How It Ends

Hello!

I just wanted to give a little summary of the “How It Ends” event some of us BAPers (Colin, Barb, Alyson, and I) attended last week and a bit of my reaction to it. The event was held June 22 and 23^rd in DC. It was sponsored by Invisible Children, Resolve Uganda, and Enough. The first day was filled with speakers and panels as well as break out sessions and on the second day the 2000 attendees were split up by state and district and sent out to lobby for the Lord’s Resistance Army Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act of 2009. The act would basically require President Obama to come up with a plan for apprehending Joseph Kony and therefore stopping the violence that East Central Africa has suffered from the hands of the LRA. Along with this military assistance the act would require financial support for transitional justice and economic recovery in the region.

Overall the event was wonderful. We learned a lot more about the conflict from representatives of the Ugandan government, our own government, and of course the organizations sponsoring the event. It was incredible knowing that people from 46 different states had gathered to show their support for one common cause. (My hero Luis Ocampo the chief prosecutor of the ICC was there!) My favorite panel was called “The Future of Development” in which Dan Pallota (the author of Uncharitable) spoke about the future of non-profits. He argued that there is no reason they have to remain small, with constant fears of rising overhead, not using the tools available in capitalism. Spending money on things like marketing and salaries is necessary in order for an organization to grow and become strong enough to make a difference. The panelists also spoke about successful careers in non-profits which I found personally inspiring since my personal career goals seem to be consistently in the non-profit sector while popular discourse (and in particular that of my family and friends) seems to limit their ideas of success to profits.

I don’t mean to be negative, but there were some aspects of the event about which I had my doubts. I know that at an event like this it doesn’t make sense to create doubt about whether or not the actions you are taking are the right ones, but I couldn’t help but wonder. For example, those speaking on behalf of the Ugandan government made it seem as though all their actions had the Acholi people in mind and that they were doing their best to stop the conflict and bring the people home. Yet, while listening to them speak, I couldn’t help but think back to the facts I read in Sverker Finnstrom’s book. For example in Ch. 5 he points out that high ranking army officers have taken the abandoned land of those forced to live in camps and established their own big farms on it. In Chapter 4 he talks about using the camps as a way to control the people. He also addresses the reduction of the crisis to one that is strictly humanitarian in nature, ignoring the political aspect. I know that it is difficult to admit that a group whose modus operandi is abducting children and committing murder has a legitimate political agenda behind its actions. Nevertheless, the book makes it seem that the people of Northern Uganda are unhappy with the unequal distribution of development in their country, the way they are being treated in camps, and the overall lack of representation. I do not mean to legitimize the actions of the LRA, but behind their atrocities there seems to be a political agenda that deserves to be addressed. I can’t help but hope that by supporting this legislation we are not giving Museveni a free ride to ignore the needs of the Acholi people for another 23 years. I also hope the financial aid is put to good use and does not contribute to dependence on international aid.

Ok. Sorry if that was a little bit intense. Hopefully the other attendees of the event have more lighthearted thoughts about it. My basic feeling right now is anticipation. No matter how much I read and get swept up in the stories of Uganda nothing can compare to actually being there and seeing it for myself. I can’t wait for the discomfort of being immersed into a new culture (as well as the discomfort of thousands of mosquitoes and sun burn). I’m excited to prove to people that what we are doing is not stupid or dangerous, but brave and necessary. My biggest hope is that the positive impact we have on the life of one person we meet is a fraction of that which they will have on ours.

I can’t wait for our adventure!

Erika

Ps. Sorry guys, I snore. and also sorry if this gets posted 80 times, I'm terrible at blogging

T-3 days?

Hi all,

First off, Muyambi, please don't kill me for not writing sooner! I wish I had a good reason but I've just been running around trying to tie all those loose ends before I leave. That's right, I basically leave in 3 days because Colin, Erika, Alyson, John and I all leave from DC on the 5th!!!! So I'm going to spend a long weekend with my friends in DC and then hop right on the plane. It is absolutely crazy that the time has come when all the planning becomes a reality. The BAP project always seemed like an adventure in the distant future, but to all of our surprise, its finally here! I have to say for the past few weeks I've been worrying a bit about all the possible dangers, things that could go wrong. My mom is starting to freak out a bit, she keeps saying she can't make another one of me haha. Actually her whole family is a little nervous for us because many many years ago her dad was in Uganda when Idi Amin was in power. My grandpa was taking pictures of a dung hut and all of the sudden was bombarded by gunman and arrested. Turns out that under the dung hut was actually a secret military base. My grandma had to travel all the way to Uganda just to get my grandpa out. So I guess they all have some reason to worry. However the more I think about the trip, the more I think about Abhay's comment at that meeting we had when we discussed our parent's concerns. Abhay, if you remember, you said you explained to your mom that if we want things to change, we can't wait for someone else to do it. Abhay, I think you were exactly right. Going to Gulu is a risk but it’s one that we need to take in order to make a change. So after all that thinking, worrying, and planning, I am ready and bursting with excitement!

Can't wait to see you all soon!
Nicole

Jambo, habari?

Twenty one days and counting… I hope everyone else is as excited as I am to be heading to Uganda PRETTY SOON. I’ve been absolutely busy at work, which started on the 15th. And I’m trying to get as much training as I can (in a span of 5 weeks!!!) before I leave so I can return to the US still employed.
I’ve been talking about the trip at work nonstop, so I guess they’ll be happy to get rid of me for a good month until I come back with amazing stories and photos—my personal assignment for the trip. A lot of people have also been asking me about my summer plans, and I tell them Uganda is definitely the highlight. Here’s a typical convo:
Friend: So any plans for the summer aside from work?
Me: I’m going to Uganda for a month!
Friend: What for? Vacation?
Me: Have you heard of Bicycles Against Poverty?
Friend: Oh yea, that program started in *insert random non-African country*.
Not even close. But hey, I’m always glad to tell them all about it and what we’ll be doing there. And the convos always end with “oohs”, “aahs”, and “that’s awesome!”
Abhay and I are also planning the rest of our 10-day trip after BAP. Possible destinations: Rwanda and Tanzania. We’re hoping to visit other volunteer organizations or clinics at these places. So anyone who’s staying longer than the 3 planned weeks, you’re welcome to join us on our mini adventure. At the moment we’re looking up places to stay, ways of getting around, etc. Suggestions would also be great.
As for now, I’m getting myself ready for trip, mentally, emotionally, physically (immunizations!!!) and more –allys. I even bought a nice wood-bound travel journal to keep a record of this amazing experience. I haven’t written in it yet, and I figured I’d post my thoughts in this blog first before I get any more threatening emails from Muyambi (sorry for the delay!). But I never thought it’d be this hard to type up how I feel about leaving…or my expectations. I’ve never really been to Africa, although it’s always been my dream—I took French, for example, because it was the only language offered in high school that I could use in Africa. I’ve read, watched, and heard so many stories, but I still feel like it hasn’t prepared me enough for what’s to come. I’m hoping to meet a lot of wonderful people, hoping for the success of BAP so we can send more students in the future, expecting a lot of emotional encounters (and I’m telling you right now, I might be the first one to burst into tears), and hopefully some minor food adjustments (but if we do encounter the stomach flu or anything to that extent, Abhay, Janice, Megan and I have gone through worse…so we’ve got some veterans in the group). I just can’t wait to share this experience with my group, and come home and share the experience with everyone else. I can’t wait to be in a place so unfamiliar, so new, and call it home for a month. I just can’t wait…twenty-one days and counting.

Sophia

One Week Countdown Begins!

Oh Heyyy!

So this is my first time blogging! Exciting, right? Even more exciting is the fact that I am one week away from being in Africa! Where the heck has all the time gone? Since the semester ended I have been quite busy with graduation (and graduation parties!), reunion weekend, driving to and staying in Dallas, TX (shout out to my best friend Angela <3), going to a wedding (congrats Erika and Nate!), visiting family, finishing my Bucknell research (FINALLY.), and volunteering at Vacation Bible School. My current location is the Poconos at a family gathering. This is the last time I will see my parents, siblings, etc. because I am off to stay with fellow BAP traveler Alyson in New Jersey for the week. (BTW - Happy Second Annual 21st Birthday, Miss Cobb!)
Not going home again means that I had to pack for the next nine week of my life. Pretty long time to be away from home and out of easy reach, but definitely well worth it. Where am I going for so long? Well, like I said, one week is being spent in Jersey. The following seven glorious weeks (starting July 5th) will be spent in Africa (Southern and Northern Uganda and then Southern Sudan). As for the final week (starting August 23rd), I will be staying with my big brother and his girlfriend in Baltimore. FABULOUS, I know. Actually, this is my second outstanding summer in a row - last year I was able to travel to Southern Sudan and Uganda with Dr. DeeAnn Reeder to conduct a preliminary survey of the bats of Southern Sudan and volunteer at an orphanage. Let's just say I fell in love with the area and am ECSTATIC to return.

Mucho amor <3

Megan Elaine

BAP in...Haiti?

The below scenario is, hands down, the best part of my summer so far.
Setting: Molly is focused on her computer at her internship, concentrating very hard and plugging away on her research. All of a sudden her boss at Reverb, interrupts her train of thought and this is how the conversation goes...

Boss: Do you know a Muyambi...from Bucknell?
Molly: Yeah! He's one of my good friends!
Boss: Do you know about this uhhh...bicycle project in uhh...Haiti?
Molly: Oh, you mean Uganda?
Boss: No, uhhh, it says Haiti right here (Referring to the computer screen where there is a web page of the winners of the recent Clinton Global Initiative grants).

WHAAAAAAT...Molly proceeds to freak out.

hahaha gotta love Muyambi and his awesomely mysterious ways =) i guess we're going to Haiti next year? yeeah yeeeahhhh =)
love and miss you all,
molly

t minus 1120 hours!! wahoooo

what up homeslices,
This is my FIRST post and I'm so excited! Sorry for not posting sooner, Muyambi =(...anywhooo...I just finished typing the minutes from the May 2, 2009 meeting (check out the below post from Kevin for the fun details!). So I got assigned minutes for my task in Uganda. Clearly I'm really good at that judging by the fact that it's taken me one month and 11 days to send out the minutes. At one point I even thought I lost them (eeek!!) but then realized they were in the folder I titled, "Important Things I Shouldn't Lose" (along with Kevin's receipt for the band equipment that I never gave to Muyambi...).

Enough of my rambling...This post to update about stuff that has happened since school ended. Let's see, I started reading Living With Bad Surroundings, which I'm really happy that we're reading since it gives a good (but intense) snapshot at the region that we're going to. I really need to post on BB...hmmm...I'll get around to that soon!

I'm (supposed to be) working with Abhay on the survey that we're going to send out. He hasn't sent me a draft (Abhay!!) so I'm about to get a little testy...I hope you're reading this but I'm guessing you're not haha. After he sends me a draft then I'll add in my $0.02 and then we'll send it to Professor Amanda Wooden, prof of environmental studies. She does extensive research with surveys and should be really helpful. We just want to get them out to her soon because she's currently in Kyrgyzstan and it'll take a while to get her feedback and THEN we gotta edit it and THEN we'll send it out, with enough time for people to fill them out before we arrive. so basically we're on a tight schedule. It's really exciting to actually be doing something now. Not that our work over the past year hasn't been "real" but it's kind of been abstract in my mind. Ya know, the money that we've raised, the times we tell people about the project, the timeline/budget for proposals, all of it's this abstract idea in my head. yeah, we're going to Uganda and lending bikes, but I don't think I've worked on something with that's as concrete as this survey. The answers to the survey will help us improve the project and make it better. pretty sweet but also some pressure.

Anywhoooo...T minus 1120 hours until some of us go to Uganda. some people are leaving earlier but it's roughly 1120 hours until me, Janice, Muyambi, Kevin and Abhay head out. wahoooo!!

I hope you all appreciate this super long post.
peace out kids,
molly