After yesterday's tiring, but very fulfilling day, today was joyous and fun-filled! Today was to be my last day with the children and teacher's of the Namuwongo Project. This visit was a whirl-wind, filed with organizational work and some time teaching the children in the classroom. But it passed too quickly! I arranged for a good-bye party with our children and their neighboring, same-aged, primary class. It still amazes me how a little bit of popcorn cookies, the Ugandan version of the WAGON WHEEL cakes, and Mango juice can bring such expectation and joy to the faces of these young children. The classroom was bursting with children, but you "could have heard a pin drop" as these 5-7 year olds sat quietly, patiently waiting for their teachers' permission to begin enjoying these rare treats.
When all was consumed, they all sang and danced in appreciation, cheering for me and hugging whatever part of my body they could grab! To their great delight, I joined in and danced and clapped with them! Hopefully, the video I am trying to attach to this posting will work and you can see all my 'moves'!
I leave the Namuwongo children with my heart full! I have often mentioned that this experience has changed my life. I must thank my co-director Judy Labow and the many volunteers who have shared experiences here in Namuwongo, Uganda. Thank-you to all the individuals and schools who worked so had to raise $'s and provide materials and supplies. Without our supporters we would not be able to continue helping the children of Namuwongo. I look forward to my next visit!!
Friday, September 24, 2010
Thursday, September 23, 2010
I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE EASIER!
I couldn't submit a BLOG entry yesterday as we experienced one of the many power failures that plagues this country. The power came back on this afternoon and hopefully will stay on until I finish this entry.
Maria, the headmaster of St Henry"s, and I went into the Soweto section of the Namuwongo Shanty Town. This area is even more impoverished than the section from which our existing students live.
(wow! just had another 1/2 hour power failure. Than goodness for the save feature on this BLOG service!)
Since I had visited Namuwongo several times on past visits I thought I might be somewhat 'hardened' to what I would see. Once again, I found myself trying to hold back the tears as I walked through such extreme poverty, watching the wide eyes of the countless numbers of children who jockeyed for the best position to hold this white-haired,balding, somewhat elderly, Muzungo's (white person) hand. Their hunger was apparent as was their curiosity! How could these little bodies that were so hungry still maintain shy smiles and laughter when I would point my camera at them? How would I able able to say "no" to all but the chosen seven?
Maria was terrific! She would literally capture in her arms a child who looked like a potential candidate and ask, usually in their local dialect, a few questions that would indicate whether a child met our simple criteria: an orphan between the ages of 5-7 years not currently attending school, with care-givers (if any) able to get the child to our program. Very quickly we were surrounded by adults who heard that we were looking for children. Many would 'shade' the truth by saying the child was the age we were looking for when they were clearly too young or too old. Maria would question the children directly because they have only known how to tell the truth in their short life experience. I must admit I made only 1 exception. We came upon Grace, a tallish, thin wisp of a girl hiding behind two older woman whom we later discovered were her grandmother and great aunt. Another woman lay on a bench next to them, her head covered by a thin, worn scarf. We asked who Grace's mother was, and one of the old woman pointed to the bench. Grace knelt next to her mother and whispered something to her. Her mother rose from the bench removing the scarf. It was immediately obvious that this was a very sick woman. She appeared very frail, open sores covering several areas of her face. We asked Grace's age and were informed she was 9. Both the mother and the grandmother got down on their knees and explained that the father had died, Grace's mom was seriously ill, and that they wanted Grace to be able to go to school. I had to turn my back so they they could not see the tears that I knew were coming. How could I say 'no' to a child and what was left of her family, who only wanted to go to school, be assured of a meal, and have a place for 8 hours where she could be assured of some joy in her life. Grace has joined the Namuwongo Project!
(wow! just had another 1/2 hour power failure. Than goodness for the save feature on this BLOG service!)
Since I had visited Namuwongo several times on past visits I thought I might be somewhat 'hardened' to what I would see. Once again, I found myself trying to hold back the tears as I walked through such extreme poverty, watching the wide eyes of the countless numbers of children who jockeyed for the best position to hold this white-haired,balding, somewhat elderly, Muzungo's (white person) hand. Their hunger was apparent as was their curiosity! How could these little bodies that were so hungry still maintain shy smiles and laughter when I would point my camera at them? How would I able able to say "no" to all but the chosen seven?
Maria was terrific! She would literally capture in her arms a child who looked like a potential candidate and ask, usually in their local dialect, a few questions that would indicate whether a child met our simple criteria: an orphan between the ages of 5-7 years not currently attending school, with care-givers (if any) able to get the child to our program. Very quickly we were surrounded by adults who heard that we were looking for children. Many would 'shade' the truth by saying the child was the age we were looking for when they were clearly too young or too old. Maria would question the children directly because they have only known how to tell the truth in their short life experience. I must admit I made only 1 exception. We came upon Grace, a tallish, thin wisp of a girl hiding behind two older woman whom we later discovered were her grandmother and great aunt. Another woman lay on a bench next to them, her head covered by a thin, worn scarf. We asked who Grace's mother was, and one of the old woman pointed to the bench. Grace knelt next to her mother and whispered something to her. Her mother rose from the bench removing the scarf. It was immediately obvious that this was a very sick woman. She appeared very frail, open sores covering several areas of her face. We asked Grace's age and were informed she was 9. Both the mother and the grandmother got down on their knees and explained that the father had died, Grace's mom was seriously ill, and that they wanted Grace to be able to go to school. I had to turn my back so they they could not see the tears that I knew were coming. How could I say 'no' to a child and what was left of her family, who only wanted to go to school, be assured of a meal, and have a place for 8 hours where she could be assured of some joy in her life. Grace has joined the Namuwongo Project!
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
I'M BACK AGAIN!
It is always a pleasure to return to Uganda and the warm welcome I receive from the children in the Namuwongo Project, as well as the staff members in our program, and, those at St. Henry's Primary School.
The Namuwongo program continues to thrive! Teacher Joyce is an excellent educator for our little ones. Tomorrow I go into Namuwongo for the tremendously difficult task of choosing 7 new children for our program. Walking through the poverty and devastation that is the lives of the Namuwongo inhabitants, and then having to say "no" to some children, always takes away a chunk of my heart.
The rest of today's entry will be given over to a tribute to the late Peter Okoth. Peter was the headmaster of St Henry's Primary School and was a great supporter of the Namuwongo Project. Peter passed away suddenly after returning home to his village during the summer. We will miss him greatly, but are grateful for the continued support for the Namuwongo Project by his replacement, Maria. To best express the 'nature of the man' I have included a tribute to Peter Okoth, written by Laura, a staff member at St. Henry's Primary School.
Dear Friends of St Henry -
The Namuwongo program continues to thrive! Teacher Joyce is an excellent educator for our little ones. Tomorrow I go into Namuwongo for the tremendously difficult task of choosing 7 new children for our program. Walking through the poverty and devastation that is the lives of the Namuwongo inhabitants, and then having to say "no" to some children, always takes away a chunk of my heart.
The rest of today's entry will be given over to a tribute to the late Peter Okoth. Peter was the headmaster of St Henry's Primary School and was a great supporter of the Namuwongo Project. Peter passed away suddenly after returning home to his village during the summer. We will miss him greatly, but are grateful for the continued support for the Namuwongo Project by his replacement, Maria. To best express the 'nature of the man' I have included a tribute to Peter Okoth, written by Laura, a staff member at St. Henry's Primary School.
Dear Friends of St Henry -
With a heavy heart I write to share with you that we have lost our beloved Peter Okoth, Head Master of St Henry's Primary School this last weekend. Cause of death remains uncertain, but believed to be food/water poisoning. He and the family had gone to Tororo for the school holiday, where he became sick. The funeral Mass was held on Monday in Tororo. More then 150 people from Kampala made the journey for the service a testament to who the man was. As I was in Kenya at the time, I was regrettably unable to attend.
Peter was a man who stood head and shoulders above most others literally and figuratively. He was a great Father to not only his own children, but all those who came within his wings. He was role model for being other centered in a place where leadership is defined by helping yourself first. While he and his family lived on modest means (2 Ugandan teacher salaries), there was always enough to share of his resources and time. He never seemed to get dismayed by the perpetual challenges of working and living in this environment. He knew how to be a reed, bending when the wind blows and returning upright when it eased. He was a model of Christian brotherhood for me, and a bright shining star. He had a beautiful relationship with his wife Ester, treating her with respect and dignity, even letting her finish her BA degree first. He was a leader in his faith communities both here in Kampala and his home parish of Tororo, in addition to all his work for the School. He was full of ideas for ways to help make life better for all those around him. He had developed a great vision for St Henry's and built up a good community around the school through the parents and partnerships. He was wanting to ever improve the quality of the education by expanding and broadening the school by bringing in technology, adding a library, trying to get more training for teachers, developing his own skills, making capital improvements, fundraising for the most needy families scholarship fund, and trying to figure out some alternative income generating activity for the school. He was a joy to work with and I will miss him greatly. While we can only rejoice for him that he has joined our Father King, we will carry the burden of his absence for years to come. They say a man never stands so tall as when he bends a knee to help a child. Peter was always standing tall.
He is survived by his lovely wife Ester and their three children Susan, Peter, and Cynthia, as well as a large extended family, 300 plus students and teachers, along with two faith communities--St Charles Lwanga and his home Parish in Tororo.
Laura
Laura
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