Lesley

This is going to start sounding a little repetitive, but where has the time gone? It is Sunday afternoon here in Masaka, and after a rainy few days, the sun is shining and the heat is cranked. We have just been discussing that we are heading into our final three weeks, and we are all having mixed feelings about this fact. Since I wrote last, I have learned and experienced so much more than you could imagine. The first few weeks here felt a little “rainbows and lolli-pops” for me, and in a way I have been waiting for that bubble to burst. I cant say it hasn't been wonderful, but I have had a bit of a reality check these past couple weeks. The children all went back to school on the 14^th/21^st of May, so Anaweza has become very quiet. The last project we did with the kids was; The Anaweza Chicken Project..2012! We had the children split into groups of about 5 based on where they live, and each group was given a chicken to look after with the intention of bringing back 2 eggs to Anaweza so the project can continue. The purpose is to not only have the children work together as a group with a specific goal to reach, but also to give something back to their community that can continue on. The sustainability factor is always at the forefront of my mind when thinking of projects to develop. We have not seen much of the kids since then, so this week we are going to do some community visits and check in with the families and their chickens! I have full confidence that the kids are taking good care of Ruth, Beyonce J, Canada, Blessing, and Promise (yes, those are the chickens names...personal fav-Ruth!). So other than that, most of the time spent at Anaweza has me, yes, ME, teaching computers to people in the community that have heard through the grapevine we have a couple of computers there now. It is great to see people of all ages so eager to learn how to type, create documents/spreadsheets, and surf the net. I am still in awe of Julius and his hard work and persistence. He deserves so much credit, but is much to humble to even realize it.

Kitengesa Secondary School and Community Library are where I now spend three days a week. I wish I could have been there from the beginning as there is so much potential and opportunity, but of course school was not in session, so my days would have been pretty lonely. On the library side I have been working alongside 4 UBC interns developing reading and writing programs with the students at both Kitengesa Sec and some of the surrounding primary schools. We either visit the schools and read with/to the students and then dedicate some time to comprehension, or we bring the students back to the library and do the same. I feel like my ego is inflating every time we go to the schools because the primary kids literally see us coming miles away and start screaming and running out of class to greet us. It's a great and weird feeling, but I love to see how excited and attentive they are when we read together. One of the schools we visit is a school for deaf children. Unfortunately I don't have much of an opportunity to go there as much as I would like, because the schedule conflicts with another project. I am so glad the UBC students are making such an effort to visit the children at the deaf school as they have never had international students there before. The deaf school is on the same grounds as one of the primary schools, so I can just imagine they have seen people come and go after visiting there and they have been left in the dust. They have so much to teach us. I have learned the alphabet and some keys words, and even been given a sign name. They basically all gather around you and give you a name based on a physical feature. You have to let go of your ego and insecurities for sure and remember that there is no ill intention, they are simply observing the obvious! I'll show you all my new name when I get home;)

The reality check has been working with the Social Work Group at the library. We meet 3 times a week with a group of students whose purpose is to support members of the community and each other. I am so impressed with the students genuine interest in helping those less fortunate, when they themselves face many, many challenges. We have three major focuses; education, community visits, and income generating activities. On my first day I basically visited all the classes and introduced myself and what I hope to accomplish with them. I let them know that I would always be available if they want to talk or just get to know me and me them. The next day I had three students come to me throughout the day and open up about their struggle to pay their school fees. As much as I was grateful they felt comfortable coming to talk to me, I felt helpless in trying to work with them to find solutions. It is very difficult to imagine how these students feel when at home education is free and most of us take that for granted. These students are constantly reminded that education is the most important thing, and they must go to school in order to have a successful future. To be told that your entire life and then to lose both parents, be living with an elderly grandparent who needs to be cared for, and make just enough money to pay for rent and food for the family, only to be sent home from school unless you come back with a substantial amount of money is devastating for these young people. This is why I am trying to work with the social work group to develop some skills that we can use to generate funds. Tomorrow we are working on paper beads, and we will hopefully have a visitor next week coming to teach us basket weaving using banana fiber. I feel hopeful, and I know the students are interested, I just wish I had more time to really get the program on its feet. We have already missed two out of our three weekly meetings because more than half the school had been sent home until they brought back some money. I am even thinking long term and how I could set up a Social Work Group Scholarship Fund from home. I know I could do a fundraiser every few months and make enough money to support a large group of students pay for their fees for the year. I struggle with this idea for many reasons. One is thinking of the principles of the Uganda Project. Sustainability. Is something like a scholarship fund sustainable? How long will I continue to dedicate myself to the scholarship program? Another challenge for me is thinking about the international charity that swoops in and helps. The people here in Uganda are intelligent, resourceful, and capable people, and I struggle justifying to myself if bringing in international funding may in someway hinder the country's progression. These questions have no definite answer, and I hope I will get some clarity as my time here comes to and end.

Now that I have essentially written an essay, I have to say once again, that I am so grateful for this opportunity. I sometimes wonder what I could possibly be bringing to people here, when I am getting so much from them. Knowledge, passion, dedication, comfort, and friendship are some of the gifts I have been given, I only hope I can give them a fraction of the lifelong experience they have given me.