This morning we met the project director, James. He told us some more about his reasons for founding it. His aims are:
- to provide schooling where children are not beaten
- fight HIV, malaria and other diseases
- protect girls from slavery, prostitution and trafficking
- support children's development
James also discussed poverty mentality syndrome. He feels that this explains the begging we see in the streets, and also the governmental issues. He gave an example of a minister who may own 3 houses, but still feel that it is not enough. In a country where 40% live below the poverty line it's easy to see how this way of thinking can develop. Though really, it's not too dissimilar to the west.
He then went on to thank us for coming. He said that while our project fees help, what they really need is our ideas and to spread the work of the help needed in Uganda.
After meeting with James we went on our first outreach visits.
- The first family we saw was a single mother with 6 children. They all live in a single room house. This family have been sponsored and have 2 pigs, some chickens and fruit trees. James pointed out some lumps in the youngest boy's toes. Theses were jiggers - a tick like animal that inserts itself under your skin and feeds of your blood.These are as a result of the family not living hygienically. The mother went to her knees in the dirt to welcome us which I found really uncomfortable though I know she was just expressing her gratitude to the organisation.
- Our second visit was to a household with 10 children living in it. There were the grandparents, their orphaned grandchildren and various other orphans that they had taken in. A volunteer that has met them before brought clothing for them as their were ripped and torn, with some of the children not having any at all. The kids were so funny, alternating between being terrified and inquisitive. The love cameras though! It's the only chance they have to see what they look like.
- The third visit was to the new regional office of the organisation that is really to open. Up the road a bit we went to see a woman named Margaret who is to be the organisation's eyes and ears in the region. Margaret will also be permitted to run her business from the office and has been provided a start up loan by the organisation. This new business will mean she can send her children to school.
On the way back to the school we stopped for a rolex. This is an omelette, wrapped in a tortilla. So stodgy, but so yummy.
After lunch we were taken to a slum, Kisenyi and were guided around by the 'slum manager' for our safety. The slum floods every wet season as it is in swamp land. We saw water lines almost to the rooves of house. Many had make shift shacks, knowing that they would be ruined next month.
It was upsetting to see groups of kids filling jerry cans from filthy water with sewage channels running into it. Ali, the field coordinator who took us said that while some boiled the water before drinking, many could not afford the coal to do so.
While walking around we gathered a large group of children, including one who clutched my hand and didn't let go for an hour or more.
We were introduced also to a woman and her son. Her son has cerebral palsy and epilepsy, but they have no money for medication. He cannot walk or move and just stares at the wall. He has been that way for years now. I felt as though we were being asked for money for medication, but that's not the solution. When the medication runs out he would be back in the same situation. Ali translated for me while I discussed means of earning in the slums and we discussed that with some start up capital she could sell yams, rice and coal. She could do this from outside her home, so still care for her son and it would become a sustainable business so she could purchase his medication on an ongoing basis.
I have found the details of Kiva.com's microfinance partners in Uganda and will be trying to set up a meet between them and my organisation. Hopefully this woman will qualify for a loan to start her business and others that the organisation identifies can also be assessed.
One thing I learned later that I couldn't quite believe is that many of the homes in the slums are owned by landlords. They rent these to people during the dry season who have no idea what will happen when the rains start. At the beginning of the wet season they are not prepared or the floods and will lose all of their food. It really bothers me the most when people who are in such bad situations already have even more advantage taken of them. I don't understand how these landlords can do what they do, though it's no doubt also out of desperation.
Writing this journal (later transcribed to a blog) I am sitting at at the entrance to the slum waiting to be picked up, watching the clouds roll in. I am told that if it starts to rain everyone will panic. I can understand why...
While walking around we gathered a large group of children, including one who clutched my hand and didn't let go for an hour or more.
We were introduced also to a woman and her son. Her son has cerebral palsy and epilepsy, but they have no money for medication. He cannot walk or move and just stares at the wall. He has been that way for years now. I felt as though we were being asked for money for medication, but that's not the solution. When the medication runs out he would be back in the same situation. Ali translated for me while I discussed means of earning in the slums and we discussed that with some start up capital she could sell yams, rice and coal. She could do this from outside her home, so still care for her son and it would become a sustainable business so she could purchase his medication on an ongoing basis.
I have found the details of Kiva.com's microfinance partners in Uganda and will be trying to set up a meet between them and my organisation. Hopefully this woman will qualify for a loan to start her business and others that the organisation identifies can also be assessed.
One thing I learned later that I couldn't quite believe is that many of the homes in the slums are owned by landlords. They rent these to people during the dry season who have no idea what will happen when the rains start. At the beginning of the wet season they are not prepared or the floods and will lose all of their food. It really bothers me the most when people who are in such bad situations already have even more advantage taken of them. I don't understand how these landlords can do what they do, though it's no doubt also out of desperation.
Writing this journal (later transcribed to a blog) I am sitting at at the entrance to the slum waiting to be picked up, watching the clouds roll in. I am told that if it starts to rain everyone will panic. I can understand why...
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