Today has been a day of reflection leaving us both feeling
that our visit has been worthwhile, but at the same time sad that we have to
leave. We have learnt much about life in
Rukungiri, and the work of Moses and Allen.
We have added Rukungiri to the places that have our hearts. The people are friendly, welcoming and warm
and the Global Care team have been a delight and joy to work with. The scenery here is awesome and we have seen
breath-taking views, and had the privilege (Rachel please note) of watching the
African sunrise over the mountains. We
have even had what has now become known as a ‘team building day’ looking for
big game.
But behind the beauty is a story of poverty and
injustice. We have seen some of the finest
houses we’ve ever seen in Uganda, belonging to rich people who live in big
cities and for whom these houses are simply a place to go for village matters
such as burials and weddings. Further
down the road, the track will get smaller and smaller until it becomes a stony
(and muddy in the rain) path. At the end
of the path will be a dwelling where a family will live. The family may live in what my friend Carolyn
refers to as ‘absolute’ poverty. They
may have a roof over their heads, but it can leak. They may have a mattress , or sleep on a rush
mat. They may have land, or not. They are unlikely to have any mode of
transport except walking. They may have
work – but more likely will be going out each day to try and find work, which
if they’re lucky may pay the equivalent of £1 a day.
There is no free healthcare, no Food Banks, no social
security, no subsidised housing.
Absolute poverty: no food, no medical care, no education, no transport,
no work, no beds or furniture. On the plus side, much of Rukungiri has access
to clean water within a kilometre, and some of the time, some of the town has
power – that is, where power is connected and if you have money to pay for it. The livelihoods and survival of people are
entirely dependent on the weather.
I have been encouraged by the work we’ve seen – the way the
team care for the children and their desire to reach the most vulnerable
children. We’ve seen how sponsorship
changes lives – reflected most poignantly for us by meeting Rebecca again and
spending time with Arnold. I’ve also
seen some images that I hope will never leave me – the father desperate for
help with his disabled daughter but so broken and crushed he couldn’t tell us
what he needed. Arnold’s Grandmother
exhausted and anxious. The sick, weak,
elderly grandparents carrying their disabled children on their backs, and the
child with malnutrition in the hospital.
We are delighted with the progress made on both the HIV
testing programme and the survey of children with disability. Today we wrote reports and made
recommendations and sent them off to the UK office. Today I feel very sad to be leaving, and I
can’t imagine coming back to Uganda and not visiting Rukungiri. We’ve said goodbye to Moses and his family,
and Allen and Rev. Moses. We’ve had a
last special lunch at our favourite café and been shopping for souvenirs at
Moses’ shop. Now we just have to eat our
evening meal and say goodbye to the staff at the hotel.
Tomorrow we travel to Kampala setting off early so Charles
can have some time with his family. I
wonder what new joys and challenges will be waiting for us when we meet up
again with Gertrude and the children at Guiding Star school.
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