tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27174538900794532152024-02-20T12:31:17.883-08:00Chute, the MovieIn 2008 I visited Uganda with Global Care, an International Christian Children's Charity. I've had 7 more trips to Uganda, visited Labanon, and Albania and now we're off to Uganda again. This blog represents musings before, during and after trips.
No parachutes were harmed in the making of this blog.BarbsyHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01383635021765875275noreply@blogger.comBlogger102125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2717453890079453215.post-15527157108320129902019-11-22T09:33:00.001-08:002019-11-22T09:40:08.875-08:00Boda Boys save the day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We’ve just completed our final day of work… and can happily
report that we’ve achieved everything we set out to do here in Rukungiri (and a
bit extra!). Moses and Penlope are still waiting for school reports but apart
from that we’ve completed a termly report for each child in the disability
project. We’ve updated their care plans and budgets for 2020 as far as possible.
There are a few outstanding actions that need to be completed – a child needs
to go for rehabilitation and treatment of an ulcer at hospital, but the parents
can’t spare the time until the harvest is complete. They’ve agreed that her
mother will take her in December. She needs to stay at the hospital for up to a
month, but not only are the family subsistence farmers, they also have 5 other
children. It’s not easy for an adult in this family to be away from home for 4
weeks.<br>
<br>
I haven’t really talked about the school latrines Global
Care funded. It hasn’t been a straightforward project! Constructors didn’t understand
the specification for accessible latrines, and the first latrine wasn’t really
what was expected. However, with practice they got better at understanding and following
instructions and the third accessible latrine is pretty good… apart from the back-to-front
handrails. Moses has some latrine modifications to sort out, but moving and
installing handrails shouldn’t be too difficult or too expensive (see how confident
we’re being…). Building latrines at
schools has had unexpected positive consequences. One disabled girl no longer
pays fees ‘as she is responsible for the new school toilets.’ <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At another school, nursery children used to
share the church latrine – a very old, basic structure. Now the nursery has
their own toilet block with one stall with handrails, and the church is allowed
to use one latrine on Sundays – they’re very happy.<br>
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<br>
Latrines and latrine modifications enabled disabled children
to access school, or use school latrines independently, but we are stunned by
the results of much cheaper interventions. Through this project, 13 children attend
school regularly and punctually. All these children have improved mobility – children
who hardly walked in March now play football or join in PE and run and play
happily with their classmates. All the children have settled well at school and
have friends and join in activities. Only one child received discrimination –
from a teacher.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Moses, Penlope and the
school worked together to resolve the matter. The child is now loved and
respected. It’s been fantastic to have the opportunity to meet all the children
and we’re humbled and excited by everything the team have achieved. For some children,
simply providing a boda taxi to school has brought about all these positive outcomes.<br>
<br>
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I’m not sure how to sum up this week. I’ve seen fabulous improvements
in children that rendered me speechless or an emotional wreck – the Boy Who
Went Out* and the boy who ran to hug me, children who wouldn’t look at me in
March now greeting me like a friend. I’ve heard some incredibly sad stories –
the child who has no food, the boy whose mother drinks and doesn’t care for her
children or their home, children who may be able to walk to and from school in
a year or so but whose parents can’t afford fees or uniforms. So… although we’re
thrilled with this project and amazed at what Moses and Penlope have achieved
with relatively small funding in a short time, there are still challenges to
consider. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br>
<br>
Both this project and the Disability Support Groups in
Soroti are changing disabled children’s lives for the better – in very
different ways. We need solutions for supporting disabled children that are appropriate
for a specific locality and culture. The geography of this area is a huge
factor for any project. Sparsely populated areas separated by miles of hills
and rough tracks aren’t conducive to a support group. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today we met a Disabled People’s representative
on the local district council. He asked why we hadn’t built a dormitory for
disabled children at a school, and we explained that Global Care decided it was
much better to keep families together and not take the disabled children away
or risk institutionalising them. He was very happy with the decision and with
the results of the project. I’m very glad not to be someone who takes
responsibility for these kinds of decisions!<br>
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<br>
Ultimately, these projects need to become sustainable – not to
rely on continued donor support. That’s the biggest challenge. Apparently in
Rukungiri, pigs are the animal of choice for income generating, in Soroti it’s
goats. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even the questions of sustainability
must be locally appropriate. We must do something for these children, it would
break your heart to hear the stories and visit the homes of disabled children
who don’t benefit from this kind of project. I hope the blog has stimulated you
to think about disability and about disabled children in countries without free
health and social care, real inclusive education and special needs teachers,
properly accessible buildings and schools, and where poverty and disability together
drastically reduce your chances of reaching adulthood. Its tough but true that
life here for many is a struggle, and particularly for disabled children. So, thanks
for joining me and spare a thought and a prayer for all the children you’ve met
in my blog in the last 2 weeks, and for the teams in Soroti and Rukungiri and
their incredible work to improve the lives of disabled children. Thank you
Global Care, for caring about these children, and giving them hope for the
future. <br>
<br>
*http://darton2soroti.blogspot.com/2019/11/the-boy-who-went-out.html
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>BarbsyHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01383635021765875275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2717453890079453215.post-10478487982704535602019-11-20T09:55:00.002-08:002019-11-20T09:55:35.737-08:00All God's Children Got Shoes...?
<br />
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We’re a bit weary this evening. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 6½ hours we travelled about 100 miles, met
6 disabled children in the project, visited 5 schools (one of which was
closed!), had no toilet breaks (although 2 men managed to sneak off at one
point), no snacks, got stuck in mud once, moved fallen debris off the muddy
path once, got soaked once, dropped 1 bag on a path that had turned into a
river, got mobbed 3 times (‘Muzungu, Muzungu, how are you?’), gave 2 boys a
lift so they could guide us to a house (child in project, parents failed to
tell Moses they’d moved), didn’t get lost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We drove through a dense forest, up and down steep slippery rutted
tracks, and over beautiful rolling hills on relatively OK roads. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we arrived back in town, 2 of us rushed
for the loo then the 4 of us had a huge local buffet for a total price of approx.
£10. Phew.<br />
<br />
We passed huge rice fields and were perplexed by bright blue
structures dotted around the valley. Moses informed us they were shelters for
bird scarers. We looked more closely and all over the fields spotted raised mud
platforms with rudimentary shelters made from sticks and grass – and occasionally
extra protection from a blue plastic sheet. Children and young people perched
on the platforms ‘chasing away the birds.’ Moses said, ‘These children have no school,
no life.’ It was lashing down with rain. When the sun’s out its blisteringly
hot.<br />
<br />
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It’s been that kind of day. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For our first school visit, we drove down, then
walked up, a muddy footpath to the entrance, a gap in a barbed wire fence. Children
were clearing grass and weeds and generally tidying the school compound with machetes
and hoes. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were preparing the school
for a fundraising day in December – we were invited to attend! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Moses told us the disabled child at the school
comes from a family who is ‘not very poor’, so Global Care only pays for
transport. He used to be late for school and didn’t come every day but coming
to school on a boda (motorbike taxi) means he arrives on time every day. He
walks home and is walking much better with the exercise. Apparently ‘not very
poor’ doesn’t mean you have shoes, but unlike many of the other children, he
was wearing school uniform.<br />
<br />
On our second visit we met a subdued little boy. Francis*
comes from a very poor family. He lives with his father who Moses described as,
‘A drunkard.’ There’s a huge problem with alcohol abuse in this area, which let’s
face it is associated with poverty. There are 100 children in Francis’s class,
but the school employed a second teacher and split the class – which of course
means the fees will go up. Moses paid Francis’s fees and we talked to his class
teacher. He has a club foot which was operated on when he was younger, and he
walks with a pronounced limp. The teacher told us he plays and interacts with
other children, but, ‘He has a problem...’ She said, ‘He doesn’t have food.’ Francis
told us there’s is often no food at home. The children bring packed lunches to
school. Francis brings lunch 3 days out of 5. He has no shoes and no uniform. <br />
<br />
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We were thoughtful in the car but cheered up at our next 2
visits, catching up with children we met in February. Abby was given a standing
frame through the project. Her balance has improved since the last time we saw
her. George has Cerebral Palsy and can’t walk far, but he’s only 4 so a bit
young for school. The project gave him a walker and helped with some costs for George
and his father to spend 2 weeks at a rehabilitation hospital. Although his
mobility is steadily improving, we think he’ll need a wheelchair for school, so
we visited the local school. We were delighted at the positive attitude of the
staff to inclusive education. They’ll work with Moses to develop paths and
clear ground and there’s a plan for a GCare funded block of latrines including a
wheelchair accessible stall. We had similar discussions at the last school. <br />
<br />
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Today got me thinking about poverty. In Uganda we’re used to
seeing children in filthy ragged clothes, shoeless and often not at school. We’re
used to children doing heavy chores, fetching water and firewood, looking after
younger siblings, helping in the garden. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ve become complacent. We visited Simon
today. He and his sisters were sheltering from the rain in a tiny smoky hut preparing
vegetables to cook on the fire, while their mother worked in the garden some
distance away. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Simon greeted us then rushed
off to put on a shirt, change into less dirty shorts and wash his face
(partially successful). Simon treated us with respect and honour – he deserves
the same. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The project provides fees,
uniform and scholastic materials, the family lives in obvious poverty. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Its distressing when you hear a child has no
food or see children working as human scarecrows.<br />
<br />
Poverty here doesn’t fit our
Western poverty concept – its extreme. We can’t leave these children isolated
and uneducated as well as poor. Disabled children are often last to eat, last
to go to school, last to get medical attention. I love this project – we’ve
seen 17 of the 19 children receiving help, and all those we met before have a
better life. Global Care’s motto is, ‘You can’t do everything, can’t do
nothing, must do something.’ And that’s what the disability project is doing –
something to change 19 lives. <br />
<br />
<br />
Tomorrow and Friday we pull all the data and information
together, review the children’s care plans and plan and budget for next year.
Its going to be hard work but I can’t wait to get started.<br />
<br />
If you want to help this project, go to <a href="https://www.globalcare.org/project/rukungiri-disability/" target="_blank">Rukungiri Disability Project</a> on the Global Care website.<br />
<br />
<br />
*children’s names are made up to protect identity.<br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<br />BarbsyHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01383635021765875275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2717453890079453215.post-78211496392550752872019-11-19T09:34:00.003-08:002019-11-19T09:34:36.145-08:00The Girl With One ShoeWe spent today ‘in the field’ again. Oh my gosh – we had
some brilliant surprises. I’ve decided you can have another day of mostly
positive stories, but we might start looking at challenges too!<br />
<br />
In February we visited John* and his family. John is an
orphan, has Cerebral Palsy, and lives with his elderly grandparents. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’d just started school, walking with a
walking frame and accompanied by other children. When we visited the school, he
was sitting at the back of the class on a mat, his workbook on the floor. He
couldn’t manage to walk to the latrine, or use it himself, and Moses had to
negotiate a small ‘motivation’ for the teacher so she would accompany him to
the toilet. The nursery children were using a tumbledown latrine that belonged
to a neighbouring church. Then the Global Care project stepped in. <br />
<br />
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Today, as we approach John’s classroom, his teacher comes
out to greet us. I step into the room, and watch John undo the table on his new
chair. I’m stunned as he stands up, then he’s running towards me and flings his
arms round my waist. I’m hugging him and laughing (and trying not to cry), and
all I can think is, ‘this is what it’s all about.’ John now walks to school
without the walker, helped by his siblings and friends. He laughs and smiles
with us (although no-one’s smile is as big as mine – I can’t stretch my mouth wide
enough for the joy and love spilling out for this child). He’s made friends –
the other children sing a song to encourage him to walk! His academic work is
steadily improving. And… Global Care built a block of latrines, one has
handrails. John takes himself to the toilet. This little boy wasn’t expected to
walk independently, wasn’t expected to be able to stay at school, look at
him now! I think I’ll remember that hug for a very long time.<br />
<br />
We meet another boy at the same school who also has Cerebral
Palsy. He looks healthy and happy – different from the shy withdrawn little boy
we met in February. He talks to us, plays happily with his classmates – he likes
to play football and is walking better. GCare only provides transport to
school, he walks home for the exercise. The system seems to be working.<br />
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We’re thrilled as we climb back into the car and set off further
West. We pass tall eucalyptus trees, banana and coffee plantations, and small
trading centres by the roadside which serve the villages situated further into
the hills. We meet Glory. A little girl with severe kyphoscoliosis. Before the
project she was isolated at home, had no social interaction and was somewhat neglected.
She’s still shy with us, but we all agree she looks more healthy – Global Care pays
for her to have lunch. GCare built latrines at this school too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The school is so delighted that they allow
Glory to attend school for free. They recognise that it is because of her that
they have a proper concrete toilet block, latrines are no longer housed in ramshackle
huts. Although Glory’s life has radically changed for the better, she needs
more surgical assessment – and money is short for medical treatment. This visit
highlights two challenges, getting builders to construct latrines to standard specifications,
and the high number of disabled children who require costly surgical or medical
interventions to correct deformities and/or prolong life. <br />
<br />
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Our next visit is more difficult. Charles parks the car and
we step up a high ledge then climb a narrow steep uneven path through gardens to
reach a modest house. A small boy who is clearly disabled is sitting alone outside.
I said this would be mostly positive, but this is a tough visit. Martin’s
father comes home to meet us, and we discuss how we might be able to help
Martin. We think there are ways his life could be improved but there is much to
sort out before we can think of school. We'll spend time developing a plan
when we’re in the office at the end of the week.<br />
<br />
We visit two children at different schools, Mark and Mary,
both with congenital lower limb reductions – one leg which didn’t develop
properly. We discuss their walking aids. I say ‘discuss’… Ugandan discussions
are protracted and heated. We can’t seem to get anyone to translate for us so at
both schools I wander off and distract the other children by taking photos and
showing them the results to great hilarity.<br />
<br />
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When we’re ready to leave the last school, we give Mary a
lift home. She’s a bit tense as its her first ride in a car. Worryingly, the
children at the school follow us. We’re their first white people and the car a
huge novelty. Charles gets out and chases them away. They follow at a distance.
When the car stops, Moses lifts Mary out and she races off down a hill hopping on
her crutches carefully negotiating rocks and plants. We follow her and greet
her Grandmother, Mary’s carer since she was a baby. Tom and Moses go to inspect
the small basic latrine GCare built at the home. Mary’s Grandmother thanks us
for all Global Care has done for the family. They appreciate GCare so much, they never
expected to have their own latrine or for Mary to go to school. Tom brings our
finger puppets Bob the Mouse and Molly the Sheep to play with Mary. Her face
lights up and we decide its time for Molly to move on. She can stay and be a
friend for Mary. Mary tells us that she will love Molly and care for her…<br />
<br />
<br />
As we walk back to the car the whole village comes to wave
goodbye. What a day! We’ve seen incredible transformations in the lives of
disabled children and their families, and whole communities who’ve benefited
from the latrines. None of this would be possible without Global Care, without Moses
and Penelop, or without the people who supported fundraising appeals and became
project partners. Our last visit of the day is to a disabled councillor at a
trading centre to discuss mobility and toilet aids. As we leave, he thanks the
4 of us for caring about the people he represents, for loving disabled people.
This project is about equality and justice, ‘no-one left behind’.<br />
<br />
I’m going to
put a photo of John up in my office, that hug is a testimony to the power of
the love and care Global Care has for disabled children. A hug that makes
working for Global Care a joyful privilege.<br />
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<br />
*All the names are made up to protect identity<br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>BarbsyHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01383635021765875275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2717453890079453215.post-20210273814919126262019-11-18T09:20:00.003-08:002019-11-18T09:20:51.040-08:00The Boy Who Went OutI wasn't sure if I'd manage a blog...there is yet
another storm, and power may go off. There is a generator, but it isn’t always
used. The hotel promised Moses (Global Care’s Rukungiri Manager) WiFi. There’s
no WiFi. The hotel manager told us his boss is coming from Kampala to sort it
out. We know what that means… It ain’t likely to happen! Tom's Uganda sim is providing a mobile hotspot which seems to be solving the problem for now. We have a
lovely big room, and hot water when the power is on, so there are plus points.
There’s no laundry but one of the waitresses offered to do my washing. We didn’t
get supper last night despite ordering food, so this morning we ordered our
meal for tonight and we’ll see if that works. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Moses decided we should try this new hotel and
he told me, ‘It’s a bit cheap.’ It’s £15 a night. This morning he asked, ‘How is
the hotel?’ I said, ‘It’s a bit OK!’<br />
<br />
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Welcome to Rukungiri – a town in South West Uganda.
Rukungiri is a mountainous region, it rains a lot and is often cold. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After our trip in March we were so cold that this
time we brought Down jackets and fleece jumpers. We’d worn them within a few
hours of our arrival. Today we started in 4 layers but by the end of the day were
down to 1. Rukungiri is stunningly beautiful. It’s a shock after the flat plains
and swamps of Soroti, the hills are high and steep and most of the time you can
see huge mountain ranges in the distance. The crops are different here too – lots
of matooke (plantain) and sweet potato. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
trees are tall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The main road is good
but all the roads out of town are local marram and rocks which turns into thick
red slimy mud in the rain. Once we’re off the wider roads, the paths become
narrow footpaths. Somehow Charles negotiates the Super Custom most of the way.<br />
<br />
We arrived in the office this morning at 9am and after a
quick catch up set off ‘into the field’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The Global Care project we’ve come to visit is focussed on supporting children
with mobility difficulties to go to school. In March we visited children at
home and worked on individual care plans for each child. Accessing school poses
many problems but the key things we considered were mobility aids, transport, school
fees, welfare support such as a mattress for home or extra feeding, medical
help, and accessible school latrines. We met children who had started school but
who arrived late because they had to crawl or were in pain, couldn’t make the
journey every day, stopped because of discrimination, parents couldn’t pay fees
or who couldn’t use the latrines. Other children had never gone to school for
all the same reasons, or because the family prioritised able-bodied children. Some
children were isolated and neglected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over
the last 8 months we’ve read reports and seen photos as the children have started
attending school regularly and on time. This week we’re visiting children and
schools that Moses and his colleague Penelop want to discuss with us – and we’re
helping them conduct an annual review and start planning for next year.<br />
<br />
Today we were out from 9.30am till 5pm with a one hour stop
for lunch and to give Charles a break. Slight digression… when we’re here we
eat local food at lunchtime. Today I had chicken stew and mini egg-plant stew
with rice, matoke, sweet potatoes and pumpkin. Don’t judge, remember I missed
tea yesterday and trust me, I ate half the quantity of the others. Anyway, in
the 6½ hours of work, we visited 3 schools and 4 children – that’s how far
apart the children live. Up and down muddy hillsides occasionally sliding into
hedges and then stomping over muddy and waterlogged school compounds. Great fun!<br />
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<br />
The highlights were visiting our old friend William* who isn’t
well enough to attend school, but who received a wheelchair which has totally
transformed his life and the life of his family. When his family used to go out
to work or shop, they locked him in the house, unable to move himself. Now they
take him to a neighbour who looks after him for the day. His friends take him
out in his ‘Muzungu Car’, they took him to a friend’s house last week so he
could join in their end of school -leaving exams celebrations. In March he was
shy and quiet, today he was laughing and smiling. His brother and sister take
him with them when they go to look after the goats. He has a life! His family
are no longer worried about him and exhausted from lifting and carrying him.
Brilliant.<br />
<br />
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We visited Mary and Grace at school. Both girls are happy to
be able to learn, to be with friends, to play with other children. We saw a
change in them too – smiling and laughing and singing to us with their classmates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mary has cerebral palsy and we saw a definite
improvement in her walking. Grace has a wheelchair and has learnt to get in and
out of it herself and her friends push her round school. It’s such a privilege
to come here and see the changes in the children and their families. To see
laughter where there was no interaction, hope where there was no hope, playing
with others where there was isolation.<br />
<br />
Today I’m telling you positives, parts that
gladdened our hearts and excited us. But behind these beautiful mountains and
glorious views children and families are struggling with total poverty. Disabled children live with community discrimination and family
rejection. Some schools take a long time to accept disabled children
and some teachers are unkind and disrespectful to children with disability.<br />
<br />
So
don’t get complacent – I’ll tell you the hard stuff another day…<br />
<br />
PS - Timmy update, he and his mother are travelling to Entebbe and CORSU hospital tomorrow.<br />
<br />
<br />
*these are not the children's real names<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>BarbsyHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01383635021765875275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2717453890079453215.post-63859563803186620752019-11-15T09:55:00.000-08:002019-11-15T09:55:24.617-08:00Uncle Mike and the Play ChainThis morning we visited ‘Timmy’ in hospital, he’s very sick.
It is a desperate situation. We heard back from the hospital in Entebbe where
we sent the photographs, and they’re willing to assess him for free and provide
free accommodation to him and his mother. We’re hoping this will be possible,
we trust and respect them having met them in March. They’re NGO funded but have
a desire to help the most vulnerable and keep costs low where possible. We were despondent as we left the hospital and talked
about options for counselling for Timmy and his mother – and the Global Care
staff who know him. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is nothing
here in the way of end-of-life care. The church clinic looking after Timmy will
treat any infections – but every night in hospital, every drug, every test,
costs money. Its impossible to budget for medical care when you have a very sick
child with complex disabilities under your care… and 100s of other children
with minor illnesses as well as malaria and typhoid. We've just got the green light for Timmy to travel to Entebbe. If you pray, please pray
for Timmy and his Mum, and for Global Care, as they work together to help Timmy.<br />
<br />
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We drove away from the hospital with heavy hearts and once again travelled the
long journey to Abeko to visit the Playscheme (which meets in a school
classroom). The minute we arrived our day changed. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Playworkers at the Playscheme were leading
parachute games – and disabled children from the Playscheme were playing alongside
children at the school. For so long the disabled children were bullied and
ostracised, now they were playing together. I realised they were using a
parachute I sent out in March (another Wightman Parachute for those who
understand). You’re standing in a field in the middle of nowhere (literally) and
there are children shouting, laughing and singing, playing games with a huge piece
of coloured material and some plastic balls – and it is joyous. 8 months ago, the
disabled children were shy, introverted and didn’t move much. Today they were interacting
with other children and there was so much fun about the activity. Pure
unadulterated fun! <br />
<br />
I realised something else. 11 years ago, I came to Soroti with
a parachute and taught ‘Uncle Mike’ how to use it. Over the years he’s
developed a brilliant kids club with 100s of children who come to his house to
play with him – and the parachute. Uncle Mike visited the Playscheme and taught
David, a Playworker, how to use the parachute. It’s a brilliant example of how
a charity should work. If we have skills and knowledge that we can share, we
pass it on, and then we leave people to work their new skills into their own
environment and culture. We don’t tell them how to do it, and we don’t do it
for them – they don’t need me to play parachute games, they’ve made up their
own Ugandan games. Tom & I might have had a sneaky play ourselves – but Playworker
David was in charge.<br />
<br />
We spent the day gathering stories and listening to people tell
us how the Playscheme has impacted their lives. I was speechless by the end!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ5aWOgpYsEKIbwUfBuWbI2s5QPgGV6qrAw0WcnZCHHI0Q4aAIKrL4KOt4XxGwKMdBiKH1VyMv3CD5cWmZtvRaf4zfYeKgME4-Q68EhYpQsTf2bkwZ03LXYm5XDUMolf2mynvMswp3iZlj/s1600/P1040305.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a>We heard about John, whose severe burns left him
disfigured and with contractures of his arm. He became withdrawn and uncommunicative.
When we first met him, he was leaning against a wall and wouldn’t look at us. Today
he was in the thick of the parachute games. He used to be laughed at by school
mates, and left school. Now he talks. The other children see him eating eggs
and porridge at the Playscheme and they think he is someone important! The
school is going to sponsor him so he can attend again. Wow!<br />
<br />
When William came to the Playscheme he couldn’t
walk – he had polio when he was 18 months old and could only sit and crawl. Since
he’s been at the Playscheme he’s learnt to walk. At home he can now take a
small jerrycan to the borehole, pump water and bring it back and pour it into a
bowl. He loves helping his mother – and she is thrilled that he’s no longer
just sitting at home isolated.<br />
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<br />
<br />
Mary has learnt to move herself on her bottom.
She used to sit still – now she can move around the compound and takes herself
into the shade if she’s in the sun or into the house if it rains. Before, she
didn’t interact with anyone and wouldn’t take food at the Playscheme. Now she
wants food and if her mother goes shopping, she shuffles over to her, hoping
for bread.<br />
<br />
<br />
This group is inspiring and quite thrilling. Four
playworkers and a room, some basic food, a few toys – and they’ve worked
miracles. They had some training from the UK Special Needs Teachers in the
summer and now the room is bright and cheerful. They received sensory toys and
learnt games and parachute play for disabled children. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The parents didn’t understand the potential of
the children – they’d given up. Many are loving and kind, but they had no hope
for their isolated discriminated disabled children.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihZ7FCpSC2pvskJaccXnkndW7F9a3VhBbVw5KZtDrD4tGNiPtlgX-TA-MukMaDh23aP50RQ1Pd7q7Mun9UCag16IloMDT_TPNyv9Qs_yWqacVVGZW2R6FA7K2-b9HLZ3MlzgIxCUbf_LFN/s1600/P1040324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1600" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihZ7FCpSC2pvskJaccXnkndW7F9a3VhBbVw5KZtDrD4tGNiPtlgX-TA-MukMaDh23aP50RQ1Pd7q7Mun9UCag16IloMDT_TPNyv9Qs_yWqacVVGZW2R6FA7K2-b9HLZ3MlzgIxCUbf_LFN/s320/P1040324.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Now the parents and the
children have hope. The DSG committee met us today and I found their positive attitude
to the children challenging – they’re so positive and determined to help these
children, sacrificing what little they have to find ways to create sustainability
for the group and the Playscheme. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I
write this, I wonder how easily I’ll return to my life of swimming and
preparing for Christmas. I’d like to think it will be flipping difficult to
forget about this group and slip back into my easy, comfortable life.<br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<br />
<br />BarbsyHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01383635021765875275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2717453890079453215.post-68573422714835785362019-11-13T09:28:00.002-08:002019-11-13T09:28:42.285-08:00I'm sorry, the Mango Tree is booked<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiGa__QwsP5BiVqJKTQXmiNaItLSnvwM28t2XTQQ11JvoxYi70o9GVx2Ndw3eAP5o4GHKrO5G5nlR8fQpH1h3MjdTGhXD_I43fWbvbuvivzdsj6rDQGxSuzMjaIR1P9iFn3CZVJuk7D7FT/s1600/P1040252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1600" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiGa__QwsP5BiVqJKTQXmiNaItLSnvwM28t2XTQQ11JvoxYi70o9GVx2Ndw3eAP5o4GHKrO5G5nlR8fQpH1h3MjdTGhXD_I43fWbvbuvivzdsj6rDQGxSuzMjaIR1P9iFn3CZVJuk7D7FT/s320/P1040252.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sorry about rubbish photo - camera developed filter fault.. grrr</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I'm sitting under yet another mango tree on yet another plastic
chair. It's very hot today so I'm glad of the pleasant breeze keeping us cool.
My mind wanders as we wait for our meeting to start. Everything happens so
slowly here... I'm watching the women. They sit on the hard ground on blankets
and cloths they tie round their waists for just this situation. The men are on
chairs, as am I, (visitor), and a female member of the executive committee. The
women sit quietly, mostly not speaking, just waiting and watching. Some arrived
before us and we've been here for 2 hours.<br />
<br />
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We're in Atiira, another rural village but much nearer town
than Abeko. We drove here on reasonably wide bumpy marram roads. The area is flat,
miles of scrubland and swamp stretch out to the horizon or the next village.
We're visiting another Disability Support Group. When we arrive, we visit a new
learning centre for children in the group, it started last month. 14 children and
2 informal teachers cram onto the veranda of a schoolteacher’s house (we’re at
a school compound). They don't have a building and the mango tree is booked for
our meeting, so the veranda is their only option. Two members of the DSG
attended the special needs training at Global Care’s Soroti centre in the
summer and it inspired them to start a children’s group. Their only equipment is
some learning aids from the training. The children have no paper, no pens, no
pencils or crayons. There is no money for the classes. Parents provide
ingredients for porridge so the children can eat before they go home. The young
assistant teacher is given, ‘something for soap.’ The children have a range of disabilities,
but they seem to be having fun as they learn numbers and words. <br />
<br />
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</div>
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Some of their mothers are in the group waiting for the meeting.
When we return to the tree, they tell us they love the classes because their
children are no longer isolated at home. Here they have a family of friends who
love to play together. Elsewhere they're bullied, discriminated against and
told, 'Go away,' by their peers. <br />
<br />
Now we’re waiting for the meeting... Tom strolls over to
chat to a mum and her disabled child. David and Fred are on their phones!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Flies buzz everywhere, we idly flap them (we’re
covered in bites – a result of the wet weather). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Children appear outside the semi-circle of
chairs to stare at us. Chickens wander into the circle, strut about a bit and
leave. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A herd of cows appears in the
next field. Girls giggle behind me. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just
as I’m debating whether to join Tom, the meeting starts.<br />
<br />
We start with welcomes and introductions. Tom was involved
at the start of the group 6 years ago - the Chairman says Tom is a father
returned to his family. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The meeting will
be like the family telling him what happened while he was away from home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am referred to as 'The Wife'.<br />
<br />
They are an astounding and inspiring group. As we discuss a
report evaluating the impact of the group over the last 6 years, I am once
again awed by the group’s achievements. Using tiny monthly members’
contributions (about 40p), a quarterly contribution from Global Care and some
government support, they have created a loans scheme and given families
livestock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Families’ lives have been
changed and people with no hope can see a future where disabled people have
economic stability, work, livestock, and even get married - impossible dreams
before. It’s time for Global Care to take the lessons from this project and
move to other areas. This group will continue to grow without us, but there are
thousands of families living with disability who have no hope. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It's my turn to speak, and as I start, to my
horror I'm so emotional my voice shakes and my eyes well up. I am humbled by
these people. They have so little and yet together they are changing the lives
of disabled children and adults. They are a huge testimony to the power of
community groups and cooperative working.<br />
<br />
As we go for lunch, we are greeted by an older lady, Agnes. She
reminds Tom that she is the mother of Charles, a boy he met when he was carrying out
research in 2012. Everyone was so moved by her child’s appalling situation that
the group, with the help of Global Care, built her a house. It’s wonderful to
see her today. Tom turns to me and says, ‘Look at her now, helping and
supporting a younger woman with her own disabled child.’ This kind of solidarity
is the strength of the group. <br />
<br />
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We have a delicious
meal. Now it’s time to go. The children wave goodbye. The group say, ‘Come back,
please come home again when you are in Soroti.’ As we leave, we talk about the
hope we have for other groups like Abeko. <br />
<br />
Some days it’s OK to be just The Wife.<br />
<br />
<br />
Read more about Agnes and Charles in 2012 at <a href="http://drtomgoesglobal.blogspot.com/2012/06/vip-house-call.html" target="_blank">VIP House Call</a> (not their real names)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />BarbsyHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01383635021765875275noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2717453890079453215.post-22587813809323628952019-11-12T09:52:00.000-08:002019-11-12T09:52:24.943-08:00Paintings and PatientsI’ve just had my first hot shower at full volume – it was a
much needed treat as I’ve spent most of the day in the Ark, Global Care’s Disability
Day care Centre. I’m also very appreciative
of the contents of my washbag and realise this was probably the item I missed
most when my suitcase went AWOL!<br />
<br />
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The children are fetched from home by the Global Care
minibus. Today, as soon as they arrived, they went straight outside to play in the garden. It's often too hot for the outside
play area as it has no shade, this morning<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> it was cloudy first thing. </span>The
children piled onto the special swing and as Aida began pushing, smiles and
giggles broke out. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When breakfast was
ready, we moved inside. Most of the children have learnt to feed themselves but
it can be a bit messy… Helping your friend to some of your tea by trying to
pour it into his mug is tricky when neither of you have full use of your arms! I
love mealtimes. I remember when most of the children had to be fed. It was clear
several children have really progressed in the last 8 months. However, one girl
ate breakfast incredibly fast – we don’t know when she had her last meal…<br />
<br />
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The Ark was buzzing today as new mobiles rustled and flapped
in the wind, bright displays shimmered in the sun and the children and staff
laughed, sang and played. I had a break for lunch and to discuss our findings
at Abeko then it was back to the Ark to prepare the children’s letters to their
sponsors. Daphine the Ark manager decided to make foot and handprints with
poster paint. I walked onto the veranda to a scene of hilarious happy chaos – paint
everywhere. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lucy and Aida were
supporting children as they dunked hands and feet in a bowl of paint then tried
to manipulate contracted and moving feet and hands onto paper. It was
brilliant. These children
are like children everywhere, they love getting messy and they love
painting. At the end we had beautiful prints – I was very impressed at Daphine's
system which somehow kept excess paint off the ‘letters’. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The children were bathed and changed ready for
home and after a sharp thundery shower we walked through thick mud and puddles
to take the children to the waiting minibus. I dressed a child at the Ark after
his shower – his grandmother had packed a T-shirt so torn I worried I’d ruin it
as I stretched it over his contracted arms. They have no money for
clothes and if they did, the disabled child would be last in line… I was
starting to think of the struggles for these children – and the day wasn’t over.<br />
<br />
Timmy (made up name) went to the Ark and left when he was
ready for school. He’s recently been in and out of hospital. He needs radical
surgery to correct a spinal deformity which presses on his lungs and causes
severe pain. He can’t use his legs. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no-one at the local hospital or the
nearest orthopaedic hospital skilled enough to operate. His best chance might
be a hospital in Entebbe – but we don’t know for sure. David wanted photographs
of Timmy’s spine, limbs and medical records to send to the Entebbe team to ask if
they can help. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a very long shot – we
don’t know if the surgery is possible, we don't know how much it would cost or if funds are available, and we don’t know if Timmy would survive
the journey (he’d have to go by bus). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Timmy is in hospital his mother stays
with him – and can’t work. She has no money. David has taken him to hospital on
his motorbike several times… his mother can’t carry him and she can’t afford a
motorbike taxi. I know Timmy. I’ve played with him, and he’s a very bright and interesting
lad. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We talked to Timmy, took photos,
prayed with him, and for the first time this trip I felt close to tears. It is so frustrating,
and the injustice and suffering makes me angry. In any country Timmy would have
a short life expectancy, here he is in pain and discomfort. His mother can’t
afford for him to be in hospital again. David was getting him re-admitted –
without Global Care there would literally be no hope.<br />
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<br />
In many ways the Ark children are in fact, not, like our children... No free access to the NHS, social care and a benefits
system for parents and caregivers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Children like Timmy don’t get the medical support they need because its
impossibly expensive and inaccessible. Global Care is amazing – these children
have hope and have people who play with them and teach them life skills, there’s
medical care for sponsored children and a discretionary emergency medical fund. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
Next time you go to the GP think of
Timmy, and whether you could support the Global Care emergency medical fund. I don’t often find myself blatantly promoting Global Care but if you’d been in
that tiny one-roomed dark house with that teenager the size of an 8-year-old struggling
to breathe, I think you’d forgive me.<br />
<br />
<br />
Through Global Care's <a href="https://www.globalcare.org/project/children-at-risk/" target="_blank">Children at Risk </a>programme you can contribute to the Medical Emergency Fund for as little as £3/ month<br />
<br />
<br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>BarbsyHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01383635021765875275noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2717453890079453215.post-81287808241594851782019-11-11T09:42:00.000-08:002019-11-11T09:42:00.331-08:00The song and dance man<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today David
commented, ‘Ah, now you have walked in the village!’. We were in the Soroti
bush navigating flooded countryside to visit income generating projects run by
the Abeko Disability Support Group (DSG). We set off this morning in our trusty
Super Custom, heading for a village school and a DSG meeting, but as soon as we
left the main road there was debate about which roads would be passable after recent
heavy rains. Charles usually drives fast down tracks, only slowing for cows and
occasionally people, bicycles and goats. Today he was unusually quiet as he negotiated
deep ruts and water-logged potholes. David received a call to say a river bridge
had been washed away so we had to find another route. We eventually arrived at
the school and after the expected lengthy introductions were delighted to be
sung to by Didymus who accompanied himself on the thumb piano and foot
stamping. It was pure joy! Don’t think I’ve smiled so much for ages. The DSG
Chairperson said it was important to realise that people with disability are
not limited and are as able as anyone to entertain and sing beautifully. Didymus
is blind – so what?<br />
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<br /></div>
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The DSG was
established nearly 2 years ago and we were there to see how their various
projects are developing. We piled into the SC again, this time with several of
the DSG Exec and set off to visit their Tailoring Workshop. It was great to see
sewing machines that our church purchased several years ago still being used –
now in a new location and after a fair amount of repairs. This project has many
challenges if it is to succeed, but the first students only started last week so
it’s very early days. Next we were to visit the poultry project – but it was soon
clear that the rural village roads were in very poor condition after
unexpectedly heavy rains - we abandoned the car. We walked on vey muddy
footpaths (wore the wrong sandals, slid about a bit), shocked by flooded fields
and whole maize crops completely destroyed by heavy rains. David and Fred told
us many families have lost their whole harvest and have no source of food. It
was a very sad reminder that the people most badly affected by climate change
are the people whose lives are reliant on the weather – <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>like subsistence farmers.<br />
<br />
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Somewhat
subdued, and starting to have filthy feet and legs, we arrived at the compound
housing the henhouse. A healthy flock of chickens squawked and scrabbled while
the males in our group managed to occupy 15 minutes standing and talking hens.
I went to talk to cute children! It’s a great little project. Eggs will provide
food for the children at the DSG Playscheme and eventually they hope to be able
to rear chicks for sale. We tramped back down the path managing to avoid the
biggest puddles and our guides decided we’d better walk to the next place ‘on
the other side’. More trudging, more mud, more dead crops, more staring
children… Then we arrived at the Apiary. A less successful project as the DSG
are lacking some of the skills needed to colonise hives and harvest and process
honey. However, they’re being supported by Global Care’s resident trained
beekeepers Michael and Sam, so we’re hopeful that eventually they’ll have honey
to sell – but maybe not even next year. We also met some of the goats the DSG
bought. The value of goats here is huge. Goats are a kind of currency. If you
buy a goat your money is relatively safe – you sell it in an emergency – but the
main hope is for kids which can be sold. Obviously its more complicated than
that but it seems this project is working, and the Bank of Goats is going to be
a good way of generating income. We went back to the school and I played with some
of the Playscheme children while the others discussed finances and accounts.<br />
<br />
We were
supposed to be attending a DSG meeting next. Local dignitaries were invited to
meet us and hear from the DSG to help them understand what the DSG is doing and
what it hopes to achieve. We all sat down to chicken and rice for lunch… and
grey clouds began to gather. Then our eating was interrupted by bangs and
crashes of thunder. Fred became anxious that we’d be stranded if it rained heavily.
The rain started and a decision was made - lunch was abandoned and we left for
home.<br />
<br />
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We’ve just
finished writing a draft report of our findings today. We’re very encouraged.
The DSG has challenges, but it remains totally focussed on improving the lives
of disabled children, removing stigma, building self-worth and hope, and
breaking the cycle of poverty. Abeko is a tough place to live. The tailoring
school has problems accessing water – bore-holes are far apart, and many disabled
people struggle to carry a jerry-can or walk a long distance. Latrines are an
issue – disabled children need handrails and plinths to sit on, and if they
have to sit on the floor the latrine needs to be clean, not likely in latrines
shared by a whole community. How are they going to manage if weather patterns
continue to change in a way that stops them growing food? Once again we are
reminded of our complacency and acceptance of basics like sanitation, clean
water, electricity. <br />
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This morning
I watched the ladies at the Global Care centre prepare the fire to boil the water
for our tea. Remember that the next time you press a switch for your kettle, I
know I will.</div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>BarbsyHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01383635021765875275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2717453890079453215.post-55111361403452299682019-11-09T09:10:00.000-08:002019-11-09T10:03:36.554-08:00You can't get away from the B word<p class="b-qt qt_109032">T. S. Elliot wrote 'We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.' I'm inclined to agree. </p><p class="b-qt qt_109032">The second part of our journey was relatively painless. We left at 8.15 after a solid sleep and an excellent breakfast. We'd have slept anywhere - which was just as well - staying overnight in Uganda is properly noisy!</p><div>
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We made good progress until Mbale where a University graduation brought gridlock. The traffic situation wasn't helped by roadside photographers and people selling what appeared to be plastic bouquets, tinsle garlands, and commemorative heart medallions (think A4 size), who were hawking through car windows at any opportunity. I slept most of the journey... My body doesn't know either the day or time! </div>
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We arrived in Soroti at 11.15 and headed for the hotel. Its always nice to recognise hotel staff but particularly great to be greeted with big smiles & by name. </div>
<div>
David & Fred the joint Global Care managers arrived and after a good catch up we started planning our week. Discussions continued over lunch & into the early afternoon! We've got a rough daily plan, and we're remembering how much extra work we bring along with our help. On Monday we're meeting the Abeko Disability Support Group, but of course there has to be a gathering and lunch because we're here. There will be speeches and reports... </div><div><br></div><div>
Tomorrow we're going to church in the morning and in the afternoon prepping for Monday. In case you're wondering, I've lost a case before, so my rucksack had essentials (like malaria pills) and 2 changes of clothes. In the office and villages I wear long skirts or dresses so come equipped for potential lost cases. We're thanking God for Tom's case arriving... It had his special dietary foods. I've learnt before not to complain about things I miss (white woman's shampoo & conditioner, the luxury of several changes of underwear and clothes), I'll meet plenty of people this week whose entire personal possessions are less than my case contents. I'll be sad if the children's presents don't arrive on time.</div><div>
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</a>
</div>
However, I've mislaid my precious Watertogo bottle.. A water bottle with a inbuilt filter. I think it fell out when we were rushed through security in Dubai. I hate buying plastic bottles of water but hopefully I'll find a simple water bottle and can decant boiled water or from large bottles. Water is still an issue here. Towns have piped water.. But not to all areas and not drinking water. Some villages have wells or springs but most rural families still have to make time every day to fetch & carry water. I'm lucky. I can afford bottled water. Tom has his filter. We're a Minority. Already we're thinking about the injustices and inequality for many people here. There's no escaping it.</div>
<div>
<br></div>
<div>
There's also no escaping Brexit. It was one of the first things we discussed in our meeting. That and climate change. There's no escaping the effect privileged people's decisions have on the world's poor. Now I'm off to buy a drink & food and reflect on my western wealth and entitlement, and as Tom pointed out, power. </div>
</div>BarbsyHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01383635021765875275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2717453890079453215.post-29490335946828441602019-11-08T10:45:00.001-08:002019-11-08T10:45:15.891-08:00From the desert to the forest A quick blog tonight... After travelling through floods in Yorkshire, a delayed plane and tight transfer in Dubai and being minus one case in Entebbe, we're a bit tired! In the last 24hrs we've travelled by car, train, bus & plane and lost 3hrs. We gawped at the miles of desert surrounding Dubai, a city of skyscrapers & Tower blocks and an airport so big there are trains between boarding gates and the glass lifts rise past waterfall walls. But it's a blur as the whole time we were being escorted by a rushing Emirates woman so we didn't miss our connection.<div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</a>
</div>We arrived here on the building site that is Entebbe airport, taxiing down the single runway past construction workers and piles of dark red earth. The terminal building is still pock-marked with bullet holes from the Israeli commandos in 1975 (look it up if you want to know more. .. Most of you won't remember!). Then we started our long, slow, 5hr journey to our hotel. The suitcase admin took 1½hrs to sort, so we left at a time we never drive near Kampala... and basically queued for 4 hours.</div><div><br></div><div>However, we smiled as we flew over Lake Victoria, shimmering in the midday sun, and rejoiced in the lush green vegetation that is now so familiar. Long tall grasses, palms, bushes and trees. No desert here. We watched people working, walking, driving (there are so many cars now). Tom calmed me down as I sorted the case, no slick Emirates staff, just slow grinding doggedness of very pleasant equally frustrated local staff. We ended up chatting away & having a laugh. I love it here!</div><div><br></div><div>So it's an early night tonight and more adventures tomorrow. We'll hopefully arrive in Soroti late morning and get started on planning the week with Fred & David. If all goes to plan, the case arrives in Soroti on Sunday... Not over hopeful, they've just rung to check where I want it delivered.</div><div><br></div><div>Night night</div>BarbsyHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01383635021765875275noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2717453890079453215.post-67166659175521634462019-11-07T03:29:00.000-08:002019-11-07T05:14:50.034-08:00How do you measure hope?
<br>
8 months ago, we returned from Uganda, today we’re heading
back. It’s the first time we’ve been twice in one year. Our heavy cases are
packed with gifts and letters, useful items like sanitary kits for teenage
girls and beanbags for play times, and a few clothes. It was cold in the South
in February when the rains came – this time I’m taking a jacket and fleece jumper. I’m both excited
and slightly anxious. What are we going to find? Will we be able to help the local
staff?<br>
<br>
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Visiting Uganda in March was the most exhausting,
challenging, encouraging and exciting overseas trip I’d made with Global
Care.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our eighth trip to Uganda, I
thought we’d seen the worst living conditions and most desperate
situations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Rukungiri in the South West, in rural and
remote locations, the limitations for children with mobility difficulties, and
the effect on their families was heart-breaking. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over three days, hot and dusty, we climbed
hills, crossed streams on rotting planks, and trekked through ‘bush’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the end of the hike, we’d find a small
traditional mud and wattle house with a grass-thatched roof, home to a family
with a child with disabilities. No electricity. No running water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Families struggled to survive in such harsh
environments, walking miles for clean water and trying to cultivate land for
food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Able-bodied children walk several
kilometres to school. Children with disabilities are isolated and confined to
home, regular school attendance an impossible dream.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It rained on day four, the tracks turned to
flooded muddy quagmires.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We wept for
families without hope. <br>
<br>
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In Soroti in the North, we visited a Playscheme and a
Disability Support Group. We met children who hadn’t been out of their houses for
years, children who were beaten by neighbours and called ‘mad’, children who’d
never played, seen a school or met other disabled children. We talked to Mums
who said they couldn’t work because their children couldn’t be left at home. In
February the Playscheme had just started. 24 children and 3 volunteers were
learning to trust each other, to play, and to work out how to help the children
know self-worth and understand their value. <br>
<br>
Over the summer a team of special needs teachers visited Uganda,
and spent a week training local staff and volunteers. Their trip provided resources
and ideas – and the only opportunity this group of people had for any training.<br>
<br>
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Over the year we’ve been delighted and amazed as children
and families received hope for a better future – thanks to Global Care, the
teachers’ trip, and the tireless work of our friends and heroes, the local
Ugandan staff. In Rukungiri children received mobility aids, special chairs and
welfare care. Some children received transport to school, fees and lunch. Accessible
toilets have been built at 3 schools. Children at the Playscheme have learnt to
walk, to feed themselves, to play – and know there are many people who think
they are worth time and money!<br>
<br>
Both brilliant projects. So… They’re doing a fantastic job
without us - why are we going out? We love and support Global Care not just for
the work they do and the lives they change, but for their accountability and
desire to learn lessons and not repeat mistakes. Evaluation is key to any
project – and ensuring local reporting is high quality and appropriate. We’re
going back to review the last 9 months – to help local staff measure what’s
happening against the outcomes set at the start of the project. To understand
and report on why chicken farming and bee keeping didn’t work for one group,
and why constructing accessible latrines to a national specification is so
difficult for local builders... and to continue training local staff in project
management and evaluation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br>
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<br>
I can’t wait to see the children again, to hear their
stories and understand how much these projects have changed their lives. I’m
also ready to hear where things haven’t worked and support staff as they look
for solutions and alternative ways of working. We want to be open and ready to
hear honest feedback from families – are these projects really changing their children’s
lives? How have their lives changed? We have to be ready for negative feedback
and for some lateral thinking. <br>
<br>
I’m delighted to be seeing our friends again soon – and looking
forward to working and relaxing with them. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rainy season isn’t the best time to receive visitors
and take them to remote villages, so we’re praying for reasonable weather and
that we can be a blessing and help, not an annoying addition to their already
busy lives.<br>
<br>
We’ll post blogs as often as possible wifi permitting. No
swimming for me for three weeks – my life moves over to this blog!<br>
<br>
See you on the other side….BarbsyHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01383635021765875275noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2717453890079453215.post-31050693458930720302019-03-04T08:27:00.001-08:002019-03-04T08:27:21.552-08:00Giggles in the Ark<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWShghbY7L-rKp4dhbpn7Y-beBNqNYc9vSwXwv2Rr6VgGZi2V0wMe4M17MoaeA7bFnbhwHgCxAwSJExS4Kauw84TMgMYjZ__0nU1N6bIWWgvtz9KikZMgcjyE7Ru1EXNqSp6wojNU5SDhT/s1600/sam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’ve had a
brilliant day!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I’ve been in the Ark –
the disability daycare centre at Soroti. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Today there were 7 children, 3 were new to me,
the others are old friends. I carefully chose my clothes this morning – a dark patterned
loose skirt (I have to wear skirts for the office and fieldwork, trousers are
only culturally appropriate at the hotel or at weekends) that wouldn’t show any
dirt but would allow some grace in getting up and down off the floor, and a yellow
top. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I popped into the Ark the day we
arrived and was immediately greeted by very sticky lunch covered hands. Some of
the children have visual impairments but can see colour – so I went for the brightest
top in the cupboard. I was ready…</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu2ia8cd2ioocmiDGbCRFf2Hm9OTnFBHjwcixnDQT7e7lMLfa8GybDfI8iCH7qOkM5sf02ygV2oFKa02lks4pPeTqhxau-Fvw2IxeRdbSyK1F-hEBqJIH0r4vC4N9nCOLS_9aCMaaEC8Gc/s1600/grace.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1144" data-original-width="1444" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu2ia8cd2ioocmiDGbCRFf2Hm9OTnFBHjwcixnDQT7e7lMLfa8GybDfI8iCH7qOkM5sf02ygV2oFKa02lks4pPeTqhxau-Fvw2IxeRdbSyK1F-hEBqJIH0r4vC4N9nCOLS_9aCMaaEC8Gc/s320/grace.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I love the
Ark. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Two of the staff are well known to
us. They are incredible dedicated, caring and compassionate young women. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>They handle the children with sensitivity and
kindness, whether they’re stretching contracted limbs, singing simple songs,
playing or joking and laughing. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>That’s
one of the amazing things about the Ark – there is so much laughing and
smiling. I’ve been reviewing the children’s records today – last time we were
here I made some recommendations with my ‘information management’ hat on. Oh
joy! The records are excellent – so much better than before. This is partly due
to the new manager who is not only extremely competent and suitably qualified,
but also great with the children. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Back
to the records…. I’ve also been asked to collect some information for a trip in
the summer, which meant I had a good read of the files.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Reminding myself about the children’s
backgrounds, their home and family life and the extent of their disabilities
makes the happy, fun atmosphere even more remarkable.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWShghbY7L-rKp4dhbpn7Y-beBNqNYc9vSwXwv2Rr6VgGZi2V0wMe4M17MoaeA7bFnbhwHgCxAwSJExS4Kauw84TMgMYjZ__0nU1N6bIWWgvtz9KikZMgcjyE7Ru1EXNqSp6wojNU5SDhT/s1600/sam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1467" data-original-width="1363" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWShghbY7L-rKp4dhbpn7Y-beBNqNYc9vSwXwv2Rr6VgGZi2V0wMe4M17MoaeA7bFnbhwHgCxAwSJExS4Kauw84TMgMYjZ__0nU1N6bIWWgvtz9KikZMgcjyE7Ru1EXNqSp6wojNU5SDhT/s320/sam.jpg" width="297" /></a>My mate John
lives with his grandmother. He doesn’t always make it to the Ark as his
grandmother goes back to the village a lot. When they’re in the village, his physical
therapy stops. This means his progress is slow – after the holidays it takes a
while for his flexed joints to straighten again. John is a bundle of energy. His
favourite trick is to get you to think you’re helping him stand, then start
jumping and leaping so you’re carrying all his weight while he shrieks with laughter.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>He loves playing with his friends and any
adult whose willing. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It’s easy to forget
that when he first came, he was shy and didn’t really move.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Rose is one
of the new children. She hardly ever stops moving – charging about the room
using a kind of jumping crawl. She follows John’s lead so as soon as he started
trying to stand on me, she came over and started grabbing my legs and arms. I
had a good game going with Rose, John and another boy involving a large ball –
but eventually it disintegrated into a fight over the ball! Poor Tom came into
the Ark and had them both trying to use him to stand at the same time, then 3
children all wanting to play a clapping game with him. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Rose has a few words and seems to understand most
things – she’s a good imitator so the hope is that she will learn to count and
read through repetition. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Several
children come from very large families with up to 12 dependants. Most live in
completely inadequate one-roomed grass-thatched huts. Their families struggle
to work and eat. Several are single-parent families after their fathers abandoned
their disabled child. Having their children at the Ark means mums can work. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">At the end
of the day, the children are all showered and given clean clothes. It’s the first
time I’ve been around at bath time. There’s nothing like the abandoned glee of
children being sprayed with water – Tom could hear the noise at the other end
of the building! I was very happy to help with drying and dressing – though applying
nappies was challenging (how are you supposed to know which way round they
go?). Once the children were all clean, they sat quietly on a mat, knowing it
was nearly time for the van to take them home. I disturbed the peace by discovering
a ticklish child… irresistible. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>As we
all relaxed, piles of dirty clothes and wet towels surrounding us on the floor,
John climbed onto my lap and snuggled in for a cuddle. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Ron, who had been bashing me in a ‘friendly’
way earlier, rested his head on my lap. The youngest, newest, child gave the
first hint of a smile. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It has been
a good day.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span>BarbsyHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01383635021765875275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2717453890079453215.post-3733655454175654852019-03-03T08:49:00.000-08:002019-03-03T08:49:36.865-08:00There is Salt in the Sea?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0n-n45BgfAw5tTGiYqHhcZq7qwpo25gZAZIkWG5-BpM4gG5mCkOuZklkG8V-uthDGw5l46FJuSYS0KcYFZqQjSThgNOoEudBwGa4FL2iRZJTBJnv4P_9BBUSRZNpunKGzoe6WaTECxXnQ/s1600/parachute2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1600" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0n-n45BgfAw5tTGiYqHhcZq7qwpo25gZAZIkWG5-BpM4gG5mCkOuZklkG8V-uthDGw5l46FJuSYS0KcYFZqQjSThgNOoEudBwGa4FL2iRZJTBJnv4P_9BBUSRZNpunKGzoe6WaTECxXnQ/s320/parachute2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">You’ve got
to love a product that lasts 10 years of rough treatment at the hands of 100s
of children. The ‘Wightman Mark 1’ parachute was out today – its definitely on
the way out, but even with a frayed edge and several patches it provided fun
and merriment for about 100 small children this afternoon.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Its our last
weekend in Uganda, barring strikes at Brussels airport we’ll be home on Thursday.
Yesterday (Saturday) morning we had a workshop with 4 of the staff, looking at work
they’ve done on Vocational Skills Training.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>We’ll gloss over that fact that we started over an hour late – village business
required someone to sort out a family issue first thing in the morning.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Starting late gave me opportunity to try my
hand at hoeing (absolutely hopeless – the Ugandans fell about laughing).</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Schools here
are very academically focussed, children aren’t taught many practical subjects.
Global Care uses several different models for skills training as an alternative
to O’ Levels, and we’d planned a brainstorm (sorry if that’s un-pc, it’s the word
Fred used!) to look at potential options for a new Vocational Skills Training
(VTS) programme in Soroti. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>In Uganda there’s
no government support if you’re out of work – on any level.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>If you leave school with O’ Levels you’re
unlikely to get even an office job, and most of our children can’t afford to study
for A’ Levels never mind further education. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Gaining a skill means you should have a better
chance of earning some money – from a paid job to setting up a small tailoring business
at your home in the village.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Most people
in this area are agricultural day labourers, hoping for work in someone’s field
and going hungry on days when there’s no work.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>We’ve met plenty of young people with O’ Levels working in the fields. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>There are some apprenticeships available, but
at the minute the business owners can’t guarantee a job. And how many of us
knew at 16 exactly what we wanted to do as a lifelong career? If you go on a
VTS that’s probably your last chance at formal ‘education.’</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We had a good
discussion and came up with some recommendations. David is writing that report,
so we came back to the hotel to catch up with other work. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>By the time we were ready for supper we’d
worked on a policy and a project plan for Rukungiri, written a review report on
the Disability Support Group, finished the Playscheme report ready for
discussion on Monday, Tom had watched some footy, and I was exhausted!</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
I<span style="font-family: Calibri;">t was
difficult getting out of bed this morning, but we’d arranged to meet Fred at
8.30am at Deliverance church for the morning service – I forced myself to dress
in smart clothes and be ready for a lift to church.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>When we arrived it had already started. There
was no power and the worship leader was belting out choruses to the
accompaniment of an acoustic guitar – and occasionally drums. To our surprise
we knew the songs. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Before long I could
feel the tension dissolving. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The electricity
came back on, and with the singers miked up and accompanied by a keyboard, the
whole room was filled with sound. Songs moved from English to local Ateso and
Kiswahili.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>People began to dance and
jump and generally Praise God. Going to Deliverance church is quite cathartic!
I don’t know if its God or the people, but in that simple brick room with white
walls and a tin roof my exhaustion and fatigue lifted, I stopped feeling sorry for
myself and came out energised and refreshed. The speaker talked about Noah, I
want to be in the ‘Ark’, in the place God wants me and doing what He wants me
to do. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I needed reminding.</span></div>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxBCNn9cBvxwCj8D2hNpb12o29xFWEtIbe5mSxolE82F68DVgj2ExsUpzxU7lgyHVVP2Nf5jNMyJIpH8tPE-kpTshx6JklkK9SybDGmC30IkQhNSxX2hfkFAt0eN6gkOXTRfVjuFK-TZH-/s1600/kids.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1600" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxBCNn9cBvxwCj8D2hNpb12o29xFWEtIbe5mSxolE82F68DVgj2ExsUpzxU7lgyHVVP2Nf5jNMyJIpH8tPE-kpTshx6JklkK9SybDGmC30IkQhNSxX2hfkFAt0eN6gkOXTRfVjuFK-TZH-/s320/kids.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This
afternoon we were invited to Michael (who works for Global Care) and his wife Veronica’s
house. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We were treated to a feast –
visitors are always made incredibly welcome. Veronica produced goat stew,
chicken stew, fish, cassava, rice, potatoes, chapatis, avocado and passion
fruit and water melon.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Local food served
with generosity and humility.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We (including
Charles) can talk with Michael for hours, but outside we could hear children
gathering.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>10½ years ago, I handed
Michael a play parachute for children at Global Care (a gift from friends). Today
we joined in as Michael played with the same parachute with an ever-increasing
crowd of children. The games are adapted and invented to suit the place and the
children, and before long there was a mass of shrieking, laughing children, all
skilfully coordinated by ‘Uncle Michael’. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We left hot, tired and happy.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We spent
some time today trying to explain ‘the sea’ to Charles and Michael! They’ve
never seen the sea and couldn’t imagine how the water comes to the beach. They
were astonished at the idea of swimming in the sea. We showed them photos of
the Zanzibar, County Durham and Yorkshire coasts. Its easy to forget how lucky
we are to be able to travel, to experience different countries and cultures.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s easy to forget that for many people, the
concept of every house having running water and electricity seems an impossible
dream. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We all make assumptions about
other countries and can’t begin to imagine what life is like for people in other
continents if we haven’t visited or experienced it first-hand. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Today I felt completely at home in church,
with Michael’s family, and playing parachute games with children.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>But my life is literally a world apart and I’ll
be going home to comfort, food variety, hot showers, reliable power, easy
transport and reliable roads, free healthcare, swimming… The list is endless. I
am truly grateful for my life, the tricky part is using it well and fighting
against injustice, poverty and corruption… wherever we find it.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span>BarbsyHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01383635021765875275noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2717453890079453215.post-40923955082102430712019-03-01T10:44:00.000-08:002019-03-01T10:44:19.673-08:00Chicken with Bees <div dir="ltr">
I was tempted not to blog tonight. A thunderstorm threw out the power earlier so it wasn't an option. Now we have light and are reconnected I've been procrastinating. Today has been interesting! </div>
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<div dir="ltr">
We made another long, hot, bumpy trip to Abeko this morning. This time we'd arranged to meet the Disability Support Group (DSG). People were slow arriving... There'd been a burial this morning, and then a child died. David told us that now he's nearly 40 he's considered an old man in his village. Life expectancy is low and child mortality high in rural Uganda. When there is a death the community comes together. People support each other in tough times. We asked if we should cancel the meeting, but they wanted to go ahead. </div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
The meeting starts. We are amazed by all the DSG has achieved. Last year each member paid a monthly contribution of about 20p. For some it was a struggle. The collection meant some families could benefit from loans... People paid for treatment for a disabled child, started a business, and bought special food for a disabled child. Cash flow is a problem for day workers. The money is paid back with interest. This year the contributions have doubled to 40p.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_N6Am47-saCraD8_vTc6x8-eL-ZSnCDTJ3o6uWNdOPMUcLXLsYLMV3c63LFFccxCpZ2rVV2Tx8j3m93usrrPUiowB6UazBG8b9WwT6tB_tnR5-K0JKWHBMnfajZk0Oaho5EODWX9xVkP2/s1600/small+committee.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1600" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_N6Am47-saCraD8_vTc6x8-eL-ZSnCDTJ3o6uWNdOPMUcLXLsYLMV3c63LFFccxCpZ2rVV2Tx8j3m93usrrPUiowB6UazBG8b9WwT6tB_tnR5-K0JKWHBMnfajZk0Oaho5EODWX9xVkP2/s320/small+committee.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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We learn more about the partnerships with other organisations. The DSG has 3 ongoing projects. As well as the Playscheme, they have started an Apiary and a poultry project. A year ago we sat in the same hot room with a group of hesitant, anxious people. Now we hear how much they have achieved. With 20p/month from each member. </div>
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They start to talk about challenges. They're similar to those we hear everywhere. The roads are poor, the children have no walking aids. People carry disabled children on their backs because there are no wheelchairs. Some families have a bicycle but we hear from one man whose bicycle is broken so he can't transport his disabled child. He can't afford to get it repaired. There is no local healthcare. The government health centre has no staff and no medicine. Children are dying because there's no way to get them to hospital and no money for treatment. </div>
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The chairman starts to close the meeting. Once again we are thanked for coming, for caring, for helping them with a workshop last time. David is thanked for his tireless support and Global Care's partnership and support. We should respond but I can't speak. My chest is tight, my whole body is welling up with emotion. Somehow we get to the end. I don't deserve this thanks. </div>
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The mood changes as we're taken to see the beehives. The group are excited to show us the wooden hives donated by the local government. They've learnt to make local hives too - wooden frames coated in cow dung. Bees are starting to gather. They've sent someone to learn about poultry farming, he's full of information... The best breed and type to buy, how to care for them what to feed them. His enthusiasm us infectious. </div>
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We come back to our clean hotel for a refreshing shower. We pay our hotel bill - we have to pay cash and sometimes ATMs run out of money, so we're paying in advance. We realise our final bill will be about the same amount as the annual Global Care support for a DSG. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzzMn2u9dbVbB2VHCL7p7dIge6CIBSpoTlipvUOaKc_e7r16wm33oiTzkqLiJ8eMmmMKviFzeLLT7FM1HS-sap_MVLvcKalHr-yVq-WI2fhvMkekinmb4BnOBbbQP8XB-qA7Kj3n1W1IYk/s1600/small+beehive.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1600" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzzMn2u9dbVbB2VHCL7p7dIge6CIBSpoTlipvUOaKc_e7r16wm33oiTzkqLiJ8eMmmMKviFzeLLT7FM1HS-sap_MVLvcKalHr-yVq-WI2fhvMkekinmb4BnOBbbQP8XB-qA7Kj3n1W1IYk/s320/small+beehive.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Every time we come we get to this point. The DSG has achieved an incredible amount with very little resource. They've built a thriving supportive network and are working hard to make it self-sustainable. A child's wheelchair costs £150. How many wheelchairs could we buy for the cost of our trip? And is that the right thing to do? We'll go back and talk to Global Care - they will know the best way to help. We are rich by any measure, but we can't begin to understand the poverty here. </div>
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Tonight I'm thrilled and excited by Abeko DSG. I'm challenged and embarrassed by my lifestyle. I have no idea what or how to change but you have licence to challenge me in the coming months. </div>
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BarbsyHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01383635021765875275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2717453890079453215.post-28207146101208070302019-02-28T08:12:00.000-08:002019-02-28T08:12:38.106-08:00From Fear to Fun<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">Today we visited
a Playscheme. We got to play with a group of fabulous children, all with disabilities.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW1TOoz4CyeM2CTYLMMRNTgTPenafBu_zQYQEIEDL9wKe4iMJzt-GEott7T8KMkgIH7_HT9GjJKiEuFPIm6WMlVYOgOX8rMgBklnECoM_FDSOVoRvjk1OMrMo_za-XxguVOgGjs5AgDgRE/s1600/small+down.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1600" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW1TOoz4CyeM2CTYLMMRNTgTPenafBu_zQYQEIEDL9wKe4iMJzt-GEott7T8KMkgIH7_HT9GjJKiEuFPIm6WMlVYOgOX8rMgBklnECoM_FDSOVoRvjk1OMrMo_za-XxguVOgGjs5AgDgRE/s320/small+down.JPG" width="320" /></span></a><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">There are 9
staff at Global Care Soroti.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It’s a bigger
centre than Rukungiri and has diverse programmes.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>In the remote village of Abeko, Global care
works in partnership with a Disability Support Group. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Last January we visited the group when it was
starting. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>One year on, they’re well
established, have church, local government and local NGO partners, and several
projects, including a Playscheme. The Playscheme started on 7<sup>th</sup>
February. For the first week, the group met every day while guardians,
Playworkers and children got to know each other. The Playworkers said, ‘When
the children arrived, we were not their friends. They didn’t speak to us, they
even moved away from food we gave. They did not speak.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Now they are relaxed and talk, they eat the
food and they talk to us.’<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>They told us children
have learnt to count, use English words and feed themselves. Many of the children
are bright, but they’ve never socialised. Having the opportunity to play can be life
changing.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi__YwiAs3j-1p7odKmraIeJR14LGNUPA_2zGGIDRellscerT2Sto-1-qSL758Zkd8dBS1rcaE-7DaTzDGJ0B-zhlROV6Lnr3DWtmhEgI5Ooat3qJRGnXrQ1qBBWKcNFthPobvx_Cm9aoj2/s1600/small+burns.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1070" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi__YwiAs3j-1p7odKmraIeJR14LGNUPA_2zGGIDRellscerT2Sto-1-qSL758Zkd8dBS1rcaE-7DaTzDGJ0B-zhlROV6Lnr3DWtmhEgI5Ooat3qJRGnXrQ1qBBWKcNFthPobvx_Cm9aoj2/s200/small+burns.JPG" width="132" /></a></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">Twice a week,
for 4 hours, 24 children play, sing, have health checks, and eat breakfast with
3 Playworkers and a cook. I had a great time singing and playing with them. Tom
and David took a group of boys outside to play football.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I also wanted to talk to the caregivers – the
mothers, aunties and grandmothers who care for these children. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>David and I sat on the ground under the shade
of a large tree (actually… I let him sit on the only available rock) and
chatted to them, David translating my questions and comments into the local
Ateso language. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">This is what they said:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi__YwiAs3j-1p7odKmraIeJR14LGNUPA_2zGGIDRellscerT2Sto-1-qSL758Zkd8dBS1rcaE-7DaTzDGJ0B-zhlROV6Lnr3DWtmhEgI5Ooat3qJRGnXrQ1qBBWKcNFthPobvx_Cm9aoj2/s1600/small+burns.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">‘My child is
so happy – we have a seen a change since the Playscheme. He was helpless to the
point where we had no hope, he used to just lie down and be sick. Now he plays
with other children.’</span><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK9BtUHK10Gb1xKFDPGcDytsQ3XsW26Y9aGexvib38q97CQe7ghOkOvrxJREWWz1GuVe-hQ1RHVrUSnioj7EOT88jx0ouDYSPIPhN7gF-eKJPcTk8KuA8YXuOzYt2gFyoawlDpKhhllJEq/s1600/small+barb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="780" data-original-width="1040" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK9BtUHK10Gb1xKFDPGcDytsQ3XsW26Y9aGexvib38q97CQe7ghOkOvrxJREWWz1GuVe-hQ1RHVrUSnioj7EOT88jx0ouDYSPIPhN7gF-eKJPcTk8KuA8YXuOzYt2gFyoawlDpKhhllJEq/s320/small+barb.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">‘I am so
grateful for the support to CWD. She is happy and enjoying life. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Last year we told you we had a problem with
money for clothes, now she has new clothes (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">gifts
from Global Care as part of their Uganda 35<sup>th</sup> Anniversary
celebrations</i>), something to eat, and someone to take care of her.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Thank you for the Playscheme.’</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black;"></span><br /></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">‘My daughter
is autistic. Before, she moved from house to house and could not be controlled.
Nobody wanted to associate with her, she just roamed around. They called her mad.
She was stoned and beaten by children and communities. Now even the Playworkers
have seen a change in her behaviour. Every morning she wants to go to the Playscheme.
It is her happiness. She’s told that if she moves from the house, she can’t go to
Playscheme next time, so she stays at home and waits, even when it is 3 days.’</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">‘Having our
children in a Playscheme means our time to work has increased. We can chop more
wood, if we sell at market, we can sell much, we have more time to work in the garden
and crops will be better. When we are out, we are confident that our children are
safe. I used to tie my child inside the house with a rope because I was afraid
to leave him.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>No CWD here has ever been
to school. The Playscheme meets in a schoolroom. At social gatherings now I can
be proud and say my child is at school.’</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">‘At home
no-one associates with my child, only the mother cares for a CWD. If I go to
shop, to the well, to the market, when I come home my child will be left in the
hot sun. No-one would move my child into the shade. I wish the Playscheme could
be every day.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj7TztViQGcJgeWE67_sfbVD06XJInhPWZ4vyVb5U6n13K-Hwj_pUYlA0YMUKiyqUYvBes1TrrHo2coKh5Qg_msPfliesKRYSuZ1r9CxFG2-M2bDOEQ79vbtpA4ZCK2izdkpjcHkI3wvnj/s1600/small+moses.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1600" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj7TztViQGcJgeWE67_sfbVD06XJInhPWZ4vyVb5U6n13K-Hwj_pUYlA0YMUKiyqUYvBes1TrrHo2coKh5Qg_msPfliesKRYSuZ1r9CxFG2-M2bDOEQ79vbtpA4ZCK2izdkpjcHkI3wvnj/s320/small+moses.JPG" width="320" /></span></a><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">The scheme has
plenty of challenges. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Remember those impossible
hills in Rukungiri? Here it is miles and miles of ‘footing’ across the plain and
through the bush in the hot sun. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>There were
no walking aids in evidence, just one wheelchair loaned from the Ark. Children
who can’t walk are carried on their mother’s back. One grandmother described how
hard it is to carry a heavy child, but if you tell them they can’t go to the
Playscheme, they are quite upset. Some families have a bicycle, one boy’s
brother brings him to and from the school. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4fSKi987sqZTFJHlVvLDxAgCo3bsm2k5NO4R3LrLwKvpGKTTN2GwlJ86KhXCuijWBtDd5wYF2Uw2UFjjmgjYvY_tSdvEzgIlpB5D6XUCTLBB3jYxiWFnATLcIC59JsrbmuHwE11bVXwBy/s1600/small+foooty.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4fSKi987sqZTFJHlVvLDxAgCo3bsm2k5NO4R3LrLwKvpGKTTN2GwlJ86KhXCuijWBtDd5wYF2Uw2UFjjmgjYvY_tSdvEzgIlpB5D6XUCTLBB3jYxiWFnATLcIC59JsrbmuHwE11bVXwBy/s1600/small+foooty.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1600" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4fSKi987sqZTFJHlVvLDxAgCo3bsm2k5NO4R3LrLwKvpGKTTN2GwlJ86KhXCuijWBtDd5wYF2Uw2UFjjmgjYvY_tSdvEzgIlpB5D6XUCTLBB3jYxiWFnATLcIC59JsrbmuHwE11bVXwBy/s320/small+foooty.JPG" width="320" /></span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;">We had to
explain to the families that this is a pilot project. Ongoing
funding can't be guaranteed – if they want it to work there’ll need to be a plan for self-sustainability.
<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Days like today are a mixture of joyful delight,
measured optimism and anxiety. This is such a brilliant idea – but it needs
funding to work. The Playworkers are unpaid volunteers. The school isn’t asking
for rent. But… food costs money and at the minute there are very few toys,
games or learning materials. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>So far
there’s been no discussion about walking aids or medical support.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Without outside donors, partners and supporters
these children will be back in the sun, tied up, not talking, being fed…… or
roaming around the area being stoned and beaten.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQEv5N8vOdkqPui4YYkdvFqf3DfGEN7MNSrEwQ_2fNeKDgCSIP09NHCJgsjGtqSlsYItgEYNer-29GDwKppvt4mxvEX3PS3oQqid2TdK0HmNncTMAoVO89RiZj51tF04emZnsW9GwR1_Dr/s1600/small+singing.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1600" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQEv5N8vOdkqPui4YYkdvFqf3DfGEN7MNSrEwQ_2fNeKDgCSIP09NHCJgsjGtqSlsYItgEYNer-29GDwKppvt4mxvEX3PS3oQqid2TdK0HmNncTMAoVO89RiZj51tF04emZnsW9GwR1_Dr/s320/small+singing.JPG" width="320" /></span></a><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;">That might
seem very harsh, but for the 24 children at the Playscheme, there are 124 more
represented by members of the Disability Support Group who are neither at
school nor at the Playscheme – and that’s just one village.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Playschemes for CWD in all the rural villages
in this area would be a full-time job for any organisation.<span style="margin: 0px;"> <span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Global Care and other partners need wisdom
to know how to respond to this seemingly impossibly great need. </span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="margin: 0px;"></span><span style="color: black;">Coming here shocks me out of complacency, but
please God when I go home don’t let me forget the faces I’ve seen on this trip,
the real people I’ve met. Or forget the thousands of unseen and unknown CWD in
this country.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black;"></span><br /></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span>BarbsyHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01383635021765875275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2717453890079453215.post-19905075400922698322019-02-27T06:35:00.003-08:002019-02-27T07:59:48.444-08:00Patience Charles, the Crocodiles Will Come<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4I-3gPgihkkz25dEgvA-mjxUUkzDZw8Ih7I9P0zJ8ocD03XK2uypehBB4eWq_w0Tzc_bOk2MHp2BGtJIhLkSqWT-DGLZ4fnVzRpJ3rw1m9MefayLoPmfQ-hh9MCse76be-oopagMivbQm/s1600/croc1+small.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4I-3gPgihkkz25dEgvA-mjxUUkzDZw8Ih7I9P0zJ8ocD03XK2uypehBB4eWq_w0Tzc_bOk2MHp2BGtJIhLkSqWT-DGLZ4fnVzRpJ3rw1m9MefayLoPmfQ-hh9MCse76be-oopagMivbQm/s320/croc1+small.JPG" width="320"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We have
reached Soroti! We’re feeling very proud of our travel arrangements – so far,
our maximum driving time in Uganda has been 5½hrs. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Pretty impressive… and partly due to road
improvements but also our knowledge of the place and careful planning – and the
fact that Charles and I are happy to eat snacks and not stop for a meal. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQxQu-FanTDUheDV3u8AdHZc2Nbt09qu1O0aOfmKW2-1uo69ke66BjAfNwVkcU3lT0gcUFmPY1-Wic7ZJ2FjOvHhq6_r2GdrdB4-pZqiZN0W4RkC2BhT8mikfNF9rie__nOnqxL8fjDiAh/s1600/speedbumpsmall.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1600" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQxQu-FanTDUheDV3u8AdHZc2Nbt09qu1O0aOfmKW2-1uo69ke66BjAfNwVkcU3lT0gcUFmPY1-Wic7ZJ2FjOvHhq6_r2GdrdB4-pZqiZN0W4RkC2BhT8mikfNF9rie__nOnqxL8fjDiAh/s320/speedbumpsmall.JPG" width="320"></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">W</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">e arrived
at the Global Care Centre at lunchtime – we could hear a fair amount of
shrieking in the Ark. The Ark is a daycare centre for children with disability
and provides basic education, physiotherapy, meals and play in a safe secure
and caring environment. It’s an absolute joy to spend time in the Ark – anyone who
comes falls in love with the children and staff. We walked in to be greeted by ‘Hello Dr. Tom, Hello Auntie Barbara, you are most welcome,’ accompanied by hugs and
handshakes from the staff. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The children
were eating lunch, but a couple wanted to greet us and within 5 minutes my
clothes were smeared with posho and beans.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>There’s a lot of smiling and laughing in the Ark. Although the children who
are familiar with visitors were excited to greet us, some of the newer children
were shy.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinhuIXLX_UfBV15K5ok5PiYdBa0ngdOYKkUnU4USLMvVydzGlj2LX7rsLtyySZYwmsg3JHvB8H0pGoe8vYpL0FW0nlUvfCtQ7ytO3cPn6LMLKYpsPo0qZ013X6UBYkeSJ4jpe6rHr_vsvZ/s1600/small+school.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1600" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinhuIXLX_UfBV15K5ok5PiYdBa0ngdOYKkUnU4USLMvVydzGlj2LX7rsLtyySZYwmsg3JHvB8H0pGoe8vYpL0FW0nlUvfCtQ7ytO3cPn6LMLKYpsPo0qZ013X6UBYkeSJ4jpe6rHr_vsvZ/s320/small+school.JPG" width="320"></a></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And that, is
the best thing that happened today. There are new children… because 4 children started
school this term. Its brilliant news. One little girl, (the poster girl for the
Ark if you’ve seen any pictures), has been there for years, but now the van
that collects her and her wheelchair each day takes her to school, not the Ark.
<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And even better – she’s doing really
well. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Anyone who came to the 2015 Soroti
camp will remember a small boy who ran around and didn’t really interact with
anyone. He was a bit wild and undisciplined! Over the last 3 years we watched
him become calmer, play with other children and listen to adults. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>By January 2018 the change in him was quite
remarkable. And yes – he’s at school too. That takes dedication and commitment
from a staff team. They have remarkable patience and a belief in the potential
of every child. We didn’t really know the other 2 children, they were only at
the Ark for a year – just long enough to prepare them for school. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>While we’re here, I’ve been asked to gather
information about the children to help a team of special needs teachers who are
coming in the summer to provide training for both Soroti and Rukungiri staff. I
can’t wait to get started. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I’ll remember
to ask for an apron next time!</span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL2LgF67nCoA-e9VNsLk82yScqO5quRo__8jI6ERmIySNLIde2HHazTCsvuETeyPpslgAZGTgRsr4uawZuUAsA-lYDkWY79Uf-aJuiBrE7Y9az6YZEYjmz61ne9M38CQm49Lyy9QaGppJG/s1600/small+ron.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1600" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL2LgF67nCoA-e9VNsLk82yScqO5quRo__8jI6ERmIySNLIde2HHazTCsvuETeyPpslgAZGTgRsr4uawZuUAsA-lYDkWY79Uf-aJuiBrE7Y9az6YZEYjmz61ne9M38CQm49Lyy9QaGppJG/s320/small+ron.JPG" width="320"></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br></span><br>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The other focus
for our visit is a Disability Support Group in a rural village called Abeko.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Last year we spent time with them as they started
to think about formalising their group and how it would function.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Now they’re a registered organisation, and recently
started a Playscheme – a programme devised by ‘Disability Africa’ to help
children with disability socialise, mobilise and learn, a stepping-stone to
formal education. While Global Care will help them as they become established,
the aim is for them to become self-reliant and self-sustainable. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We’re looking forward to hearing their ideas,
although we’ve heard that they’re hoping when we visit we’ll help them
vaccinate their chickens and build bee houses. I’m hoping this is a joke.
Anyone who knows me knows that animal husbandry and woodwork are definitely not
anywhere near my skill set! </span><br>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We’ve been
coming to Soroti for over 10 years and it always delights us how much change happens
from one year to the next. But I’m sure we’ll also be hearing about the
challenges and once again come face-to-face with situations of intense hardship
and pain. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Today, I’m sharing hope and encouragement,
believing that in the same way so much has been achieved here, children’s lives
will be changed in Rukungiri.</span><br>
<br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2pYivy0s98X1GfWfli9XtqNpQyF-Zf2R5xg_4Cy2Fd5-WB99q16AB1_iIcGraU390OQ77FRcvPtfagEjHObnvz7wMUqMlv0nkDagD-9khDYUXC70SH85CCjXgXkSxBSZhIQcPM3Z1b79Y/s1600/croc2+sml.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2pYivy0s98X1GfWfli9XtqNpQyF-Zf2R5xg_4Cy2Fd5-WB99q16AB1_iIcGraU390OQ77FRcvPtfagEjHObnvz7wMUqMlv0nkDagD-9khDYUXC70SH85CCjXgXkSxBSZhIQcPM3Z1b79Y/s320/croc2+sml.JPG" width="320"></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">At the Game
Park, Charles was desperate to see crocodiles. He even asked the guide, ‘When
will we see crocodiles?’ The guide said, ‘They will come, they will come, just
there, just there,’ while pointing vaguely into the distance. I teased Charles,
‘Patience Charles, the crocodiles will come.’ Sure enough, they did. Humungous crocodiles
swimming across the lake and basking in the sun. </span><br>
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<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sometimes we
have to be patient, to trust that change can come, that the unbelievable injustices
we’ve witnessed can be repaired.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Last
week I saw something special, I saw desperate families given hope just at the
thought of their child receiving a walking aid or transport to school. But
there’s no point bringing hope if we can’t deliver. Charles would have been
even more annoyed if there hadn’t been any crocodiles. We can never make promises
here – we can’t even promise we can provide a wheelchair until funding is
approved and a suitable chair sourced. But we can bring hope, hope that might
make a family think someone cares about their child or their situation.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And today we saw crocodiles – 4 more Ark children
at school. Woohoo!</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br></span></div>
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<u><span style="color: #000120;"></span></u><br></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br></span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span>BarbsyHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01383635021765875275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2717453890079453215.post-26602204131362249022019-02-26T09:20:00.002-08:002019-02-26T09:36:30.193-08:00A Gratuitous Zebra<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwjrs9HVNB1kzZok_IqXbD_My7rHEWMZM_yIovZ4ukRIPEnIdDjnyFprRHnUdrHkG-KZdfxiykhDz3uKkcqrh24__10taIiBveclrfNw5mS9zKIOj7U_0p2ouBxqshDpPkyMn2YqdjgC23/s1600/small+lake.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1600" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwjrs9HVNB1kzZok_IqXbD_My7rHEWMZM_yIovZ4ukRIPEnIdDjnyFprRHnUdrHkG-KZdfxiykhDz3uKkcqrh24__10taIiBveclrfNw5mS9zKIOj7U_0p2ouBxqshDpPkyMn2YqdjgC23/s320/small+lake.JPG" width="320"></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">We waved
goodbye to Lake Mburo with a mixture of sadness (could happily have stayed a
week – I do love open space and wildlife) and excitement about visiting Soroti.
Yesterday we spent a very relaxing couple of hours cruising down the lake, bird-watching
and hippo and croc spotting. It was peaceful and tranquil (its best not to
think about the lion – there’s only one, leopards and pythons).<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>A very happy place to be. </span><br>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">As we set
off for our overnight stop just North of Kampala, I quickly noticed changes in
the scenery, and started thinking about the differences in the three Global
Care Uganda centres.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The 3 of us passed half-an-hour
of our 5½ -hour journey listing our suggestions of the differences between South
West Uganda, the capital city Kampala, and Soroti in the North East.</span><br>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-_g2D18_ahXxAq099PhKPIDjfzbOrwwHapIhLW0icgyzqGGBqcUjCSOJZujT19NB0JnUiO2qPV2e3q35-A1CWMQnqqs8nBtga7PiGEJ6xY3NXShw0Pv-upSLcYqzvs4Cv3V3VCb3AHSTc/s1600/samll+roadside.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1600" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-_g2D18_ahXxAq099PhKPIDjfzbOrwwHapIhLW0icgyzqGGBqcUjCSOJZujT19NB0JnUiO2qPV2e3q35-A1CWMQnqqs8nBtga7PiGEJ6xY3NXShw0Pv-upSLcYqzvs4Cv3V3VCb3AHSTc/s320/samll+roadside.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320"></a>Apologies to
Global Care local staff for inaccuracies – this is our personal list. We described
Rukungiri as having tall trees, mountains, cold and rain, families living on
top of inaccessible hills, Children with Disabilty (CWD) scattered around the
countryside ‘in the middle of nowhere’, no transport, Ankole cows (huge horns),
daily labour – mostly agriculture, food…yams, pumpkins, not much posho, too
many snacks!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Kampala is very different.
Its loud, busy, noisy - basically chaotic. People crowd into small areas, there
are too many vehicles, its hot and dirty, roads and roadsides are full of people
working and hustling. You can eat any kind of food - but you have to look
around to find what you want. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Soroti is different
again - scrubland and small trees, flat plains, very hot and dry. The Global
Care CWD Ark project is focussed in the community of Pamba near the Global Care
Centre, so children can be collected by minibus. There are established
Disability Support Groups providing focal points for other CWD. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>However, there are still transport difficulties,
and some families are scattered. Charles and I like the food – mandazi (doughnuts
– yum), posho, Rolex (rolled eggs with chapati).</span><br>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Anyway – the
main point is that everywhere is different – you can’t come up with a ‘one size
fits all’ solution if you’re working to support people to find sustainable
solutions to break the poverty cycle. Since yesterday’s blog, that blinking Live Aid song has been buzzing in my head. I don’t just get frustrated at suggestions
that we should all be trying to sort ‘Africa’, like its one country… It’s the assumption
that after a brief visit you can either a) make a difference, or b) understand
the problems and find solutions. It’s the same throughout the world, individual
communities develop around their own individual cultures and identities and
when things go wrong, they need unique sustainable solutions to mend and move forward.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">In the car today
we were discussing differences between Ugandan and UK English. Tom was (I
quote) ‘wetting himself laughing’ yesterday at me talking to people on the boat
in my Ugandanised English – even after I knew they were from the USA! I’m not completely
bonkers, we have to adapt the way we talk. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Every time we said we were going to the ‘boat’,
wanted to buy tickets for the ‘boat’ etc, no-one understood us. Tom & Charles
tried to teach me the Ugandan pronunciation – they failed! (It’s something like
‘bo(r)t’ - I can’t write it). Then we got onto Geordie – hilarious. Charles
made a good stab at, ‘Aya’alreet Pet?’<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Think
about it – if I wrote this in South Yorkshire or Geordie, how many of my Kent
readers would understand?</span><br>
<br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJXvxx5y8O_XW4rL-mVUYlfANec0HlSIR4bgUMHakxBSDsbV60lrPUGyj3VFmdNNnhmC1cz4K40BIdTY0EloQ0Ep0roDVaAEs6r0FAjOgVDxIXVDm214A4kOkTyHjodTcNOg7cC9RqY2hS/s1600/small+ben2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1600" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJXvxx5y8O_XW4rL-mVUYlfANec0HlSIR4bgUMHakxBSDsbV60lrPUGyj3VFmdNNnhmC1cz4K40BIdTY0EloQ0Ep0roDVaAEs6r0FAjOgVDxIXVDm214A4kOkTyHjodTcNOg7cC9RqY2hS/s320/small+ben2.JPG" width="320"></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">People ask
why we come here – I was asking myself the same question on Saturday! The
answer is entirely down to Global Care.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We’ve
seen first-hand the difference their work makes in three different countries, and
in Uganda in three different centres. We’ve met and interviewed previously sponsored
children who started life as orphans in total poverty and are now professionals
– thanks to Global Care. We’ve met young people who were born HIV+ who are fit
and healthy and educated – thanks to Global Care. We’ve seen children with
extreme disability living in harsh and destructive situations learn to laugh
and play and go to school and learn to look after themselves.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We’ve watched schools be transformed from disintegrating
shelters with local latrines to award-winning thriving communities with
concrete buildings and productive gardens and farms. </span><br>
<br>
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<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Why do I want to support Global Care? Several things – Global Care
works with local partners with knowledge and experience of their local
community, they target the most vulnerable children in any particular community
– specific to that community, they aim to involve the whole community, not just
individuals. In the case of disabled people, we can’t understand their
situation, so we need disabled people to talk to us about what will help them
and to drive any development work. We're getting better at involving local disabled people
and local and national disabled people’s organisations in ptoject planning. While education for children is often the key aim, the
compassion and care of local partners mean children are treated holistically,
their whole situation is taken into consideration. That might mean building
simple family toilets or motivating a whole community to work with another
agency to build clean water facilities.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>And there is a real attention to sustainability. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We learnt very quickly when we started coming here
that we rarely have solutions – but we can help local staff look at things
differently, and we can ask the hard questions. These things don’t happen without
donors and we’re slowly learning how to help local partners understand the
needs of potential funders and existing donors in terms of accountability and
information.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHeG4w8cTuqymA60ESqPEvCWuh-vfsNwl9982lmADnBCnA9pMcXspyoE-g6qWFAMywcFs6LGy8GIZ5vBatav1NLtFE62zJdNsnNiDX8uWxtuBiS4GKlAmkAO2LRyXUd9lPcFdFqoF3v45p/s1600/small+van.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1070" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHeG4w8cTuqymA60ESqPEvCWuh-vfsNwl9982lmADnBCnA9pMcXspyoE-g6qWFAMywcFs6LGy8GIZ5vBatav1NLtFE62zJdNsnNiDX8uWxtuBiS4GKlAmkAO2LRyXUd9lPcFdFqoF3v45p/s320/small+van.JPG" width="214"></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUo4z5YtU5ArsrvfWDYSmkZLuhJ4q36EUmEv8Nv2jnh3pq0ydm8F9-GUrYPbcpeeu6LMeDeNzAK7XtiqK50Y6mIkVO3oZsQCsNPBPdJW5Hw9EHsvyqDB0E5Gcjd1K8xcoUNfzAAfC4gfNK/s1600/small+zebra.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br></a><span style="font-family: "calibri";">We’ve left
Rukungiri with 19 new children we won’t forget, and we’re excited to watch as
their lives start being changed.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>In
Soroti we’re going to visit a new Playscheme for CWD and help the Ark as they prepare for some training
in the summer from UK special needs teachers. Different children, different
solutions. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span><br>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">We are
incredibly grateful to Global Care. Two retired people who have the privilege of
working with inspirational local partners, meeting brave and beautiful
children, and seeing fantastic positive change in desperate peoples’ lives.</span></div>
<br>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">For more information
about Global Care, go to: <a href="http://globalcare.org.uk/" target="_blank">Global Care UK</a></span></div>
And a gratuitous zebra picture!<br>
<br>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span>BarbsyHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01383635021765875275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2717453890079453215.post-12873831696938433702019-02-25T01:17:00.000-08:002019-02-25T21:36:02.973-08:00The Termite the Aardvark and the Warthog<br>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Friday and
Saturday were spent pulling everything we’ve done together and developing a
series of reports, proposals and budgets. I say that as if I’ve done loads of
work… Unfortunately, I acquired a reason to still focus on latrines and spent
most of Saturday in bed.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Tom, Moses
& Penlope produced an incredible amount of detailed work, and we have a
pretty good plan for what it would take, and cost, for our 19 children to go to
school.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">On Sunday we
travelled to Lake Mburo Game Park for a couple of days rest before moving on to
Soroti and a new set of interesting challenges. We left Rukungiri in pouring
rain and still feeling cold. As we drove out of town and watched people
sheltering from the rain or running for cover, it was another stark reminder of
our own good fortune and privilege.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It
was pure stupidity that left me cold – I should have taken more care with that
dratted fleece. The people I watched from the comfort of the car were dressed
in thin clothes. Many poor people have leaky houses, few have coats or
waterproof shoes. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It’s not something people
sing about – what its like for the most vulnerable when it’s cold and stormy ‘in
Africa’. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>As the paths turned to muddy
rivers, we thought again about the children living at the top of hills only
accessible by steep stony, rocky footpaths. No mobility aids, no money for a
boda-boda. It was a sobering thought.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">As I’ve got
older, I seem more susceptible to stomach bugs – but I always have a comfy bed
in a dry room. In Rukungiri, I had visits from staff to make sure I was OK when
Tom was out, they brought me cold bottled water, and asked if I wanted medicine
or food. Here in Mburo, they made me ginger tea – <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>just what I needed.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Ugandans are generally incredibly kind and
thoughtful, they are respectful (apart from the ones who are my friends who deny
me cake or tease me about my age). <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The people
we met in the villages and remote houses were all welcoming and pleasant. They
were delighted that we visited and wanted to try and find a way to help their children
(I suppose apart from the child who screamed the whole time because he was
afraid of our white skins!). Most of the children laughed and tried to play or
talk with us. The families seemed to genuinely love their disabled children – they
desperately wanted to help them.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUeWhnTs47ophcZTh1f5ivDUfdvubLTMDQ4tOdJaxzY4snuPbITWF0GXDmVsq2J6qKnrTwygqE7SAyvXZe1R2vVF1n_aYjKqbAKjgdhfyMNjmjfErnZAA9VMKfVlJRvJIkVV8_QHBnvQxo/s1600/P1030382.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: left; color: #0066cc; float: left; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1600" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUeWhnTs47ophcZTh1f5ivDUfdvubLTMDQ4tOdJaxzY4snuPbITWF0GXDmVsq2J6qKnrTwygqE7SAyvXZe1R2vVF1n_aYjKqbAKjgdhfyMNjmjfErnZAA9VMKfVlJRvJIkVV8_QHBnvQxo/s320/P1030382.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320"></a>Its easy to
focus on the struggles, to become slightly patronising and think we can help when
other’s lives become hard. Our motivation to help should be compassion and care
for these children. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We have to recognise
the children and families in the project are people, not objects for our western
sympathy, money or salvation.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Moses and
Penlope are passionate about the children – they want to start making their
lives easier and helping them get to school straight away. They have incredible
energy and enthusiasm. They would have taken us to meet all 19 children if
there had been time because they knew if we met the children, we would
understand the problems – not because they were trying to make us cry. It’s not
about knee-jerk solutions to a crisis, it’s about understanding a whole
structure and culture and seeing how we can support those who know far better
than us what those solutions might be. Tom and I mostly asked Moses and Penlope
questions and filled in forms and wrote proposals from their answers… then
asked more questions. We rarely produced answers.</span></div>
<br>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Today we
were walking with a guide in the Park. We saw loads of huge termite hills, some
even blocking the road. We looked at one with a big hole and tunnel in the middle.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Moses our guide (there are always lots of
Moses in my blogs!) explained that the holes were made by aardvarks at night
feeding from termites. Then suddenly there was a loud rustling from a bush
beside us and a herd of disgruntled warthogs thundered out from the foliage
right beside us. Startled I grabbed Moses as we watched them charge off away
from the wretched people who had disturbed their sleep talking about termites
and aardvarks.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span><br>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Moses turned
back to the termite hill. ‘When the aardvark leaves, the warthogs use the hole
and make it bigger as a sort of cave for them to sleep in.’ </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"> said they
were ugly brutes, but Tom announced, ‘I love warthogs – they’re fine and they’re
just themselves, they don’t care what anyone else thinks – they’re happy to be
warthogs.’ </span><br>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br></div>
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</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwZUV2qHxO0TEyz3pDXcjUbMRQ6KNDVJ3pVRwjVtrobOWXETxCtHMdSTbXrKfa8BS-yyYHBrc_MiZef18UsFJnrHcobQo1Sb9zYH4gCQtpNI1pFdRYLsxZsZkr2m7KAkjseua5Tq567vNN/s1600/P1030341.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1600" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwZUV2qHxO0TEyz3pDXcjUbMRQ6KNDVJ3pVRwjVtrobOWXETxCtHMdSTbXrKfa8BS-yyYHBrc_MiZef18UsFJnrHcobQo1Sb9zYH4gCQtpNI1pFdRYLsxZsZkr2m7KAkjseua5Tq567vNN/s320/P1030341.JPG" width="320"></a><br>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I think we
need to learn to live like this…. We need to work together - and see the value
in each other.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We shouldn’t judge but
fight for justice for all. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Without the
termite, the aardvark has no food and the warthog doesn’t have a cave. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We saw herds of impala with zebra and vervet
monkeys.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Moses said they have a
symbiotic relationship – they always travel together. The impala browse vegetation
and disturb insects which the monkeys eat. The monkeys act as look-outs warning
off predators such as leopards and baboons (who knew baboons eat young impala?).<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I think we need to work on symbiotic
relationships – we learnt so much from Moses and Penlope, and we learnt from
the families too – seeing how love and care can bring joy and security to
children with disability even when they have no real hope for the future.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I’d like to think that in different
situations I can be a termite or an aardvark, a monkey or an impala - maybe I
need t try being a warthog… I never want to come like a baboon, someone who needs to be kept from the
vulnerable for using for my own gain.</span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br></span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br></span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">PS one little girl had a paralysed leg which she dragged around to move. The open ulcer on her leg was a problem to be solved... How could we protect the leg and support healing. Penlope sat on the ground and talked to the child. She gently asked if she could lift her dress to look at the leg. She was gentle, respectful & spoke with dignity. I learnt from Penlope. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span>BarbsyHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01383635021765875275noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2717453890079453215.post-40145006717308862542019-02-21T08:29:00.001-08:002019-02-21T09:04:35.405-08:00Today we did not eat crisps<p dir="ltr">We've spent today in the office. When it started raining we were very glad we've finished fieldwork... The roads/paths would be impassable in the rain & we'd probably be stuck in the middle of nowhere. We've realised some of our research project children will struggle to get to school in bad weather. You'd need a trail bike to get up the steep muddy paths.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Today's job was to collate & analyse all the data we've collected, start to make recommendations, and cost the various options. For each of the 19 children! Yes, it took all day, and tomorrow we have to get more quotes and meet the local Disability Association... you guessed it... to discuss latrines. </p>
<p dir="ltr">We've had some interesting discussions that have stretched our brains beyond the usual extent of retired people! </p>
<p dir="ltr">1. As a charity, how do we balance immediate desperate need with encouraging and motivating people? For example, if a family are day labourers, on any particular day they may not have any money... Literally no money. But if we give them the full amount for transport to take their child to an orthopaedic camp, will they expect us to keep giving money and not look for work? Our solution is to budget for the full amount but decide how much on the actual day. </p>
<p dir="ltr">2. If several local suppliers quote a reasonable price for a child's motorcycle helmet, can we be sure it's good quality? Our solution.. Visit the shop and look. The helmets were like toys, and they break if dropped. Hopeless. Our children will be negotiating steep hills on paths with unstable surfaces. Our final budget is nearly twice the cost - but we can't compromise on safety even if that's the locally acceptable solution. </p>
<p dir="ltr">3. Our schools are in deeply rural areas previously out of the range of Global Care. We can get quotes from builders here in town for constructing latrines, but in the villages the price of labour and materials will be much less. We've decided to get several quotes from town so we can prepare a budget now, but the team will contact schools for local builders and get quotes from them. Otherwise we'll have to pay for town builders to make site visits with one of our team because, 'they'll never find the school'! </p>
<p dir="ltr">We went out for lunch today. Local food which cost £8 for 5 of us to have huge plates of rice, matoke, cassava, vegetables and meat stew. </p>
<p dir="ltr">We didn't have hot water yesterday... I'm ok with cold showers after my cold water exploits but it's quite cold outside in the morning. Our resident go to person went to our room, stood in the shower in very muddy shoes, fiddled with pipes and it works again. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Today we arrived back at the hotel to no electricity or wifi. We said we needed to send emails so he sent a boy out for fuel for the generator! We're online woohoo... </p>
<p dir="ltr">When we left the office, we asked if the team were happy with the work today. Moses said, 'I am happy, I did not eat crisps.' <br>
Tom said, 'I am happy, I did not travel into the hills and I had a Ugandan lunch.' <br>
Charles said, 'I am happy, I had a rest day...sleeping in the refrigerator (it was very cold this morning and Charles forgot his Rukungiri jumper) and eating lunch.' </p>
<p dir="ltr">We didn't peer into any stinky huts today either... </p>
BarbsyHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01383635021765875275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2717453890079453215.post-74926223622234828182019-02-20T10:28:00.001-08:002019-02-20T10:28:39.554-08:00We Need To Talk About Poo<p dir="ltr">It has been another hot dusty day. We travelled a total of 67km... Most of it on unmade roads (otherwise known as footpaths). However the van rattles less and there is some improvement in comfort after Charles took a trip to the garage. We paid the huge price of £17 for a new bush on the rear suspension! I have no idea how Charles negotiates the trees, boulders, narrow bridges, partially washed away roads or tiny tracks on steep inclines. Somehow he does it and we only have to walk a few hundred metres at the end. And thanks for the messages, yes today I had cake. Banana cake Ugandan style! </p>
<p dir="ltr">We visited 5 children today, 4 were at school. We did 4 school visits and 1 home visit. One of the key issues for these children is how they manage to use the toilet, and whether facilities at school and home provide them with practical solutions for going to the loo... And there's the question of privacy and dignity. </p>
<p dir="ltr">I had a good laugh yesterday. Remember we're out in very rural locations. I needed what is euphamistically referred to here as a 'short call'. We were at a village so Penelop went about finding me a loo. Eventually we were directed to a flight of stairs going down to the basement of a guest house. At the back was a narrow concrete passage with lots of doors & 3 women lounging around. Penelop had a long involved duscussion then shook her head and started walking back.<br>
I said, 'Whats the matter?' <br>
She said, 'They do not have flush toilet.' <br>
I said, 'Its not a problem.' <br>
Penelop looked surprised, asked if I really meant that, looked behind a door and pulled a face. I walked past her and did my business in a perfectly suitable extremely basic latrine. I laughed at her expression all the way back to the 'boys'. </p>
<p dir="ltr">So we all have expectations, but sometimes the need outweighs the preference for sweet smelling cleanliness. But... should we expect children with disability (CWD) to put up with what's available if their inability to squat means their hands might be on a filthy floor, or because they can't stand they have to sit on the floor? Of course not. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Every home and every school visit includes discussion of how the child manages with toileting, followed by a latrine inspection. I've decided the latter is much more suited to Tom's skill set than mine! </p>
<p dir="ltr">Sometimes we're pleasantly surprised. One family built a separate latrine for their disabled child as she can't stand,  she has her own clean place. The government installs one accessible toilet when it funds new school latrines. They may not be built to specifications recommended by Ugandan disability groups, but its a start. At least there's one latrine with handrails... They may be too high or too low for most children, there's only one so its for boys or girls not both, it may be built at the bottom of a rough track which a wheelchair couldn't manage, the ramp may curve at the top, be too narrow for a wheelchair to negotiate the toilet door, and the stall too small to turn a wheelchair... But its a start! Or is it? </p>
<p dir="ltr">Several children we've met can manage on their own. Others are carried, supported to squat or have learnt interesting ways of negotiating a hole in the ground. We've spent a lot of time thinking about this. How can we help children get to school if they can't get to the latrine at the top or bottom of a hill over rough ground or they can't stand or squat? </p>
<p dir="ltr">We've got lots of ideas, but every child and every school is unique. We're getting quotes for different designs of latrines, quotes for septic tanks where latrines can't be dug deep enough. We're researching child sized commodes and will be asking for a design and quote for a wooden frame with a raised toilet seat. At one school a child's parents pay for a teacher to take her to the toilet. At another, the teacher leaves a class of nursery children so she can take a child <u>to</u> the toilet. Our big challenge in the next few days is to come up with creative solutions for about half the children in the research project. We'll be talking about poo for the rest of the week.... </p>
BarbsyHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01383635021765875275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2717453890079453215.post-8192421953820243102019-02-19T10:26:00.002-08:002019-02-19T10:26:52.056-08:00The Elephants Who Came for Tea<span style="color: black;">W<span style="font-family: Calibri;">e've spent the last day and a half in a Super Custom minivan driving around the
hills and valleys of Rukungiri district. Yesterday was cold and wet – I very much regretted ‘losing’ my fleece jacket during the chaos at Dar es
Salaam Port. Today was very hot and sunny – Tom regretted the vest he wore to
compensate for being cold yesterday! Our team consists of Charles, our driver,
and Moses and Penelop the local Global Care staff. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The day starts with a trip to buy snacks for the journey - consisting of a variety of crispy vegetables,
the bananas left over from our breakfast, and today cake. I was a bit miffed in
the supermarket when Moses put 3 cakes in the trolley ‘for the Ugandans’. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">I said, ‘What
about me?’</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">He said, ‘You
only eat small snacks.’</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">I said, ‘Give
me cake.’ <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>He did. </span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">Today we
also stopped for lunch in a village café … They said we needed lunch because we
needed to build our strength for the next visit…. I will explain.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">We’re here
to help the team with an action research project exploring ways Global Care might support children with disability (CWD) to access education. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>They’ve identified 19 children to take part in
the study and visited them all at home. I collated the data back in the UK and
Tom summarised the findings. The UK management team looked at the results and we
are starting the next phase. The team need to visit schools and put together an
action plan – a proposal with options and costings.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We left the UK with open minds – you never
quite know what you’ll find ‘on the ground.’ Yesterday we spent a couple of
hours reviewing the work so far and deciding what to do next. The Ugandan team
wanted us to visit some homes to meet the children and understand a bit
about the location of their homes, and visit schools to discuss their approaches to CWD.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">We
quickly realised that most of
the 19 children live miles apart - and several Km from the nearest school. Yesterday we visited 3 children and 2 schools –
we left the office at 11.30am and arrived back at 6pm! We drove for miles and
when paths became too small, we walked. Because of the rain it was muddy and
slippery. We had a sad visit to a very disabled child and happy visits to children
we’re sure could get to school with help with transport. We even found a school
with a section for disability. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">Today we left town
at 9.30 and took the main track towards Queen
Elizabeth Game Park, North West of Rukungiri. The dusty rough road goes for
many miles, climbing up and up through a forest. The mass of vegetation
includes eucalyptus trees, pampas grass, pine trees, spear grass, mango trees
and many others we don’t recognise. Small children run or walk along the road
alone, often barefoot. As we continue, we see fields of coffee, matoke, sweet potato and the bright orange flowers of flame trees vividly breaking the monotony of the greens and
browns of earth and homes. After 1 hour we arrive at a small town, Bwambara.
People are everywhere as it is market day. Coming out of town the road narrows
and we can see the Savannah of the Game Park in the distance. After another 10
minutes we turn off again onto a narrow track. If it rains this ‘road’ is
impassable. The track becomes a path, just wide enough for the van, and we have
arrived.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">The boy we
have come to see (we’ll call him John), comes running over as he sees us. He’s
limping and holding his arm awkwardly. He has hemiparesis. He goes to the local
school which is on the next field.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>People come over to talk to us. We learn that the Game Park plays a huge
part in the lives of families in this community.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>They are afraid of the <span style="color: black;">elephants</span> which eat
their crops and trample farms and buildings. John’s family live in a very
simple house. The area is incredibly poor – it is so far from towns that it is
neglected – the health clinic has no supplies, the school expected government
teachers but they have not arrived so the parents have to pay the teachers
which makes school fees expensive -£6/ term. The nearest government school fees are £1/term
but is too far away for John to reach without transport – which no-one
can afford.
Most of the adults in the village are uneducated beyond a very basic level – their grandparents
didn’t go to school at all. Education is not a priority. Families depend on
agriculture. The area is the hottest and poorest in the district – but during
last year’s severe drought they had no government support. Children didn’t go
to school because there was no money. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The villagers have always followed the ways of
their grandparents who lived in the bush – education is a new concept. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Moses said, ‘They haven’t worked out a
relationship with schools.’</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">John has 8
siblings (4 others died). His father has 2 other wives, one wife has 15
children, the other has 12. There is very little money to go around so
education will not be a priority. The village school only takes children up to
Primary 3 – what will happen to John after that? He won’t complete village education
unless there is help with fees – his father can’t afford £6/ term when he has
35 other children to think about, and he can’t afford transport to send John to
the cheaper school. It is fantastic that John can go to school now – but he
often runs away and goes home if there is no-one there to send him back. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The lovely young Deputy Head told us they are
working with John and his family to improve the situation and his behaviour has
improved, he is learning well and his hygiene is improving. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">After we’d
seen John, we spent half an hour in the van travelling to meet a 4-year-old who was
completely terrified of our white skins and wouldn’t stop screaming… In these
remote villages many people have never seen a Mzungu. A Head Teacher told us he’d
never talked to a Mzungu! This child had paraplegia and lived in a village on a
hill with vey rough terrain. After another 40 minutes in the van we visited a CWD
at school – a huge rambling school on a hillside. We’ll call him Stephen. Stephen
has been at school for a year and is doing very well – he’s ahead of others in
his class. But… he’s always late because it takes him so long to walk to school
(3.5Km) on his deformed leg. And after 40minutes drive we walked up an
incredibly steep narrow path to meet a lovely little girl with Spina Bifida.
She was sitting happily eating lunch when we arrived – but she has medical and
physical problems that need resolving before we can even think about how she’d
get to school. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">We stood
outside this last house and looked out over the distant hills and mountains.
The lush hillside forest beneath rustled in the slight breeze. It was truly
beautiful.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>But for these children, the
outlook is harsh. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Once again, this time
in the context of children living with disability in incredibly remote and
difficult environments, we can only refer to the Global Care ‘motto’, ‘We can’t
do everything, we can’t do nothing, we must do something.’</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span>BarbsyHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01383635021765875275noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2717453890079453215.post-70694565001058294272019-02-18T09:30:00.001-08:002019-02-18T09:30:56.517-08:00From Z to U<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">Yesterday we
left Zanzibar and flew to Uganda via Nairobi. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Marvelling at the enormity of Lake Victoria
from the plane, we realised it was our first daylight arrival! We were met by
our friend and driver, Charles, and set off for a 3-hour drive to our first
stopover in the bustling town of Masaka. </span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;">It’s a year
since we were last here, and we’ve noticed significant changes already. The new
Kampala – Entebbe expressway (motorway) was something of a revelation. It’s
hard to remember the awful roads we bumped over 10 years ago on our first
visit. The journey is still full of hazards as Charles tries to avoid
motorbikes, lorries and taxis (the annoying matata drivers who pull out into
the road without warning). The towns haven’t changed… full of jostling
vehicles, people and animals all fighting for space on any available piece of
ground.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>If a bus, taxi or car is
stationary, its swamped by street sellers thrusting baskets of corn, bananas,
peanuts, sodas, passionfruit and kebabs at every open window. No ‘hakuna
matata’ here (the mantra of the Zanzibari).<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black;"></span><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black;">We crossed the equator <span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">(for the second time in a day) and the road stretched ahead through miles and miles of flat scrubland with sparse bushes and trees.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Occasionally I’d spot someone walking towards
us, drawing attention to the dust paths criss-crossing away from the main road
leading to small communities or individual homes deep in the bush.<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> </span>In front of us bicycles tried to avoid the
heavy traffic, some precariously laden with an impossible number of full yellow
jerry-cans.<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> </span>In Uganda there are still
many people without access to water, electricity and sanitation. </span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span></u><span style="color: black;"></span><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
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<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">As the sun
began to set and we arrived at our hotel for the night, we began to register
familiar smells of burning charcoal and hot earth. We watched the sun set over
the city – marvelling at the intensity and speed as the luminous red ball slid
under the horizon.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>As we walked out of
our ‘banda’ this morning, Tom remarked, ‘Ah, this is familiar - how Uganda
looks and smells!’</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;">Today we
continued our journey down the Kampala – Kabale highway for another 3½
hours.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The monotony of scrubland and
roadside villages was broken by a herd of zebra, and the further south we
travelled, we saw more livestock – cows and goats, sometimes herded by small
children with sticks! Another change is the abundant supplies on the roadside
stalls.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>There are piles of fruit and
vegetables – with plenty of variety.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Whole
carcasses hang outside butcher’s shops (yes - in the hot sun and delighting
flies).<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Last year the stalls were empty,
and drought eventually led to serious food shortages.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Global Care were able to help with emergency
feeding in the worse hit areas where we work.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">Eventually
we turn off on the road to Rukungiri, and very quickly the landscape changes.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The trees are taller, the vegetation is lush,
little farms are dotted on hillsides and small houses shelter in banana plantations
in the valleys. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We see groups of Ankole
cattle with their monstrous horns.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The
mountains of Bwindi loom ahead out of the cloud and mist (fantastic driving
weather) as the terrain becomes hillier. How strong must people be to carry all
those jerry-cans up a steep incline every day? Occasionally we spot a huge
fancy house with brightly painted walls surrounding ornamental gardens – we
smile knowingly, must be a government official’s ‘village home’. He’ll use it
for funerals and major events but lives in Kampala most of the time. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">Finally we
arrive at our familiar hotel.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>There’s
electricity and water – but no Internet as they haven’t got the money to pay
for data. Someone is coming from Kampala with money tomorrow... maybe! There is
one member of staff and a chef. There are no other guests. Its pouring with
rain.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We can hear a loud church service
– shouting and singing compete with birdsong outside our room. Our Uganda sim
isn’t working so we resorted to expensive SMS on UK data.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Our Global Care contact has gone to church
and turned his phone off – he will be gone for several hours.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We have arrived indeed! </span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">PS Moses arrived and totally redeemed himself with the words, 'You look so young, I was expecting an old lady!'</span>BarbsyHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01383635021765875275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2717453890079453215.post-8115901843616267642019-02-12T10:31:00.000-08:002019-02-12T10:31:20.815-08:00Songs of Hope<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Unusually, I’m writing my first 2019 blog on holiday in
Africa, not with Global Care! We’re in Zanzibar for a Swahili music festival
(<a href="https://busaramusic.org/" target="_blank">Sauti za Busara</a> if anyone’s interested), then some beach R&R before
travelling to Uganda.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Festival musicians
haven’t been afraid to be political or address past and present trauma and
conflict. Music, song, and poetry are powerful media for transmitting raw
emotion ranging from desperate pain and sadness to unadulterated joy. Yes –
it’s been brilliant – and thought provoking and challenging at times! Even on
holiday we’ve found ourselves wondering at the resilience of humans faced with
what must at times feel like never-ending loss. There’s been a lot about
discrimination too – particularly against women, and I’m leaving with the
mantra ‘I am a strong woman, my sisters are strong women,’ ringing in my ears. Alongside the pain there was a sense of hope for the future, hope for change. Tausi Women's Taarab - Zanzibar's first all-female taarab orchestra, singers and dancers - were fabulous... energetic, funny, enthusiastic, and full of hope.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’ve just been replying to emails – last minute details for
what seems a challenging set of aims for our time in Rukungiri and Soroti.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We’ll be working with local teams as they prepare
and deliver initiatives to support children with disabilities (CWD).<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Another group of people who experience
unbelievable discrimination and injustice – even in Britain…</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We’ve loved visiting the Ark disability day care centre in
Soroti and seeing the development and changes in children year on year has been
incredibly encouraging. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It’s exciting to
hear children count, see them write letters or their name, even seeing them ask
to go to the toilet – when previously they relied on nappies. These children’s
families live in total poverty, but at the Ark they are fed, educated and cared
for with love. And… with their children safe and secure at the Ark, parents can
work.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Last week we heard that some Ark children
are starting school this term, so we’ll be meeting new children next week.
Fantastic!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This trip we’ll go to a new
Playscheme for CWD in a remote village in Abeko – an idea Tom ‘pinched’ from
another charity (they’ve been very helpful and supportive!). <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We’re going to review the scheme with local
staff and help them prepare a plan for ongoing work with CWD in Abeko.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The ultimate aim of the Playscheme is to
support as many CWD as possible into mainstream education. That sounds pretty
straightforward, but for many CWD in rural Uganda it’s an upward struggle. There
are few adapted schools or specialist teachers. Transport is often
unaffordable, but disabled children can’t walk several kilometres to school. Alongside
school fees and uniforms, and extra costs for healthcare and welfare, school is
not prioritised for CWD – food or educating siblings comes first.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Our trip starts in Rukungiri in the South. The local team
are starting a project with CWD and are currently looking at how Global Care
can best support CWD in this region.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>For
the first phase, 18 CWD have been assessed – specifically as to how they could
be supported to access quality education – without bullying or discrimination. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Most of these CWD had no mobility aids.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>All the children have been assessed by a
specialist and the team are sourcing and costing appropriate aids.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Can you believe one child ‘bottom-shuffled’
over rough ground for hours to get to school, missing a large part of the day,
then had to face the 3Km home again? No money for transport or aids, no
adaptations or special toilets at school. The terrain is hilly, and paths are
mostly in poor condition, stony and rough when its dry, flooded, muddy and
impassable unless you’re able-bodied when its wet.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Toilets in Uganda are mostly pit latrines (a
hole in the ground - if you’re lucky it has a concrete base). If you can’t walk
or stand this poses all kinds of problems and for many CWD it is basically
disgusting – which isn’t a word I use for many pit latrines, they’re perfectly
functional in the environment… although it helps if they’re kept clean to some
extent! </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Our challenge is to help the team develop a project proposal
and present a range of costed options to help these 18 CWD access school.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>They’ll have lots of ideas and local
knowledge – we have experience of project planning and development.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>They’ll do the work – we’ll write it up!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>There are 2 big questions:</span></div>
<ol>
<li><div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
H<span style="font-family: Calibri;">ow can the CWD safely travel to school?</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Are schools prepared to accept them and have the necessary adaptations made – and make sure teachers and other pupils treat them the same as everybody else?</span></div>
</li>
</ol>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Two questions, a whole host of challenges…<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We’re excited and apprehensive.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>But… we’ve visited several projects and know
the impact Global Care makes on children’s lives. We know Global Care seeks to
help families break the poverty cycle and lift whole communities to a place of
sustainable development, and over 10 years of visiting Uganda we’ve seen it
happen.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We’ve watched schools develop in
partnership with Global Care, seen local communities, families with sponsored
children and CWD earn a livelihood, and we’ve met previously sponsored children
who are now professional adults supporting whole extended families and working
to change the lives of the most vulnerable families. We’ve also learnt more
about the importance of projects being owned and directed by local communities
and all stakeholders – and that means involving them right at the beginning
during proposal development and planning. This requires patience, tolerance,
respect and understanding.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As we swam in the warm Indian ocean today, relaxing after a
hectic few days partying, we thought again about the young woman from Cameroon (@LydolSlam) whose musical poetry overflowed with emotion and spoke of the pain of a
nation.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We have a deaf Ugandan friend
whose motto is ‘disability is not inability’. I love Uganda and my Ugandan
friends, but I’m also going because I want to stand with the local teams and
with CWD and their families. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>They should
know respect and love, be given a voice to speak of both their pain and
aspirations, and be supported to achieve what is practically possible. Everyone has a right to hope....</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Come back when we reach Uganda… and you’ll find out how the
CWD project is progressing…..</span></div>
BarbsyHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01383635021765875275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2717453890079453215.post-61985447341055275012018-09-24T02:55:00.000-07:002018-09-24T10:13:40.852-07:00Talking on the Big White Phone<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq3bBntpLwlDJsEwSDyumpwf80ANMV2XVpglgm_bXQIEnJcPxKRgy7X3MZvQkycb5RoPRIv_PJOYTCGciRsBW7Iaslr54yV6ZqC_dm_av7_T7L4ll31tgLC4Z8nWdIsmPYHdYB3I3N3x-B/s1600/P1020737.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1600" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq3bBntpLwlDJsEwSDyumpwf80ANMV2XVpglgm_bXQIEnJcPxKRgy7X3MZvQkycb5RoPRIv_PJOYTCGciRsBW7Iaslr54yV6ZqC_dm_av7_T7L4ll31tgLC4Z8nWdIsmPYHdYB3I3N3x-B/s320/P1020737.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s a week since we left for Albania. We’re currently in
Gibraltar visiting Tom’s brother. Yesterday we saw an Aunt of theirs who told
she us about the various places she’s lived in Gibraltar. We realised the
situation she described during her early marriage in the 50’s – 3 families living
in one 2-roomed apartment, no running water, limited employment, one shared toilet
for all the homes on a corridor – had some similarity with places we visited in
Albania. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>While conditions in Gib are
completely different today, we didn’t have much hope for the unregistered
informal homes we saw in Bathore.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When we boarded our Alitalia flight from Tirana to Rome then
onwards to Malaga, there was some discussion of not feeling 100% well. We arrived
in Spain exhausted, unwell and in great need of easy access to a latrine.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Our host had prepared our room with en-suite toilet,
sink and shower, a comfy bed, clean sheets and towels. We used all the services
in the night. We slept most of the next day – able to drink water from the tap
to rehydrate. Situations like these only serve to reinforce our own privilege and
remind us that there are millions of people around the world who cope with gastroenteritis
– which to us was a minor 3-day inconvenience – without running water and
sanitation or even a clean dry cool place to lie down, rest and recuperate. I
can’t imagine how much longer it would have taken to recover if I’d had to
fetch or buy water, I’d only had a dirty mattress - and rats for company, and
there was no cool place to wash. And we could keep our bathroom clean and disinfected….
It may be gross but maybe we shouldn’t close our minds to the potential indignity
of poverty in a similar situation.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5c8mFTMobhIYcFNmGa2etX3ch29qvEsLvrO1Gx68aSqsz5q1fEJMPdIRPuQvMq-e7Ub_ykvL5mS9YP288QjySyWbwLQQZjDBU8X2WcRJWE5LBOVgYCDlArpCcd8NfGXBYDI4KDx0g8tEH/s1600/P1020684.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1600" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5c8mFTMobhIYcFNmGa2etX3ch29qvEsLvrO1Gx68aSqsz5q1fEJMPdIRPuQvMq-e7Ub_ykvL5mS9YP288QjySyWbwLQQZjDBU8X2WcRJWE5LBOVgYCDlArpCcd8NfGXBYDI4KDx0g8tEH/s320/P1020684.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Anyway… in case you wondered, were at about 90% now (Mum please
don’t worry - we’re fine).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Imagine a child living in the kinds of homes we visited, and
knowing that Monday to Friday a big yellow van will come and take you to a
light bright clean place where kind people are waiting to play with you and
help you start to learn letters and numbers? They’re preparing you for school
when you’re 6 – giving you the same opportunity to learn as children whose
parents can afford private kindergartens. When you start school, you can still
go to the Centre for help with homework – and have opportunities to play with
other children. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>When you’re a teenager,
you can go to the Youth Group. And imagine the parents of children with autism,
who had no hope, nowhere to go for help, no access to therapy. They know their
children can have individual and group therapy – as well as education and play
alongside the other children. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlJCfUObMht4zNKTgjJ6PLzI7OC2ZSnA3uFAwnl6cjKUsUkVNDGpgOoBUQzLkZhlQ0a5evCDACjnQ9CpfTqna9xPli2D3TgNdCNoREeMI7SPGO3VzrLZKJyVoYuxkAvRDlul9-uE4nFShG/s1600/P1020842.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1600" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlJCfUObMht4zNKTgjJ6PLzI7OC2ZSnA3uFAwnl6cjKUsUkVNDGpgOoBUQzLkZhlQ0a5evCDACjnQ9CpfTqna9xPli2D3TgNdCNoREeMI7SPGO3VzrLZKJyVoYuxkAvRDlul9-uE4nFShG/s320/P1020842.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">On our last day I handed out the kit donated by friends in
the UK. Specialist toys and aids for the therapy unit, and a ‘Wightman’
parachute (they’ve donated several play parachutes to Uganda, there’s one in
Lebanon, and now one in Albania!). The staff were particularly pleased to have
parachute games books and Oh Joy, they asked me to teach them some new games (their
old parachute is unusable). There’s nothing like having a couple of challenging
days making home visits then see the same children round a parachute, laughing,
shouting, enthusiastically not listening. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC5pMDZMqMCHD2KFQbk2kyL-fbB-aIzuOi4jajTiCYwIrEgZS9H_d-EgFEra5P26cAgHmoGLgorC1m_Qe0irYSAniFuIJcggfJijD0BOZEMxmrB_FBQt2zG-bYNCiSb4LFnvjKUtA_zQdY/s1600/P1020849.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC5pMDZMqMCHD2KFQbk2kyL-fbB-aIzuOi4jajTiCYwIrEgZS9H_d-EgFEra5P26cAgHmoGLgorC1m_Qe0irYSAniFuIJcggfJijD0BOZEMxmrB_FBQt2zG-bYNCiSb4LFnvjKUtA_zQdY/s200/P1020849.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thanks everyone – it’s really
appreciated.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I love it!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd70XcURzeQauW-Rcc0pZYJr3fqdmpV1aBVTl9jpU8zFqtw64pCl_9kX5FvPykX62KYRoVpF48Cjzv_Q1yapY6g8EI8FuKLlMBjKQlVCcW6rcOxBw-yrV8ONj1VWpSW0U5GHrsToPUg7pJ/s1600/P1030009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1600" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd70XcURzeQauW-Rcc0pZYJr3fqdmpV1aBVTl9jpU8zFqtw64pCl_9kX5FvPykX62KYRoVpF48Cjzv_Q1yapY6g8EI8FuKLlMBjKQlVCcW6rcOxBw-yrV8ONj1VWpSW0U5GHrsToPUg7pJ/s320/P1030009.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’ve got a whole notebook of stories to write up – so Albania
isn’t going to go away from daily activities for a while.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>There’s also the proposal to finish and then discuss,
and hopefully hand over to the Grants and Trusts team in the UK to start
applying for funding. I’m so glad we went, that we saw first hand what they’re
trying to do. Now we’re determined to help the UK Global Care team work with
the Albanian team to find ways to ensure the Centre can keep on providing services.
</span><br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span>BarbsyHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01383635021765875275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2717453890079453215.post-79526853097776557662018-09-20T12:56:00.005-07:002018-09-20T12:58:59.697-07:00Run for Home<span style="font-family: "calibri";">“Hope keeps us moving… If we fall, hope gets us up again.”</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCcexU37_CS2ZR-qQhF8mKlzZHT5n3c4lGMURxLAzMMhUJZhyphenhyphenX_QJk2PN4_1DObc2P9Lc9YpWgnYm2y_NQRsNIjOOa-L5kxvH7AO9VXj3Jw_StuKADCAgshBceJCeJHEj950nO4YTVfb4_/s1600/P1030013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1600" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCcexU37_CS2ZR-qQhF8mKlzZHT5n3c4lGMURxLAzMMhUJZhyphenhyphenX_QJk2PN4_1DObc2P9Lc9YpWgnYm2y_NQRsNIjOOa-L5kxvH7AO9VXj3Jw_StuKADCAgshBceJCeJHEj950nO4YTVfb4_/s320/P1030013.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The young man sitting opposite smiled at Evis the Global Care Albania
Manager who was translating.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>*Michael
had just finished telling me the emotional story of his life - which started
with a young boy walking to New Day Centre (NDC) barefoot - his family couldn’t
afford shoes, much less transport to school or books and pens. We’d followed his
erratic school attendance, his search for a better life as a teenager –
attempting the arduous and traumatic journey to illegally enter Greece. Michael said the only place he was really free was at NDC, as a child at the School Club and later at the Youth Club. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>He could play games, when he was at school he
had help with homework, he was treated with respect and received warm hospitality
from the staff, he made friends, he met interesting guests from other countries
as well as a beautiful young lady who is now his fiancée. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfDuv0T7qwR24iljlX4KrUWgfTrf0hAkIFNiTgVYdblk6Dz95dKlMKTOAqTwWbxxB8HM8moO3DEZEX2-kGMMyXBfi1g2c3IqqzhZlPVCFGFUt-dnGwsgzjOSJKQkELRHMOu6Q3eYTy6Eo0/s1600/P1020839.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1600" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfDuv0T7qwR24iljlX4KrUWgfTrf0hAkIFNiTgVYdblk6Dz95dKlMKTOAqTwWbxxB8HM8moO3DEZEX2-kGMMyXBfi1g2c3IqqzhZlPVCFGFUt-dnGwsgzjOSJKQkELRHMOu6Q3eYTy6Eo0/s320/P1020839.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">He could be himself. He was introduced to Jesus
and became a Christian.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Now he has a job
and supports his whole family. NDC provided a place of stability in Michael’s
incredibly chaotic life. He’s the same age as my youngest son. At 14 he was
starving, alone and destitute trying to find a way to travel hundreds of miles
from the Greek border back to his home in Tirana. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Its hard to imagine isn’t it? Michael said, “Part
of what I am today is because of the influence of NDC. I see other youngsters
not part of this group – their lives are different from mine - and I know I am
the way I am today because of this place. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I grew up here.”</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Today we have been unbelievably encouraged by meeting people whose lives
have been turned around through NDC. Children, young people and parents, who
had no hope… but have found hope through the team at NDC. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC_t1ZCiRoNZsdmYYj9nstG44W8VYA-bFshu82wNucnKCvOTiGAtd4X8LoSjvFuUWV5xkTg5s00oo0gIC8aT4XwP097CUfZwrW77mJaKP3tfAm2-rPfJLqBJDkl95deE-OoXQxqrbtTwDq/s1600/P1030015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1600" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC_t1ZCiRoNZsdmYYj9nstG44W8VYA-bFshu82wNucnKCvOTiGAtd4X8LoSjvFuUWV5xkTg5s00oo0gIC8aT4XwP097CUfZwrW77mJaKP3tfAm2-rPfJLqBJDkl95deE-OoXQxqrbtTwDq/s320/P1030015.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">We met a family whose son *Stephen has autism. Two years ago, he
arrived at NDC in nappies. His therapist said, “He was like a baby. Crying all
the time, screaming because he didn’t like this new place.” His parents told us
Stephen had no discipline, he had a few words when he was 15 months old… then
he stopped speaking, there was no real interaction. He couldn’t care for himself
in any way. Now the 5-year-old can identify colours and shapes, Stephen
communicates nonverbally with his parents, teachers and therapists, he can take
his shoes on and off, he can wash himself, he can use the toilet – and tell his
carer when he needs to go, he likes being with other children. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It was great to see his Mum (who we’d met
yesterday) in her own home. Stephen was sitting at a little table playing with
a car. While we were there he cuddled up to his Dad, he interacted with the
therapist, he laughed. His parents said NDC was the only place they could get
help. When they were told Stephen had autism there was nothing available that
they could access. It was fantastic not just to hear about Stephen’s
development, but to see how the family was working with the therapist and
encouraging learning at home. </span><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCdctJ4ByqVAnF_WR4M95rx5En0Ps1xqOcT2I1LFffy3MFb2vxnnOT9CuWfaC0G03Dy5gmdIj7OujWJ_1603nKQ62a8WhPpzOfsHZ9s6wsn3MYG5_2poZFvQ_b6kxBp5kX_542ByyTNXUc/s1600/P1020791.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1600" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCdctJ4ByqVAnF_WR4M95rx5En0Ps1xqOcT2I1LFffy3MFb2vxnnOT9CuWfaC0G03Dy5gmdIj7OujWJ_1603nKQ62a8WhPpzOfsHZ9s6wsn3MYG5_2poZFvQ_b6kxBp5kX_542ByyTNXUc/s320/P1020791.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Michael and Stephen live in an area of Bathore known as ‘The Cowsheds’.
Unregistered homes created in the old cowsheds used by the Agricultural
University during the time when Albania was a Communist country. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>While we were there, the water tanker arrived -
and families sent someone out with containers to buy drinking water. The
fathers in both families work as day labourers in construction. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>They don’t live comfortably. They don’t have
access to anything as remotely helpful as the kind of health and social care support
we have in the UK. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrBhvU8HYlpC8G180KNIB2GeQTN8WGqTAEc-PqVcGSetBCr53xXV6em70jRbqRQ4NWHujz1gq1nlDvottFeBg8BM2qIlEmk5mZvDqSGOi61v45RG34KBt6jfk15FjtduusjHks4C2kQoT4/s1600/P1030009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1600" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrBhvU8HYlpC8G180KNIB2GeQTN8WGqTAEc-PqVcGSetBCr53xXV6em70jRbqRQ4NWHujz1gq1nlDvottFeBg8BM2qIlEmk5mZvDqSGOi61v45RG34KBt6jfk15FjtduusjHks4C2kQoT4/s320/P1030009.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Tomorrow we move on for a few days’ holiday, but I’ve still got lots of
work to do! I have the proposal to write up so the Albanian team can finish working
on it, I’ve got stories, general notes and records to sort out and send to the
UK office. And… I haven’t told you about playing with some of the children
today and handing over the kit – so there’ll be at least one more blog. But
today, I want to focus on one thing <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>–
HOPE.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>NDC is a place of hope – a place that
changes the lives of people who’ve lost all hope.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Once again I’m leaving a project in awe of the
dedication and care of the local team. And I’m determined to work out if I
could be a carrier of hope…</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
*Names changed to protect identity</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span>BarbsyHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01383635021765875275noreply@blogger.com0