final final day

I forgot to mention a mystery which I will first give you,drawing it out as long as I can then when you can't stand it anymore and are fearful you will have horrible dreams about it as well as cursing me and threatening to kill me I will give you the answer. So this is the way it begins: the first day I have breakfast--no mystery yet we all have breakfasts or at least we should--when suddenly the roof begins to echo and re-echo with a loud noise. It is as if someone is bowling on the roof. Several times the loud booming is repeated. On the second day-notice how I am prolonging the mystery-the bowling continues. Now Judy is caught up in the mystery as no doubt you are as well. Could large coconuts be falling on the roof and if they are could they someday fall on our heads? But there are no coconut trees near by. Now,like you, we are becoming desperate. What is the source of the loud noise? Could there really be somebody bowling up there? Then Judy comes up with a bright idea. let us ask someone. Can you now guess the answer? Can you? Can you? No you can't. Tiny beans dropping down on our metal. andc you thought it was somone bowling. Bob

Sadness and Joy

Our last day. It was less strenuous this year because we worked 8-12:30 only and did notn come back 4 times a week for the Peace and Justice club. So, less tired. I will miss these kids dreadfully. I feel Iv gotten to know then very well in this little time. We had a small party for the kids,who sit in rapt silence, as goodies are distributed.Almost painful to watch, as we know why.They are hungry. We also brought in small treats for the teacher recess. So ,make what you will of this: I did NOT attend a meeting of the Young Socialist Club, headed by Nyka G., because I represent the literacy project, and in a sense L.O.V.E.I wanted badly to go. They meet Sundays at 6:30. We were there, nodded, and left as G and friends came in.. Then, today, there were many prayers, thanking the 2 teachas from Canada , when , on an impiulse I taught the 45 assemled children and 2 teachers " ,Baruch atta Adonai, Elohainu Malech Ha Olam, ha Motzi lechem min ha arets" Joyce says she will review this prayer with them... We have seen big changes in the children. Mutebe Julius is now very controllable and learning! Charles is speedy. Asaba learns. Shamim is smart. Teddy is stolid and curious. I hope the videos that James took come out! Goodbye wond a ful St. Hentry's and TNP! Tomorrow we will pack and then go to enjoy the pool at La Forest,nearby. Sunday, off to Zanzibar , a film festival, and beaches. TNP is a WONDERFUL project.!! Support us! J

The final day

After we met the children for the last time both of us felt very sad. Such nice kids. So very cute. We had two parties: one for the teachers,one for the students Our students,and the other students from the kindergarden Our students got cereal,popcorn,dried dates so did the other students. Images of Uganda: hardworking people(passing by restaurant door before seven A.M bound for work,the woman at the hotel hard at work on the restaurant floor at 6:30 A.M.).; People of Kampala not standing for any wrong. They will beat-up those they feel have done wrong from thievery to murder(Hannah who lives here has seen mobs attack thieves,has been told of drivers of motorcycles,cars fleeing accidents because they are fearful of the vengeance of mobs.) Nice people,friendly,polite. Now its off to Zanzibar. See you people soon.

Bob

Almost Over!!!

If you stood motionless, even on a quiet road, within 3 hours your clothes and body would be covered with red dust.If you are careful, you are never truly clean, as after a shower you put on deet, to add a step against Malaria. Molly, at school, got Malaria. So did a doctor friend of Roz Labow's.... We are careful: bottled water,only cooked vegetables, and fruit one can peel.So far, so good. Tomorrow is our last day! Bob was upset today when the teacher left the children to their own devices while she and i tried to figure out words to a lovely Raffi song. The kids are taking exams! Imagine! We can use samples in our JGH nursery and kdg. I did 90% of the teaching today. It went well, and altogether Im very pleased at how our time has gone. I learned from the experience of the 2 previous volunteers, Ellen and Doreen. By the way, some In Need home kids, now sponsored, were CHEERING when they heard HOW AHD is coming next. TO ALL TEACHERS and OT s etc: for the experience of your life, work with us in Namuwongo! J

tid and bits

Whew, ya gotta live with it.ya gotta ....Its been one half hour and Ive gotten this far. Here are some tids and bits: is someone sponsoring Pamela? wHO? Next: Gaby , we used your lovely Bingo cards. We had to cover the number combinations past ten, and the new concept was very hard, but i do believe Joyce will continue with this!Later. I introduced the balance with concepts of heavier, lighter, equal....moved on to equalities with bottle caps. This is for Linda shecter...they were using YOUR parquetry designs, pegboards, blocks, saved from the garbage by our present kdg teacher who knew I could use ALL. And the children were loving every minute.It gives me the shivers. At supper( yoghurt, an apple, and 3 cookies) spoke with a young Belgian girl staying with an African family, disturbed by their display of wealth. For lunch, lest you consider us deprived, we shlep on the beautiful path, as described by Bob, but then eat at an Indian restaurant, giving us a break before the rest of the hill. Hearing of your weather, i am happy to be inIUganda,where it is a balmy 30 degrees.Bob is nervous. Dark approaching.Bonsoir tout le monde! J

Tests

After taking our walk to the school(one of the most beautiful walks I have ever taken:away from traffic and congesti0n. Red buildings,red roadway,relatively flat,few people,how peaceful,no fear of motorcyclists steering into you thinking you are a rock) we arrived at the school. We were then told that the students were to be given a test(Judy found the test as good as any she's seen in Canada). The result: I did not teach the students subtraction. I then wrote a memo to the teacher where I pointed out how one could use the counters for subtraction,multiplication,division. At the school I took videos of the children,their teacher,and Judy dancing(pretty graceful for her age which I will not mention only pointing out that she's no longer a spring chicken). Then we returned by the same path taking some more videos. And now here I am in a very talkative internet place trying to get out of here as fast as possible

our Adventure Continues

one high light was Gadafi' visit. He writes a not, thanking me , mummy, for helping him continue his education. Says he wants to be an engineer. Sister Milka also slips us a note. They want to be remembered to Jessica and Melanie.. The day in our classroom went smoothly. While teacha Bob cultivates advanced maths, Im counting bottle caps with the middles and bebbies.My lessons wnt well,.... because Joyce was in the room. Without her...? It is hot Power going out daily.The children continue continue to amaze me. Met with headmaster and found a way to cut our budget thus enabling us to add 5 more children. a primary school teacher earns about 1100$US yearly... Ti aad... a good ,but fairly intense day. I love the new path to school, and look forward to tomorrow.

Miracles

Well,after another power failure which left computers malfunctioning here I am again. We went to the school a new flatter quieter more beautiful route,a faster route as well Most of my students can really add now. Tomorrow we play counting Bingo and the day after I teach subtraction

Bob

Sunday

We were supposed to go to a pool, but its overcast, so we are moving slowly. We went to the Italian Supermarket. Bob got ice cream, and I, tea, with masala. Before continuing: the vicious rumour that Howard corrects my blogs IS A LIE!!! He corrects my SPELLING< only!!!Anyway, we met 2 people who had finished a stint in CONGO. He was there for 3 months, a logicien, from France, and she, a nurse from the midwest.They had been with Medecins Sans Frontier......wow.They are having de briefing in Geneva. Thats all for today. Bob will work on Moishe's math problem....

The Rest

Today we rested like God.i.e, if He is Jewish. After an exhausting Friday where my students,tired of doing addition began to trade the counters or simply take ones from others, we today took it easy,spending our time at an African art gallery where we bought a couple of paintings. How I love African art. In the morning we bought necklaces for Canadians, Well,Moish, I can only say that my students can probably add better than you. Lets see you add 5 million,seven hundred and fifty thousand,l nine hundred and sixty-seven, five trillion sixty-five billion,nine million seven hundred thousand twenty nine in five seconds. You still haven't gotten it? And I did not even give you one of the additions my students were able to work out. Suppose you now were asked to add five and one,what would be your answer? Huh? Huh? Huh? Huh?

Bob

Kisugu

Saturday: no work. Bob went out, the intrepid explorer, to find a more direct, shorter route to the school. He did!!!Just after he returned, triumphant, Sophia came with about 100 necklaces. I picked 60. Unfortunately, there were only smaller ones in red. Not really small, but not huge!!!After transacting business, we went to an art gallery in town, where I helped the artistic community by buying two pieces... one ,a gift, the other for me. We came back via Kisugu. You want to close your eyes, and pretend not to see ,because if you see, you weep. Judy

We had an easy day! Friday is "fre activity", and wow, when the 2 classes got together,did they ever sing and dance!!! We also met Godfrey, who we have sponsored since 2005. H is doing very He remembers Jessica and Melanie. According to his teacha he is a strong student

Doreen , another child we sponsor,is having trouble with Math. The power went out for a couple of hours,but we were back at the Kenrock, and didnt mind. Doreen and Ellen, the 2 kids that "graduated" are Yasin and Christine. There s a new baby , Teddy. We thought she was a boy. But she is a squat,chubby girl,3 years old, who watches bob and me with a discerning eye. Bob will write tomorroe. love, Judy

A Wonderful Day

I find it almost electrifying to watch and think of this tiny literacy program. As Bob mentioned, 2 kids left today, filled with pride. Susanna and Linda have sponsored, each one child. The ones who left are the brightest of the lot. It will not be an easy jump,but Joyce had equipped them well. Bob and I each did good work today. It was brilliant (if I say so myself) to arrive prepared with lessons, ready with the equipment, work sheets etc.We met with Peter to discuss finances, and were pleased We also met with James and Molly, who were last years mentors of the Peace Club. Molly has malaria,but was working nonetheless. James is special, and I like talking to him...Last evening we had dinner with George, the son of Sophia, who runs a coop, and provides us with beads. George is articulate,bright, incisive,and the head of a small Socialist club. We turned down the invitation to meet the group. as we are here representing LOVE and our Literacy project...After work we took a "hire" downtown, to Uganda Air to get our tickets to Zanzibar. Though this is not easy work, it is overwhelmingly exciting and gratifying. Small as it is,it is a powerful tool. Thank you to family, friends and our supporters...

Second Day The New Day

I found the old path and I feel renewed. It was further up the hill. I taught these kids how to add and most of them learned very fast. I feel very good. Then after teaching them(the older students) this we all danced and sang. We all felt good, Judy felt more than just good,she felt fantastic. Two students are going to regular school because they are sponsored. And two new ones are coming. What more do we need to make our day? Huh. Watching these students. Seeing the joy on their faces,the intensity of their interest,their hands rising, as their emotions rise,their hands like the flickering of a fire.... Can you not almost feel the heat? And where once there was only an icy coldness, now a fire,a real fire, And now two new students are coming...

Bob

The First Real Day

Well after flying 24 hours and trying to recover we had our first real day in Africa(somehow things seem to have altered ever so slightly. I got lost my first day. Why? ) But Africa still seems to draw me. The red roadways with the even more red "sidewalks", the houses hiding behind the walls. The slow walkers on the roadways, on all roadways oblivious to those North American rabbits racing or trying to race. Why do I so love this place? But above all those wonderful children and their wonderful teacher Joyce who are waiting for me as I finally find my way now on a relatively flat roadway(where is the Mt. Everest I used to climb) toward the school. Those kids so thrilled with the desire to learn,ready it seems to pounce on all information that comes their way. Now they sit caught up in working out their puzzles,e.g. what letter comes after c. Now they are trying to do Miss Mary Mack. I don't know what to smile more about: watching the the children laughing,smiling or seeing Judy,Joyce trying to remember --sometimes they forget--which hand to hit Tomorrow. I teach the older children how to add. I will be in further touch

first day!

It was a homecoming! With the addition of 2 tables....heaven. There were 2 groups :upper and middle, with little Teddy, a girl in lower. She is tiny. We enjoyed Joyce, the new teacher. When we went to the P1 class for porridge,the teacher wondered if Doreen and I were sisters. All the teachers were thrilled at the photos, as were the children.The kids and Joyce were eager to show off the song Ellen had taught them. It was a great first day. We basically observed. I began teaching Miss Mary Mack,and introduced the clapping that goes along. That was a hit, and will be continued. Tomorrow we will work on maths. It was far less stressful this year. We knew where we were going, the layout etc. (It will be easier for Doreen and Ellen next time!)Some of the kids we knew from last year.But seeing the In Need Home kids from 2006,now growing, and in regular class because of sponsorship... that brings tears to my eyes. The climb up the hill back, after classes, was interminable... More tomorrow J

Please dont consider this a blog. Bob will blog tomorrow... We arrived safely. Andrew was there to meet us at Entebbe, as planned.It is all very familiar....today we walked briefly down Tank Hill Rd., and saw a sign for the Diplomat....and then, Le Foret. Any comment, D or E. ?Went to the Chinese restaurant we love for eggplant yui sing.We start at school tomorrow, and are all set with lesson plans! Will I be able to handle a small group of 5? Dont be sure.I feel good to be back here. Howard,the PHONE DID NOT UNLOCK!. Had to buy new phone

Almost 1 p m. Our plane leaves around 9:30. The next time I sit at a computer, I will be in a very different world.The internet cafe will be buzzing, and I will be upset because I cant get to where I want to be,and Bob will tell me to slow down and breathe. I find it hard to do that...there is
so much I want to accomplish while there. My main goal is to review and discuss the budget so that the coming year will go smoothly. We have material for our classroom, and are armed with lesson plans.I have been lucky enough to find 3 new sponsors,and hope Peter Okoth will help match the sponsor with the child. Of course Im anxious to meet the children Ellen and Doreen have been raving about!!When I consider all this, I continue to be amazed that the project is doing such good work. Yes, its a drop in the bucket, but so many people have added drops,we may need another bucket. Wish us a safe trip. Keep us in your thoughts. Judy

Butterflies

Bob and I are leaving Montreal next week, arriving in Entebbe and then travelling by "hire" to Kampala. We're hoping that Andrew, who was a wonderful help to Ellen and Doreen, will pick us up at the airport. We'll be staying at the Kenrock. It's our fourth time in Uganda. I should be blase(this computer has no accents, so please add your own!), but Im not! I have the proverbial butterflies in my belly....Please read our blogs and add your comments! Believe me, it brings us great pleasure when we're in the crowded,hot ,internet cafes, when the computer suddenly breaks down, after a long day, to hear from you all!Despite the butterflies I look forward to meeting Joyce and the children, most of whom are new to me. Judy

TWO MONTHS LATER

It has been two months since we left Kampala. So much has happened in my life I feel as if my head is a whirley bird-like the propellers on a helicopter.
I am now a grandmother of two babies-a boy(Jeremy) and a girl(Sofia) born nine days apart.
Of course they are wonderful and beautiful and thankfully healthy and growing well.
But although joyous, I am not "over the moon" as someone put it.
Don't get me wrong. I adore my grandbabies and all my children ,my husband and my family and friends. But everyday I find tears dripping down my cheeks and they are not tears of joy. They are what I call Namuwongo tears.

My grand babies were born here in Canada. Neither birth was totally simple. I ask myself what would have happened in the shanty town of Namuwongo. Almost 50% of delivering mothers and their babies die in Africa. If they survive, such an enormous proportion of them live in the squaller, sadness and disease. One of the young men working at our hotel told us Namuwongo was a soft slum. " you don't want to see the others" he said.
So I cry softly at the miracle that Jeremy and Sofia were born in one of the best countries in the world to marvelous parents with overflowing love in their hearts and higher educations. Both these babies are already way ahead of most of the others born on their birthdays around the world.
I love you Jeremy and Sofia.
But the tears still flow for the children of Namuwongo.

Ellen Bacal Segal

FOR THE CHILDREN ,TURN THE WORLD AROUND

March 11, 2010.

I think about this past month and it's all jumbled together; faces, people, experiences. I feel so full and so alive. The tears are leaking out of me as there is no place inside for any more emotions.
Photos of the zebras of M'Bruru flit through my mind like a silent movie. The shacks of Namuwongo overlapping with the Monyonyo Commonwealth Resort. The contrasts are neverending. Uganda , a land of opposites, the land of the have and the have-nots. Like the smiling and crying masks of the theatre.
Ellen of Africa has gone home to Canada , to the land of non- frizz hair and Starbuck's banana smoothies, leaving her mark here on the children ,on me. I have journeyed on to Israel and even as I walk along the dunes beside the Mediterranean Sea, I speak of nothing but the children.
I see Michael, always eager to help, his shoes caked with mud and his skinny legs covered with scrapes.
Doreen, who's "Uh, uh" at times say more then any words as do her beautiful brown eyes.
Christine, who's clothes are rags but she wears them as if they were silk and fur.
Julian, whose demons darken his eyes as the morning progresses.
There is Hillary, with the accent on the second sylable of his name. His pink jacket confuses us until he demonstrates his left hook and we are reminded again that he is a boy.
I see Charles with his brilliant smile lighting up the room during the power outages.
Then there is Gloria who is the bossiest and feistiest girl from all the boys. She has the intention to break away from her Namuwongo heritage and I am certain that she will.
Provia, whose beaming face and an arch of an eyebrow were her main forms of communication. We need to find her a sponser to be in P2 because even sick, she was able to complete everything perfectly before we even finished explaining it.
Shamim always trying to keep up with her sister, Provia's example and successfully setting her own high standard. Both of them living with therecent loss of their father.
Daniel with his new shoes and his new found voice, who is slowly breaking through his fog of pain.
Maureen, so proud of her gold earings, so obsessed with the scab on her forehead and the moles on my arm.
Jacob determined and focused on getting his "s" to go in the right direction, doing brilliantly after only a few weeks back from break. His mind set on not to be outdone by the new girls.
Hussein, fitting in, making new friends, playing and running despite the fact that his oversized rubber sandles probably belonged to his dead father.
Isma, Mohammed striving to copy his letters and finding a smile despite his hollow belly. Rainy days often meant that porridge was late or didn't happen at all and this was particularly hard on these two brothers.
The courage and the spirit of these wonderful children is something we can all learn from.
I can still see their faces before me. I can still feel their arms around me. I can still hear their voices, mingled with that of Teacha Joyce.
"Hello, hello."
"Hey, hey."
"Where are you?"
"I am heya."
" Are you fah?"
" Not to far."
" Come and play."
"Not today."
"Then when?"
' Another day."

With love and gratitude, Doreen

PARTEE

Party, party, party, What a morning it was. Teacher Joyche made decorations and arranged to have all the children from pre-primary join us. Tables and benches were carried down the hill. The children sat silently and motionless(40 of them) waiting. The Headmaster gave a little speech and danced, the VP. danced with her daughter. Then we-the teachers danced. All to the wonderous music of Raffi. The children sat very still. When we took photos they smiled.
Then we served them the banana pancakes and juice Doreen and I had arranged for. The children were exceptionally polite. Then they came to us one at a time to say thank-you. We didn't cry!
Then they were let loose and boy oh boy did those kids have a great time dancing and jumping with us. It was a fabulous party.
Before the party Headmaster, Mr. Ocoth, gave us each a letter of gratitude and a gift of beautiful beaded flipflops. Tears filled our eyes. For me it was most difficult to say good bye to all the teachers we had grown to appreciate. Each of them wanted to know when we would be back. A very difficult question to answer.
My photos holds the story of the courageous children of the Namuwongo slum. My soul will always hold the feelings and special memories of this amazing month. I will never forget, I will never regret.
This is Ellen of Africa signing off with love.

TAKING PICTURES WITH MY HEART

March 3,2010.
One more day until we say goodbye.
I walk around savoring each smell, each sound and each emotion. The morning starts with the chanting of the alphabet and the accompanying games all to encourage learning. The room is filled with joy as we work our way towards break. There is porridge today so the children are recharged and eager to return to work as we move into the numbers section of the day. Christine and Provia , two of our newest students, are given their own math workbooks, courtesy of the photocopier. They are thrilled and breeze through their first page. The pride on their faces is worth all the frustrating bargaining that transpired in order to settle on a fair price.
We all pile out into the "yard" to capture a group photo for our pen pals in Canada. Teacha Joyce gets them into an organized group, her national pride as fervent as that of the Canadian Hockey Team. In order to loosen them of their serious posture, I sing them a verse of Teacha Ellen's "Hockey Pockey". I capture their laughter as it erupts on film.
I see everything with such clarity, as if it is happening in slow motion. I watch the chickens cross the road, hear all the greetings from the children passing by, and feel all the appreciation through the hugs and handshakes given by the staff . Each time someone murmurs ,"I'll miss you," tears spring to my eyes.
I am full;full of love, gratitude and sadness.
I am taking pictures with my heart.
Entry by Doreen Horen

AND SO.....

And so we begin our final days here at St Henry's School Muyenga with the children of The NLP. My emotions are about as controlable as a room full of bouncing ping pong balls. I am on the edge of tears when Mohamed with quivering lip whispers "porridge" to me. The rain has meant no fire and therefore no porridge and I know this little boy and his brother, another of our students, may do not have food at home. I ask Joyce not to let them go home until they are given lunch, which will be late because of the rain. Why doesn't the weather understand that our children do not carry snacks in backpacks? Cloudy is fine, downpours shift the universe.
Their english is improving everyday, their ability to focus is great (most of the time). Their academic progress has been grand considering that Joyce has only been in the classroom for 3 weeks.
And me? Well I have begun to have more trouble than usual sleeping. Last night I dreamed I was adopting two 2yr olds from Namuwongo. I miss home and my family very much but I don't know how to say good-bye to these children who have had so many losses in their lives. Have they built up some barrier to departures? Do they have attachments to us or do the realize we are only here for a short time. The teachers say they themselves will miss us. I fight tears. A former student in High School died from malaria on the week-end. I fight tears. The dead goat. I fight tears. I phone one of my daughters-in-law and I fight tears. How will Doreen and I leave the school grounds and get back to the hotel on the last day when we will both be blinded by tears.

"For everything there is a season under heaven"
Ellen of Africa