Two weeks to never forget
Saturday and Sunday, the 20th and 21st of August 2011
Due to the writer of this piece for these two days, feeling ill from the arrival in Holland up until now, this report got on here (too) late. Of course, my apologies!
Saturday, we had the opportunity to decide for ourselves how would spent our last day in Uganda. Initially, everyone had planned to do something different from each other – since this was one of the few occasions were we could do something without it involving to whole group. Anyway, we decided that it was best if we would end our two amazing weeks all together. We ended up heading to Jinja, to make a boat trip to the Source of the Nile – the point where the Nile emerges from Lake Victoria, all the way up to Egypt.
After a short, and for some of us a very, very short night, we all sat in the bus, driven by our trusty super-driver Eddy – got to the give the man some credits for his enormous efforts. The way to the so called cultural capital of Uganda, was comparable to any other drive we had made; hectically (because of the mess traffic can be), smelly (because of the gas emissions) and bumpy (no further explanation needed;-)). But, after a while, we were getting used to that, and eventually maybe for a moment miss it when it’s gone, now we’re back in Holland.
After a while, we found ourselves staring over the calm White Nile, with mostly only the sound of the guide that was telling about the surroundings on the banks of the side of the lake. Lots of special coloured birds and, to most of the women in our group, scary lizards crawling close to the waterside, gave a beautiful impressions of the inhabitants of the Niles islands’ shores. Not only the animals living there, made it to an incredible afternoon; the weather, the green leaves, palms trees and the small islands laying randomly in the water, made it to the ultimate relaxing activity.
After heading back to Kampala, we packed our stuff, which for some, was a stressful activity. After we had gathered all the things and cleaned our rooms, it was time to say goodbye to the people from the ICU guesthouse. After a lot of hugs, kisses and handshakes, Sander (van Zanten), the owner of the guesthouse, luckily just arrived right at the moment that we were leaving, so we got the chance to say goodbye to him and his family too.
Then we dinned a the ultimate Mzungu-place (!) in Entebbe, called Faze 3, where the United Nations seemed to have found there own regular spot at the parking lot. Our last dinner couldn’t be more of a worthy end to a trip to never forget. We looked out on Lake Victoria, with the sunset turning the evening-sky into a nice sight of blue, yellow and red. While everyone was enjoying their dinner, some concluded with a few words.
By then, we got to the airport and said goodbye to Uganda. For the most, the flight back home wasn’t too bad, because we flew by night and could sleep all the way through. When arriving at Amsterdam, we met the ones, relatives and friend, that were waiting for us. Finally, the group had to say goodbye to each other. The ending to two exciting, instructive, intense weeks, where people that were strangers to each other, became friends, and shared an experience of doing voluntary work in Uganda to never forget.
Day 14
Unfortunately, I have to say that we’re only two days away from leaving. It feels like we’re really getting part of the society here. For example, just like the African tradition seems to prescribe, we were often late for arrival. Today, we’ve spent the whole day at KSPH. We started off with the evaluation of the last two weeks. Together with KSPH and KYC, we treated questions like: what were the good points of the program, what can there be improved and what do you think you can use in the future for your own benefit. In our group, there often has been mentioned that the workshops were the most valuable for the most of us. The most appreciated was ‘the how to start a business’. Besides that, it of course was important that KSHP and KYC keep in touch after that we’re gone. The planning says, that they’re going to keep in touch once a month by doing one activity.
After the evaluation, we got some lunch at a nearby restaurant, together with the people of both organizations. It turned out to be a real African lunch, consisting out of rice, Matoke, purple peanut sauce and some special fruit and vegetables. After a long lunch, the program in the afternoon started. There, we showed the movie that was made about the last two weeks, with our experiences, workshops and conversations. After that, we had an evaluation about the future collaboration between KSHP and KYC. All things come to an end; we had to say goodbye to the volunteers of KYC, which also was the end of the program.
Day12
After we had breakfast, we went to KYC. After a 45-minute drive, we arrived and then we got a short tour by Tim from the youth centre. They have got a youth centre with a library where the Ugandans get their books, and also, they’ve got a big computer room. Outside, there’s a sports field.
After the tour, we went in small groups into the slums, which was very impressive to see. Lots of children were outside and most of them don’t go to school, they have got to stay at home to help their parents. Most of the houses were shags, at some places it smelled really bad, because there was a lot of garbage lying around. Also, there were women who were washing their clothes and preparing their meals. Due to the heat and all the impressions that we had had, it was exhausting. It took quite some time before lunch was ready. In the meantime, we played with some kids from the slums. What they seemed to like the most, was the playing with balloons and blowing bubbles.
In the afternoon, we headed back to the guesthouse. Some of our group decided to get a little sleep. In the evening, everyone had some time to spend for themselves. At midnight, Tessa got congratulated because of her birthday!
Day 11
Dear family, friends, sponsors and others,
Another update from the beautiful Uganda. Today was a day of many many impressions. In the morning we went to ADD International, an internationally established organization fighting at a political level for the rights of disabled people. The organization is situated in 11 third world countries around the world of which 3 in Asia and 8 in Africa. We interviewed the head of ADD Uganda who had a disability himself, the man was blind. He was so well integrated that i only found out about this after about half an hour of talking. He explained us many things among which the main goal of ADD: Not only to work for, but to work with people with disabilities.
After about 3 hours we went back to the ICU guesthouse to fix Laurens' wheelchair. Our driver Eddy, also a mechanic managed to craft one of the vital parts of his wheelchair which would have been impossible to come by in Uganda otherwise. Me, myself an I felt really happy about this since not finding it would have resulted in me carrying Laurens all over Uganda for the remaining of our trip.
When Laurens gave him his favorite (fake) Ajax shirt, he took us to a traditional Ugandan jam session where we spent the evening listening to all sorts of improvised performances. Alexander even played a bit on the drums; talking about breaking boundaries.
Having met a lot of new people we went back and had some more beers on the terrace. Since volunteering is not only about the work but also about the experience some people (2) decided to spent the night outside under a mosquito net. It was all really adventurous, especially when it started storming and thundering. Since Ugandan rain showers are not like what we were used to in the Netherlands they didn't sleep so well.
Anyhow, 'when the point comes to the pol,' 'on that bicycle,' sleep tight, good night
What happend last weekend?
Day 8, sunday14th of August
Go(d)spell In Uganda!
Today 5 people of our group (Andrea, Manon, Melani, Laurens and Tessa wanted to visit a Ugandan church ceremony. Most of the participants did not go to church regularly in Holland, but we all hoped to see a real African service. Our Ugandan driver, Eddy, brought us there. Unfortunately became clear - during the service - that we where not visiting a gospel service as we hoped for, but that where attending a regular Christian service, almost equal to a service in the Netherlands...
But when we left the service Eddy said to Laurens: 'This was a boring service' He told us that he regularly goes to gospel church on Sunday and that he could take us there, if we wanted, since it started at eleven and our first service was finished at then AM. The Gospel service was really great. Almost like going to a pop concert!
And because we were going to Eddy's 'own' church , we got to interact with the local people once more. This was really impressive and fun, since we were the only white people, sometimes with visible handicap. But church is open to everyone and it seemed that way!
After being to church, the total Commundo group went to a wild life reservation and to a botanical garden in Entebbe. Jelle en Laurens rented al golf kart, because ' they' were tired of walking. And therefore saw the whole reservation within 1.5 hour. During our visit we got to see two of the big five: the Lion and the Rhino, but we also saw giraffes, chimpanzees and a hyena.
When we finished our visit, we went to the botanical garden, and sat at lake Victoria for a small pre-dinner pick nick. To end the day we went to a great looking restaurant with a nice terras, and western menu (and clean toilets) J Very nice after more then one week local food and local toilets.
When we got back into the car, to get back to Kampala, the military police stopped us. We all wandered why. Then we saw why. President Museveni was passing. He had an escort of 7 cars, two helicopters, and one stange looking white car. (A bit like the car the pope uses). We where told that that was Museveni own, strictly personal, toilet car. And that whenever he needs to go they stop, and the road gets closed. This man really has issues! Unfortunately nobody dared to take pictures, because when caught, it means serious jail time.
When we got home we had a drink and went to bed. To resume: an interesting and exciting Sunday!
Finally back in civilization: power is back in Kampala after 4 days!!!
Day 6: 11th of August 2011.
Finally back in civilization: power is back in Kampala after 4 days!
Facing challenges doesn’t mean it can’t be fun:
A new day of getting up early. We had to be there at eight O’clock. Too bad the weather wasn’t that great, so we decided to leave a little later so we could remain in sweet dreams for a little longer. Today, we had made four groups to go out on the streets nearby KSPH. The people with a disability could ask a question to strange people, to see what their reaction would be. Olivia, one of the participants of KSPH, wanted to take a cab. But how do you get there when you’re in a wheelchair. And, does a cab even want to stop for you? Fortunately, one did. Also, on request, people wanted to help her. Though, people look at her as if she despise. They rather would want to stay as far as possible from Olivia. The peculiar thing was, she didn’t only had to pay for herself, but also for her wheelchair, which in fact counted as another person. And, in case somebody would wanted to help her, the cabdriver responded that she has got to do it all by herself. Though, she really needed to help.
Alexander did another assignment on getting by yourself as a disabled person in Uganda. His, was to ask a direction. One man wanted to help him, the other didn’t. Maryon, a student at KSPH also wanted to ask the direction. The one that helped her wasn’t very kind and looked at her as if she had a disease which he also could get, only by looking or talking to her. In that way, everyone of the group has had experiences through which we could see how people responded. Sometimes, the situation wasn’t that fun, but we’ve also had a few good ones. After a nice meal, a group of people was keeping busy with baking cookies. Another group played some games such as table tennis and playing cards. During the cookie-baking activity, we sure had a nice time together; we sang and there also was time for a chat. And at the end of the day, Tessa showed a card trick of which the Ugandan men couldn’t get enough. They didn’t like the fact that they didn’t know what the secret behind the trick was.
Andrea and Jelle didn’t join the creative workshops because they joined a project ministry of sports. They went to a slum and played soccer with youth. They brought some soccer balls from the sponsor from Andrea. The motto of the sponsor: ‘throw a ball in a group and people gonna play with each other. That’s the start for connection. Together you achieve more then alone and together you build a brighter future. With the & sign on the ball you connect a few things together. Put a name in front of it and behind and then they will become one’. In this case it was Jelle and Andrea & the kids from the slumms. They experienced how the kids live in poverty, but smile a lot when they play (soccer) with each other. Andrea and Jelle
Back home, we ate and we evaluated the rest of the time still to come. The power went down, like it does every single evening here at the guesthouse, so we had to eat dinner by candlelight, which turned out to by really cozy.
day 7, Friday 14 augustus 2011
This morning we were getting up early to go to KSPH. We painted the bedrooms with the other volunteers from KYC and some kids from KSPH. The rooms smelled like a farm and the walls were very dirty. It was horrible. The most of us didn't had a mouth cap so Jane and Jelle went to the supermarket to buy some.
First we began with scrubbing the walls with a sand paper. So the whole room was dusty. After that we painted the first and second bedroom. In one room were sleeping 32 boys or girls. We didn't finish the third room, because of the smell from the paint. We all were getting a little dizzy. The people with a disability were getting tired and we heard that the painter would finish the bedrooms according to an arranged price, no matter the count of rooms, so we stopped painting.
We had a break to eat with each other. Because of the last day at KSPH, Andrea brought some ‘stroopwafels' and we thanked each other for the days we spend together. Some of them were getting emotional because of our leave. That was a special moment.
After this morning at KSPH, we get home. Some of us were very tired so day got some sleep. Andrea, Tessa and Manon went to the football field at the end of the Bazzekuketaroad. There were local people who danced and made music just like a taptoo. That was great! Everybody was looking at Tessa, Andrea and Manon.... three white woman :P
After dinner we were dressing up for a party in Kampala! It was a party with a dress code: white, so we had to go into the closet :D to pick the most beautiful clothes. At 23.00, our driver brought us to the club. The volunteers from KYC were also invited. The party was really great. We had a lot of fun and learned how to dance by the local people. Also King Laurens got a few lap dances in his wheelchair :D
day 8, saturday 14th august
The day started really relaxed because this was the first day that we slept in, it was our first day off. The fact that we where able to do so was welcome news because we had a tough week
and the day before we had a long night at club iguanna:D.
After breakfast we went to Garden city shopping mall to do some (what else?) shopping...
And we also had lunch there which was strange because it was the first time we had some real western - but still with a bit of an African touch - food for the first time.
After lunch we all split up and we went our separate ways.
There is really not so much interesting things to say about this excecpt for the fact that Laurens and Jelle met an American phisically handicapped in the super market. He was engaged in the weelchair business and distributing weelchairs all over Africa as charity. More on this in one of our next posts since an interview with this chairitable man is coming up next week. After our visit at the shopping mall we went to the craftsmarket, a market where they sell home-crafted products.
It was a really crouded market with a lot of tourists. For the first time in Uganda we really felt like tourists in stead of feeling like volunteers. The place was intended for selling to tourists. We could tell because of the products, the pricing, the negotiating and the many muzungus around. For instance, some T-shirsts they sold had discriptions saying 'My name is not muzungu.' Meaning: 'My name is not whity.' The beautiful thing about the afternoon was what only a 100 meters away we found ourselves a school with so many little, cute, dancing, adorable, lovely, yet very poor children, just seeing the look in their eyes when some of us joined them was really heart warming.
So, after this amazing experience, we all went back to the ICU guesthouse again. We started off with our general routine: eating, evalualing, having endless discussions and having some well deserved beers on the terras.
Yet again, we had an amaizing time, we wish you people at home a very good night. We will upload this as soon as the power comes on again which has been off for about 2 days now. Still, this is the Uganda way of living, we are living it. God speed. Timmeeeehh
Finally a message from Uganda!!
Day of arrival – 6 august 2011
After a flight of 10,5 hours, with a stop in Rwanda, we landed on the airport of Entebbe. It was dark already so we couldn’t see that much. Eddy, our driver, brought us to the ICU Guesthouse in Kampala where we are going to stay for the rest of the weeks. Day 1 – 7 august 2011 After breakfast we picked up the kids from KSPH (school for a physical handicapped children) and the youth from KYC (the youth center in Kampala). With a over crowded bus we drove to Mukono. A wonderful place with a beautiful view on the Victoria lake , where the owner of our guesthouse, Sander, lives. We were having a picnic to get to know each other better. After that, a typical African music group gave as a dance and music workshop. We all had to perform! The group itself performed as well. That was the bom!!! In the evening we prepared the workshop for the next day.
Day 2 – 8 August 2011
Early birds! We drove to KSPH for some class visits. Each of us gave a short presentation about Holland and we did some typical Dutch games such as ‘Koekhappen’. The kids liked it so much! After that, Tim from KYC gave some information about Africa and especially Kampala. After that we gave the workshop for today, a dialogue about the differences and similarities between living with a handicap in Holland and Uganda. Conclusion: people with a handicap in Uganda are not excepted in the society. That was hard to hear from them. They are bound to KSPH and normally won’t come outside of the compound. After heavy Ugandan rain fall we proceed our program. That evening we had dinner at the guesthouse. This was the first time we experienced that the power went down. This is normal here. Manon was showering when it happened, so she had to find here way out in the dark (no further details :P, but she screamed like a baby).
Day 3 – 9 august 2011
We went to KSPH and gave the occupational materials that Anne-Mieke, Laurens and Marjolein arranged in Holland. The staff and children of KSPH were very happy with the stuff! After this we did a workshop about how to start a business. We gave a workshop about creating a business plan and how to make a profit in groups of 5. Some wanted to have a tailoring company, a library or a engineering company. In the meantime Jelle got married with a girl from KSPH ? After a long day we returned to the guesthouse. Jelle and Andrea went to the soccerfield to play soccer with youth from Kampala and from the orphanhouse. It was fun the see them playing together. The bring also Laurens and Alex in the wheelchair. It was pretty shocking to see the people looking to them and laugh. We had dinner and set at the roof terrace for a nice drink. Laurens, or as he is called here by some other guests: “Koning Laurens”, had to be lifted to the first floor by manpower since elevators are rare. This way Jelle and Sofian have their regular fitness…
Day 4 – 10 august 2011
Some people even give workshops during their sleep. Tessa even gave a dance workshop to the children of KSPH when she was sleeping (given the fact that she dances and talks in here sleep). So Tessa brought great laughter but few hours of sleep to the other roommates Andrea and Manon. Laurens and Manon prepared a job workshop on how to write a resume, write an application letter and prepared role plays in order to stimulate job interview. The main objective of this workshop was to learn the participants to write a resume and a application letter, which they can use in the future when they want to apply for a job. They were all very enthusiastic and with some guidance they were able to perform the assignments by themselves. We ended the day with an evaluation and everybody is very pleased with the progress the children and youth made. Now we have dinner a delicious Ugandan Meal ?
Friday 29th of July
This morning we went to a craft market. It was a big market were they sold beautiful African instruments, bags and jewels. Everyone was all over the market and we bought some nice souvenirs!
At midday we went to the KSPH. The students practiced for months to present us their music festival. It was an amazing show! We loved the music, the dancing, but most of al: the smiles on their faces. Afterwards it was time to say goodbye. We gave the KSPH and the KYC a group picture.
At home, we had our last meal. Specially for us, they made pizza! During the meal we surprised Jane with our ‘'thank-you-present''. Jane has been a great guide to us!
