Post #13: Webale Nyo

Hello from the Entebbe Airport in Uganda. This week has been filled with so much joy and so much sadness. I’m going to try to keep this post brief because at this point, I’ll be home soon! I would much rather tell you all these stories in person :)

Teacher Betty wanted to make sure the students took their end of term math exams this week so that I could grade them before I left. I was super nervous Monday and Tuesday as I scrambled to teach all the remaining topics in the curriculum and practice some of the more difficult material. I really didn’t want to let these kids down but not covering something that they would be tested on.

I am so proud to say that my students made miraculous improvements from their midterm exams to their final exams. Just in case you want some numbers (I was so excited I made a spreadsheet to measure their improvements)….the average score on the midterm in Primary 3 was a 50. The average score for the final was a 65. The average score in Primary 6 went up 23 points. 22/24 of my students across all three classes performed better on the Final than they did on the midterm, many of them increasing their scores by 10 or 20 points!  These improvements were a direct result of their handwork and perseverance. To say I’m proud of these little math champions would be an understatement. When I first came, I asked each student what his/her favorite subject was. Many said English and Social Studies. Some said Science, but very few said Mathematics. Since then, many of my students made “about me” videos the other day though and every one of them said mathematics was their favorite subject.

This week I finally gave away all the wonderful donations that I brought over from friends and family in America. Teacher Betty helped me identify the kids in the most need of shoes and clothes.  I also gave out a ton of pencils, sharpeners, colored pencils/crayons/markers, and classroom supplies. To say everyone was grateful would be an understatement. I wish the kids could say thank you in person to all the wonderful people who donated things. They send their love and gratitude.

Faith threw a part for me on Friday! I brought some balloons and pipe cleaners and underestimated what a hit those simple dollar store buys would be!  Teacher Betty and I cut the cake and we danced the afternoon away, despite the very muddy ground from a rainy morning. When it was time for gifts, I was completely blown away by the generosity of my friends.

My students and the other teachers presented me with beautiful earrings, pins, letters, candy, and more. I wanted to give everything back to them immediately. My time in Uganda was supposed to be me giving to them! And I knew a piece of candy would make any one of these kids 1,000 times happier than it could ever make me. I felt bad thinking about them giving something away when they had so little. But, as I learned when I was young, receiving a gift is just as important as giving one.

Even though I came to Uganda to give, I feel like I ended up receiving so much more. I was given respect and love from my incredible students. They taught me so much. Many of their families welcomed me into their homes and their lives. Those who had little gave me time and genuine answers to my questions. The amazing people I stayed with were so hospitable and went far beyond just accommodating me. Strangers greeted me and cared for me like I was a family member. The compassion I received here was truly incredible.

One particularly amazing thing happened to me this week. I usually take a boda boda (motorcycle) to school in the morning to save time. I’ve been told many times to be careful when riding a boda boda because the men who drive them are known to steal money and possessions.  Foreigners are the perfect target. As I was riding a boda boda to school on Tuesday, I was surprised to hear the voice of a driver behind me yelling “STOP!” When I looked back, the boda boda driver was holding my iPhone which had fallen out of my bag. He waited for me to come over and retrieve it. I was stunned.

That man could have driven and sold my phone for more money than he makes in a year. Nobody would have known and he could have benefitted greatly. But he didn’t. This incident was an incredible lesson for me to not judge people. Regardless of someone’s reputation or circumstance, people can always surprise you.

In my first few weeks in Uganda, I felt pretty useless. I didn’t feel like I was helping others and I realized that I was inconveniencing many people by coming in as an outsider. People had to explain things to me all the time and escort me everywhere. Many people asked for money and I began to wonder if that’s all people really needed. I was discouraged to say the least, imagining that the 12 weeks I carved out for helping wouldn’t do much at all. I’m so happy to say I was wrong. Time and love can go SO FAR!

As our party wrapped up on Friday, a few kids began to cry. I was concerned they were crying because they wanted more shirts, shoes, there weren’t enough balloons, they only got a small piece of cake, etc. But when I asked my friend Sumayiya why she was upset, she tearfully told me, “I don’t want you to go.” I gave her a hug and told her I would come back as soon as I can. She nodded and said “I know. But we’re going to miss you. Nobody has ever loved us like you.”  At this point, my tear ducts burst opened and we just stood there for a few minutes crying. I knew the kids liked me because I was the fun muzungu who brought them pencils and made them guacamole when they behaved well. But over the past few days, I’ve realized that no material thing I could give these kids would take away the sadness they felt about me leaving.

The last couple of days have been really sad. I had fun on Saturday, hanging out at Teacher Betty’s house with her friends and neighbors. And on Sunday I got to visit a church that meets in one of the classrooms at Faith. The fun I had with the kids would last for some minutes and then they’d start to get all sad and quiet as they realized I’m leaving. They don’t understand the difficulty in rescheduling a flight or that a kid can’t just ride to America in a suitcase (I’ve officially been asked that one over 100 times).  All they know is that I won’t be coming to see them anymore. I hate to think that my absence will affect people. I wish I could leave no trace and that people would be fine. But it’s been very clear to me that this will not be the case.

I thought that spending three months volunteering in Uganda would “get it out of my system” but as I leave, I realize my time here did the exact opposite.  The love I’ve seen, felt, and experienced in my three months here have changed my life.

“So what now?” you may be wondering. I’m wondering the same thing. While I am so excited to be reunited with family and friends at home, it’s been heart wrenching saying goodbye to so many dear friends here. It’s as if there’s been a water main break in my tear ducts these past few days. The goodbyes have been especially difficult because catching up with my friends here isn’t a simple phone call or quick drive away. I just pray I will be able to come back soon. I feel like there is still so much work left to do here.

I have learned SOOOO much during my time here. I had many eye opening experiences and impactful lessons. It’s going to be interesting to see how my life here will connect to my life back home and at school. Conditions are so different that I’m unsure of how I will be able to apply what I’ve learned.  And I’m sure there are still things I will be learning and realizing as I adjust to life back in the US.

My life has become so much simpler here. I’ve lived out of a suitcase, my only skin care product has been sunscreen and my hair care has been limited to daily use of 2-in-1.  I’ve cycled between five outfits and five meals. I’ve checked the internet only briefly every week due to limited connectivity. And I couldn’t be happier. I’ve learned just how much I can live without.

Before coming here, I never realized just how privileged I am simply because of where I was born and the amazing people I was raised by. I’ve never considered myself rich, but as I prepare to re-enter my life in America, I realize that I’m dripping with wealth. The term “broke college student” seems ironic. After spending time with people who have so much less, I feel responsible to somehow pass on what I’ve been blessed with.

I saw a number of charitable projects in action during my time here. While money can’t truly solve these problems, it can certainly help significantly (and it can be easier to give then time!). I’ve seen a variety of particularly impactful projects during my time here. A little money donated can go a long way over here and can truly change lives! I’d like to share a few with you in case you’re interested in contributing financially to any of them. I’d be happy to talk about them more with you in person.  Prayers for these causes are also greatly appreciated.

Let There Be Light International- benefits elders, HIV/AIDS victims, new mothers, and disabled members of the community by giving them a solar light. These lights are better for the environment, their users’ health, safety, and can save a lot of money. http://www.lettherebelightinternational.org

Dream Primary and Nursery School- started by Kathy Chism in Manlius. The school benefits children of prisoners and allows them to attend school without paying school fees. There are many ways you can help the school as a whole or you can sponsor an individual child. https://www.facebook.com/dreamchildsponsorship/?fref=ts

Child Sponsorship through KACCAD- you can support an orphan or disadvantaged child in Bulenga by paying his/her school fees. The cost depends on the school level but this can be really life changing for these kids. http://www.volunteerkaccad.org

Faith Children’s Foundation- supporting this school as a whole will allow for them to hire more teachers and have teachers with teaching degrees (currently the school’s only certified teacher is teacher betty). This school is in EXTREME need. I will be making a website to allow people to learn about the school and donate through KACCAD. It will also inform potential volunteers how to get connected. Stay tuned!

Lexander’s Youth Programs- my last blog post highlighted this incredible organization. I will share more information on how to support them on Facebook these next few weeks.

KACCAD/ABroaderView- if you’re interested in volunteering any amount of time in Bulenga, there are a variety of projects you can volunteer

I am about to board my flight to Dubai and I will be returning to New York tomorrow night! It’s going to be a big adjustment getting back to what used to be “normal” but now I realize is all so luxurious. I definitely have an overwhelming amount of things to be thankful for this thanksgiving.

I would like to thank everyone reading this for your incredible support leading up to and during my trip. I received so many generous donations to relieve the cost of this trip, which allowed me to use my money to help many people out during my time here. The encouragement I received from so many people when I was thinking about going on this trip was so helpful. I wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for that. The donations of school supplies and clothes will go so far. Finally, thank you for all the encouragement. The text messages, letters, and support meant so much. There were some tough days but having so much love from home helped me get through them all.

Thank you all for following my blog and reading my stories! It was really good to take some time to reflect every week and connect things over here to readers back home.

PLEASE ask my questions about my time in Bulenga and ask me to tell you stories and photos! I would love to share about my experiences with you whether it’s tomorrow or whenever you see me next!! Even if you don’t ask, I will probably end up talking about it anyways. I expect to be leaking Uganda stories for the next year and a half. At least. So prepare yourself!

Thank you all for supporting me on this incredible adventure. The blog is over for now but I’d love to open it back up for a return trip in the future J

Until then…..

Love,

Hannah

Esther and other students beyond excited to receive new a new toothbrush and toothpaste!

New shoes for Nico! He was running around in some very broken shoes!

Mercy loved her new sandals!

Jump ropes made for hours of fun!

Aisha getting creative with pipe cleaners!

What is a party without balloons!?

Cutting the cake with Teacher Betty! Such an honor to have received such a wonderful celebration.

Teacher Betty prepared a beautiful last supper for me in Uganda over the weekend. It was so delicious! Not pictured: I also ate some grasshoppers with the meal!!

Post #12: Work Hard, Play Hard

Hello from Uganda! It’s truly been an incredible week. Mo, the other volunteer, finished her time here on Monday. While it’s sad being without her now, I’m so glad we got to spend so much of our time here together.

A few days before leaving for Uganda, my friend Beth insisted that I meet her friend Kathy!  She told me all about the school in Uganda she helped start and the amazing story of its founder. I’ll give you the quick version- Mpagi Edward Edmary was born and raised in  Uganda. When he was in his 20’s, he was sentenced to death for a crime he didn’t commit. He lived through the torturous conditions of death row, starting each day knowing it could very possibly be his last. While he was in prison, his family suffered. Aside from being looked down upon for having a family member in prison, life became extremely difficult without the income of a father. When Edward was released 18 ½ years later, he wanted to make sure other children of prisoners didn’t have to suffer like his own did. Dream Primary and Nursery provides an education to sons and daughters of prisoners who otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford school fees. In addition, Edward has shared his story and is speaking out against the death penalty. While there is still work to be done, things have improved dramatically as a result of his commitment to the cause.

Kathy helped Edward and his good friend Ronald start Dream Primary and Nursery is helping them as they continue to grow it. I got to visit Dream on Tuesday and had a wonderful time! I was escorted by Ronald and Edward (that was fun because they recently traveled to visit Kathy so we chatted about Manlius and Upstate New York!) and given a tour of the beautiful school. Each class greeted me and sang songs for me! The teachers there really care about the students. Even after just a few hours there, it was clear to me what a great place Dream Nursery and Primary is for these kids. They’re receiving a great education and many of them were full of joy! They also all knew their birthdays!! This has been rare among the kids I’ve met in Uganda as usually someone only celebrates his/her 1^st birthday. But Kathy makes sure that each child gets a birthday celebration which was  so wonderful to see. If you’d like to learn more about Dream Primary and Nursery and how you can support their growth, check out their Facebook fage(https://www.facebook.com/pg/dreamchildsponsorship/about/?ref=page_internal) or stop into Soul Soothings in Manlius and chat with Kathy!! She is so wonderful!

You may be wondering what kids in Bulenga do when they’re not in school! It’s a question I’ve been asking since my first days here. Usually when I meet students in America, I ask them what they do for fun and they usually answer by telling me about the sports, music groups, societies, and clubs their involved in. Where I’m from, many kids have a week full of after school activities and a summer vacation full of camps and programs.

The life of a kid growing up in Bulenga is very different. For starters, they handle knives and babies at a younger age. They’re allowed to walk a few kilometers by themselves to pick things up from the market before they know their ABC’s. They can lift many pounds of water and carry them great distances as they fetch water at the well. Some even cook for their families before they know the English names for the ingredients they’re using.

In addition to being much more responsible at a young age, kids in Uganda don’t experience recreation like many kids in America. When they get home from school, they wash clothes, fetch water, and help prepare supper.  At Faith, the students usually have time to complete their homework before leaving school as a result of not always having a teacher in the room. I imagine some kids do homework at home in the evening, but for those without electricity, this can be extremely challenging/potentially dangerous if they have to rely on Kerosene.

Over the weekends, kids have similar responsibilities but much more time to complete these tasks. When they’re not helping around the house, they may get together with neighborhood kids to play games like tic tac toe or run down the street pushing a tire.  Some of the kids I’ve talked to say they love school so much because the weekend can be very boring.  And honestly, I’m not sure what these kids do during the holiday (they have 1 month off following 3 months of school). Based on what I saw my first few weeks, many kids just hang out. When I led games at Faith those first few weeks, kids from the surrounding houses and streets would flock to the school yard. Most of these kids weren’t Faith attenders but it didn’t matter. A sign of activity made that the place to be!

While boredom is not a life threatening issue by any means, it makes me sad seeing how prevalent it is in the lives of these kids.  The reason it bothers me so much is because extracurricular activities have always been such a big part of my life. And I think they helped me a lot! I wouldn’t be the person I am today if it weren’t for all the choirs I’ve been a part of, volleyballs teams, high school musicals, math league teams, summer camp cabins, and cheese club meetings. I’ve learned many skills and techniques in these activities and have had a variety of opprotunities to develop as a leader. Extracurricular activities have always been much more than just a “good for your resume” to me. They’ve been my outlets and passions.

It makes me sad to think these kids won’t have these same opportunities. The path for success for a kid seems to be solely based on academic performance in the 4 main subjects. You don’t hear parents say things like “well he’s not very bright but you should see him draw! He’s quite the budding artist!” or “she isn’t a top student but you should hear her sing! She’s got a beautiful voice!” The talents they have aside from academic performance are not considered important.

As I’ve gotten to know students at Good Hope and Faith, I’ve seen some incredible talents. Sure, there are some students who are remarkably bright. But then there are some students who can look at a picture of anything and draw a perfect replica. Others are extremely fast runners. Some are amazing dancers! A group of my students are incredible soccer players (and resourceful with what they use to make a soccer ball! Past materials have included plastic bags, ropes, and water bottles). Some students are really good at fixing things. One of my students can do incredible voice impressions. Another one struggles in math class but can do some amazing mental math in her head. And another is an excellent leader at school. The list of skills, talents, and gifts I’ve seen could go on and on!

Sadly, many of these talents won’t grow and develop. Being part of a recreational sports team is expensive. There aren’t many dance classes offered.  Playing an instrument is unheard of. Most schools don’t have art, music, or PE class. Kids can continue doing these for fun but they won’t have opportunities to learn from someone with experience or improve to performance level.

There’s one kid at Good Hope I’ve gotten to especially well named Brian! Brian is in Primary 6 and he’s a natural leader at school. He sticks out from the rest for his maturity and good manners. He lives near the volunteer house so he walks home with me every afternoon. He excels in math and wants to be an accountant when he grows up. We usually challenge eachother with math problems on our walks home. A few weeks ago, Brian introduced me to his soccer coach- Coach Alex.

In my time here, a number of people have shared their big ideas with me. I love hearing these ideas as many of them are ways to improve lives in Uganda on a large scale.  They hope that by sharing their ideas with me, I’ll be able to get them the funds they need to start their institution. A few ideas have been an art school, a soccer stadium in Bulenga, and Disneyworld Uganda.

When I met Coach Alex, he also shared his big idea with me. What was different with his though was that it wasn’t an idea- it was stuff he was already doing! Like me, Coach Alex sees some amazing talents among the kids in Bulenga. He really loves kids and wants to help them as they grow up. He explained to me that when he was growing up, he had many experiences that were traumatizing and difficult to process. He longed to have someone to talk to aside from his parents, but was forced to deal with these struggles on his own. It is now his mission to make sure that all kids in Uganda have someone aside from their parents to talk to as they go through the developmental years of their life and try to make sense of the world around them. 

Coach Alex runs a soccer and dance program for the kids of Bulenga and the surrounding villages. There are a few soccer teams, divided up by age and village. He also has some dance groups that perform at local events and celebrations. Because most of the kids he’s reaching out to come from poor homes, he tries to keep the program low cost/free. In addition to playing soccer and dancing, the kids in the program serve the community around them. Young soccer players have a particularly bad reputation around Bulenga, but the participants on Coach’s teams are trying to change that.

Coach Alex is only several years older than me but has a lifetime of wisdom. What I thought was going to be a quick “hi! Nice to meet you!” ended up being a few hours of chatting! Hearing his life story and how he started the program brought tears to my eyes. He’s one of the most forward thinking people I’ve met here and truly driven by his heart. Never once did he ask me for financial support or to connect him with people who could help him out. He simply explained what he’s doing and why he’s doing it, then asked me about myself!

These past few weeks, I’ve spent time with Coach Alex, seeing how his program works and meeting the participants. He’s the coach to hundreds of kids in the area. They all adore him and he knows each of them as an individual. Aside from coaching them in dance and soccer, Coach Alex is a mentor to these kids and encourages them in their school work and at home. He makes sure the kids know his door is always open. Even though he lives in a room slightly bigger than the closet in my college apartment, it’s usually filled with kids!

I’ve joined Coach Alex for a couple of dance performances and practices. I also got to watch a soccer game last weekend which was so fun! The dance practices occur over the weekend in a classroom. The floor is dusty and it can get very hot. But the kids never complain. The dances I’ve seen are different from the traditional styles. Usually Coach Alex choreographs something that tells a story. There may be some traditional dancing in it but it may also contain modern, jazz, and even ballet! The soccer game was incredible. It was so fast paced and filled with a lot of strategy and teamwork. I was really impressed. I joined the team for a scrimmage beforehand which was fun (and a little intimidating! But don’t worry- the ball only hit me in the face once)! When they’re practicing, the kids will play on a “field” made of anything from dirt to sand and they usually don’t wear shoes.

While the talent among the groups is incredible, the part of Alex’s programs that has amazed me the most has been the participants. The kids that I’ve gotten to know who train with Coach Alex are really remarkable kids. They are polite, responsible, hard working, motivated, and determined.  Some of them are fantastic leaders. And 100% of them love what they’re doing. They are so happy to rehearse a dance move for the hundredth time on the same dusty floor or play a game of soccer in the pouring rain.

When Coach Alex explained all of this to me, I was a little skeptical. It seemed very charitable and unrealistic. But in the past few weeks, I’ve seen with my own eyes what kind of a difference 1 selfless and committed person can make. He really is changing the lives of these kids. That Brian for example has really been influenced by Coach Alex. Brian has played soccer with him for a few years and is also one of the leaders of one of the dance troupes. He’s become a true team player and an excellent leader. Coach Alex is not waiting for someone to help him with this great thing he’s doing or for enough money to do things at a high quality level. He’s doing this with his whole heart and working with what he has.

The other thing that has become clear to me after spending afternoons and weekends with Coach Alex is that he could use some help! Because the kids can’t afford to pay much of a participation fee, money is extremely tight for the program. Sometimes, Coach Alex can’t even afford to have soccer balls and cones to practice with. Aside from practice costs, the soccer teams and dance groups don’t have the opportunity to participate in many tournaments/performances because of the admission fee and cost of transportation. These costs are not high by American standards, but they can be far out of reach for an incomeless Coach trying to spread a little money across many things.  I told Coach Alex if other people heard about what he’s doing, they may want to support his cause by donating money and I am hoping to do everything I can to share his story and about his program. I would love to find a soccer team or dance studio or some kind of recreational group in the US who could “adopt” Coach Alex’s program.  If a group could support the program on a continual basis, then I think Coach Alex’s program will have the chance to not only be sustainable and free for more participants, but grow into something even more amazing!! If you have any ideas for ways to get Coach Alex’s story out there or for groups/individuals who may want to sponsor his program, PLEASE let me know! Since my internet access is a limited here, I’ll start working on this more when I get back to the US.

This week has been wonderful and I fall in love with Uganda more everyday. The full moon tonight is absolutely stunning and I’m sad it’s the last one I’ll see here. I can’t believe I’m about to enter into my final week here. The last few weeks have flown by and I’m not ready to think about leaving all the incredible people I’ve gotten to know.  I’m so excited to be reunited with family and friends, but I’m not ready to leave so many friends that I’ve made here.

Love,

Hannah

A wonderful visit to Dream Nursery and Primary! 

The kids LOVE the new swing set! A great way for them to practice sharing and helping eachother by taking turns pushing.

The Primary 3 class! They were so friendly and we had a wonderful time chatting :)

I don't think I was allowed to hold a baby until I was 14. Around here, young children carry their younger siblings all the time! Their mothers trust them. Kids with younger siblings often learn how to care for babies as they grow up.

Fetching water can be hard work- especially for kids that live far from the well! When I see a kid carrying 2 jerrycans, I usually offer to carry 1 as an attempt to walk in his/her shoes (or barefeet) for a short time. Holy moly these kids are strong because these jerrycans can get quite heavy! 

(from left to right) Brian, Zhyna, Coach Alex, Sandra, and Agnes; these kids performed a wonderful dance at a church celebration a few weeks ago!

Just doing some stretches before dance practice!

Warming up before the soccer match

Coach Alex huddling with the team!

Richard got a little muddy but he played a great game and maintained a great smile! 

Post #11: Big Solutions

My time in Bulenga continues to be filled with joy. My favorite memories from this week would be discussing celebrity crushes with my Primary 6 students at Faith, meeting, teaching the “Wobble” to some kids at Good Hope, and getting to meet my student Brian’s grandmother!

This week, I’d like to take some time to talk about some of the large scale problems in Bulenga and in the country of Uganda. 

Everyone over here is on the edge of their seats to find out who the next president of America will be!  It’s been quite the hot topic since I’ve been here.

I’ve had more conversations about American politics in my 2 months here than I’ve ever had in the U.S! Part of that is because of the proximity of the upcoming election.  People are also very intrigued by the election process and the candidates.

Uganda has had the same president for over 30 years. Everyone I’ve talked to dislikes him and his policies. Unfortunately, he holds all the power in the government. Whenever people have tried to run against him, they end up in prison/backing out as a result of threats.  This frustration with the president/government comes from a variety of problems.  

Economy

I remember not initially believing that most of the world lives on $1 a day. While I’m not sure what the percentage is like in other countries, I can confirm that many people in Uganda live on less than 1 US dollar per day. You may be wondering just how this works. For starters, food is much less expensive. The ground is very fertile in Uganda and many people work as farmers. Fresh fruits and vegetables are plentiful and inexpensive. People spend their money on corn flour (used to make porridge and posho), beans, and rice if they can afford it. Other money is spent on things like cooking oil, charcoal, soap, and paraffin/kerosene/fuel. Electricity is very expensive and only those wealthy enough have it in there homes. If people want to be able to make calls, they have to buy minutes for their mobile phones. Then there’s rent and possibly money put aside for transportation.

The cost of living increases dramatically if someone has children. The need for food and clothes increases for starters. Then there are school fees. While most parents WANT their child to receive an education, the cost of tuition is unrealistic for many people.

While $1 a day seems like an extremely low cost for all of these things, for some people, it’s their only option. Salaries in Uganda are extremely low. For example, some teachers get paid as low as $30/month while school’s in session. During the holiday (1 month off after 3 months of school), they don’t get paid at all. Living with such limited money seems nearly impossible. People get creative, but I imagine budgeting with such limited funds can be stressful.

There is no minimum wage here in Uganda. Since jobs are hard to come by, people will work for low salaries. There are no food stamps or homeless shelters in Uganda. If someone can’t make ends meet, they suffer and look for help from family and friends. There are no child services to make sure children are in homes where they can be emotionally and financially supported.

There are a lot of issues in the Ugandan Economy. Unemployment is a huge problem.   Since so many people can only afford to purchase basic necessities, the market for consumer goods that aren’t necessities has very few consumers. Additionally, so many people are selling the same things. If you drive from Bulenga to Kampala (capital city), the main road is lined with the same 4 shops/stands- somewhere to buy chapats, somewhere to buy minutes for your phone, somewhere to buy sugar/rice/flour/oil, and somewhere to buy wash basins, sauce pans, and flip flops. The shops sometimes look identical. The intense competition causes prices to become very low. Why would you buy a wash basin for $2 when the guy 30 feet away is selling them for $1.50?

Education

As I mentioned earlier, education is not a public good in Uganda. If parents want their children to attend school, they need to pay school fees. These fees can be quite expensive! And school fees don’t include notebooks, pens, food, the school uniform, etc.

Schools in Uganda are very different from schools in America. For starters, the classes are HUGE. Many schools in Bulenga have class sizes of 50-100 students. One girl I was chatting with last week said her Primary 5 class has 118 students in it. And all those students learn in the same classroom with 1 teacher. The resources in many classrooms are extremely limited. Students learn what’s written on the chalkboard. They don’t have art or music class, nor do they have extracurricular activities.

If a student can afford to finish secondary school, usually the cost of college is unrealistic. For those who can afford it, it can be an excellent educational experience.  Unfortunately, it rarely results in a job. When employers are hiring someone, they’re more likely to hire a friend with zero credentials than a perfectly qualified candidate. I was chatting about this with some university students and they were very frustrated about it because they work so hard to earn a degree that they may end up never getting a chance to use.

Sanitation

In America, you throw even the smallest piece of waste in a trashbin lined with a trashbag where it will be taken away by a garbage truck to a designated place for trash. Or you recycle it! There is no system like this in Uganda. People burn their trash at the end of the day. There are some things that just don’t burn though. As a result, the streets and roads are encrusted with plastic bags, old shoes, and bottles. People have no problem throwing trash wherever.

In addition to harming the earth, this method of disposing trash is harmful to people! Everyday I see babies and young kids walking around with things in their mouths. Babies teeth on things like plastic bags, wires, and bottle caps. Aside from being major choking hazards, many of these things come from the ground where they’ve been coated in germs. The other day, I saw a little kid walking around with a circuit board in his mouth. When he walked up to me, I was so shocked and suggested he take it out. He took it out and put it on the ground. Then a few minutes later, I saw him playing with some friends, circuit board back in his mouth.

Health

Healthcare in Uganda is extremely limited. In Bulenga, there are various clinics sprinkled around so most people can access doctors within a walking distance.  Sometimes, a clinic is simply a room with a few beds and a fluid bag coming out of the wall that can attach to an IV. In more remote places, such as Gomba, 1 health clinic could serve as the only health facility for miles. It’s not uncommon for people to die from very preventable and treatable diseases such as the flu or malaria. For many people, the cost of going to a doctor is unrealistic. In addition, medicine can be very extremely costly.

Law Enforcement

There are police in Uganda but the work they’re usually not the ones to settle disputes. Theft is a huge problem in Bulenga (and many other parts of Uganda I imagine). A few weeks ago, George Mike was walking around and a man ran by him with a TV. Behind him was a large group of people chasing him. Once the group reached the man, they began throwing rocks at him until he was eventually stoned to dealth. This was a case of “mob justice”, the way most crimes are “settled” around here. Most issues are resolved before the police are even called. Getting a trial for a convicted crime is usually unheard of.

I’m not saying that these are problems that would be instantly solved if Uganda had better leadership. Many of these problems are complicated and would require large-scale reform in order to solve. Unfortunately, little is being done to solve any of these problems.

When I’m talking with people about life in Uganda, they usually describe these problems and others to me. They tell me about the president’s lack of action. I usually encourage them to run for president of Uganda! The reaction to this statement is typically a good, long laugh. When I tell them I’m serious, they reply be telling me they would be imprisoned if they ran for president and the next president of Uganda will be someone who’s already friends with the current president.

People are extremely discouraged with the way the government is being run in Uganda. Perhaps the saddest part is that I haven’t met a single on of them who believes he or she can change it. Nobody feels like they have a voice or a chance.

I know this post is a bit of a downer, but I want you to encourage you to vote on Tuesday! (If for no other reason but because YOU CAN!) Being part of a government where you have a say in how things go is truly a privilege.

As far as Uganda goes, I barely have solutions for the small problems, much less these big ones! While I’ve learned a lot about these issues, after 10 weeks here, I don’t feel like I’ve figured out a way to change things in this struggling country. But perhaps that’s not the way it’s supposed to be.

The kids I’m working with are so incredibly smart. They have amazing endurance and admirable optimism. Additionally, they know so much more about Uganda, lifestyles here, and the areas of need than I ever will. I truly believe that these kids have the ability to create life changing solutions to these big problems. If these kids can be convinced of that, then there is some serious hope for Bulenga and all of Uganda. In my remaining 2 weeks here, I will do everything in my ability to give these kids the encouragement & hope that their brilliant minds and creative ideas can do big things.

Thank you all for your continual encouragement and support! All the amazing love has given me so much to pass forward.

Love,

Hannah

Lydia and Lukia- two of my wonderful Primary 4 students at Faith- both of them are amazing at math! Whenever I give them speed addition time tests, they finish in a fraction of the time it takes others!

My lovely Promise from Primary 3! Among the "things kids here put in their mouths" list includes pens. Promise will not allow a pen to go to waste without making sure every last bit of ink is used. She has a method of blowing any leftover ink through the pen so it will go through the tip. This is a messy process and she sometimes spends the class covered in ink!

It's currently the rainy season in Uganda! Watching a big storm from the house the other day!

My wonderful friend Hannah! We share the same name and favorite color. 

Rainy Day + hill climbing

A shop selling basins and sauce pans. I'll have to get a photo of all 4 "typical shops" in a row

Trash on a rainy day. The ground has a beautiful color but all the waste makes it difficult to see.