Thursday, 15 April 2010
HEALTH & SAFETY???
Yesterday I travelled 70 miles on the motor bike to visit a child and we crossed a lake on a boat. The owner was bailing out water with a Gerry can for most of the journey and as I sat in a compartment with goats, chickens, bicycles and the motor bike I was smiling to myself just thinking of health and safety issues.
I had to be barefoot and trousers rolled up as we travelled as the water was so deep inside the boat.However, it was compensated as we stopped in a lakeside local hostelary where a single woman was cooking Nile Perch caught from the lake 20 feet away. I always pray for a strong stomach as I eat and all was well.
Wednesday, 14 April 2010
NAME A GOAT!
Our goats are doing well and as we arrived we met the 2 new additions to our herd. Two day old babies one male and one female. They are adorable and so frisky. We haven’t named them yet so any ideas are welcome.
The big Billy goat went missing from where they were tied in grass to graze and he was held hostage by a woman who caught him eating her crops. She demanded 5,000 shillings ransom money which we had to pay as she was charging double if we left him overnight. He was clearly feeling it was the season for him as he disappeared again the next day and despite night and day searches he is still at large. Soon we will be having to offer a reward for information leading to his return.
Sunday, 11 April 2010
LILLY
The beginning of the week saw a call from Lilly who you know that we found in the street begging and we returned her to her village.
Lilly was sick following her attempt to get her ARV medication from the local health centre to maintain her health with AIDS. She and many other patients had been sent away as they could not pay £3 for registration. We felt it was a corruption charge and today met someone else in the same position who was told ‘’Bring a big cockerel or 5,000 shillings or go away and don’t come back’’.
We are trying to get more details and will contact the US donor who is giving the free medication in this country.
Lilly had her hut that was funded by 2 very generous donations last time I was here and she sends her thanks again to those people.
Lilly was sick following her attempt to get her ARV medication from the local health centre to maintain her health with AIDS. She and many other patients had been sent away as they could not pay £3 for registration. We felt it was a corruption charge and today met someone else in the same position who was told ‘’Bring a big cockerel or 5,000 shillings or go away and don’t come back’’.
We are trying to get more details and will contact the US donor who is giving the free medication in this country.
Lilly had her hut that was funded by 2 very generous donations last time I was here and she sends her thanks again to those people.
Saturday, 10 April 2010
BACK IN UGANDA
I came here after redundancy from work and several weeks sick, planning to take a rest but it’s just not possible, around every corner is a family or individual who touches you. However, I am not working now so I am having to deal with things differently but it is difficult to turn your back.
Tomorrow Wendy, a trustee, who has been here is returning home so I am travelling to Entebbe with her and we are taking some time to travel around.
We are planning to stay on an island in Lake Victoria overnight, visit the source of the Nile, the falls and the equator. Its my way of taking a rest, and I will stay on there after she has gone to spend some time with a friend living there.
It is the rainy season and we have had proof of that as I was caught in a terrible storm with Isaac on the motor bike. It seems to be a habit for us to return home soaked to the skin.
At least the rains are supporting the digging and planting of these rural people and we have even planted maize and vegetables in our garden.
Wednesday, 14 October 2009
OCTOBER VISIT
In October 2008 Trevor, a trustee, and Keith who sponsors 2 children, travelled to Lira with me for 3 weeks.
I was able to stay in our office accompanied by some our lovely children. It was an emotional experience to see the developments since I worked in a field giving the children just a bowl of porridge each day and had to send them back to sleep on the street.
In just 6 months the office and routine was established, the team were working well together, our 4 goats were growing under the care of our ‘trainee goatherds’, the new motor bike was being used to such good effect, beans were growing on my land and 20+ children were attending school/training daily. The sight of these ‘previous street children’ standing proud in school uniform, with some flesh on their bones telling stories of their family and learning, was rewarding and I knew that we were heading in the right direction.
We visited all the schools attended by our children and the reports were good, some exceptional. Kenneth who lost both parents and lived on the street for several years, had always seemed worried.
He told me it was because he felt he would never have the opportunity to return to school. After just 6 weeks in boarding school, thanks to his sponsor, he took exams and came 7th in a class of 200+.
On the other end of the scale, Winnie, 8, who lived a very dysfunctional life with old grandparents, struggled to settle in a structured school environment and was asked to leave because of her behaviour. She was upset but with counselling she has realised that school is so important. She is now coming to the office, staying with the housekeeper during the day, getting love and being valued. Staff are working to rebuild her relationship with her mother and to get her back to live there and to attend the local school in the Summer term.
Trevor and Keith were welcomed and loved by the children. Their DIY skills were soon in demand as they built a huge storage unit and Keith balanced on the roof to set up a pulley washing line.
Trevor soon became the doctor of the house and took children to the clinics for malaria tests and treatment. They visited the homes of children and witnessed the way they lived. Trevor and I visited one of our boys in prison because he had been part of the gang when a lady was robbed and stabbed in the street. The conditions were upsetting and I was also upset as I had to leave him there. He was only 16 and should not have been in an adult prison, his papers had been changed by the authorities. Don’t ask...... this is Africa!! With the support of his sponsor and hard work of the staff he has now been released and is showing us his gratitude by living with us and working to support the other children and the organisation.
I was able to stay in our office accompanied by some our lovely children. It was an emotional experience to see the developments since I worked in a field giving the children just a bowl of porridge each day and had to send them back to sleep on the street.
In just 6 months the office and routine was established, the team were working well together, our 4 goats were growing under the care of our ‘trainee goatherds’, the new motor bike was being used to such good effect, beans were growing on my land and 20+ children were attending school/training daily. The sight of these ‘previous street children’ standing proud in school uniform, with some flesh on their bones telling stories of their family and learning, was rewarding and I knew that we were heading in the right direction.
We visited all the schools attended by our children and the reports were good, some exceptional. Kenneth who lost both parents and lived on the street for several years, had always seemed worried.
He told me it was because he felt he would never have the opportunity to return to school. After just 6 weeks in boarding school, thanks to his sponsor, he took exams and came 7th in a class of 200+.
On the other end of the scale, Winnie, 8, who lived a very dysfunctional life with old grandparents, struggled to settle in a structured school environment and was asked to leave because of her behaviour. She was upset but with counselling she has realised that school is so important. She is now coming to the office, staying with the housekeeper during the day, getting love and being valued. Staff are working to rebuild her relationship with her mother and to get her back to live there and to attend the local school in the Summer term.
Trevor and Keith were welcomed and loved by the children. Their DIY skills were soon in demand as they built a huge storage unit and Keith balanced on the roof to set up a pulley washing line.
Trevor soon became the doctor of the house and took children to the clinics for malaria tests and treatment. They visited the homes of children and witnessed the way they lived. Trevor and I visited one of our boys in prison because he had been part of the gang when a lady was robbed and stabbed in the street. The conditions were upsetting and I was also upset as I had to leave him there. He was only 16 and should not have been in an adult prison, his papers had been changed by the authorities. Don’t ask...... this is Africa!! With the support of his sponsor and hard work of the staff he has now been released and is showing us his gratitude by living with us and working to support the other children and the organisation.
Saturday, 9 May 2009
ANOTHER LITTLE ONE STEP AT A TIME MOMENT
When I first met Solomon he was the head boy of one of the local schools and was being sponsored through another organisation. He was achieving academically even though he had very little as the son of an old mother who was unable to support him. He came to help us when we first started working on the field with the street children as he was so grateful that but for the support of his sponsor he too could have been like them.
Sadly the sponsor pulled out and the shock to Solomon put him into a very bad place. He became ill and last time I was there we had to take him to the clinic for treatment. He moved in with his brother who is a poor bicycle taxi rider (boda boda). Solomon sold rubbish to try to get some money to pay his own school fees but his brother stole the little he had. It was heartbreaking to see his pain and One Step at a Time had to do something for him.
Thankfully, someone was touched by his condition and agreed to sponsor him. Last week my staff found him looking very vulnerable and gave him the good news. I was told that his whole body changed as he jumped in the air shouting how much he loves everybody and One Step at a Time. He then started singing ''I'm going to school tomorrow'' as he ran off to prepare himself.
True to his word he was there bright and early to start his new life with hope. Moses called me to say ''That is another life changed by One Step at a Time'' I am so proud to be able to be involved in these life changes and am eternally grateful to you all for your continued support.
Sadly the sponsor pulled out and the shock to Solomon put him into a very bad place. He became ill and last time I was there we had to take him to the clinic for treatment. He moved in with his brother who is a poor bicycle taxi rider (boda boda). Solomon sold rubbish to try to get some money to pay his own school fees but his brother stole the little he had. It was heartbreaking to see his pain and One Step at a Time had to do something for him.
Thankfully, someone was touched by his condition and agreed to sponsor him. Last week my staff found him looking very vulnerable and gave him the good news. I was told that his whole body changed as he jumped in the air shouting how much he loves everybody and One Step at a Time. He then started singing ''I'm going to school tomorrow'' as he ran off to prepare himself.
True to his word he was there bright and early to start his new life with hope. Moses called me to say ''That is another life changed by One Step at a Time'' I am so proud to be able to be involved in these life changes and am eternally grateful to you all for your continued support.
Thursday, 18 September 2008
AFRICA RE-VISITED
This is the final post before I hit the Africa trail.I am leaving behind me a great bunch of trustees and some fantastic volunteers and sponsors without whom none of this dream would be possible.
Every day brings something wonderful, donations of clothing, blankets, spectacles, bedding, medication, school bags, shoes and money to support our work.
I will be out buying a motor bike with funds raised by a Bedford Shotokan Karate group, a fantastic achievement from them.To those of you who have helped in any way I really cannot tell you how much difference those things make.
I leave in the early hours of Friday morning but this time I will not be alone. Keith, who sponsors 2 boys and Trevor who is a trustee will be with me and spend time working with the children, doing some DIY, building a wall around the land. Keith has a football project to deliver and Trevor plans to build a hut with some of our children to house a homeless family. How great is that? I have meetings arranged with the government office and head teachers, I will visit families and check on their welfare. We have found families for all these children and we must ensure the health and wellbeing of those people caring for the children.
I will be teaching staff and children how to use the amazing Emotional Freedom Technique to help them deal with their emotional issues and any health problems. Keith and Trevor are included although they may not be aware of that yet!
Next time I post here it will be from Uganda!
Every day brings something wonderful, donations of clothing, blankets, spectacles, bedding, medication, school bags, shoes and money to support our work.
I will be out buying a motor bike with funds raised by a Bedford Shotokan Karate group, a fantastic achievement from them.To those of you who have helped in any way I really cannot tell you how much difference those things make.
I leave in the early hours of Friday morning but this time I will not be alone. Keith, who sponsors 2 boys and Trevor who is a trustee will be with me and spend time working with the children, doing some DIY, building a wall around the land. Keith has a football project to deliver and Trevor plans to build a hut with some of our children to house a homeless family. How great is that? I have meetings arranged with the government office and head teachers, I will visit families and check on their welfare. We have found families for all these children and we must ensure the health and wellbeing of those people caring for the children.
I will be teaching staff and children how to use the amazing Emotional Freedom Technique to help them deal with their emotional issues and any health problems. Keith and Trevor are included although they may not be aware of that yet!
Next time I post here it will be from Uganda!
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