Who built the ark?

Since I didn’t get time to write a blog while I was in Uganda, I’ve decided to retrospectively blog about our trip.  Today I‘m going to introduce The Ark.  

According to t’Internet, an ‘ark’ represents something that provides protection and safety.  Think about a group of children needing a safe environment…. and for whom living in Africa makes them particularly vulnerable.  UNICEF say ‘Children with disabilities (CWD) are one of the most marginalized and excluded groups in society’, discriminated against through negative attitudes, inadequate policies and legislation, and often with no rights to healthcare, education and protection.  The World Health Organisation (WHO) claim that ‘Children with disabilities are almost four times more likely to experience violence than non-disabled children’.  In developing countries 90% of CWD do not attend school according to UNESCO.  The UNICEF funded Research study on children with disabilities living in Uganda provide some insight into the situation in Uganda.

Global Care have created a day centre in Soroti, currently caring for 10 CWD.  All The Ark children have physical disabilities, most have mobility issues.  Some have learning disabilities too.  On our visits to Uganda we’ve met many CWD and often been shocked by the way they live.  The children are generally isolated, some locked or hidden away away for hours, or left with relatives and neighbours who don’t care for them properly.  We’ve met guardians who couldn’t work because of looking after a disabled child - further deepening the cycle of poverty and hardship. 

When we arrived at the Soroti Centre this year, having greeted the staff, the next thing I wanted to do was get into The Ark.  We had to finish camp preparations first but then some of us hurried to The Ark. I can’t describe the feeling when I said ‘Hello’ to a child I hadn’t seen for 2 years, and her face was washed with smiles; or when *Simon reached out his arms to be picked up giggling with glee then jumped with excitement as I helped him stand.   *Martha (who is blind) brought tears to my eyes when I stroked her face and she smiled and reached up to touch my hand.   

We all felt emotional as Tom played ‘round and round the garden’ with a blind and deaf child who was previously unresponsive - and she smiled broadly as she was tickled. They are incredibly appealing, responsive, and rewarding children.  I think the whole UK team fell in love with the group and most team members developed a real connection with at least one child.

As the week progressed, we brought the Ark children up to the camp tents where they could listen and watch, or sing and dance.  There was no shortage of volunteers to help carry the children so they could be involved.  We took it in turns to sit with and support these lovable noisy, messy, sometimes difficult to control, children on the mat in the shade.  We managed to help them join in with games and activities. I don’t think any of us will forget the voice singing out ‘Be bold, be strong’ throughout the day or the girl who loved the crafts and wanted her own work folder. My heart skipped when *Acem looked at us and audibly said Hannah’s and my names, mouth and tongue struggling round the words and arms and legs flailing with effort.

These children have such potential – and provide huge reward and joy.  We saw improvements in many of the children from our last visit. I have tremendous awe and respect for the Ugandan team who collect the children each morning and take them home at the end of the day, who feed, change and bathe the children, play with them, talk to them, and teach them songs.

Every time I meet the children in The Ark they challenge me. Challenge my expectations and perceptions, challenge my prejudices and my response to such naked need.  

I know I need to never forget that these 10 are the ‘lucky’ ones, and we need to find ways to fight to improve the situation for many more children with disabilities.  Thank you Global Care for The Ark. Thank you Global Care for a sponsorship scheme that includes children with disabilities. 

*names changed to protect identities