Back to the Future

'It always seems impossible until it's done.' This is going to be a stonking blog... it starts with words from Nelson Mandela! Which reminds me of something my friend Moses said in a Zoom meeting last week. We were discussing *Global Care’s disability project, which looked at different interventions to help children with mobility disability to get to school.  This year Moses and Penlope, the local Global Care team in Rukungiri, have been collecting data for a project final review.  When asked if his attitude to children with disability had changed, Moses said, 'It seemed impossible, (for them to go to school) but after some time it is possible.'

This project has been an active part of my life for 6 years. In 2019 Tom & I visited Rukungiri in Southwest Uganda, and Moses & Penlope took us to meet children living with disability (CWD) in rural homes. We went to schools, met local disabled people, and talked to local craftsmen who make crutches and other wooden aids for CWD. We visited hospitals. All the children had issues accessing schools.  The project ended in December 2022.  Now we're supporting the team as they assess the impact of the project for the 19 children who took part. I'm helping to write a final report, and analysing feedback data from interviews carried out in Uganda.

The project also supported the children's families to believe in possibilities for their children, and themselves. It's incredibly challenging to live with and support a disabled child anywhere (I know I can’t speak for anyone else, but I’ve watched you). Imagine a place with no free health or social care, no practical or financial support for disability, and you’re living in extreme poverty. Very few places have adaptations like ramps for wheelchair users or accessible sanitation. Teachers have little training in working with disabled children.

Global Care thinks about families! Sustainability initiatives were introduced to help families transport their children to school (bicycles), and to encourage income generation. In Uganda, livestock are a kind of banking system and for this project, were chosen to potentially enable families to continuing paying for school once the project ended. Did I say no truly free education? Caregivers must pay school fees, provide uniform and food, while also buying medicines or paying for transport to hospitals for their disabled child, and trying to provide basics and food for their whole family. Owning livestock means families can sell an animal in times of financial crisis (needing medical treatment), or with large outgoings (children’s termly school requirements).  The system works as long as the animals keep healthy and are multiplying.  

At this stage it wouldn’t be appropriate for me to tell you the detail of the review outcomes... The report hasn't been signed off or shared with anyone outside the operations and Rukungiri team. However, a few weeks ago, we had another one of ‘those’ conversations with Steve, Global Care Head of Operations.  He asked if we'd like to go to Uganda and present the report to the Uganda National Board… and take part in the Uganda managers annual conference. In 6 weeks’ time!  We said yes, after a bit of deliberation. We've spent the last month discussing the findings and editing the report, attending meetings (online with UK & Ug teams), planning agendas and workshops... and faffing with visas & flights. We go on Sunday (5th October), for a week.

I'm excited & somewhat anxious. It feels a big responsibility... With the help of two of our Ugandan friends who have a disability, we're going to support the local teams as they consider what disability inclusion means for their projects. And presenting to the Board? There's a slight (?) language difference to overcome as a start. Will I remember how to speak Ugandan English syntax?

So here’s a few headlines… 14 children are now regularly attending school. The desolation of living isolated at home is gone. No longer alone and afraid, discriminated against and thought of as no use, the children are integrated, learning, sociable, and improving in their mobility and confidence. Their families believe their children have hope for the future... & their expectations have changed. I’m still buzzing from meeting some of the children in December at the activity camps – if you missed the blog, you can read more here: https://darton2soroti.blogspot.com/2025/01/please-can-i-play.html

These children have without a doubt changed my life. Their resilience and joy leave me realising Global Care are absolutely right in their motto – 'Can’t do everything. Mustn’t do nothing. Can do something.' That something can seem really small to us but can be the difference between desperation and believing you have a future. These children were without hope, now they know they are loved and appreciated, they have self-worth, dignity and are beginning to understand they have the same rights as their able peers.

Time for more from Nelson Mandela, 'Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.'  Seeing the children in December was a revelation.  Watching them interact with UK volunteers and schoolteachers who didn’t know them was brilliant.  They make a huge impact on everyone they meet. One teacher said to me, ‘This one is so clever.’ Another said, ‘I didn’t know these children can go to school.’ Maybe it's time to start believing these children can change the world.

I'll update you next from Uganda... 

*Global Care is an International Christian Children's Charity. Tom and I have been volunteering with Global Care since 2008.