This morning I was reminded that there is no need for alarm clocks in Africa. I was first woken by local women going about their chores at 6:30am. They seemed to be taking turns shouting directly at our very flimsy back door. They were soon replaced by roosters, then children squealing, then taxis honking their horns.
I did however lie in bed for some time in procrastination of my morning wee. You see, this consists of lifting a large jerry can of pumped water (I'm guessing 20L), decanting into a smaller bucket on the floor, pouring that into the cistern and then flushing. I know we're very lucky to have a working toilet so I won't be complaining, but I won't be drinking much water before bed either!
The electricity is off today so after a slice of bread with melted margarine, we were off to our induction. The mobile network has come back up though so that's something!
First we went to the local school that our program runs. We were shown around everything by a lovely man named Edward, including the cramped bunk rooms where the orphans sleep. When doors were locked he simply opened the windows and beckoned us to peer in. The school generally seems quite well equipped, except for the water situation.
We were taken down the dirt track to the local water source and shown the muddy water that has to be collected and carried back up the hill. While the school has a filtration system, many of the locals drink it as is. Edward told us that someone had once convinced him it was clean and he had drank it. He fell very ill as a result.
I'm deliberately not mentioning the name of the organisation I am working with in this blog so that I can be as honest and objective as possible. I did learn more about what they do today that I can share though.
We learned a little of Uganda's history. In 1979 Tanzania overthrew the Ugandan government in retaliation to an invasion into their country. Around this time AIDS began to become an increasing problem in Uganda. At the time people didn't understand, they blamed witchcraft and so didn't take any preventative measures. Many children were left orphaned. This is when the group began initially.
Now they are focusing on children that are working on the streets of t he city as pickpockets. They school and rehabilitate the children and encourage them to return to their communities to pass on their knowledge
After our induction we were taken to see a local woman named Deborah. Her grandsons attend the school. She makes jewellery from recycled and natural materials to see for food money. We sat with her for a while and made some beads from old magazines listening to the kids singing.
Once we'd done beading we went back to the school for lunch. Uganda's staple food is posha. A flour made from maize, mixed with water and formed into a kind of mash. We had this with beans. It has no taste at all, but I'd better get used to it!
While driving around we were behind a motorbike that was traveling with a woman side saddle in the back, loosely holding a baby that can't have been more than 3 months old.
Now here I am at the internet cafe one village over (as ours has no power). I got here via mini-van taxi with about 20 people in it. It only cost about 10p though. Bargain!!
I did however lie in bed for some time in procrastination of my morning wee. You see, this consists of lifting a large jerry can of pumped water (I'm guessing 20L), decanting into a smaller bucket on the floor, pouring that into the cistern and then flushing. I know we're very lucky to have a working toilet so I won't be complaining, but I won't be drinking much water before bed either!
The electricity is off today so after a slice of bread with melted margarine, we were off to our induction. The mobile network has come back up though so that's something!
First we went to the local school that our program runs. We were shown around everything by a lovely man named Edward, including the cramped bunk rooms where the orphans sleep. When doors were locked he simply opened the windows and beckoned us to peer in. The school generally seems quite well equipped, except for the water situation.
We were taken down the dirt track to the local water source and shown the muddy water that has to be collected and carried back up the hill. While the school has a filtration system, many of the locals drink it as is. Edward told us that someone had once convinced him it was clean and he had drank it. He fell very ill as a result.
I'm deliberately not mentioning the name of the organisation I am working with in this blog so that I can be as honest and objective as possible. I did learn more about what they do today that I can share though.
We learned a little of Uganda's history. In 1979 Tanzania overthrew the Ugandan government in retaliation to an invasion into their country. Around this time AIDS began to become an increasing problem in Uganda. At the time people didn't understand, they blamed witchcraft and so didn't take any preventative measures. Many children were left orphaned. This is when the group began initially.
Now they are focusing on children that are working on the streets of t he city as pickpockets. They school and rehabilitate the children and encourage them to return to their communities to pass on their knowledge
After our induction we were taken to see a local woman named Deborah. Her grandsons attend the school. She makes jewellery from recycled and natural materials to see for food money. We sat with her for a while and made some beads from old magazines listening to the kids singing.
Once we'd done beading we went back to the school for lunch. Uganda's staple food is posha. A flour made from maize, mixed with water and formed into a kind of mash. We had this with beans. It has no taste at all, but I'd better get used to it!
While driving around we were behind a motorbike that was traveling with a woman side saddle in the back, loosely holding a baby that can't have been more than 3 months old.
Now here I am at the internet cafe one village over (as ours has no power). I got here via mini-van taxi with about 20 people in it. It only cost about 10p though. Bargain!!
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