Dear friends—
Hello from Uganda! It’s hard to believe I’ve already been in Africa for a full week. The time has flown by. But at the same time, I have seen and learned a ton. As I sit here at my hotel watching monkeys and birds in the beautiful green trees (sorry, Minnesotans!), I’d like to share some thoughts and experiences with you.
- On my first day here, I met with the entire staff in Uganda. I asked them to each share what they like best about GUW and I was so impressed by their sense of mission, teamwork, and dedication. I was given a tour of our St. John’s Kayoro Health Center and enjoyed the pride with which the medical staff showed off the facility and its capabilities. At the end of the meeting, the team planted a mango tree on the grounds in my honor. What a great experience!
- Day two was spent touring several of the schools where we send our sponsored students. Unfortunately school was let out early this term due to concerns over Ebola so the schools were very quiet, with only teachers and staff around. Still, I was able to see the quality facilities and meet with several teachers and headmasters. They all demonstrated a real concern for the education of children in Uganda, and spoke glowingly of the support that Give Us Wings gives to the sponsored students.
- Over the next few days I was able to meet many of those families and students. It was heartening to hear the kids speak about how much they enjoyed their schools and what their professional goals are. Over and over, parents implored me to thank their sponsors for all they do. It was especially nice to hear several times how a sponsored student also helps the community as a whole by coming home on holiday breaks to share knowledge and school materials with siblings and other neighborhood children.
- I have been able to visit six of the nine cooperatives with whom we are sharing training and financial support. While their success rates vary, they all share a fierce determination to work together to improve their livelihoods. Traveling crazily bumpy dirt roads, I was able to see examples of their crop growing and livestock keeping, much of it enhanced by knowledge received from GUW. I have a much better understanding now of how these co-ops work, and I look forward to sharing more info about them in the future. To say that they are appreciative of GUW is a huge understatement. It was a bit embarrassing how many “clapping salutes” we got. (I’ll share a video sometime.) Everywhere we go, the warm welcome is overwhelming.
- Finally, we’ve had some plain old fun as well. Saturday was a day of adventure with the full staff. In the morning we climbed the Tororo Rock. The climb was more strenuous than I expected, but the view at the top was amazing. In the afternoon we travelled to Mbale and drove up into Mt. Elgon, Uganda’s highest peak, for more awesome views: huge tumbling waterfalls, rock cliffs, and lush greenery. It truly is a beautiful country.
I hope you enjoy these photos and feel free to email me with any comments or questions. As positive as my days here have been, I have also learned more about our various challenges. There is so much need; there are organizational and structural issues that need to be addressed; there are limited resources. But this trip is giving me energy to tackle all this with our staff, our Board in the US, and all of you. THANK YOU for your support of GUW. Know that I am seeing the impressive results first hand!
Best wishes—
|
|
|
|
Give Us Wings Uganda staff
|
|
|
|
Planting "my" tree on the property of St. John's Kayoro Health Center.
|
|
|
|
Classrooms at Maama Junior Primary School
|
|
|
(L) With Awori Suzan & family from the Salama Group
(R) With Nyaketcho Cissy & her grandmother from the Tekere Group
|
|
|
|
|
Handing off one of 251 beehives to members of the Kirinya Beemasters Society Cooperative
|
|
|
|
Robbina purchased this piglet with the proceeds from vegetables that she grew. The pig will be bred for additional animals to sell, moving the income cycle forward.
|
|
|
|
A member of a new cooperative in Manafwa shows off his field.
|
|
|
Women of Buyemba Cooperative make flour from cassava root. The flour is then used to make various baked products to sell. We got to enjoy some of them!
|
|
|
|
|
