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Published: October 5th 2007
My first entry from Uganda, from a very small town called Kyotera (pronounced something like choetera). My travels went smoothly. I arrived in Entebbe on Monday morning, along with the whole of the Ugandan national rugby team, and their extra large Africa cup trophy that they had just won. I was met by James - the director of Rakai Children's Trust, and a fellow volunteer. We then went into central Kampala to pick up 4 other new volunteers, before getting a bus for our 4 hour journey to Kyotera. All has gone reasonably well so far. I have already found quite a few differences between where I was in Tanzania and where I am now.
The scenery is not too different, but it's a bit greener. I actually can't believe how green it is - it's almost illuminous. There is incredible contrast between the green rolling hills and the red earth. As always, I have a lot to say so here is a summary list of some of the differences I've found so far -
- lack of Kiswahili. Although quite a few people know it, the general language that is used to converse is one of the many
Josephine Nampijja
Kilukamiza village, Kasaali Sub-county, Rakai district(40 odd) Ugandan languages. However, all the street signs etc are in English. I am missing hearing and seeing Kiswahili, or maybe just my friends talking it!
- kids walking barefoot. Even if they're looking very smart in their school uniforms, they are often barefoot.
- the lack of Kangas and traditional African clothing. Apparently Western clothing is in and I have hardly seen any traditional African wear. However, I am still living in Kangas and all the other volunteers want to get some! Apparently just 30 miles out of town they are to be seen everywhere. We're going a road trip.
- lack of mzungus. Apart from us 5 volunteers, there is only 1 other mzungu in town. She is a British lady who volunteered here years ago and decided she wanted to adopt one of the kids she worked with. She therefore has to live in the country for 3 years.
- food - a lot of the same unfortunately. No ugali though!!!!!! So far have had dinner of rice and chips, lunch of potatos and cabbage, breakfast of plain bread, bananas, lunch of rice and cabbage, dinner of chips and fried bananas....you get the idea....YUM....no worries about
Another photo of Josephine's house
....this is where Josephine lives with her 6 grandchildren. me losing weight in Africa.
- the house watchman - no Maasai here. Instead we have a local man who uses a bow and poisoned arrow if needed.
- more bugs - have already seen some incredible ones. Beetles that randomly take off and fly, bigger spiders, and worms that crawl up the wall and then fly aswell.
- dirty water - the water in our house is disgusting always. Brown with bits in it.
- African big brother - we can go to a local bar and watch it. Highly entertaining.
- the weather - it's rainy season here but it hasn't been too bad. It rains (with thunder) most afternoons but just for an hour or so. Much of the rest of the time it is scorching hot.
I want to tell you about the work I am going to be doing out here. I am working for the Rakai Children's Trust (RACT). So far, they seem to be a great organization. There are a lot of different sections to their work - they have a secondary school (for orphans/children from vulnerable families) and a vocational training center. They also go out in the field to try
Oliver & baby Davis
Another case taken on by RACT of a 5 year old child caring for her younger siblings. Oliver (5), Ivan (3) and Davis (5 months). Orphaned due to HIV/AIDs 4 months ago. They live with their bedridden grandmother. and help individual families.
My first day out in the field was pretty disturbing to say the least. The first family we visited was Maria Teresa (80) and her 3 grandchildren. The children's parents both died of HIV/AIDs. When RACT first found this family Maria had a broken leg and was bedridden (which she still is), 5 year old Oliver was taking care of 3 year old Aivani and 5 month old Davis, and they were surviving on tea and sugar. RACT has taken them on and, to start with, is providing basic food for them. We stayed and played with the kids for a while. We had a tennis ball and it was so nice to see Oliver smile but at the same time you can see the strain on her face. Davis just wouldn't stop crying.
We visited a lot of families which were all in equally devastating situations. I want to tell you about one that I would like to try and help. The head of the household—Josephine—is a grandmother to 6 children (including a 12 year old who is suffering from Polio and requires medical attention). The children have lost their parents due to
HIV/AIDs. Josephine’s husband deserted her and as a result, she was forced to build her own home, shown in a couple of my photos. I could not believe the conditions in which the family were living. The place is not suitable for animals never mind a grandmother and 6 children. On the day we visited it was pouring with rain and so the 'house' was not just disgustingly dirty and lacking pretty much everything but it was also extremely damp. I really hope that their living conditions can be improved. A fellow volunteer (Naomi) and I will be returning to make a second assessment and talk to Josephine to try and prioritize what amendments are important for her and the children. There are so many possibilities as they pretty much have nothing. There is a lot of short term help that could be provided (food, blankets etc) but long term help is also needed (they have no toilets, the house is leaking, the kids can't go to school because they can't afford pens or paper....).
I also want to tell you about the Kiganda Vocational Skills Training Center. We didn’t know exactly what today was going to involve (as
Bricklaying class
James (RACT director) 3rd from right. The bricks are easy to make and, instead of expensive cement, mud and cowdung are used. The students will hopefully be able to find work, and they will also be able to build/repair their own houses. tends to happen out here) but we ended up having a wonderful day at this center, which was founded by James (RACT director) 5 years ago. It is an incredible project. The center offers several classes including carpentry, bricklaying, tailoring, home economics and agriculture. It also has a day care center. They received initial financial assistance from ICR (International Care & Relief) but the center now relies on private donations. In Uganda, primary education is free to all. However, if children can’t supply their own pens, paper, uniforms etc then they are sent home from school. All of the classes at the training center teach subjects that can be used in so many ways. Students will be able to sell their work but also be able to build/repair their own homes, make clothes for the orphans at the day care center etc.
We visited the day care center and the kids sang to us and then presented us with fruit, vegetables and flowers. They all got on their knees and bowed down for us as they gave us their gifts. A lot of the children here do this and it’s really upsetting. You feel like it should be the
other way around and you should be bowing down to them. We were then taken to a large room and sat at a ‘head’ table. The girls in the tailoring class sang several songs for us. Their singing was beautiful. The day care kids did a few songs & dances aswell (highly entertaining). We were given more information about the center and then each asked to talk about ourselves. I got quite frustrated/annoyed with some of the other volunteers as they wouldn’t eat most of the food we were served (avocado & donut type things that the students in the HE class made). One of them told me they ‘can’t stand avocado’. I asked if they wouldn’t mind each just have a couple of pieces so that we could finish it between us. In comparison to goat’s guts I didn’t think this meal was too difficult. I feel like it is completely rude and disrespectful to leave food that people offer you here. I was also amazed they could behave like that after everything we’d seen out in the field. I have met several volunteers like me (who force feed themselves) but then several others who refuse to.
I
Bag dresses
The students in the tailoring class use old sacks to make their garments as they can't afford cloth. apologize that this is such a long entry but I would really like to ask you all if you could spare any money to donate to the work that is being done out here. RACT has done some incredible work. I know I’ve only been in Uganda a week so it may be too early to say too much but it seems that the situation in Uganda (at least this region) is far worse than where I was in Tanzania. It appears that a complete generation has been wiped out by HIV/AIDs. There are so many children trying to care for themselves and/or themselves and their younger siblings. Some of them have grandparents for now. Out in the field I met a grandmother who had lost all 7 of her children and is now left to care for 12 grandchildren on her own.
As always, there is so much I could say. I have seen so much in this first week. There is something that I would like to say though, that I think is important to say. It seems like the Ugandan people are working very hard to help themselves. Harder than what I saw in Tanzania. I
Kyotera
My home town for the next 2 months. It's an exciting place, can you tell?! think they deserve support.
Personally, I would like to help Josephine’s family and, depending on funds, donate to the vocational skills center also. I have some funds available (50 pounds from Real Gap, which will go quite far out here) but please consider helping also. Just message me through this blog if you think you can help.
Thanks for keeping up-to-date, hope you're all well,
Joanna x
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Mindy
non-member comment
Financial Assistance
Hi Jo, I absolutely am able to help financially, and I'm sure some of my friends and family members would be more than happy for the opportunity as well. Please let me know how to get some money to you! xo, Mindy