Friday with CYORF

CYORF is an organization I found online, and have been exchanging a series of enthusiastic emails prior to my visit with the director, Edward Mutumbe. By the end of the week my schedule is already full, but I did have a few bags of clothing and shoes to give. I contacted Edward and expressed my regret on not being able to spend time with them as a volunteer, but I would be more than happy to drop off donations and come for a “quick” visit.

We arrive shortly at the CYORF office early Friday morning and I am seated on one side of a small dark hut-style house outside of town. The room fills with neatly dressed board members and community representatives with notepads and pens:

“SISTER SHERRY. What do you desire to bring to our organization?” the local pastor begins my questioning. This is done so in “preacher” style, sort of a loud singy style, with an overuse of dramatic hand movements and long pauses after words of emphasis.

After a series of questioning from all of the board members, and some questions on my end, I learned more about CYORF and how they offer support to numerous communities, schools, foster homes, etc. I would love to see them all, but I stress that I need to be back in town by the afternoon, they are already sad with my time limit. The pastor comes up with a plan: We shall see the center for girls, and a school.

My idea (re: quick visit): stop by, drop off donations, take a few photos, shake hands with the director, have a chat, walk around, talk with the children, back by lunchtime (I’m already hungry). Sounds good.

Their idea: Kidnap Sherry

The SIX of us pile into a very little car and make our way on the hot, bumpy & dusty Jinja roads. The Mpumudde Vocational Center is our first stop.

THE MPUMUDDE VOCATIONAL CENTER:

The center is a 12 month boarding school which teaches life and vocational skills to 42 mentally/physically handicapped girls ages of 15-20.The life skills focus on assertiveness, critical thinking and self-esteem. Vocational skills include things such as tailoring, cooking, knitting, reading and writing. Most of the girls completed basic education, but need additional training to get jobs in order to support themselves.

Soon after my tour of the center, an “assembly” is called. I am assuming that we will be leaving since they are having some sort of school meeting. But this assembly was in honor of the very special visitor: Sister, Sherry from the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, or another words, the WHITE. A row of “good chairs” are placed in front of the room, the one with the red velvet padding is for the guest of honor (ugh, ME). The rest is for the board of CYORF and the director of the school, Kuseia. An energetic round of applause starts off the assembly and the introductory speeches begin, something to the effect of:

“We are so very lucky and fortunate to have with us today a most blessed special person who has traveled over great bodies of water and land to see you all (oh dear). She has brought with her today gifts for all of you”...(what gifts??). There is clapping. Actually there is clapping after almost every sentence (and what gifts??!). Then the bags are presented. One large plastic bag from Target and one from Pier One Imports. Hey wait, those are my donation bags from the trunk of the car. Oh... CLICK!!! The donations are my gift? YUP. Not only are they the gift, but each and every “gift” is lifted from the bag in front of the room, held up for everyone to see and then passed from CYORF staff member, to me, to the director and then to one of the girls (CYORF staff recording photos). Clapping excitably after each one. So for all those who donated...well... give yourself a round of applause.

The condition of the center is relative. With a new latrine set up in the back, and enough food to eat, here it is considered in “good condition”. They expressed how much better the center is now that it has been newly renovated. However they are clear that there is no source of steady funding and stressed how much is still needed.

I felt horrible that I could not spend any time volunteering there. I explained this over and over to Kuseia but he didn’t seem to believe me. “Oh yes, you will come and teach us, you have the great skills of artistry and craftsmanship Sister Sherry”. After the ceremony, they brought me into a room with a large bin of “THE THREADS”. Along side were dozens of knitting needles. "Sister Sherry you will teach the girls the art of knitting and sewing!" I never even picked up a knitting needle in my life, oh boy. I can not help with that either. But then I was brought to a room filled with handmade baskets that are sold for extra money. So let me assess for a minute...hmmm...OK, what I CAN do is buy the baskets. Done!

After Mpumudde Center, it is nearing lunchtime. But we were nowhere near done, and no where near getting anything to eat. The rest of the day was a schedule packed with visits to foster homes, orphanages, schools, women empowerment groups, oh yes, and the birth of a calf which I don’t recall being in original program. Everyone greeted me with equal large amounts of respect and unnecessary gratitude, attention and wonder. My day was colored with a spectrum of emotions. It ended at 5pm with a round of Fanta orange Sodas and salted hard-boiled eggs. It was honestly the best lunch I’ve ever had.





Thank you to Joseph from Uganda for taking special care of me!

Thank you from CYORF to Lauren Conrad: Your donation was given to help aid the CYORF organizations

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