which are gargantuous here- often standing 7 or 8 feet off the ground). The great thing about adobe stoves is that they are quite simple to construct, cut the cost or quantity of fuel needed for cooking by as much as one-quarter, reduce cooking time by about half, help the environment, and reduce the impact of smoke inhalation that particularly effects women and children causing respiratory problems and early death.
One of the stoves we worked on in Ajulu was for a strong old woman named Margaret. Her home, along with everybody’s in her village, is about a 15 foot circular structure with mud walls, dirt floors, and a grass roof. What was particularly noticeable upon arrival was that the hard-beaten dirt floor surrounding her hut was perfectly swept clean in almost an artistic pattern, like that which would be used to plaster a wall. I didn’t know people swept dirt floors before coming to Uganda. She did not speak a lick of English, nor we a lick of Luo (the local language) so without a translator, we would just communicate through grunts and gestures and pretend we knew what she was saying when she would rattle off long speeches to us. At one point we needed to fetch more water to mix with the anthill mud. Since my feet were bare and muddy from stomping the water into the mud, and she did not have shoes either, I decided to accompany her barefoot to carry the water from the nearest pump. We passed by some schoolteachers having a meeting under a mango tree, and they all laughed at seeing a mzungu in bare feet. Half a mile away was a pump that was erected only in 2005. We each filled our jerry can with water and began the journey back. Hesitantly, but intent on following through with having the full experience of fetching water with her, I followed her lead and hoisted the container on my head for the journey back. I swear it was five times the distance of the way there. The ground seemed hotter, harder, and more rough and my balance would have been laughable to this little lady had I been in the lead. I began to think on that long walk back about how charming it was to be walking barefoot in this gorgeous, peaceful, isolated village while balancing water on my head (“balance” is used loosely here). And then I thought about how it was charming because I know I will in a couple months be able to return back to a home with instantly accessible pure water- actually from about 10 sources within my own home. And I’ll have sidewalks and 20 pairs of shoes too. For her it is not a charming thing, it is life. Interesting.
It was quite sobering to realize that every person we worked alongside with that weekend had been so recently affected by the ravages and terror of war in their very own neighborhoods. Many did not speak English enough to tell us their stories. And for those who did speak English, I stopped asking them about their families because each would turn into a sad story- I cannot think of one person who had not had a brother or mother or uncle who had been killed or captured in the war. Even talking to Job, the son of parliament member Honorable Betty, who had obviously lived a life above the median standard of living, talked about personally seeing the LRA pass by their village, seeing people killed, and mourning the loss of his own friends. Our last morning we were able to visit the headquarters for the Invisible Children organization (see http://www.invisiblechildren.com/ ). You may be familiar with the documentaries they have produced to raise awareness of the horrific acts of the LRA throughout the world. They are now engaged in a lot of community-building projects with schools and income-generating businesses to help people get back up on their feet.
While some fear still exists among the people of Gulu, every day that the LRA is not there people gain more confidence to go on with their lives, begin to build businesses, and invest in the future through education and building permanent homes and community buildings. It is fun that in a small way we were able to be a part of that.
Earlier this year I applied for and received a SID (Students for International Development) grant from my university. The grant proposal was to build energy-saving stoves in the refugee camps (they are actually IDP Camps- Internally Displaced Persons- as they are refugees in their own country) in northern Uganda. However, upon meeting with Honorable Betty, she informed us that they are currently working to destroy the IDP camps and are encouraging people to move back to their home villages. She explained how the IDP camps are destroying their culture as children who grow up in the unstable and temporary environment of the camps do not learn of their tribal history, arts and crafts, music and dance. Therefore, she told us that what the people of Gulu need is for us to build their communities rather than the IDP camps. We were able to modify our focus to work with the same population, and deliver what is really needed (rather than what we thought they needed).
We split our group of 15 up to work in 3 areas: Laroo, Paicho, and Ajulu. In Laroo we were able to partner with an existing organization called “Laroo Bedo Dano Tek” (“To be a human being is difficult”), which is a support group for people who are HIV positive. Paicho and Ajulu were definitely out in the bush- there was no public transportation to get out to there, so we got to take 30 minute motorcycle rides (“boda bodas”) out on the dusty roads every day to get there.
In each of these locations, we were able to train locals on how to build the stoves, and most often THEY taught us more effective techniques for building them. They have the skills, we are just able to share with them this particular money and time-saving application of their skills in the building of the stoves. For example, as we have built stoves in the area surrounding our home of Lugazi, we typically use clay found near bodies of water to fill the stove. However, as clay is not plentiful in the northern region where we were for this experience, the locals taught us to actually use the dirt from anthills (which are gargantuous here- often standing 7 or 8 feet off the ground). The great thing about adobe stoves is that they are quite simple to construct, cut the cost or quantity of fuel needed for cooking by as much as one-quarter, reduce cooking time by about half, help the environment, and reduce the impact of smoke inhalation that particularly effects women and children causing respiratory problems and early death.
One of the stoves we worked on in Ajulu was for a strong old woman named Margaret. Her home, along with everybody’s in her village, is about a 15 foot circular structure with mud walls, dirt floors, and a grass roof. What was particularly noticeable upon arrival was that the hard-beaten dirt floor surrounding her hut was perfectly swept clean in almost an artistic pattern, like that which would be used to plaster a wall. I didn’t know people swept dirt floors before coming to Uganda. She did not speak a lick of English, nor we a lick of Luo (the local language) so without a translator, we would just communicate through grunts and gestures and pretend we knew what she was saying when she would rattle off long speeches to us. At one point we needed to fetch more water to mix with the anthill mud. Since my feet were bare and muddy from stomping the water into the mud, and she did not have shoes either, I decided to accompany her barefoot to carry the water from the nearest pump. We passed by some schoolteachers having a meeting under a mango tree, and they all laughed at seeing a mzungu in bare feet. Half a mile away was a pump that was erected only in 2005. We each filled our jerry can with water and began the journey back. Hesitantly, but intent on following through with having the full experience of fetching water with her, I followed her lead and hoisted the container on my head for the journey back. I swear it was five times the distance of the way there. The ground seemed hotter, harder, and more rough and my balance would have been laughable to this little lady had I been in the lead. I began to think on that long walk back about how charming it was to be walking barefoot in this gorgeous, peaceful, isolated village while balancing water on my head (“balance” is used loosely here). And then I thought about how it was charming because I know I will in a couple months be able to return back to a home with instantly accessible pure water- actually from about 10 sources within my own home. And I’ll have sidewalks and 20 pairs of shoes too. For her it is not a charming thing, it is life. Interesting.
It was quite sobering to realize that every person we worked alongside with that weekend had been so recently affected by the ravages and terror of war in their very own neighborhoods. Many did not speak English enough to tell us their stories. And for those who did speak English, I stopped asking them about their families because each would turn into a sad story- I cannot think of one person who had not had a brother or mother or uncle who had been killed or captured in the war. Even talking to Job, the son of parliament member Honorable Betty, who had obviously lived a life above the median standard of living, talked about personally seeing the LRA pass by their village, seeing people killed, and mourning the loss of his own friends. Our last morning we were able to visit the headquarters for the Invisible Children organization (see http://www.invisiblechildren.com/ ). You may be familiar with the documentaries they have produced to raise awareness of the horrific acts of the LRA throughout the world. They are now engaged in a lot of community-building projects with schools and income-generating businesses to help people get back up on their feet.
While some fear still exists among the people of Gulu, every day that the LRA is not there people gain more confidence to go on with their lives, begin to build businesses, and invest in the future through education and building permanent homes and community buildings. It is fun that in a small way we were able to be a part of that.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Simple Solutions
A poignant dichotomy occurred this weekend that really brought home the fact that there are such simple and inexpensive solutions available for some of the world’s top reasons for loss of life… and yet so many do not have access to them. The difference of a few US dollars can mean the difference between life and death.
This weekend, as we were staying at the Mayor of Lugazi’s house, his 17-year-old daughter, Rita, passed by and we asked how she was doing. She shruggingly said that she had just returned from a visit to the hospital, where she had I think received an IV, and then was sent home with some medicine that would clear her system in a few days. We said we were sorry, and she said she was feeling alright and just needed to rest up for a day. Next day she was back and moving.
Kristen and I were called in last-minute to teach the young women’s class in church this Sunday because all of the teachers were preparing for the funeral of a young boy in the congregation who had died of malaria. I do not know the situation of the family, but my bet is that they are not the most well-to-do. An IV and a few pills!
At the beginning of William Easterly’s book “The White Man’s Burden” he talks about two great tragedies: one being the unacceptable number of people living in extreme poverty. And two, being that with all of the trillions of dollars poured in to “foreign aid” by the rich countries, so little of it has actually reached those who really need it.
Since I’m new at blogging, I don’t know how to end a sad blog entry. Okay, let’s try this: with such simple and inexpensive solutions to some of the world’s greatest health challenges, we all can contribute a little that can make a much greater impact. Do a little research into the organizations that are really using homegrown solutions, rather than handing over money to inefficient or corrupt entities (such as governments) and contribute what you can. Here’s a few I’ve heard of:
Heifer International – an organization that works to end world hunger and allows you to contribute money towards buying a cow, a flock of chicks, a goat, or even a water buffalo for families who have experienced a natural disaster around the world. www.heifer.org
Kiva- a renowned online microfinance organization where you can donate for as small as $25 towards loans to be given to qualified entrepreneurs in the developing world. http://www.kiva.org/
New heroes- bios of incredible people who have created extremely innovative solutions to social problems. Read up and get inspired on how you can implement your own ideas! http://www.pbs.org/opb/thenewheroes/meet/
Good luck! Let me know of any more fun ways to get involved, your ideas, or what you have done or are currently doing!
Thursday, June 4, 2009
I am a mzungu
In Luganda (the predominant language spoken in Uganda… among the other 51 tribal languages) the word "mzungu" means “white person.” Every day walking from our house to the town, all along the way little heads appear around corners bursting “Mzungu! Mzungu! Bye Mzungu!” A few really zealous ones make it a point to shake each of our hands no matter the size of our group walking through the dirt road neighborhoods. A few will take your hand and then kneel, a cultural sign of respect. As of late we have instituted “Bonga!”- the American equivalent of “Give me some bones” (bumping fists) instead of shaking hands for sanitary purposes (can’t shake that public health influence). And it is quite incredible to see this same song/dance that kids all over the town spontaneously do- they’ll start chanting “A mzungu… a mzungu…” with accents in the hips and hands in the air to the beat of the chant. So fun. I wonder what it will be like to go back to the states and no longer be a rock star each time I walk down the road.
However, on the flip side… I have found that I have this gift for making kids cry. Seriously! My first real day here, the Mayor took us to this mostly lovely little isolated village atop a hill overlooking the sugar cane fields to discuss possibilities for income-generating activities with women there. Probably very few mzungus have visited there. I past by a mother holding a little 6-month old baby- the baby took one look at me and seriously shrieked at the top of its lungs and then started crying. It was as if she’d seen a ghost (which is probably what I looked like to her- probably the first mzungu she’d ever laid eyes on!). And this happens to me more than any of the other HELP volunteers. I think it is because I make the googly animated baby faces, which kids love in the states… not so much here. And actually, today was a double whammy, as this little baby boy in the marketplace took one look at me, started crying… and wet his pants. Yeah, that’s what I do.
Call me crazy, but seriously, it has started sounding like the roosters (which begin at about 6:30am- a perfect alarm clock) are saying “M---zuuu---nguuuu!” Check it out next time you hear one. Or maybe its just me…Thursday, May 28, 2009
The Adventure
“An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered.”
Never has that statement rung so true than since I’ve been here in the land of Africa. In fact, I had written about five blog entries and saved them on my computer as they awaited to be uploaded… and our computer got a crazy African virus that erased everything. So I begin afresh! I’ve got a lot of fun, funny, crazy stories, but first off, I want to share with you the gems of what has happened thus far, the work of our excellent volunteers. In the short space of about 3 weeks since they arrived in Uganda, they have taken the initiative to meet with local partners, brainstorm together solutions, and then begin to take action. All 26 of the volunteers are involved in a variety of the following projects (with more details and explanations to come):
o Adobe Stoves- Built and trained community members to build over 10 energy-saving adobe stoves for homes, schools, and have plans to build a huge one for the local hospital and an HIV/AIDS clinic
o Youth Outreach Mission- Partnering with a local group called the “Youth Outreach Mission” which is comprised of about 40 youths here in Lugazi who are wanting to build their community. They are led by two 19-year-old college students who really have caught the vision of community transformation. They will be holding soccer games starting this coming Friday with orphans and street children, and then afterward will educate on HIV/AIDS prevention, hygiene, and other important topics.
o Square Foot Gardens- Built six small “square foot gardens” in a local school, one for each grade level. One of our volunteers, Abby, is majoring in math education and came up with the idea to use the gardens to teach practical math skills and will be assisting the teachers in coming up with lesson plans appropriate to the grade level.
o Mushroom Garden- Just today put up the bamboo walls of a large mushroom garden shed that is built for a women’s group to generate additional income for their families. Last week we got to sit with the women and talk about the idea, and then got to ask THEM what they wanted to do with the extra income, what their dreams were. It was so fun to hear them talk about growing their small businesses, starting new ones, and securing their children’s schooling.
o Teacher trainings- today the teacher training group will complete their second session of training with the Ssanyu school. Last week they taught the teachers about different learning modes (tactile, auditory, visual, kinesthetic). The teachers LOVED it (as we heard from the head mistress afterward) and were very engaged in the training.
o HIV/AIDS Extravaganza- this group is planning a huge community-wide all-day fair to raise awareness and educate on HIV/AIDS in June. They are contacting tons of local performing groups (including a live band to start off the day with a parade and to gather the townspeople) to participate. This is in collaboration with the Youth Outreach Mission.
o Music/Dance/Drama for people living with HIV/AIDS- Alexis has just graduated with a degree in acting. She has been asked to come up with a one-hour presentation incorporating music, dance, and drama with a group of adults living with HIV/AIDS, to be presented to the US Embassy for the grand opening of an HIV/AIDS clinic recently built by USAID.
o ESL/Literacy- our cook, Mary, is an incredibly talented, vibrant, absolutely caring individual. But she cannot read. She grew up in Sudan during the time of conflict, and thus never attended school. Yesterday Lezley begun the first literacy class with Mary, and she described Mary’s absolute delight to begin reading her first few words!
o Hygiene Education- this group has met with the managers of the Lugazi outside marketplace and discussed the idea of getting hand-washing stations into the marketplace and educating on proper hygiene in handling food.
o Women’s Groups- we are meeting with several women’s groups to find skills they have within the group that they could share with eachother and turn into an income-generating activity. Tonight we will actually meet with the women in the neighborhood we live in!
o Kawolo Hospital- volunteers have spent time assisting in our local hospital. It is incredibly underfunded and understaffed, so they welcome any extra assistance. Some have been able to witness births, invasive surgeries, and even the passing of an auto accident victim. HELP volunteers are really brainstorming and looking for opportunities to make a lasting impact in the hospital. They are working to find partnering organizations to help fund the hospital and may be involved in running an “Eye Camp” where people who cannot pay or live too far away will be able to come to the hospital and get their cataracts removed.
Yeah, can you believe it?! And there are several more projects in the works right now. Kristen and I have been caught up in a bajillion administrative stuff the past 2 weeks, but we just feel so happy to see that fire ignite in our volunteers as they discover an area they are passionate in, see how it can be applied here, and then begin working with local champions to make a change within the community. And at the same time, we are each learning so much from the rich culture and beautiful people here.
Never has that statement rung so true than since I’ve been here in the land of Africa. In fact, I had written about five blog entries and saved them on my computer as they awaited to be uploaded… and our computer got a crazy African virus that erased everything. So I begin afresh! I’ve got a lot of fun, funny, crazy stories, but first off, I want to share with you the gems of what has happened thus far, the work of our excellent volunteers. In the short space of about 3 weeks since they arrived in Uganda, they have taken the initiative to meet with local partners, brainstorm together solutions, and then begin to take action. All 26 of the volunteers are involved in a variety of the following projects (with more details and explanations to come):
o Adobe Stoves- Built and trained community members to build over 10 energy-saving adobe stoves for homes, schools, and have plans to build a huge one for the local hospital and an HIV/AIDS clinic
o Youth Outreach Mission- Partnering with a local group called the “Youth Outreach Mission” which is comprised of about 40 youths here in Lugazi who are wanting to build their community. They are led by two 19-year-old college students who really have caught the vision of community transformation. They will be holding soccer games starting this coming Friday with orphans and street children, and then afterward will educate on HIV/AIDS prevention, hygiene, and other important topics.
o Square Foot Gardens- Built six small “square foot gardens” in a local school, one for each grade level. One of our volunteers, Abby, is majoring in math education and came up with the idea to use the gardens to teach practical math skills and will be assisting the teachers in coming up with lesson plans appropriate to the grade level.
o Mushroom Garden- Just today put up the bamboo walls of a large mushroom garden shed that is built for a women’s group to generate additional income for their families. Last week we got to sit with the women and talk about the idea, and then got to ask THEM what they wanted to do with the extra income, what their dreams were. It was so fun to hear them talk about growing their small businesses, starting new ones, and securing their children’s schooling.
o Teacher trainings- today the teacher training group will complete their second session of training with the Ssanyu school. Last week they taught the teachers about different learning modes (tactile, auditory, visual, kinesthetic). The teachers LOVED it (as we heard from the head mistress afterward) and were very engaged in the training.
o HIV/AIDS Extravaganza- this group is planning a huge community-wide all-day fair to raise awareness and educate on HIV/AIDS in June. They are contacting tons of local performing groups (including a live band to start off the day with a parade and to gather the townspeople) to participate. This is in collaboration with the Youth Outreach Mission.
o Music/Dance/Drama for people living with HIV/AIDS- Alexis has just graduated with a degree in acting. She has been asked to come up with a one-hour presentation incorporating music, dance, and drama with a group of adults living with HIV/AIDS, to be presented to the US Embassy for the grand opening of an HIV/AIDS clinic recently built by USAID.
o ESL/Literacy- our cook, Mary, is an incredibly talented, vibrant, absolutely caring individual. But she cannot read. She grew up in Sudan during the time of conflict, and thus never attended school. Yesterday Lezley begun the first literacy class with Mary, and she described Mary’s absolute delight to begin reading her first few words!
o Hygiene Education- this group has met with the managers of the Lugazi outside marketplace and discussed the idea of getting hand-washing stations into the marketplace and educating on proper hygiene in handling food.
o Women’s Groups- we are meeting with several women’s groups to find skills they have within the group that they could share with eachother and turn into an income-generating activity. Tonight we will actually meet with the women in the neighborhood we live in!
o Kawolo Hospital- volunteers have spent time assisting in our local hospital. It is incredibly underfunded and understaffed, so they welcome any extra assistance. Some have been able to witness births, invasive surgeries, and even the passing of an auto accident victim. HELP volunteers are really brainstorming and looking for opportunities to make a lasting impact in the hospital. They are working to find partnering organizations to help fund the hospital and may be involved in running an “Eye Camp” where people who cannot pay or live too far away will be able to come to the hospital and get their cataracts removed.
Yeah, can you believe it?! And there are several more projects in the works right now. Kristen and I have been caught up in a bajillion administrative stuff the past 2 weeks, but we just feel so happy to see that fire ignite in our volunteers as they discover an area they are passionate in, see how it can be applied here, and then begin working with local champions to make a change within the community. And at the same time, we are each learning so much from the rich culture and beautiful people here.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Bumps in da road, but getting there
I safely arrived in Amsterdam... to find out that my flight to Uganda was canceled (or never existed?? weird). Soooo, they've put me up in a *sweet* hotel for the night, and rescheduled for a later flight tomorrow. I've called Auntie Peggy in Uganda and got to talk to the Mayor of Lugazi as well until my card ran out, so they know I will be late but are making arrangements to pick me up.
I sat next to this cool, cool Ugandan lady from St. Paul to Amsterdam, and found out that she has HIV and really wants to partner with us for the month that she will be in Uganda to speak to others with it, and tell them to get tested and treated. She's been living in the US for 8 yrs and has really seen the great benefits to breaking the social stigma attached to HIV and to properly deal with it to lead a healthy and happy life.
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