Monday 28th January 2008

Today was the start of a week that was flat out trying to accomplish a page full of tasks each day, while managing to only get a few things done.  Though mind you, all in all, things did go well and it was a good week.  The day started with seeing off the Thompson’s early and then heading out to see what I could accomplish.  Luckily, or not so luckily as you will see later in the week, Edward was travelling with them to Kampala to meet up with the Roberts and also to take care of some other business.  He had recently acquired an old Nissan Dual Cab ute from a friend that left the country and he left it with us to use.  So Kathryn and I headed out to try our luck with a big list of things to do.

First stop was Akanyijuka, the landlord had met with us last week to discuss some things he wanted to do.  Usually things do not go too well when we talk, he always wants to do things and we don’t want him to; or he wants more money we don’t want to give, etc.   The meeting today actually turned out ok, that’s assuming he carries through with what he said.  There are some people using some extra building at the front of the property and they are moving out.  To cut a long story short we may end up with an extra two rooms to use as wash rooms, and an extra area to house another Matron and family, all at a reasonable cost; which is not what I was expecting at all.

While we were there we discussed extensively with Rogers, our new teacher about a lot of different issues regarding school starting next week.  It is very good to have him on the team, he is very proactive and has already started teaching the children in the times he has free from organising for next week, and he really seems to love teaching and will be great for the children.  Then we went off looking for text books that we will need for Primary 1, but we had no luck at all.  We passed on a message for Quinton to go hunting around Kampala for them.  Unfortunately, in typical Ugandan fashion, even the publisher was out of stock in Kampala.  So we have to scout around a bit for spare copies from other schools until they have some new supplies.

On top of that we ran around doing other day to day requirements as well as organising the final preparations for when the Roberts come later this week.  We took Charles and Fred, our gardener and night guard down to do a final run over their yard and also arranging a little inside work also.

Saturday 26th & Sunday 27th January 2007

Saturday I put the car in for a service and to get the boots on the CV joint replaced in preparation for Quinton driving to Kampala.  On Monday he heads to take Erica’s Auntie and cousins home and then to hopefully come back with the Roberts on Wednesday.  The Roberts are a couple and their son from my church back home, who are coming to work with local Pastors in and around Kabale.  In the afternoon we went to Akanyijuka as usual for Saturday School, and it was as usual a great time by all.

Sunday we all headed to Edward’s church for a combined service with Jackson’s church, which went really well.  We had an extra musician, Sam, on drums and it was great to play with a band again, I have not been playing much at all lately so it was good to enjoy guitar again.  In the afternoon we headed down to Akanyijuka so the Thompson’s, Erica’s relatives, could see the children one last time before they left tomorrow morning.

Friday 25th January 2008

Today was a busy day for all.  Most of us spent the morning at the drop-in centre spending time with the boys.  Some good news on that front is that my previous post appealing for financial support to put some of them into school resulted in two people offering to send finances to put two of them into school for this year.  I have gotten the Wards straight onto getting them into a good school and arrange for everything else that is required.   Thank you very much to the two people who sent money, here are the two boys you have helped: 

Hannington  

Gregory (locally pronounced gilligie) 

Meanwhile Quinton took the new intakes at Akanyijuka to the Aids clinic to have them tested.  When we picked up the children yesterday we discovered that one child, Catherine Dorcus, was HIV positive. Today we unfortunately also discovered that another, Kobusheshe Akanyijuka, also is HIV positive.  They are both in different families at Akanyijuka, but are with our two most experienced Matrons.  This does not mean anything bad for Akanyijuka, only good, that we can help those most in need, providing the best for those that need it most. 

In the afternoon Phil headed out to see a boy on the border of Rwanda to see if he met the criteria to fill our last spot, at this point it looks like he does not, as we wanted to give it to someone who really needed it.  While Phil was out the girls had headed to the local markets to buy new clothes for yesterday’s new intakes and I met with Pastor Edward at Akanyijuka to show some visitors that he knows, around.

Thursday 24th January 2007

This is what it’s all about: 

Kobusheshe Akanyijuka 

Catherine Dorcus 

Catherine Mbabazi 

Daphne 

Bossa 

Susan 

Patience 

Today we took in the above seven children, bringing our total number up to 31 children.  Quinton took our visitors with him so they could experience what it was like and Phil and I were busy getting the final preparations completed for them; as well as trying to start coordinating the final preparations for when school starts on February 4^th.

Friday 18th to Monday 21st January 2008

Friday we prepared for the weekend, as the Siddans’ left on Saturday with the car to go to Kampala to pick up some of Erica’s relatives.  As usual in Uganda their trip did not go as planned.  The travelling was fine, but Erica’s relatives’ luggage did not show up, meaning that they had to stay one day longer in Kampala.  This turned out to be ok as they had planned to visit a school for the deaf that they sponsor from Australia, and they ended up staying almost all day. 

We walked down to church on Sunday and Sam, the boy who stays with the Wards, came with us also. Monday we went down to Akanyijuka and celebrated Isaac’s birthday, it was great because usually the children are a little bewildered about birthdays, but Isaac was all smiles and loving the attention. Here is a couple of before and after photos:

The Siddans’ arrived on Tuesday afternoon with their guests and all their Australianisms in tow.  It is always good to have some Aussies around, even though they may not be like anyone we know personally I am always reminded of people back home by little things they do or say.  Tuesday we also sorted out the details of hiring a Primary one teacher, Rogers who started on Wednesday. It is always exciting to move forward another step, and by the end of the day the children that will be in his class were already saying more English words then we had ever heard them say. Wednesday we went about preparing the beds and rooms for new children that are coming in on Thursday, as well as trying to get the school side of things going as well.  

Thursday 17th January 2008

Everyday life in Africa, it can be fun, frustrating, funny, and scary; but one thing it always is, is very different from life back home in Australia.   Thursday started with heading down town to get a few things, just a few minutes in a couple of shops and then back home again.  But being Africa things never turn out the way intended.  Phil and I ran into someone we knew who wanted us to exchange their gas bottle for them, of course when we got the bottle there was no money with it, so we had to chase them around town to get the money.  While we were doing this we had to chase up Judith as it looked like she was needed for a visitation with some Akanyijuka children (visiting their previous guardian).  So we found her to let her know.  Finally we got the gas bottle exchanged after the attendant went several times to get the keys.  Then it turns out that Judith is not needed so we have to try to track her down, and of course she is not where she was before or where they said she was going.  Then we get a text to say that someone else is waiting for the car, and we haven’t even done what we thought we were going to do. 

This is just one way in which life is different here, there are so many things that we had in Australia that they do not have here.  But here there are so many things that Africans have to live with that we don’t.  We have washing machines, freezers, air conditioners, social security and the like.  While Africans have none of these, they do have war, famine, corrupt governments and the like.  Here are a couple of articles in the news paper about what is happening in Kenya. 

KENYA REFUGEES SURVIVE POISON, Hundreds to be relocated…the relocation follows reports of attempted poisoning of the refugees…..last week wrong elements sneaked into the camp and into the kitchen and put poison in the food. 

THIRTEEN MORE DIE IN KENYA PROTEST, At least 13 more people were killed in Kenya yesterday when police fired into a Nairobi slum and ethnic groups clashed…. 

This is what is in the headlines this week.  A few weeks ago it was Ebola scares, before that it was refugees coming from D.R.C.  I am reminded once again of a time we were catching up with Henry and the disbelief he had when we told him that Australia was war free. I do not think it is possible for an African to think that a place in this world would actually exist without trial and tribulations that they have become used to living with day to day. 

The day was not all bad things and thoughts though, Erica and Quinton took out some children from Akanyijuka and got them some new shoes and we ended the day off with a nice dinner out at the Little Ritz.  Also I have posted two new albums on my photo page, a portfolio of Elizabeth and of Christian.  www.davesphotos.destinations.org.au<

Wednesday 16th January 2008

Boys will be boys, and at the drop-in it is not uncommon to have a little bit of rowdiness going on.  Today was no different, I think that tensions were a little higher than usual though, as the police had been around town this morning to try to chase the ‘unwanted’ street children out of town again.  Added to that there was one boy who had been beaten and was in hospital.  Today Phil and I were at the drop-in and enjoyed spending some time with these boys.  They are rough and definitely street wise, but unfortunately they have been forced to become this way by their circumstances.  Perhaps their parents died while they were young, leaving them to fend for themselves, or they may have been chased out of their homes.  There are many reasons that a child can end up on the street and get involved in bad conditions and habits, but it is even harder when the society you live in can do nothing to help, but rather chases you away as just another unwanted problem. 

It is great to see what Pastor Edward and the Wards are doing for these boys, helping them in the best way that their own limited resources can.  The fact that someone comes five days a week to feed and talk with them is more love then most of them have ever received.  It shows that they appreciate it because they keep coming back.  I was speaking this morning with Eddie Ward, trying to get some information on how those that are able and wanting can get back into school.  There are some that want to go to school, but their circumstances do not allow them to get food to eat, let alone school fees.  I am trying to find out how much it would take to send different ones to school as well as having a house to live in and food to eat.  I am not sure of the exact costs yet, but I know that school fees for a year are between 20,000 and 40,000 UGX.  There is however other costs involved, which many aid agencies overlook like school uniform, shoes and supplies, and some schools also require money for lunch.  This means that the figure required to keep some in school could be as little as say 120,000-150,000 UGX each.  Of course each boy’s situation is different and each has different needs. 

Here are a few examples: 

Masco

Masco lives with his grandmother who has no income, has finished P6 (Primary 6) but has not been to school for a year now.  He is under qualified and too young to be able to get a job to help support himself and his grandmother and is unable to continue his schooling.  He has had no other option but to try to pick up street wise tricks from more experienced actual street children to try and scrape by. 

Job

Job lives with other siblings, with no other guardians.  There is sufficient money for them to survive, but not enough to send Job to school, and as a result he is unable to go to school and roams the streets in search of things to do. 

Godwin

Godwin, lives at home with two younger siblings and looks after them as best he can by trying to get odd jobs day by day (the only reason that he misses coming to the drop-in) to pay for them to go to school. 

I am writing in this way purposefully.  I would like to extend the invitation to any one who reads this to help out.  If you could spare this much money to put a child into school for one year then you can let me know and I will arrange it.  I am willing to do any checks or carry out any security measures you want if it helps these boys get a small break.   It may only be one year you want to commit to, or you may wish to help them go through several years of schooling, but what a little bit for someone in the west means so much to someone in Africa, or any developing country for that matter.   

This is the first time I have actually asked any one for anything while being here in Kabale, Uganda.  And I am not asking for myself, but if you can and want to make a big difference then let me know.  You can contact me via email at d.guinea@destinations.org.au  

I have included some photos below of some of the characters you may be able to help:   

In western, or rich, countries it is easy to view Africa and other developing nations as a problem.  Africa after all is often perceived as the origin of all things bad and evil in the world, with all manner of never ending problems.  Famines, sicknesses and diseases, HIV/AIDS, poverty, irrational wars over race, corrupt governments, witchdoctors; and the list goes on.  Is there anything that we can do to help this continent that is destined to die?  The super powers of this world are definitely not the source of all of Africa’s problems, but through history we have pushed them in a direction that is forcing them to become more like us, and without the knowledge or ability to make what is evolving work.  Here is a small way in which one can help to make a difference in one’s life, which in turn can perhaps help to bring the African continent out of some of its problems.  

Tuesday 15th January 2007

The anticipation began to grow to a point where they could contain it no more, with enthusiasm they start to tell us about this or that as we drive towards familiar territory.  Today Judith, Justine and Vastine are going to visit their Grandmothers.  Though they are happy with their homes in Akanyijuka, they are also happy to be seeing their grandmothers who had previously looked after them before coming to Akanyijuka.  The only problem was that when we arrived there was a big walk involved for the children and Judith, their visit supervisor, and it was bucketing down with rain.  After one hour’s wait, much singing and carrying on, they headed off.   

While the girls were enjoying their visit, for us it was back to Akanyijuka.  It is Prudence’s birthday and Kathryn had made a cake to celebrate.   Here are a couple of photos: 

In the afternoon we had a board meeting with Pastor Edward and Henry, who was standing in for Robert.  It was a good meeting and all seem excited about what the future holds.

Monday 14th January 2008

Last Monday I said that I was starting to feel like I was getting into the swing of things, and this Monday, again, I had a big list of things to get into. In Kabale you never know what the day will be like, until after the mist has rolled away; sometimes as late as 10 am.  Today I suffered the consequences of this.  I had just finished wringing the clothes out and put them on the line, not doing them yesterday as it looked a bit wet, when there was a distinctive rainy breeze starting to come through the mist.  That would be right, yesterday was fine and today was as wet as.  This put a dampener on my big day of getting into things. It is not a nice experience walking around everywhere in the mud, so I put off as many things as possible until tomorrow, and everything else seemed to work itself out somehow. 

We have almost come to a decision on the next intake of children, we actually did decide, but then realised with the housing arrangements we have, we needed a certain amount of boys and girls and this we did not have.  We need to see Prossy again, who said she has more children for us to look at to find another boy and then we will be ready.  

On Thursday after we dropped Aurelia at the airport I took some photos of the trip from Entebbe to Kampala to give some idea of what one could expect to see if you came to Uganda.  You can view the photos at: 

http://www.davesphotos.destinations.org.au/

Friday 11th January 2008

Once again we battled the Kampala to Kabale trip, luckily Kathryn and I will not have to face it again until late February when Kathryn’s parents arrive.  That is assuming that our working visas are sorted when the Siddans travel later this month to collect Erica’s Auntie and cousins.  On our way out we dropped Kathryn off to see Annie, Pastor Jackson’s wife, who is almost due to give birth.  Phil and I headed out to get the punctured tyre fixed, it turns out that the tube they had put in when we got the puncture repaired in Kasese was actually not the right size.  They put a 13” tube in our 15” tyre.  Thanks guys!!! We then left to go to Kabale with Jackson’s cousin Benita as she is coming to have a holiday.

This is Benita:

 

It was actually quite good to get home and talk about our trip with the Siddans, when we arrived Amelia asked for each of us and even asked for Aurelia, expecting that she would be with us.  Aurelia, thanks soooo much for your visit, you will be missed by all.