WEEK IN MASULIITA

On Monday October 22 Jolly and I drove to the school property and arrived late in the afternoon.  We got settled into the guest house, and then walked around the property.  Mummy Sophie who looks after the abandoned babies had arranged supper for us and then we had an early night.  Uganda is on the equator so the sun always sets at 7:00 pm and rises at about 6:00 am.

The guest house pictured below is wonderful and provides us with a room, bed and an actual toilet.  JNFC was able to provide the paint necessary to paint the inside of the whole building.  A toilet has always been my number one request because until now we stayed in the village (with a 45 minute walk to the school) in a similar building but with pit toilets and no lighting so you can imagine how night time visits went. :(  We purchased those miner's lights and wore them on our heads...not a pretty sight!  We cook on a propane burner and boil water for everything - dishes, bathing, drinking, cooking etc.  Jolly and I had fun making spaghetti with fresh tomatoes and other vegetables.

I woke up at 6:30 on the Monday morning to the sounds of children laughing and playing.  I dressed and went outside to find children in their school uniforms assembling for school.  All of the children gather by 7:30 for morning devotions which means lots of vibrant singing, drumming, prayer, and then a short devotion by the pastor or one of the teachers.  It was so amazing to see the enthusiasm that the children have for an education.  They get up at 6:00 am as soon as it is light, some of them don't have anything to eat or drink, and then start walking to the school.  A few children have to walk a long distance of about 2 km.  I am lost for words when I see all of this.

Classes start at 8:00 am with ages 3-5 in the Early Childhood Education Centre and P1 to P7 in regular classes.  The little ones get a cup of porridge, made of maize or soy, at break time, and then go home at 12:00.  Children from P1 upwards will get a meal of rice and beans at 12:00.  Then they stay until 5:00 pm with a break in the afternoon.  I find it quite amazing to see the long days that they put in, and the teachers hold extra classes for those children who also need to prepare for exams.  All last week the P7's had extra classes from 5:00 to 7:00 pm to help prepare them for their National exams.  Then if that wasn't enough they come to school on Saturday.  I believe the exams are in a couple of weeks and then at the end of November they have their long holiday for December and January (compared to ours in the summer).   In case you are wondering, as I was, the teachers make sure all the students get home safely by either accompanying one child or making sure they walk in groups until some parents meet them on the way home.  The parents all agreed to this arrangement so it works.

I finally understand why they have such long days at school.  If they were to go home after the regular school day, they would never get any studying done because the parents would want them to do a lot of chores.  Most of the parents are not educated and do not understand the importance of receiving an education.  It is a constant struggle - so in my opinion the teachers here are heroes!  And they are paid $200 a month.

On Thursday I was able to go down to the sports field that Rotary provided last year.  The whole school goes to the field and the different ages play soccer, net ball, volley ball, skip or just play.  The field has filled in well with grass and is well utilized.  Here are a few photos:

These wonderful red soccer uniforms were donated by a soccer club in Victoria.  They are greatly appreciated and the teachers noticed that they are very good quality so a big THANK YOU to the Peninsula Soccer Club.

I spent two days seeing all of the JNFC sponsored children at the school and delivering the letters from their sponsors.  I would have them read the letter or help those younger ones read.  I love this part as I get to really visit with each child.  They love getting photos from the sponsors to see a little bit of Canada.  Some sponsors send photos and a piece of clothing which always lights up their eyes and brings smiles to their faces.  This is Sophia - the lovely girl Geoff and I have sponsored since 2008.  We have seen her grow and she reads very well.  As soon as she saw me this was my greeting.

Then I spent two full days visiting about 34 homes of the 46 sponsored children, and many of the families have more than one child being sponsored.  This is also one of my favourite things to do.  It is full of adventure, sorrow, joy and sometimes disbelief when you see how some families live.  All of these things strengthen my (our) resolve to make sure many children receive an education.  Despite their circumstances they all appreciate the JNFC sponsorship, and whatever their religious beliefs they all want prayer.  Many families give gifts of all that they have - sweet potatoes, sugar cane, cabbage, eggs, and beautiful woven mats.

Saturday morning Jolly and I did some gardening before we left to come back to Kampala.  Since first coming to Victoria she has always loved our garden and gardens of Victoria.  So we have talked about this for a number of years now that we would plant roses and lavender in her garden.  The land in front of the new guest house needs to be levelled.  On the side 6 garden beds were prepared for planting in the week by parents of the sponsored children.  They planted beans in two beds, chilies and peppers were planted in another bed, and Jolly and I planted flowers in the other four beds.  We found 7 roses and a lavender plant at a Nursery Bed (Garden Centre)!  I love roses and lavender and so does Jolly so now she has them too.

Parents gardening at the school

It is now 6:00 pm on Sunday and I will get ready for another function.  Till next time...