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Blog entry for the 27th
Although this blog is a bit overdue, Monday was probably the most exciting and rewarding day we’ve had so far on the trip! Monday was our first day of surveying locals about our bicycle project. Although we had planned to leave early in the morning, last minute copying and errands put us a bit behind schedule. By 11 we were on our way. After 10 minutes or so of driving we noticed that the van was awfully quiet. Princess Odeke had been left behind! Oops! So after backtracking a bit, we finally on our way to Corner Nwoya. This is one of the two villages in Amuru district where we will be distributing bicycles. The ride to Nwoya was really interesting because it was our first trip outside of Gulu town. Gulu town is the center of the district, filled with people and businesses, while the outskirts of Gulu town are small huts in the middle of the bush. I personally had a rush of emotions while starring out the window. The land was so beautiful and the people appeared so independent and proud. But I couldn’t help but feel like I was living through a docu-drama. During the war, north of Gulu town was rebel territory and no one would have ventured to where we were driving. Driving through the bush, I couldn’t help but think of all the terror and heartache those around me had endured. Solomon, one of our faithful translators, was sitting next to me explaining how his family was forced to abandon their home in Amuru for sanctuary in Gulu town.
When we finally arrived in Nwoya, we were greeted by a few villagers seated under the “big tree”, the community gathering spot. I think we were all surprised by the village because Nwoya is located in one of the IDP camps. Although refugee and IDP camps are different, it never occurred to me that Nwoya would look like a concentrated village of huts rather than campsite of displaced persons. Most people have moved out of the IDP camps, so the village was not packed with huts, but a couple years ago it was probably overflowing. Within minutes, swarms of villagers arrived to investigate what all the commotion was about. Mzungus, (that’s what locals refer to us as) do not come on a regular occasion. Once the LC arrived, he introduced our group and thanked us for coming. Following the greetings Muyambi stood up and gave the villagers a brief description of who we are and what we hoped to accomplish. The villagers were very receptive to the project and asked many intelligent questions. One woman asked what will happen to the bike if a recipient dies before the 18 months are up. (18 months is the standard term for repayment if people pay 4,000 shillings a month). Unfortunately unexpected death is a reality that people here must plan for, something we never even considered. While Muyambi was speaking we also committed our first cultural offense. Since the launch of our project was so momentous, we had been filming and photographing the event. However the villagers became annoyed that they were being taped without their consent and before they even knew why we had come. The whole trip is a learning process, so although we felt ashamed in the moment, I’m glad the villagers spoke up shared their thoughts. At least we won’t make the same mistake twice. Once Muyambi was done speaking we divided the villagers into groups behind each translator. Every translator was paired up with two students, so we all got to participate in the surveying and application process. I think that surveying the villagers was definitely the most exciting and rewarding experience I have had so far. Although we have discussed and debated what is most helpful to locals, how a bicycle will affect their lives, it was not until we used a bottom-up strategy of surveying did we discover how impactful a bicycle will be. Many of the people we interviewed walked up to 6 miles every day to retrieve water. One lady I spoke with had diabetes and as a result had to travel to Gulu Hospital 2x a month for 30,000 shillings each trip—astronomically expensive for the average person. Although the surveys compiled a detailed analysis of each person, connecting with the people also gave us much insight into their lives. Learning their individual stories was not only interesting but also inspiring. The day was definitely a success but we did discover a few kinks in our surveys that we would have to work out. Some of the questions the translators did not understand and other questions were simply unnecessary. Monday was a pilot session to learn from so Tuesday would definitely run more smoothly.
When we arrived back at our hotel we found out perhaps the most exciting news of the day… we had officially become a CBO!!!! Molly and Abhay had stayed back to meet with Joe, a high government official in charge of CBOs and NGOs. After asking a few questions he approved our status, giving us his full support. Joe also gave some helpful suggestions to BAP. He explained that we must be careful to filter out the artificial need BAP might create. Although someone may not have a need for a bike, when bikes become available, everyone thinks he or she need one. He also told us to emphasize the multiplier effect that bikes will have on the community. Maintaining a close relationship between BAP and our partner villages will also be critical to the success of the project—working hand-in-hand with the LCs is a must. Lastly, he urged us to formulate some type of conflict management for problems that might arise in the future with beneficiaries and repayment.
All in all today was a major success, just one of many more to come ….
Nicole
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Tuesday July 28
Today is the second day of applications and surveys. The group split up into two- one going to the LC I of Nwoya and the other driving directly to village number 2, Luluyango. The ride was the same, bumpy and dusty, yet narrower. We drove through “the bush,” where the LRA used to hide. I’ve heard of the bush from all the documentaries and books we had to read, but seeing it now- tall grass that goes way past my head- I started imagining rebels lurking in there while we drove by. We finally got to Lulyango and had a conference with the village where the LCI and LCII introduced us to the people. The whole process was very much the same as the day before- children sat together behind the adults while the village officials sat on their low wooden chairs and benches and the rest were seated on a tarp on the ground. We did, however, learn from yesterday to wait for formal introduction before taking pictures. The rest of the day was just that- a learning experience. The conference ended with lots of claps and Acholi squealing. The squealing is a good sign. Katherine’s wedding, women would squeal and vibrate their tongues in celebration. It reminded me of the sound Red Indians would make, but unlike the Red Indians; the Acholi squeal was not a prelude to an attack. I realized the villagers were celebrating the fact that we were there for them.
So, we started the whole process. We had six translators and a separate station for English speakers. There weren’t as many English speakers as there in Nwoya, and each person was given a number to make sure that the first people in line were given priority over people who came later. Yesterday we came across some men pushing the women out of the lines, and so Janice suggested this number system to prevent that from happening again. The whole process was a lot less chaotic and more organized. We had a rotation system so everyone could explore the village, play with the kids, and observe the borehole. It took us four whole hours to go through everybody in the village with a 109 applications at the end of the day. But, what surprised me, was the patience these people ahd just for the opportunity to be considered for the bicycle program. No one complained about the wait. They just sat quietly on the ground- women tending to their children and men having conversation. They probably observed us muzungus too, while we observed them. But it was a very pleasant atmosphere. We had translators so we could interact with them, and sometimes no translation was needed at all. We all tried to learn a few words in Luo, such as “Apwoyo” for “thank you,” or “I tinini?” for “how are you;” and “ Nyingi nga?” for “what’s your name.” That put a smile on their faces- seeing that we were trying to learn their language although we were struggling with our pronunciation.
While we were finishing up a few more people, Kevin, Erika, Odeke, and Colin started playing with all the kids together. They did “Simon says…” and tag with about fifty kids of all ages surrounding them. It was an adorable sight- another instance where we really didn’t need words to communicate, but silly actions that Simon tells you to do.
As this eruption of giggles and cheers was going on in front of me, in the distance, in the direction of the borehole, I could see some women and little girls line up jerry cans in front of the pump while a young girl pushed down on the lever on the other side. When the cans were filled, they put them on their heads.
Sophia
So, we started the whole process. We had six translators and a separate station for English speakers. There weren’t as many English speakers as there in Nwoya, and each person was given a number to make sure that the first people in line were given priority over people who came later. Yesterday we came across some men pushing the women out of the lines, and so Janice suggested this number system to prevent that from happening again. The whole process was a lot less chaotic and more organized. We had a rotation system so everyone could explore the village, play with the kids, and observe the borehole. It took us four whole hours to go through everybody in the village with a 109 applications at the end of the day. But, what surprised me, was the patience these people ahd just for the opportunity to be considered for the bicycle program. No one complained about the wait. They just sat quietly on the ground- women tending to their children and men having conversation. They probably observed us muzungus too, while we observed them. But it was a very pleasant atmosphere. We had translators so we could interact with them, and sometimes no translation was needed at all. We all tried to learn a few words in Luo, such as “Apwoyo” for “thank you,” or “I tinini?” for “how are you;” and “ Nyingi nga?” for “what’s your name.” That put a smile on their faces- seeing that we were trying to learn their language although we were struggling with our pronunciation.
While we were finishing up a few more people, Kevin, Erika, Odeke, and Colin started playing with all the kids together. They did “Simon says…” and tag with about fifty kids of all ages surrounding them. It was an adorable sight- another instance where we really didn’t need words to communicate, but silly actions that Simon tells you to do.
As this eruption of giggles and cheers was going on in front of me, in the distance, in the direction of the borehole, I could see some women and little girls line up jerry cans in front of the pump while a young girl pushed down on the lever on the other side. When the cans were filled, they put them on their heads.
Sophia
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Tuesday, quick update
Greetings from Uganda. The students will undoubtedly have more to post, but I wanted to let folks know that the last two days have been spent in two remote villages about one and a half hours from Gulu town center. There we have been surveying residents, many who had been displaced because of the long years of fighting, to get a sense of the current condition and need for transportation. In each village we processed around 100 applications from people who wanted to benefit from the Bicycles Against Poverty program. We hope to provide bikes at half the actual cost to around 50% of the applicants. Each person who receives a bike will pay back about $2 to $3 a month to enable us to buy more bikes. This is where the real work of the group began and while it has been challenging at times, I think the volunteers are in good spirits and feeling excited about the opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of these families. Many of the villagers are farmers and must trek along very rutted dusty roads in the bush to get to markets, their own gardens, or to hospitals and social services.
I'll let others write more about that, but I wanted to share with you an encounter I had this morning before leaving Gulu town. I was followed into a stationery store by a young man named Justin who asked to speak to me. After he helped me buy some pens and clip boards and find a place to have an official BAP stamp made, he handed me a piece of paper. On it was neatly written his situation. After asking God to bless me, he asked for help. Justin had arrived in Gulu the night before from one of the Internally Displaced Persons camps with his sister who was very ill. She is 19 and suffering from HIV/AIDS. While his grandmother was to come to Gulu today to pay for the hospital stay, Justin had no money. He and his sister had not eaten. The hospitals provide what treatment they can, but it is up to the patient's family to provide food here. He asked if I would buy some beans at the local market for him and his sister in exchange for his help. He was very sincere and clearly worried about his sister who had been coughing up blood. During our walking, he explained that he had been captured by the rebel army and was living in the bush as a child soldier when he escaped about 5 years ago. The commander of his unit came looking for him in his village and when he was not found, his parents and brothers were killed to send a message to Justin. His sister and grandmother are his only remaining relatives. I was really moved by this individual's story and left him with 10,000 Ugandan shillings. It's less than $5 for us but clearly a big sum for him. What really breaks my heart is that I know his story, but it is just one of many such tragic tales. There are thousands of other stories like it here in northern Uganda. It will take a long, long time for the legacy of a useless war to be removed from the shoulders of people here who carry these experiences each day.
I am so proud of our students who have undertaken this work. Other people have questioned why they would spend money and sacrifice their summer time to come to a place that seems forsaken by so many. But like me, they can not help but be moved by the suffereing and the resiliency of Ugandans. We hope our work will make some some difference in the lives of a few people like Justin.
Janice Butler
I'll let others write more about that, but I wanted to share with you an encounter I had this morning before leaving Gulu town. I was followed into a stationery store by a young man named Justin who asked to speak to me. After he helped me buy some pens and clip boards and find a place to have an official BAP stamp made, he handed me a piece of paper. On it was neatly written his situation. After asking God to bless me, he asked for help. Justin had arrived in Gulu the night before from one of the Internally Displaced Persons camps with his sister who was very ill. She is 19 and suffering from HIV/AIDS. While his grandmother was to come to Gulu today to pay for the hospital stay, Justin had no money. He and his sister had not eaten. The hospitals provide what treatment they can, but it is up to the patient's family to provide food here. He asked if I would buy some beans at the local market for him and his sister in exchange for his help. He was very sincere and clearly worried about his sister who had been coughing up blood. During our walking, he explained that he had been captured by the rebel army and was living in the bush as a child soldier when he escaped about 5 years ago. The commander of his unit came looking for him in his village and when he was not found, his parents and brothers were killed to send a message to Justin. His sister and grandmother are his only remaining relatives. I was really moved by this individual's story and left him with 10,000 Ugandan shillings. It's less than $5 for us but clearly a big sum for him. What really breaks my heart is that I know his story, but it is just one of many such tragic tales. There are thousands of other stories like it here in northern Uganda. It will take a long, long time for the legacy of a useless war to be removed from the shoulders of people here who carry these experiences each day.
I am so proud of our students who have undertaken this work. Other people have questioned why they would spend money and sacrifice their summer time to come to a place that seems forsaken by so many. But like me, they can not help but be moved by the suffereing and the resiliency of Ugandans. We hope our work will make some some difference in the lives of a few people like Justin.
Janice Butler
July 28th
July 28th hello
Hello, hello hello! It’s unbelievable how quickly this trip is flying by, especially considering that we are subject to “Africa time”. In order to get the most out of today, we decided to divide and conquer. And conquer we did. The “to do’s” of the day included such things as organizing the applications and surveys, photocopying the applications and surveys, devising a way to pick who receives a bicycle, and checking out Gulu University. While everything was important in its own way, the most pressing and challenging task to tackle was that of developing criteria to choose our recipients from the candidate pool. Alyson, Erika, Kevin, and JD brilliantly devised a method of quantitatively selecting what we believe to be an ideal candidate for our pilot program—someone with great need, but still the ability to make a payment of 4,000 UGX each month (roughly $2). Believe it or not that hardworking group created a mathematical formula to help find the best candidates. Data about income, wealth (in terms of livestock), number of dependents, and distance to work and water were all included. It was extremely impressive, especially since the method was presented using graphs and equations. Although this “plug & chug” way of finding our recipients will be a very useful tool in the future, the grueling process of entering the data had to be performed first. House upon hours of time and effort went into organizing the information. Eventually the brunt of the work was done, and now, with a tweaking to the formula and some subjective input, tomorrow, the candidates will be selected. It is our hope to distribute the bikes to Corner Nwoya this Friday and to Lulyango on Saturday. Personally, I hope this schedule works out, considering I will have to leave Friday afternoon for Sudan and want to see the smiles on the villagers’ faces as they receive their shiny new bikes. I must say I’m sad to separate from the group. We have been through a lot and I am proud of our group for getting things organized, working together, and communicating. This is not to say we haven’t had our share of hang-ups, frustrations, and doubts, especially after we first arrived in Gulu. But our focus and dedication will be able to help 100 individuals and their families, friends and neighbors in the very near future. That is certainly an accomplishment.
BAP LOVE <3
Megan Elaine Vodzak
Hello, hello hello! It’s unbelievable how quickly this trip is flying by, especially considering that we are subject to “Africa time”. In order to get the most out of today, we decided to divide and conquer. And conquer we did. The “to do’s” of the day included such things as organizing the applications and surveys, photocopying the applications and surveys, devising a way to pick who receives a bicycle, and checking out Gulu University. While everything was important in its own way, the most pressing and challenging task to tackle was that of developing criteria to choose our recipients from the candidate pool. Alyson, Erika, Kevin, and JD brilliantly devised a method of quantitatively selecting what we believe to be an ideal candidate for our pilot program—someone with great need, but still the ability to make a payment of 4,000 UGX each month (roughly $2). Believe it or not that hardworking group created a mathematical formula to help find the best candidates. Data about income, wealth (in terms of livestock), number of dependents, and distance to work and water were all included. It was extremely impressive, especially since the method was presented using graphs and equations. Although this “plug & chug” way of finding our recipients will be a very useful tool in the future, the grueling process of entering the data had to be performed first. House upon hours of time and effort went into organizing the information. Eventually the brunt of the work was done, and now, with a tweaking to the formula and some subjective input, tomorrow, the candidates will be selected. It is our hope to distribute the bikes to Corner Nwoya this Friday and to Lulyango on Saturday. Personally, I hope this schedule works out, considering I will have to leave Friday afternoon for Sudan and want to see the smiles on the villagers’ faces as they receive their shiny new bikes. I must say I’m sad to separate from the group. We have been through a lot and I am proud of our group for getting things organized, working together, and communicating. This is not to say we haven’t had our share of hang-ups, frustrations, and doubts, especially after we first arrived in Gulu. But our focus and dedication will be able to help 100 individuals and their families, friends and neighbors in the very near future. That is certainly an accomplishment.
BAP LOVE <3
Megan Elaine Vodzak
Monday, July 27, 2009
Sunday, July 26
Today was an extremely productive day. Muyambi got two out of the three signatures we need from the local commissioners of the Amoro district where we want our project to be based. This gives us the right to finally visit the community, tell them about our project, and have surveys and applications filled in. I can’t stress how vital this step is to all that we need to do here. We are going to get a thorough feel of how we can best help the villages we are in contact with and see what adjustments need to be made in our plan.
Another great contribution to the project was the meeting with Mark who aided us in completing our CBO paperwork as well as suggesting existing CBO’s that we would work with if approval of our application is delayed. We also can’t forget how helpful Alex has been through all of this, giving us a great idea of what’s actually going to happen on the ground and providing us with valuable insight into the local situation. BAP’s contacts have been incredibly helpful. Their knowledge of the area and the communities we plan to work with ensure that we are accepted by the people we are trying to assist and that our transition into their lives goes as smoothly as possible. It gives me great confidence to know that they support what we’re doing here in Uganda and are willing to give time and energy to help our project. I feel as though the more local support we have the more likely we are to succeed and it is very reassuring to know that BAP isn’t a top down organization, but instead receives and depends on the input of people who know all about the current situation.
The most memorable part of the day for me was the meeting with Steven, a new friend that Kevin, Colin, and John made at the wedding we attended yesterday. Steven had been a night commuter, one of the children we have up till now only read about. He, like many others, had been forced to make a nightly commute into town in order to avoid abduction by the rebels. His story was extremely touching, delivering a harsh yet welcome reality to an account that had been intangible to us until now. Steven took us to the place where he and the other children used to sleep. The compound is now serving as a place of counseling for former abductees as well as working on a program to educate people in order to prevent sexual violence. I’m sure we all appreciated Steven’s openness in telling his story and introducing us to his difficult past. Although it may have been hard for him to talk about I’m really glad he did. He is an amazing person and I hope we are able to stay in contact with him throughout our trip.
Although the end of the day was a bit longer then we had all initially wanted, the slight amount of sleep that we gave up to have our student only meeting was well worth it. I feel as though we are finally on the same page, tensions have been released, and we are able to be more confident about our plan of attack. The group dynamic is working out very well and I think everyone feels closer. I hope that the lines of communication stay open and together we can succeed.
- Erika
Another great contribution to the project was the meeting with Mark who aided us in completing our CBO paperwork as well as suggesting existing CBO’s that we would work with if approval of our application is delayed. We also can’t forget how helpful Alex has been through all of this, giving us a great idea of what’s actually going to happen on the ground and providing us with valuable insight into the local situation. BAP’s contacts have been incredibly helpful. Their knowledge of the area and the communities we plan to work with ensure that we are accepted by the people we are trying to assist and that our transition into their lives goes as smoothly as possible. It gives me great confidence to know that they support what we’re doing here in Uganda and are willing to give time and energy to help our project. I feel as though the more local support we have the more likely we are to succeed and it is very reassuring to know that BAP isn’t a top down organization, but instead receives and depends on the input of people who know all about the current situation.
The most memorable part of the day for me was the meeting with Steven, a new friend that Kevin, Colin, and John made at the wedding we attended yesterday. Steven had been a night commuter, one of the children we have up till now only read about. He, like many others, had been forced to make a nightly commute into town in order to avoid abduction by the rebels. His story was extremely touching, delivering a harsh yet welcome reality to an account that had been intangible to us until now. Steven took us to the place where he and the other children used to sleep. The compound is now serving as a place of counseling for former abductees as well as working on a program to educate people in order to prevent sexual violence. I’m sure we all appreciated Steven’s openness in telling his story and introducing us to his difficult past. Although it may have been hard for him to talk about I’m really glad he did. He is an amazing person and I hope we are able to stay in contact with him throughout our trip.
Although the end of the day was a bit longer then we had all initially wanted, the slight amount of sleep that we gave up to have our student only meeting was well worth it. I feel as though we are finally on the same page, tensions have been released, and we are able to be more confident about our plan of attack. The group dynamic is working out very well and I think everyone feels closer. I hope that the lines of communication stay open and together we can succeed.
- Erika
Saturday, July 25th
While our goal over the next week is to dispense 100 bikes, we also have an overarching mission to become an NGO. In order to be an NGO we first have to become a community based organization (CBO). The latter half of our day was devoted to BAP work, including a majority of work to become a CBO. This included writing a constitution, mission statement, vision, member list, etc. We also worked more on the survey that we will hand out; the application for the bicycles applicants; and the terms of agreement. Overall, we’re very excited to be forming the steps to become an organization and putting out skills to work by writing and organizing “real-world” documents. We feel productive and proud to be forming our own organization. By become an NGO, the process will become more efficient and our work will make a greater impact. This motivates us and gives us a push to do more work and further expand the project for the future.
Doing the document work didn’t start until mid-day (and went into early morning!) because before we worked, we went to a Ugandan wedding! We woke up bright and early to go to Lucy’s wedding. Lucy is a member of the church that we are going to work with (Pastor from last night) and one of the women that Muyambi was in contact with during the year. We learned the true definition of African time, for the schedule of events was delayed a few hours. Ugandan weddings differ from American weddings in that they last all day- from 8am to 6pm on. We arrived around 10 am and immediately set off to be helpful in any way necessary. A few of us decorated the cars that were used to pick up the bride and groom, while others did vegetable prep work- peeling 100+ potatoes, chopping onions, etc. But none of us felt inclined to assist with the cleaning of the cow stomach lining! :) It was a great way for us to connect one-on-one with the women and men. During and after the prep work, many wedding guests sung and danced in the church. The enthusiasm with dancing and singing was amazing to say the least. The joy and happiness gave us energy to strut our “muzungu” dance moves. All the clapping, singing, and dancing (while certainly exhausting) kept a lasting smile. After a few hours, we left got lunch and returned to see that the bride still hadn’t arrived. After the bride arrived in her decorated car and the ceremony kicked off. Two hours later, we left to do our BAP work and the wedding continued.
- Molly
Doing the document work didn’t start until mid-day (and went into early morning!) because before we worked, we went to a Ugandan wedding! We woke up bright and early to go to Lucy’s wedding. Lucy is a member of the church that we are going to work with (Pastor from last night) and one of the women that Muyambi was in contact with during the year. We learned the true definition of African time, for the schedule of events was delayed a few hours. Ugandan weddings differ from American weddings in that they last all day- from 8am to 6pm on. We arrived around 10 am and immediately set off to be helpful in any way necessary. A few of us decorated the cars that were used to pick up the bride and groom, while others did vegetable prep work- peeling 100+ potatoes, chopping onions, etc. But none of us felt inclined to assist with the cleaning of the cow stomach lining! :) It was a great way for us to connect one-on-one with the women and men. During and after the prep work, many wedding guests sung and danced in the church. The enthusiasm with dancing and singing was amazing to say the least. The joy and happiness gave us energy to strut our “muzungu” dance moves. All the clapping, singing, and dancing (while certainly exhausting) kept a lasting smile. After a few hours, we left got lunch and returned to see that the bride still hadn’t arrived. After the bride arrived in her decorated car and the ceremony kicked off. Two hours later, we left to do our BAP work and the wedding continued.
- Molly
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Friday - Arrival in Gulu!
Hey everyone! Today we journeyed from Kampala to Gulu so we can start on the more specific aspects of the BAP project. The ride took us about 4-5 hours, not nearly as bad as the trips most of us have endured in the last few days. The highlights of the drive were probably the views of the Nile and a few baboons hanging out in the road.
After we arrived in Gulu, sorted out our lodging, and ate, we split up into groups to explore Gulu and find important landmarks such as an internet café, Gulu University, and the Invisible Children headquarters. After some free time, we all went to meet with a local pastor, who talked about the past and current situations within Gulu. As he described the nightly commute of many children into Gulu, it hit me that we finally actually here. Prior to that moment I was merely seeing Gulu as another Ugandan city; comparing its roads, markets, and atmosphere with that of Kampala and Kabale. However, as the Pastor spoke about the children’s commute and the atrocities committed against many local adults and children, I was finally able to really imagine these events in their proper setting. The streets we walked to get to this church were exactly the same as those that the children followed in order to arrive at a safe sleeping place for the night.
After all of our preparations through movies, books, discussion, and independent research, we were finally in the city we had learned so much about and surrounded by the people we wanted so desperately to help recover from the horrible circumstances they were victim to. This realization has really enhanced my desire to get out into the community, interact with the locals, hear their stories, and get this project going!
-Alyson
After we arrived in Gulu, sorted out our lodging, and ate, we split up into groups to explore Gulu and find important landmarks such as an internet café, Gulu University, and the Invisible Children headquarters. After some free time, we all went to meet with a local pastor, who talked about the past and current situations within Gulu. As he described the nightly commute of many children into Gulu, it hit me that we finally actually here. Prior to that moment I was merely seeing Gulu as another Ugandan city; comparing its roads, markets, and atmosphere with that of Kampala and Kabale. However, as the Pastor spoke about the children’s commute and the atrocities committed against many local adults and children, I was finally able to really imagine these events in their proper setting. The streets we walked to get to this church were exactly the same as those that the children followed in order to arrive at a safe sleeping place for the night.
After all of our preparations through movies, books, discussion, and independent research, we were finally in the city we had learned so much about and surrounded by the people we wanted so desperately to help recover from the horrible circumstances they were victim to. This realization has really enhanced my desire to get out into the community, interact with the locals, hear their stories, and get this project going!
-Alyson
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Second day in Kampala
Today we had a very busy and exciting day. The morning started off with a great breakfast consisting of fresh fruit, eggs, and jam. We then traveled to the Watoto children's village. The place was very well kept and there were lots of volunteers already their. After a short time at the children’s home we traveled to the outskirts of Kampala to the Watoto village for children who are old enough to walk. We all had a great time playing with the children who were clearly very lucky to have the chance to live in their.
The afternoon consisted of a great authentic Ugandan meal in Kampala, a tour of several local churches, and an evening visit at Mother Susan's orphan home. Mother Susan was an extremely special person who radiated love and warmth. During the evening she took us into her home, cooked us a great meal, and introduced us to the children. We all played various games including football (soccer), ring around the rosy, tag, and drums with dancing. During the evening we came to understand how much our efforts mean to some of the people here. They appreciate the voice and the caring we can give to them. However I feel like we received more then we gave. The children's energy, love for life and mama Susan's compassion invigorated us as we get ready to leave for Gulu tomorrow morning.
The afternoon consisted of a great authentic Ugandan meal in Kampala, a tour of several local churches, and an evening visit at Mother Susan's orphan home. Mother Susan was an extremely special person who radiated love and warmth. During the evening she took us into her home, cooked us a great meal, and introduced us to the children. We all played various games including football (soccer), ring around the rosy, tag, and drums with dancing. During the evening we came to understand how much our efforts mean to some of the people here. They appreciate the voice and the caring we can give to them. However I feel like we received more then we gave. The children's energy, love for life and mama Susan's compassion invigorated us as we get ready to leave for Gulu tomorrow morning.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
First Day in Kampala
We had a busy day changing money and running errands today. We also visited the Sanyu Babies Home, an orphanage for newborns to age 4. The program is well run and can accommodate up to 50 little ones, but it is sad that so many youngsters have been abandoned. Some are left on the street for authorities or good Samaritans to find. The highlight of the day was a great performance of African dancing and song from different parts of Uganda with a terrific buffet dinner tonight at the Ndere Center. On the way to the dance performance, we experienced Kampala's rush hour traffic first hand, increasing our commute time by an additional hour!
Unfortunately, we haven't found it easy to get an internet connection. Therefore we may not be able to blog as often as we like. However, parents should rest easy. Everyone is fine. In case of emergency, you can call this mobile phone service to reach someone in the group: 011 256 784 047069
Unfortunately, we haven't found it easy to get an internet connection. Therefore we may not be able to blog as often as we like. However, parents should rest easy. Everyone is fine. In case of emergency, you can call this mobile phone service to reach someone in the group: 011 256 784 047069
Wednesday, 7/22
We're here and we're safe. Had a great breakfast this morning and are headed out to change money, visit a babies home, and will see the African national dance troupe at a performance this evening. Will post again soon with an international phone number to contact us in case of emergencies. - Janice Butler
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Boom daddy!
Hey everyone! So far in Kabale we have:
- have been guided by our personal guru/hero/prophet/idol/champ (depends who you ask)
- visited a health clinic, AIDS clinic, Community Hospital, and Government Hospital
- went to 2 community outreach meetings; 1 for HIV education and testing and 1 specifically for 200+ people who are HIV positive
- got a sneak peak into an indigenous lake culture
- Colin and JD have excelled at African dancing and performed for various African audiences
- JD and Colin, with Nicole’s financial support, won an auction at a Rotary banquet and won a plaque which reads, “Of the things we say think or do: Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendship? Is it beneficial to all concerned?”
- Nicole fell in a sewer
- visited the subcounty parliament of Bukinda
- went to church
- stayed in cottages on a private island
- met the most amazing man in the world named William (our cook)
- mastered blackjack
- watched a bunch of groups perform African dances
- Megan has perfected her strategy for attracting swarms of children
- adapted duck, duck, goose to Ugandan terms (chicken, chicken, goat)
- played lots of games ranging from cat’s cradle to coloring with Isaac Newton and Joe Joe
- have discovered all of JD’s identities (6 and counting . . .)
- celebrated Erika’s 22nd birthday with the whole Anguyo family
- hiked up a mountain in inappropriate/slippery shoes
- all while simultaneously working on documents to evaluate Kihefo and planning a nutrition rehabilitation clinic
Next, we plan to:
- finish our documents
- community outreach meeting with HIV positive women
- making a presentation to the local Rotary
- spending 3 days reflecting on Lake Bunyoni
- go out on the town with Warren and Felix
- drinking local sorghum beer out of a calabash
- and venture back to Kampala to meet up with the rest of BAP!
For the most part, we have been working on a full evaluation of Kihefo’s activities and collecting all of the necessary documentation to help them in the future and to apply for grants for the nutrition center. Sorry we haven’t posted in awhile but we’ve had several power outages and we’ve been very busy!
- Nicole, Erika, Megan, Alyson, Colin, and Karl
- have been guided by our personal guru/hero/prophet/idol/champ (depends who you ask)
- visited a health clinic, AIDS clinic, Community Hospital, and Government Hospital
- went to 2 community outreach meetings; 1 for HIV education and testing and 1 specifically for 200+ people who are HIV positive
- got a sneak peak into an indigenous lake culture
- Colin and JD have excelled at African dancing and performed for various African audiences
- JD and Colin, with Nicole’s financial support, won an auction at a Rotary banquet and won a plaque which reads, “Of the things we say think or do: Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendship? Is it beneficial to all concerned?”
- Nicole fell in a sewer
- visited the subcounty parliament of Bukinda
- went to church
- stayed in cottages on a private island
- met the most amazing man in the world named William (our cook)
- mastered blackjack
- watched a bunch of groups perform African dances
- Megan has perfected her strategy for attracting swarms of children
- adapted duck, duck, goose to Ugandan terms (chicken, chicken, goat)
- played lots of games ranging from cat’s cradle to coloring with Isaac Newton and Joe Joe
- have discovered all of JD’s identities (6 and counting . . .)
- celebrated Erika’s 22nd birthday with the whole Anguyo family
- hiked up a mountain in inappropriate/slippery shoes
- all while simultaneously working on documents to evaluate Kihefo and planning a nutrition rehabilitation clinic
Next, we plan to:
- finish our documents
- community outreach meeting with HIV positive women
- making a presentation to the local Rotary
- spending 3 days reflecting on Lake Bunyoni
- go out on the town with Warren and Felix
- drinking local sorghum beer out of a calabash
- and venture back to Kampala to meet up with the rest of BAP!
For the most part, we have been working on a full evaluation of Kihefo’s activities and collecting all of the necessary documentation to help them in the future and to apply for grants for the nutrition center. Sorry we haven’t posted in awhile but we’ve had several power outages and we’ve been very busy!
- Nicole, Erika, Megan, Alyson, Colin, and Karl
Monday, July 13, 2009
Getting Closer and Closer
Once upon a time, it seemed like ages to the time we begin BAP project. But right now, its just a week to Uganda. Abhay keeps me updated on the remaining days because its on his gmail status. I am currently preparing for my ILTM presentation for Wednesday and i can not wait to be done so that i can only think about BAP.
It seems like the BAPers in Uganda are having too much fun to keep us updated regularly. I hope their parents dont freak out if there is nothing posted on the blog for a few days. The interesting thing is that the current BAPers are in Kabale, which is the next to Rukungiri-my home village. I havent been there in years, i only wish i was there with them so i could visit my home town.
We had our second meeting with Kevin, Abhay, Janice and DeeAnn. We talked extensively on how to transfer funds to Uganda for bicycle purchase and the sort. We also talked about the survey and i thank Abhay among others who have put alot of time in editing the BAP survey. This is a great tool because we can use it in any country we decide to work in.
Please keep in touch with us as we travel far and beyond.
Muyambi
It seems like the BAPers in Uganda are having too much fun to keep us updated regularly. I hope their parents dont freak out if there is nothing posted on the blog for a few days. The interesting thing is that the current BAPers are in Kabale, which is the next to Rukungiri-my home village. I havent been there in years, i only wish i was there with them so i could visit my home town.
We had our second meeting with Kevin, Abhay, Janice and DeeAnn. We talked extensively on how to transfer funds to Uganda for bicycle purchase and the sort. We also talked about the survey and i thank Abhay among others who have put alot of time in editing the BAP survey. This is a great tool because we can use it in any country we decide to work in.
Please keep in touch with us as we travel far and beyond.
Muyambi
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Flight, Kampala, and Kabale
Journey to Uganda
Our journey to Uganda began with a brutal 15 hour plane flight including a short stop in Rome, landing us in the lovely city of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Although our stay was relatively short we managed to get a pretty good view of the culture, including a mosque, ferris wheel, and an introduction to the lovely local cuisine. The views in Addis are phenomenal! After that, we hopped back on the plane for our final leg of the journey. Although the flight was an emotional roller coaster, our excitement never dwindled. As we walked off the plane with our luggage in hand, we realized that the BAP project was no longer just a dream.
To Kampala and beyond
Despite our well founded skepticism about our loose agenda, we were all relatively surprised by being greeted at the airport with a car waiting and safely and quickly transported us to one of the classiest hotels in town. We were also surprised to see that Kampala is a very busy city with lots of businesses, crazy driving, and hustle and bustle. We had a lovely buffet dinner and did a bit of exploring of Kampala’s night scene.
Bright and early, we woke up this morning for an excruciating, yet scenic 8 hour roller coaster to Kabale. After a lot of unbelievably big bumps, honking, and throwing up children, we arrived in Kabale. Many of us agree that the bus ride was the first real culture shock that we experienced. The bus was hot, dusty, and tightly packed. However, it seemed as if it was a typical Ugandan experience that we were part of. Seeing the way in which parents treated their children, vendors soliciting their products, and the interaction between the various passengers was fascinating and somewhat emotionally painful. One of the most moving experiences of the day was witnessing a 4 or 5 year old girl who had been kicked out of her seat for an adult to sit down. Sitting on the floor in the back of the bus, the young girl experienced motion sickness and began to throw up. No one really reacted to her being sick; all her father did was hand her a piece of cloth. He did not even clean her off or help her until our guide talked to him about it. Witnessing this was a situation that we could all relate to. These and other events caused deep reflection and conversation among the BAP members at dinner.
When we arrived in Kabale, Dr Geoffrey Anguyo met us at the station to lead us back to his mansion of a house. After meeting his wife and children, we were served an amazing local meal. The hospitality we have experienced was absolutely amazing. After unpacking and resting, we ate dinner and reflected on our day. As we are typing up this blog, the power was turned off- our first experience with another regular occurrence in Uganda. We can’t wait to see what other experiences await us tomorrow!
Our journey to Uganda began with a brutal 15 hour plane flight including a short stop in Rome, landing us in the lovely city of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Although our stay was relatively short we managed to get a pretty good view of the culture, including a mosque, ferris wheel, and an introduction to the lovely local cuisine. The views in Addis are phenomenal! After that, we hopped back on the plane for our final leg of the journey. Although the flight was an emotional roller coaster, our excitement never dwindled. As we walked off the plane with our luggage in hand, we realized that the BAP project was no longer just a dream.
To Kampala and beyond
Despite our well founded skepticism about our loose agenda, we were all relatively surprised by being greeted at the airport with a car waiting and safely and quickly transported us to one of the classiest hotels in town. We were also surprised to see that Kampala is a very busy city with lots of businesses, crazy driving, and hustle and bustle. We had a lovely buffet dinner and did a bit of exploring of Kampala’s night scene.
Bright and early, we woke up this morning for an excruciating, yet scenic 8 hour roller coaster to Kabale. After a lot of unbelievably big bumps, honking, and throwing up children, we arrived in Kabale. Many of us agree that the bus ride was the first real culture shock that we experienced. The bus was hot, dusty, and tightly packed. However, it seemed as if it was a typical Ugandan experience that we were part of. Seeing the way in which parents treated their children, vendors soliciting their products, and the interaction between the various passengers was fascinating and somewhat emotionally painful. One of the most moving experiences of the day was witnessing a 4 or 5 year old girl who had been kicked out of her seat for an adult to sit down. Sitting on the floor in the back of the bus, the young girl experienced motion sickness and began to throw up. No one really reacted to her being sick; all her father did was hand her a piece of cloth. He did not even clean her off or help her until our guide talked to him about it. Witnessing this was a situation that we could all relate to. These and other events caused deep reflection and conversation among the BAP members at dinner.
When we arrived in Kabale, Dr Geoffrey Anguyo met us at the station to lead us back to his mansion of a house. After meeting his wife and children, we were served an amazing local meal. The hospitality we have experienced was absolutely amazing. After unpacking and resting, we ate dinner and reflected on our day. As we are typing up this blog, the power was turned off- our first experience with another regular occurrence in Uganda. We can’t wait to see what other experiences await us tomorrow!
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Give me a "B"! Give me an "icycle"! What does that spell?!
Guess where we (Megan, Alyson, Erika, and Colin)are? DC!!! After a looonnngg day of traveling from Jersey and a long week of packing potentially useless stuff, we are finally here! Somehow the trip took over 10 hours for some of us. However, there were lots of great times:
10. Erika forgetting how to tell time ("fourteen o'clock...").
9. Erika and Alyson going on a wild bathroom chase.
8. Learning how to count to 10 in Swahili and already forgetting.
7. Megan using her spy skills to track down a Dunkin Donuts to satisfy her Coffee Coolatta craving.
6. Alyson having a 2 hour staring contest with a baby.
5. Seeing the beautiful fireworks at our nation's capital, with a giant tree blocking the entire thing.
4. Megan making funny noises at a baby for 2 hours.
3. The pizza guy finding us at our bus stop and checking in on how our pizza was.
2. Colin throwing a pizza across an EXTREMELY crowded bus.
1. Colin hitting his head on a trash can.
So sorry about the blogging that is only funny to us, but its pretty late and its been a very long day. Even though we are very sleepy, we are also sooo excited to leave for Uganda tomorrow! Erika is anxious, Megan is eager, Colin is fluffy, and Alyson is typing the wrong words rather aggressively. On a serious note, we truly are looking forward to the next couple of weeks and finally reaching the destination that we have long been preparing for. Now its time for a few hours of sleep before that 15 hour plane ride, a visit to Ethiopia, and Snakes on a Plane Sudoku.
Good night BAPers!
10. Erika forgetting how to tell time ("fourteen o'clock...").
9. Erika and Alyson going on a wild bathroom chase.
8. Learning how to count to 10 in Swahili and already forgetting.
7. Megan using her spy skills to track down a Dunkin Donuts to satisfy her Coffee Coolatta craving.
6. Alyson having a 2 hour staring contest with a baby.
5. Seeing the beautiful fireworks at our nation's capital, with a giant tree blocking the entire thing.
4. Megan making funny noises at a baby for 2 hours.
3. The pizza guy finding us at our bus stop and checking in on how our pizza was.
2. Colin throwing a pizza across an EXTREMELY crowded bus.
1. Colin hitting his head on a trash can.
So sorry about the blogging that is only funny to us, but its pretty late and its been a very long day. Even though we are very sleepy, we are also sooo excited to leave for Uganda tomorrow! Erika is anxious, Megan is eager, Colin is fluffy, and Alyson is typing the wrong words rather aggressively. On a serious note, we truly are looking forward to the next couple of weeks and finally reaching the destination that we have long been preparing for. Now its time for a few hours of sleep before that 15 hour plane ride, a visit to Ethiopia, and Snakes on a Plane Sudoku.
Good night BAPers!
Friday, July 3, 2009
48 HOURS!!!
Hey everyone! So as our official blog coordinator (haha), I figured perhaps I should give this whole blogging thing a try.
First, I want to express my reaction to the How It Ends event. I don’t want to bore everyone since Erika gave a really good summary and Colin eloquently expresses his feelings about the event below. So the main thing I want to talk about is how impressed I was with the NUMBER of people who came to this event. Almost 2,000 people took 2 days of their life (plus travel), paid a $60 registration fee, and journeyed to the capital. I mean, that wasn’t that much of a hike for us BAPers in NJ, but some people came across the country for this event! So many people came from California that they had to lobby with their reps in a park because they couldn’t all fit in an office. In addition, the 3 guys from Invisible Children updated everyone on the Rescue event that we talked about attending. 100,000 people in 100 cities around the world participated in this event! There were people that skipped their prom, camped out for 6 days, and traveled the country in order to attend this event. The event in D.C. that we attended was called How It Ends, and I was inspired that so many people around the world are dedicated to seeing the end of this war. To me, this dedication is what is going to help end the war and initiate recovery through aid projects such as BAP (yay!), support for the people in Uganda, Sudan, and the Congo, and legislative acts such as the LRA Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act of 2009.
Next . . . the first group of us are leaving for Uganda in less than 48 hours! YAY! Haha so clearly I am VERY excited for this opportunity. However, I haven’t really had time to think about it all that much. For a few weeks after graduation, I just kind of hung out at home and the beach. Then, I decided to take a roadtrip to Philly, NH, and Boston. This was a bit of a crazy trip with 15 hours total by myself in the car, visiting various friends, a job interview, lots of rain, a beer tasting event, AND 2 job offers! Anyways, I headed back home for 1 day and then went to D.C. for the How It Ends event. Upon my return home, I had various friends come to visit me leading up to my birthday/graduation party! This past week Megan has been hanging out in NJ with me and we have just been frantically trying to get everything together for the trip. In addition, I have been trying to find a place to live in New Hampshire since I start an AmeriCorps VISTA position with the American Red Cross and Community Health Institute about 3 days after I return from Uganda! So yea, it’s been a pretty crazy month or so.
Finally, what I have thought about regarding our trip. I fully agree with Molly that the entire BAP project and the fact that I am going to Uganda has not seemed real even though I have been a part of BAP since September. I’m actually still not sure if it has hit me that I will be in Africa in just a few days. However, I am soo excited to see this amazing project implemented and get to know the people of this region!
Well sorry that was long and rambling but I was a little rushed since I still have to pack and write my profile so Muyambi doesn’t hurt me when we see each other in Uganda! See you all soon!!
BAP love,
Alyson
First, I want to express my reaction to the How It Ends event. I don’t want to bore everyone since Erika gave a really good summary and Colin eloquently expresses his feelings about the event below. So the main thing I want to talk about is how impressed I was with the NUMBER of people who came to this event. Almost 2,000 people took 2 days of their life (plus travel), paid a $60 registration fee, and journeyed to the capital. I mean, that wasn’t that much of a hike for us BAPers in NJ, but some people came across the country for this event! So many people came from California that they had to lobby with their reps in a park because they couldn’t all fit in an office. In addition, the 3 guys from Invisible Children updated everyone on the Rescue event that we talked about attending. 100,000 people in 100 cities around the world participated in this event! There were people that skipped their prom, camped out for 6 days, and traveled the country in order to attend this event. The event in D.C. that we attended was called How It Ends, and I was inspired that so many people around the world are dedicated to seeing the end of this war. To me, this dedication is what is going to help end the war and initiate recovery through aid projects such as BAP (yay!), support for the people in Uganda, Sudan, and the Congo, and legislative acts such as the LRA Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act of 2009.
Next . . . the first group of us are leaving for Uganda in less than 48 hours! YAY! Haha so clearly I am VERY excited for this opportunity. However, I haven’t really had time to think about it all that much. For a few weeks after graduation, I just kind of hung out at home and the beach. Then, I decided to take a roadtrip to Philly, NH, and Boston. This was a bit of a crazy trip with 15 hours total by myself in the car, visiting various friends, a job interview, lots of rain, a beer tasting event, AND 2 job offers! Anyways, I headed back home for 1 day and then went to D.C. for the How It Ends event. Upon my return home, I had various friends come to visit me leading up to my birthday/graduation party! This past week Megan has been hanging out in NJ with me and we have just been frantically trying to get everything together for the trip. In addition, I have been trying to find a place to live in New Hampshire since I start an AmeriCorps VISTA position with the American Red Cross and Community Health Institute about 3 days after I return from Uganda! So yea, it’s been a pretty crazy month or so.
Finally, what I have thought about regarding our trip. I fully agree with Molly that the entire BAP project and the fact that I am going to Uganda has not seemed real even though I have been a part of BAP since September. I’m actually still not sure if it has hit me that I will be in Africa in just a few days. However, I am soo excited to see this amazing project implemented and get to know the people of this region!
Well sorry that was long and rambling but I was a little rushed since I still have to pack and write my profile so Muyambi doesn’t hurt me when we see each other in Uganda! See you all soon!!
BAP love,
Alyson
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Anticipation
Neither am I as expressive as Colin, nor am I as succinct as Nicole in my blogging. Nevertheless, I’ve always enjoyed writing and poetry, despite becoming an engineer now, and I had actually written my personal statement to Bucknell in verse. Please note that I am in a habit of usually writing long sentences. Erika, I will remember to bring ear plugs.
Even after graduating, I still feel very much part of Bucknell since I returned to campus almost a month ago and this is very much home for me now since the past 4 years. My parents came from India for graduation and we traveled around the country for 26 days. I went to New York, DC, Lewisburg, Atlanta, Houston, Vegas, San Francisco and Yosemite National Park. Coincidentally, 26 is the same number of days I get to spend in Uganda and the vicinity. But both these travels will be diametrically opposite.
Most of us don’t desire too much uncertainty in life, and I usually fall into that category. But inspite of all the planning our entire group put in over the past year, a lot remains to be determined. Indians have always had an interesting connection since Idi Amin’s days, when he asked all the Indians to vacate the country within 90 days, and I’ve been reading a lot about that. Nicole, I am ready to make the plunge and attempt to create change as well, and hopefully our families will learn to be okay with that. I wish I was able to make it to DC for ‘How it ends’, but I wasn’t able to because of my small business consulting job. Although to make up for that, I did bump into Meghan a couple of weeks ago at a friend’s Masters Thesis defense, and it was an ‘Oh Heyy’ moment for sure.
I see Muyambi and Kevin every now and then on campus when we sit together to make plans for the applications and the survey, and operationalizing this project has been more difficult than I had imagined. We discuss how we want people to pay back these loans, and whether the bicyles will benefit them enough for them to pay it all back because we want this project to be sustainable. Strangely, even though a monthly repayment amount of 5000 Ugandan shillings is only a number to us on an application form we are designing, it might mean the world to the man or woman at the receiving end of this loan. I’m really glad to be putting in time and effort into the application forms and survey, because finally things are coming together for me. I will probably doing similar work for the next year or so, because I am headed to work for a microfinance research organization in India (Center for Microfinance) doing project management and field work for them right after Sophia and I finish exploring central and eastern Africa.
Janice, Dee Ann, John, and Professor Wooden have been fantastic with their comments and help. Even though this is entirely a student project, their assistance has been invaluable.
All the people leaving in a couple of days – good luck!! Can’t wait to see you all
-Abhay Agarwal
Even after graduating, I still feel very much part of Bucknell since I returned to campus almost a month ago and this is very much home for me now since the past 4 years. My parents came from India for graduation and we traveled around the country for 26 days. I went to New York, DC, Lewisburg, Atlanta, Houston, Vegas, San Francisco and Yosemite National Park. Coincidentally, 26 is the same number of days I get to spend in Uganda and the vicinity. But both these travels will be diametrically opposite.
Most of us don’t desire too much uncertainty in life, and I usually fall into that category. But inspite of all the planning our entire group put in over the past year, a lot remains to be determined. Indians have always had an interesting connection since Idi Amin’s days, when he asked all the Indians to vacate the country within 90 days, and I’ve been reading a lot about that. Nicole, I am ready to make the plunge and attempt to create change as well, and hopefully our families will learn to be okay with that. I wish I was able to make it to DC for ‘How it ends’, but I wasn’t able to because of my small business consulting job. Although to make up for that, I did bump into Meghan a couple of weeks ago at a friend’s Masters Thesis defense, and it was an ‘Oh Heyy’ moment for sure.
I see Muyambi and Kevin every now and then on campus when we sit together to make plans for the applications and the survey, and operationalizing this project has been more difficult than I had imagined. We discuss how we want people to pay back these loans, and whether the bicyles will benefit them enough for them to pay it all back because we want this project to be sustainable. Strangely, even though a monthly repayment amount of 5000 Ugandan shillings is only a number to us on an application form we are designing, it might mean the world to the man or woman at the receiving end of this loan. I’m really glad to be putting in time and effort into the application forms and survey, because finally things are coming together for me. I will probably doing similar work for the next year or so, because I am headed to work for a microfinance research organization in India (Center for Microfinance) doing project management and field work for them right after Sophia and I finish exploring central and eastern Africa.
Janice, Dee Ann, John, and Professor Wooden have been fantastic with their comments and help. Even though this is entirely a student project, their assistance has been invaluable.
All the people leaving in a couple of days – good luck!! Can’t wait to see you all
-Abhay Agarwal
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
How It Ends: Lobbying in Washington DC
A war spanning over two decades; relentless bloodshed and abduction; child soldiers and sex slaves; this is the strife that seems anything but finite. When madness ensues and apathy brews, the ongoing misery of Uganda and its surrounding regions can seem doomed to forever dither in its chaos.
How can it end? This is the question that was addressed at the Washington DC Convention Center the morning of June 22nd. Nearly two thousand people, mostly college and High School students, gathered to listen to speakers and share ideas. The ultimate goal of the gathering was to lobby for a bill regarding United States support in the removal of Joseph Kony and his Lord’s Resistance Army. Students from around the country met with their respective Senate or Representative offices to beseech support for the bill that would ultimately sow the seeds of peace in Uganda.
The lobbying was concluded with a massive rally in front of the White House accompanied with music and speakers. A strange antithesis was woven between the glee of those enjoying the rally and the sobering reality of child soldiers, war and poverty. It seemed almost a sin to indulge joy when so many are without it, but thus is the woe of human solidarity. When questions spin about absurd answers and prayers left unanswered, by what means can suffering be alleviated? Why, genuine human solidarity, of course. With hands made to hold and arms made to lift, like a cross we will carry one another through shallow and through deep. But yes, solidarity will blow woe like wind; however, joy too will permeate to those who do not feel it. The rally, therefore, did not mark an antithesis of worlds but rather a splash rippling joy across the Atlantic to grief stricken homes of Uganda; for what greater rebellion can exist than to love in an unloving world.
-Colin Thomas
How can it end? This is the question that was addressed at the Washington DC Convention Center the morning of June 22nd. Nearly two thousand people, mostly college and High School students, gathered to listen to speakers and share ideas. The ultimate goal of the gathering was to lobby for a bill regarding United States support in the removal of Joseph Kony and his Lord’s Resistance Army. Students from around the country met with their respective Senate or Representative offices to beseech support for the bill that would ultimately sow the seeds of peace in Uganda.
The lobbying was concluded with a massive rally in front of the White House accompanied with music and speakers. A strange antithesis was woven between the glee of those enjoying the rally and the sobering reality of child soldiers, war and poverty. It seemed almost a sin to indulge joy when so many are without it, but thus is the woe of human solidarity. When questions spin about absurd answers and prayers left unanswered, by what means can suffering be alleviated? Why, genuine human solidarity, of course. With hands made to hold and arms made to lift, like a cross we will carry one another through shallow and through deep. But yes, solidarity will blow woe like wind; however, joy too will permeate to those who do not feel it. The rally, therefore, did not mark an antithesis of worlds but rather a splash rippling joy across the Atlantic to grief stricken homes of Uganda; for what greater rebellion can exist than to love in an unloving world.
-Colin Thomas
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