So it might seem a bit early for another blog but hey we have reached our targets and it's the end of era. This week has been all about ends of era according to facebook and BBC. Zany left One Direction OHMYGAWD. Lol. Obviously that is a slight piss take but people here are even talking about it so you know word gets around.
This week has actually been quite bizarre. It's wierd knowing that you are about to leave a country which has taken you on a complete emotional roller coaster. It's wierd to know you have just over a week to do everything you have wanted to do in your community. So this week has been pretty productive.
On Sunday, Ella and Corrine's idea became a reality. Two weeks ago Ella was given a note by a girl begging her to buy sanitary pads. Her and Corrinne then researched how to make reusable ones and taught girls for the first time on Sunday. Polly and I tagged along and I was so proud of them. They taught the prefects of IBUN BAZ, who can now hopefully teach lots of girls. Good day!
On Monday I headed to Jinja for some meetings but Joe, Juliet and Ella taught S1 all about menstration and got them to evaluate the lessons we have been teaching.
On Tuesday came a big day. We had a session in the morning at the primary school, which consisted of songs and the hookie kookie, as well as bit of evaluation. The kids were having so much fun which was great. We held a parent talk on Tuesday afternoon which was great. The parents didn't really turn up as wet season has started so they are all in the fields, but the LC3 found some for us.
They actually asked so many questions as we discussed the rights of a child, the abuse cycle and the different work we had been doing which was great. Soon after the LC informed me I was the "perfect woman" as had a meeting with him while also looking after Colin from next door. But hey who said girls can't multitask. In the evening a girl came to ask for condoms and to help her to know how to lose her virginity that night, these things happen I guess.
We also had so much paperwork to do which was massively hard work.
On Wednesday we had three sessions and joe had gone home, Ella taught sanitary pads at the primary school, including the girl who had given her the note. Juliet taught farming to one out of school youth group. I taught S6 about HIV and STI and they understood me which was a massive plus. The questions were great and they learnt a lot more about CD4 counts, PEP and all felt sick having seen pictures of some of the symptoms of STI. They even wrote on the board that they would never play sex again haaa.
On Thursday we headed to Kakongoka and joe and Juliet ran a youth group on drug abuse, which Juliet and I had planned in the morning. Hopefully it went well. I headed to the football field and distributed 96 condoms to the captain. Fingers crossed they use them.
So tomorrow is the weekend off and there is a terror threat so unfortunately we will not be able to visit the equator or Kampala which sucks massively, but I'm sure we will find a way to have lots of fun in Jinja.
We could all do with it, this week might have had lots of good work but everyone but one person died in a taxi crash at the end of our road so it does make you think. That and the news of the airplane crash in the alps make you realise that you never know what will happen the next day. Maybe that is one of the major lessons here - live every moment as if it's your last.
So with that good night and once again thank you for the support. It is now possible to see how some of the work here really makes a difference. In the next week we have a few sessions with new youth, but also will be visiting some other charities which should be good. Sulle bolungie. Xx
Thursday, 26 March 2015
Saturday, 21 March 2015
Career planning, gender based violence and litter picking,,
This has been tough but productive.
This week we taught s1 and s2 all about life skills and life goals. We had aspiring presidents, doctors, accountants and engineers. Only one aspiring musician and soccer player, which would be different to asking a group of 12 and 13 year olds in the UK. We then went through the different knowledge, skills and attitude you would need to get to these goals. A very useful 4 sessions for the kids, we hope.
On Tuesday we taught primary 6 all about male and female puberty. This meant drawing all the changes on some outlines of a boy and girl child. We had the whole she-bang, then lead the children to repeat "I love me" while explaining and showing all girls and boys are different sizes and shapes.
On Wednesday we taught S6 for the first time and it was so nice as Ella and I got to teach a session by ourselves. It was inspiring to actually teach a lesson and not have to be a slated. So good. We taught it all about contraception and teenage pregnancy. It was a very in depth conversation from penis size, to which contraception pill to use, but hopefully useful.
On Thursday, Joe and Juliet taught saving and proposal writing to the youth group, while Ella and I got started on events planning. By Friday we had two lessons and our community dialogue with the crime preventers and all the LC officials. It was gender roles and domestic violence and definitely was a very interesting discussion.
Certain view points were interesting, that a man can rape his wife if she refuses sex for example. But also we got across how bad this can be for the children in the house and how vulnerable it can make them. It was such a worthwhile and invigorating session. I am so glad to have done it, and make clear that men and women can be victims.
In the evening we held an advice centre session answering questions from condoms and HIV for the teenagers who came in.
Today we held a litter pick in the market with Mukutu in the market place. It is meant to promote civic participation which it slightly did as some kids and others joined in.
Tomorrow we are teaching sanitary pads in the Muslim school and on Tuesday we wills run a parent session which should be good. So as we enter the penultimate week on placement wish us luck.
This week has also been good as we have made so a any friends involved in such a variety of charities out here. With such a creative mind, change can actually occur. From running new style nursery schools, to soccer clubs, to charities which help women's voices get heard and one which uses basketball to encourage boys and girls to play together - people working together is actually making a difference.
So with that, good bye. Thanks for all the support and lots of love xx
This week we taught s1 and s2 all about life skills and life goals. We had aspiring presidents, doctors, accountants and engineers. Only one aspiring musician and soccer player, which would be different to asking a group of 12 and 13 year olds in the UK. We then went through the different knowledge, skills and attitude you would need to get to these goals. A very useful 4 sessions for the kids, we hope.
On Tuesday we taught primary 6 all about male and female puberty. This meant drawing all the changes on some outlines of a boy and girl child. We had the whole she-bang, then lead the children to repeat "I love me" while explaining and showing all girls and boys are different sizes and shapes.
On Wednesday we taught S6 for the first time and it was so nice as Ella and I got to teach a session by ourselves. It was inspiring to actually teach a lesson and not have to be a slated. So good. We taught it all about contraception and teenage pregnancy. It was a very in depth conversation from penis size, to which contraception pill to use, but hopefully useful.
On Thursday, Joe and Juliet taught saving and proposal writing to the youth group, while Ella and I got started on events planning. By Friday we had two lessons and our community dialogue with the crime preventers and all the LC officials. It was gender roles and domestic violence and definitely was a very interesting discussion.
Certain view points were interesting, that a man can rape his wife if she refuses sex for example. But also we got across how bad this can be for the children in the house and how vulnerable it can make them. It was such a worthwhile and invigorating session. I am so glad to have done it, and make clear that men and women can be victims.
In the evening we held an advice centre session answering questions from condoms and HIV for the teenagers who came in.
Today we held a litter pick in the market with Mukutu in the market place. It is meant to promote civic participation which it slightly did as some kids and others joined in.
Tomorrow we are teaching sanitary pads in the Muslim school and on Tuesday we wills run a parent session which should be good. So as we enter the penultimate week on placement wish us luck.
This week has also been good as we have made so a any friends involved in such a variety of charities out here. With such a creative mind, change can actually occur. From running new style nursery schools, to soccer clubs, to charities which help women's voices get heard and one which uses basketball to encourage boys and girls to play together - people working together is actually making a difference.
So with that, good bye. Thanks for all the support and lots of love xx
Sunday, 15 March 2015
320 girls, 100 condoms and a lot of interactive learning - wiggling our way to a healthier Nakalama
So this week has been a week of contrast where you realise you don't have enough time to do everything you want to do but am also really starting to crave home.
Monday dawned and Joe, Ella and I were still learning to cope without Mumma Juliet. We jumped into teaching about compost, kitchen gardens and sustainable agriculture. Doing this in theory started to be tough so we took to chalk on the floor and getting the youth to be the sticks and wrap themselves around one another. Monday was also welfare so we all ranted and cried to Tara and Peter but at the end of the day had a team meeting and resolved a lot of problems.
In Tuesday we started the day with a primary school session where we talked about finding your future dreams and finding five year plans. Most revolved around staying in school and working hard, but it soon came clear that this hard not only because of exams but because parents can't afford the fees. It was still inspiring to hear from so many children.
Afterwards we made our way into Jinja for countless doctors appointments and I got called into office for some 'meetings'. Turns out what happens in Jinja doesn't stay amongst the volunteers but hey, it will be sorted soon.
Still feeling pretty ill we headed back to Nakalama and prepared for a new youth group on Wednesday 40 minuite away. It was a long ride but quite fun. We taught about family planning, HIV and condoms. We ended giving well over 50 away to quite a small group.
Thursday dawned with Anthony's youth group. We headed over and joe taught about resource mobilisation and record keeping which we hope was really helpful. Ella and I played with babies, ran the energisers and distributed condoms. Turns out when you can't speak Lusoga you wiggle.
With Friday we jumped back into school teaching kitchen gardens, sustainable agriculture and compost again but our classes had halved as kids couldn't afford the school fees. Good thing is that children from the older classes try to climb through windows and doors in order to listen to what we are saying. Our cheeky monkeys were in full force wiggling their way and singing the condom sing even when we are teaching about farming. Totally love them to pieces.
Got called to Jinja again and got wet in the taxi as got caught in a storm. On the way back Radha and Rhiannon and I needed up in a taxi stuck in a ditch in the pitch black. They told everyone but us to get out as 20 plus men tried to throw the taxi out of the ditch. I moved a on the wheel and in the process got thrown over the taxi. Musungu everywhareeee.
Returned to the beautiful surprise of Mumma Juliet in much better health woo. On Saturday I headed early into Iganga and then went to a football event in Busembatia which was wicked. I rode a body bicupycle sideways with a. Guy called Fred who was so nice so that was lots of fun. The kids were running up the side which was quite funny.
Sunday came and with it food shopping. Which was not overpriced and done on my own. I also managed to get the body driver to apply for ICS and pumped and collected water in my own. What a successful start to the day.
We then held an amazing health centre talk in IBUN BAZ, the all girls schol that Ella and I begged the headmistress to let us hold. 320 girls came to here about me station and periods and asked lots of lots of questions, like why you get period pain, to why more women get pregnant in dry season and one of my favourites whether it was true that your first baby would die if you threw your sanitary pad down the pit latrine.... Guess I have a lot of dead first born babies then. Rose and Stella the nurses were amazing and talked of how cultural rumours like that could make people very ill and answered the questions amazingly. The girls were so friendly and grateful, and really wanted us to come back regularly. I really hope we can.
So that is this week and we officially have 3 weeks left in placement and a lot of events to run. So here is to the next few weeks and some prayers for health would ape amazing as I am so fed up of being ill. Thank you for all the support. Sulle bolungie. Xx
Monday dawned and Joe, Ella and I were still learning to cope without Mumma Juliet. We jumped into teaching about compost, kitchen gardens and sustainable agriculture. Doing this in theory started to be tough so we took to chalk on the floor and getting the youth to be the sticks and wrap themselves around one another. Monday was also welfare so we all ranted and cried to Tara and Peter but at the end of the day had a team meeting and resolved a lot of problems.
In Tuesday we started the day with a primary school session where we talked about finding your future dreams and finding five year plans. Most revolved around staying in school and working hard, but it soon came clear that this hard not only because of exams but because parents can't afford the fees. It was still inspiring to hear from so many children.
Afterwards we made our way into Jinja for countless doctors appointments and I got called into office for some 'meetings'. Turns out what happens in Jinja doesn't stay amongst the volunteers but hey, it will be sorted soon.
Still feeling pretty ill we headed back to Nakalama and prepared for a new youth group on Wednesday 40 minuite away. It was a long ride but quite fun. We taught about family planning, HIV and condoms. We ended giving well over 50 away to quite a small group.
Thursday dawned with Anthony's youth group. We headed over and joe taught about resource mobilisation and record keeping which we hope was really helpful. Ella and I played with babies, ran the energisers and distributed condoms. Turns out when you can't speak Lusoga you wiggle.
With Friday we jumped back into school teaching kitchen gardens, sustainable agriculture and compost again but our classes had halved as kids couldn't afford the school fees. Good thing is that children from the older classes try to climb through windows and doors in order to listen to what we are saying. Our cheeky monkeys were in full force wiggling their way and singing the condom sing even when we are teaching about farming. Totally love them to pieces.
Got called to Jinja again and got wet in the taxi as got caught in a storm. On the way back Radha and Rhiannon and I needed up in a taxi stuck in a ditch in the pitch black. They told everyone but us to get out as 20 plus men tried to throw the taxi out of the ditch. I moved a on the wheel and in the process got thrown over the taxi. Musungu everywhareeee.
Returned to the beautiful surprise of Mumma Juliet in much better health woo. On Saturday I headed early into Iganga and then went to a football event in Busembatia which was wicked. I rode a body bicupycle sideways with a. Guy called Fred who was so nice so that was lots of fun. The kids were running up the side which was quite funny.
Sunday came and with it food shopping. Which was not overpriced and done on my own. I also managed to get the body driver to apply for ICS and pumped and collected water in my own. What a successful start to the day.
We then held an amazing health centre talk in IBUN BAZ, the all girls schol that Ella and I begged the headmistress to let us hold. 320 girls came to here about me station and periods and asked lots of lots of questions, like why you get period pain, to why more women get pregnant in dry season and one of my favourites whether it was true that your first baby would die if you threw your sanitary pad down the pit latrine.... Guess I have a lot of dead first born babies then. Rose and Stella the nurses were amazing and talked of how cultural rumours like that could make people very ill and answered the questions amazingly. The girls were so friendly and grateful, and really wanted us to come back regularly. I really hope we can.
So that is this week and we officially have 3 weeks left in placement and a lot of events to run. So here is to the next few weeks and some prayers for health would ape amazing as I am so fed up of being ill. Thank you for all the support. Sulle bolungie. Xx
Sunday, 8 March 2015
Two weeks and international woman's day.
So I may have been quiet but with good reason. On the not so great side I had malaria, recovered from malaria then been repeatedly diagnosed with bacterial infection after bacterial infection. Doctors here are so different, for one they are not free. After that you have a full blood test and wait for the results - meaning you actually find out what you have, which is pretty helpful.
We had an epic weekend off. We went to the source of Nile and paddled up to the sign. The shops were even in the river. We then experience Uganda clubbing which to be honest is pretty similar to the uk. But what happened in the weekend is I fell in live with Jinja, it's such a friendly and amazing place.
Now we are back and back to work. Ella and joe taught STIs to the you group, but school has exams, yesterday we litter picked around Busembatia. But today was by far the best we went to international women's day celebrations at Women in Leadership Uganda.
Women in leadership was set up by Cianne who was a team leader last year. She funds it by herself to run adult literacy and buisiness classes for adults, as well as lots of empowerment classes for girl in school. It is so inspiring to see what one woman's vision can produce and change. The sad but is NGOs like restless development have way more funding but a re doing similar work. As she is not registered as an NGO she does not despite truly changing lives.
The thing about women's international day is that here gender equality is a whole new ball game. I know we joke about kitchens, sandwiches and not having opportunities at home, but here women do collect the water, wash, clean, cook etc etc. that is just part of accepted life. Maybe we joke about football being a boys game at home, but here people did not believe that a girl could run a football tournament or be a football fan. Some babies here have bands round their waist to make it smaller. But some of the issues are the same, domestic abuse, rape, marriage. The there are things that we haven't got right yet. Women here know what they want and an LC1 at an event today was a woman, and women know what they want and are determined to get it. Maybe we have that in the UK but I truly believe with funding and support charities like Women in leadership could change the world.
But it has also taught me that what they need is a partnership organisation for the sensitisation of boys, because today it was obvious it will take work in both sides to break down the cultural norms.
But as a farewell on international women's day, women everywhere deserve equality, in how they are treated, what they do and what they dream of. Maybe that is a pretty good inspiration to know when we start this second half.
We had an epic weekend off. We went to the source of Nile and paddled up to the sign. The shops were even in the river. We then experience Uganda clubbing which to be honest is pretty similar to the uk. But what happened in the weekend is I fell in live with Jinja, it's such a friendly and amazing place.
Now we are back and back to work. Ella and joe taught STIs to the you group, but school has exams, yesterday we litter picked around Busembatia. But today was by far the best we went to international women's day celebrations at Women in Leadership Uganda.
Women in leadership was set up by Cianne who was a team leader last year. She funds it by herself to run adult literacy and buisiness classes for adults, as well as lots of empowerment classes for girl in school. It is so inspiring to see what one woman's vision can produce and change. The sad but is NGOs like restless development have way more funding but a re doing similar work. As she is not registered as an NGO she does not despite truly changing lives.
The thing about women's international day is that here gender equality is a whole new ball game. I know we joke about kitchens, sandwiches and not having opportunities at home, but here women do collect the water, wash, clean, cook etc etc. that is just part of accepted life. Maybe we joke about football being a boys game at home, but here people did not believe that a girl could run a football tournament or be a football fan. Some babies here have bands round their waist to make it smaller. But some of the issues are the same, domestic abuse, rape, marriage. The there are things that we haven't got right yet. Women here know what they want and an LC1 at an event today was a woman, and women know what they want and are determined to get it. Maybe we have that in the UK but I truly believe with funding and support charities like Women in leadership could change the world.
But it has also taught me that what they need is a partnership organisation for the sensitisation of boys, because today it was obvious it will take work in both sides to break down the cultural norms.
But as a farewell on international women's day, women everywhere deserve equality, in how they are treated, what they do and what they dream of. Maybe that is a pretty good inspiration to know when we start this second half.
Sunday, 22 February 2015
A week of football lads, running out of condoms and dancing on tables ..
So what can we say about this week. It has been week of challenges and a week of hard work. Turns out putting four strangers in a remote Ugandan village with no host family can lead to slight conflict, add a massive event to plan and it gets to a whole new level.
That is not to say this week hasn't been completely successful. On Sunday I went to church in the morning to give a notice. It is meant to start at 7:30 but the vicar started it at 8 with only four people, most of the congregation only turned up at around 8:30. Still the congregation is so lovely and seemed so excited about the football.
On Monday we taught s1. It was their first day at secondary school and we jumped in with teenage pregnancy. The teacher then turned up and gave us an extra hour so we did HIV/AIDS, must have been scaring for a first day at school.
On Tuesday we were met with the second storm of placement and walked to the Primary School at 7:30 in the morning in pouring rain in overalls. It was muddy and wet but we kept a smile on our faces - it reminded Ella and I of England. When we got to school it was the first lesson of Uganda wet season. There were no teachers to be seen and the classrooms were dark. So we got started teaching the kids all about sanitation and healthy living - including a new song. "Comb your hair and brush your teeth, comb your hair and brush your teeth. Scrub your body and wash your teeth. Comb your hair and brush your teeth" to the tune of head, shoulders, knees and toes. Elly and Ella's creative talent showcased again ha.
The class continued and I ran an exercise class to Shake It Off by Taylor which the kids loved, but we got to the end and no teachers had appeared. Therefore we stayed for an extra hour and a half and taught sack mounds and sustainable agricultural techniques completely off the cuff. But it worked. Finally I got on a table and got the kids dancing, probably totally against the rules, but also good fun and teaches them leadership and healthy living, right?
The day ended with an amazing performance by some of the kids to me in office hours. They were such good singers and dancers - it was so nice.
Wednesday came and with it a lot of planning. The PE teacher didn't turn up for his meeting which to me was rude, but not sure if that's ok here. These flesh eating ants came in the morning and made Ella bleed was horrific but Juliet saved the day.
So Thursday came and I headed into town to shop for the VCT and Sports Event with Tara and Peter. This took all day researching the prices for the cheapest water, balls and bargaining deals but in the end we saved a lot of money before having to carry 104 bottles up the hill from the taxi which was exhausting. The end of the day was going to the football pitch to chase up the boys for Saturday and the a walk back in the dark alone which was interesting to say the least. Ella and Juliet taught family planning, HIV and condom demonstration to the youth group, which seemed to be a massive success.
We hit Friday and with it two sessions. Firstly s2 blue, we taught them HIV and had time to do STIs which was awesome. We grossed them out with some gruesome pictures and had them singing and dancing to the Condom song at the front. The boys are so cheeky. S2 green was a lot harder work as always but they remembered what we taught them the week before which was the dream.
We then had welfare which was definitely needed but didn't fix all the team dynamics.
Saturday came and with it the football tournament and VCT testing for HIV. All the hard work paid off and all the teams I had been talking to turned up, including three from the pitch in the evenings which was so good, even if the majority turned up an hour late. Ella's trips to the health centre meant the VCT all went smoothly. Over 100 people watched, 76 got tested and over 50 condom demonstrations. It was an incredible day and so successful! I was so happy that all the hours networking at the pitch, church and hangouts, putting up posters and flyering round the town centre paid off, it was exactly what we needed and why we are here.
So this week may have showed the myth of Africa Time is totally fact and that planning a massive event requires all the work you put in for weeks before, it really paid off and we've run out of condoms so that's a massive success. It also showcased all of the teams strengths and how being a white girl at football requires you to earn the respect first - which I was informed I totally had - thank goodness for that. As this week has taught me how important gratitude and thanks are - here is a massive thank you for all your support. I know getting massive thank you from the footballers and nurses yesterday certainly made my day so thank you again xx
That is not to say this week hasn't been completely successful. On Sunday I went to church in the morning to give a notice. It is meant to start at 7:30 but the vicar started it at 8 with only four people, most of the congregation only turned up at around 8:30. Still the congregation is so lovely and seemed so excited about the football.
On Monday we taught s1. It was their first day at secondary school and we jumped in with teenage pregnancy. The teacher then turned up and gave us an extra hour so we did HIV/AIDS, must have been scaring for a first day at school.
On Tuesday we were met with the second storm of placement and walked to the Primary School at 7:30 in the morning in pouring rain in overalls. It was muddy and wet but we kept a smile on our faces - it reminded Ella and I of England. When we got to school it was the first lesson of Uganda wet season. There were no teachers to be seen and the classrooms were dark. So we got started teaching the kids all about sanitation and healthy living - including a new song. "Comb your hair and brush your teeth, comb your hair and brush your teeth. Scrub your body and wash your teeth. Comb your hair and brush your teeth" to the tune of head, shoulders, knees and toes. Elly and Ella's creative talent showcased again ha.
The class continued and I ran an exercise class to Shake It Off by Taylor which the kids loved, but we got to the end and no teachers had appeared. Therefore we stayed for an extra hour and a half and taught sack mounds and sustainable agricultural techniques completely off the cuff. But it worked. Finally I got on a table and got the kids dancing, probably totally against the rules, but also good fun and teaches them leadership and healthy living, right?
The day ended with an amazing performance by some of the kids to me in office hours. They were such good singers and dancers - it was so nice.
Wednesday came and with it a lot of planning. The PE teacher didn't turn up for his meeting which to me was rude, but not sure if that's ok here. These flesh eating ants came in the morning and made Ella bleed was horrific but Juliet saved the day.
So Thursday came and I headed into town to shop for the VCT and Sports Event with Tara and Peter. This took all day researching the prices for the cheapest water, balls and bargaining deals but in the end we saved a lot of money before having to carry 104 bottles up the hill from the taxi which was exhausting. The end of the day was going to the football pitch to chase up the boys for Saturday and the a walk back in the dark alone which was interesting to say the least. Ella and Juliet taught family planning, HIV and condom demonstration to the youth group, which seemed to be a massive success.
We hit Friday and with it two sessions. Firstly s2 blue, we taught them HIV and had time to do STIs which was awesome. We grossed them out with some gruesome pictures and had them singing and dancing to the Condom song at the front. The boys are so cheeky. S2 green was a lot harder work as always but they remembered what we taught them the week before which was the dream.
We then had welfare which was definitely needed but didn't fix all the team dynamics.
Saturday came and with it the football tournament and VCT testing for HIV. All the hard work paid off and all the teams I had been talking to turned up, including three from the pitch in the evenings which was so good, even if the majority turned up an hour late. Ella's trips to the health centre meant the VCT all went smoothly. Over 100 people watched, 76 got tested and over 50 condom demonstrations. It was an incredible day and so successful! I was so happy that all the hours networking at the pitch, church and hangouts, putting up posters and flyering round the town centre paid off, it was exactly what we needed and why we are here.
So this week may have showed the myth of Africa Time is totally fact and that planning a massive event requires all the work you put in for weeks before, it really paid off and we've run out of condoms so that's a massive success. It also showcased all of the teams strengths and how being a white girl at football requires you to earn the respect first - which I was informed I totally had - thank goodness for that. As this week has taught me how important gratitude and thanks are - here is a massive thank you for all your support. I know getting massive thank you from the footballers and nurses yesterday certainly made my day so thank you again xx
Saturday, 14 February 2015
A week of love...
Valentines day - a day of love, happiness and friendship, with a dash of longing. This week has basically been V-day everyday. I have had an incredible week of love, friendship and giggles, which thankfully distracted me from home - and made me love here even more.
Monday might have been really tough but it turns out it was just the sunrise to an awesome week.
Tuesday dawned with an awesome session at the primary school. - like they read off the board, put their hands up and gave some really great answers on the UN convention of the rights of a child. It was totally awesome. Team work then came together as we successfully planned sessions for the rest of the week with barely any disagreements, which was fab.
Wednesday was the B-DAY of V-DAY week and it was amazing. I was awoken with presents, cards and messages from home, to then be greeted with a surprise cake and candle by baby Ella. We continued the morning with music and more pressies with darling Joe too. Later on we trundled into Iganga with Tara and Peter with the expectation that no one else would have been able to get there but wow I was wrong. The total surprise of Namumgarwe already there with chocolate and necklaces, as well as a lot of hugs was totally amazing. Next came Stan and Diana, then people just kept coming, some travelling from the most rural spots of Jinja for up to 5 hours!!! It was such a surprise and I was so touched. The afternoon progressed to dancing in the rain with Radya, dancing in the bar with the dancing crew from training and a few cheeky treats, it was so nice to catch up with everybody. Divya, Emma and Christine also sent a recording of Happy Birthday which was adorable. Ella and I ended the day with Inbetweeners and chocolate - what a perfect day.
So Thursday dawned with an unfortunate wave of ill health, so I trundled off to Iganga while Ella and Juliet went to teach compost and organic pesticides to the local youth group. In the market I was greeted by videos of me dancing the day before which was another celebrity moment haha. Tara and I spent the afternoon putting up posters and spreading the word on the football event. We felt like the Pied Piper as we had to hide out in her room as 200 children followed us down the street shouting and cheering. Afterwards I headed back to watch a football match between Nakalama parish and Busei parish where I got talking to some of the youth and afterwards the team. Definitely getting a lot of fist pumps and respect now, who thought interviewing Manchester United for a dissertation would be so helpful here ha.
So with Friday came even more blessings. We awoke early to teach the lower stream at the senior school which was awesome. Despite the laddy nature of the football boys in the class, the fist pumps and request for photos was mixed with really interesting discussions on having sex with only girls you love, the dangers of illegal abortion and cheers for condoms. We even taught them "use a condom if you can't abstain.... Be faithful" song which was pretty amazing. It was such an inspiring lesson and definitely made up "for can you teach me how to impregnate you.." Ha. The session with the higher stream was much more challenging but we still got across that using a condom is a lot easier than dying from an illegal abortion, being imprisoned or being forced into early marriage. For the afternoon we took to the advice center and started publicising condoms and demonstrations, though it is illegal to give them it schoolchildren here!!! We even got approached by some of the youth asking to work with us as translators or helping run sessions which was great.
A group even came to ask the football this morning at 6:30 to play as a team which is amazing to see how little can cause a smile here. So all in all this week has been awesome - full of love, loving and friendship. So while I might be missing loved ones at home on a week of B-DAY and V-DAY, thanks to the amazing people here, both with ICS and in the community - it hasn't felt like D-DAY. So I will get back to planning, budgeting and chatting to our awesome parish chief now, but let's hope this week coming is just as awesome.
Ps thanks for all the prayers last week - keep them coming but if you want to pray for Joe's Dad to get better that would be amazing, as well as for the kids to still be so receptive and for me to feel 100% again as want to get out there and do more and more! Oh and random fact for the day - everything here is spelt American.
Lots of love and thanks again for all the support. E x
Monday might have been really tough but it turns out it was just the sunrise to an awesome week.
Tuesday dawned with an awesome session at the primary school. - like they read off the board, put their hands up and gave some really great answers on the UN convention of the rights of a child. It was totally awesome. Team work then came together as we successfully planned sessions for the rest of the week with barely any disagreements, which was fab.
Wednesday was the B-DAY of V-DAY week and it was amazing. I was awoken with presents, cards and messages from home, to then be greeted with a surprise cake and candle by baby Ella. We continued the morning with music and more pressies with darling Joe too. Later on we trundled into Iganga with Tara and Peter with the expectation that no one else would have been able to get there but wow I was wrong. The total surprise of Namumgarwe already there with chocolate and necklaces, as well as a lot of hugs was totally amazing. Next came Stan and Diana, then people just kept coming, some travelling from the most rural spots of Jinja for up to 5 hours!!! It was such a surprise and I was so touched. The afternoon progressed to dancing in the rain with Radya, dancing in the bar with the dancing crew from training and a few cheeky treats, it was so nice to catch up with everybody. Divya, Emma and Christine also sent a recording of Happy Birthday which was adorable. Ella and I ended the day with Inbetweeners and chocolate - what a perfect day.
So Thursday dawned with an unfortunate wave of ill health, so I trundled off to Iganga while Ella and Juliet went to teach compost and organic pesticides to the local youth group. In the market I was greeted by videos of me dancing the day before which was another celebrity moment haha. Tara and I spent the afternoon putting up posters and spreading the word on the football event. We felt like the Pied Piper as we had to hide out in her room as 200 children followed us down the street shouting and cheering. Afterwards I headed back to watch a football match between Nakalama parish and Busei parish where I got talking to some of the youth and afterwards the team. Definitely getting a lot of fist pumps and respect now, who thought interviewing Manchester United for a dissertation would be so helpful here ha.
So with Friday came even more blessings. We awoke early to teach the lower stream at the senior school which was awesome. Despite the laddy nature of the football boys in the class, the fist pumps and request for photos was mixed with really interesting discussions on having sex with only girls you love, the dangers of illegal abortion and cheers for condoms. We even taught them "use a condom if you can't abstain.... Be faithful" song which was pretty amazing. It was such an inspiring lesson and definitely made up "for can you teach me how to impregnate you.." Ha. The session with the higher stream was much more challenging but we still got across that using a condom is a lot easier than dying from an illegal abortion, being imprisoned or being forced into early marriage. For the afternoon we took to the advice center and started publicising condoms and demonstrations, though it is illegal to give them it schoolchildren here!!! We even got approached by some of the youth asking to work with us as translators or helping run sessions which was great.
A group even came to ask the football this morning at 6:30 to play as a team which is amazing to see how little can cause a smile here. So all in all this week has been awesome - full of love, loving and friendship. So while I might be missing loved ones at home on a week of B-DAY and V-DAY, thanks to the amazing people here, both with ICS and in the community - it hasn't felt like D-DAY. So I will get back to planning, budgeting and chatting to our awesome parish chief now, but let's hope this week coming is just as awesome.
Ps thanks for all the prayers last week - keep them coming but if you want to pray for Joe's Dad to get better that would be amazing, as well as for the kids to still be so receptive and for me to feel 100% again as want to get out there and do more and more! Oh and random fact for the day - everything here is spelt American.
Lots of love and thanks again for all the support. E x
Sunday, 8 February 2015
Jambo,
So now been on placement for a week and a half which is pretty mental.
This week involved a lot of planning. We carried out our first session on Thursday for 30 out of school youths in life skills and sustainable agriculture. It went really well and they found Ella and my dancing hilarious. Always good to make an idiot of yourself, especially when they don't speak a word of English. It is really wierd speaking English to a sea of blank faces before joe or juliet translated. We did help them all make a career plan though, to be a hairdresser, bike mechanic, teacher, which was really cool. They also asked us lots on sustainable agricultural problems.
On Friday we carried out an in school session for 90 senior two pupils, ranging from 12 to 24 years old. There are a lot of cheeky chaps in the class so it is pretty hard work but some amazing pupils as well. We did the session on rights and responsibilities, and life skills. It was quite a shock on how gendered the responsibilities are, but was also such an inspiring and encouraging class.
We have organised to teach at a primary school at 8am on Tuesday which should be good and start teaching senior 1 on Monday.
Yesterday involved helping another placement with their community day so we cleaned the Health centre then had a lovely lunch dancing with everybody which was so nice to chill a bit, which Ella and i continued well into the night. Which might have been silly as we spoke at church at 730 this morning.
So all in all while the week has been a hard one, it is fantastic to start all the work and the community is really starting to get to know us and ask for help which is great. This week involves a lot more teaching and trying to organise the final arrangements for our football and HIV aids testing event. Oh and my birthday on Wednesday. So excited.
Lots of love and thanks for the support, Elly xx
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