Hey Everyone,
I am home safe and sound, a few weeks earlier than planned.
I have many more postings that I need to update, as well as photos.
Thank you so much for all your support in helping me travel to Uganda. But, most importantly, thank you for helping the children of Busoona Primary School. Their lives are forever changed.
BMF
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Thursday, July 15, 2010
We are Safe
I apologize for not posting on the blog sooner, but I wanted to let everyone know that we are completely safe. We were in west when the bombings in Kampala occurred last Sunday. Fortunately, all of our friends here are safe. We know a few that have been affected by the terrorist attack.
I mourn the loss of Nate Henn. I hope that everyone will consider helping his family, and support the Invisible Children community by donating at this link: http://blog.invisiblechildren.com/2010/07/the-nate-oteka-henn-memorial-fund/
Please remember:
I mourn the loss of Nate Henn. I hope that everyone will consider helping his family, and support the Invisible Children community by donating at this link: http://blog.invisiblechildren.com/2010/07/the-nate-oteka-henn-memorial-fund/
Please remember:
We are not nations separated by borders. We are not continents divided by seas. We are one globe; one race: humanity. All the good in this world must stand up as one to fight the evils that try to damn us.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Sunday, July 4, 2010
The Water Tank Project
The primary school already has 2 tanks installed, but they are not in working order. This means that there is no source of water at Busoona. Our major work has consisted of repairing the current tanks, and we also purchased a new and larger tank. For each tank, we must dig a 4 x 4 x 4 foot hole for a drain, which connects to a 10 foot pipe. At the end of the pipe, we dig a 6 foot hole and fill it with rocks to help drain the water, which then irrigates the surrounding land. Water enters the tanks from gutters that line the roofs of the classrooms that collect water when it rains. A pipe is connected from the end of the gutters to the tank. A nozzle is installed at the bottom of the water tank, over the drainage pipe, for children to wash their hands and fill water bottles
We have to dig to install the drainage pipes because if they are not there, the water will pool on top of the soil and is a breeding ground for bacteria. The bugs and mosquitoes are then attracted to the water. The pooled water not only then becomes an infested breeding ground for bacteria, but malaria as well. The drainage pipes remove the spread of bacteria and malaria, while also irrigating surrounding land. On one of the tanks is on the back side of the school, and downhill slope leads to gardens and crops. The water pipes will help to irrigate those crops as well, which will provide food for the children as well
By having healthy crops, gardens, and water, the children do not have to resort to their difficult lifestyles. All the children walk up to 2 miles to school in the morning, and back home for lunch. Then they must trek back another 2 miles back to school for the afternoon, and back home again. All of this traveling is due to the lack of food and clean water available at the school.
A large portion of the money that we fund raised for this trip went towards paying for the 3rd water tank, as well as hiring a plumber and a few constructors to help us in installing the tanks. We dug the majority of the holes with some help from a constructor that we have now named “superman”. Superman has incredible strength and endurance and can dig at an unbelievable speed. We dig all of the holes with pick axes and hoes. After the holes are dug, we helped the constructors mix cement, and move materials to each of the tanks. The constructors themselves then build the base that the tanks sit on. We also helped the constructors fill the drainage holes with enormous rocks.
Progress has moved at an incredible rate. The digging and installation of the drainage systems and connecting the tans to the gutters was expected to take 12-14 days. Just after 5 days of work, we have completely installed all systems and the tanks are up and running! The fresh rain that we received here in Jinja over the weekend has provided the very first source of water to fill the tanks. On Monday, the school will have fresh water for the first time.
Due to our progress, we will start planting avocado trees in the garden and increase the teaching of Basic English and Basic Mathematics.
We have to dig to install the drainage pipes because if they are not there, the water will pool on top of the soil and is a breeding ground for bacteria. The bugs and mosquitoes are then attracted to the water. The pooled water not only then becomes an infested breeding ground for bacteria, but malaria as well. The drainage pipes remove the spread of bacteria and malaria, while also irrigating surrounding land. On one of the tanks is on the back side of the school, and downhill slope leads to gardens and crops. The water pipes will help to irrigate those crops as well, which will provide food for the children as well
By having healthy crops, gardens, and water, the children do not have to resort to their difficult lifestyles. All the children walk up to 2 miles to school in the morning, and back home for lunch. Then they must trek back another 2 miles back to school for the afternoon, and back home again. All of this traveling is due to the lack of food and clean water available at the school.
A large portion of the money that we fund raised for this trip went towards paying for the 3rd water tank, as well as hiring a plumber and a few constructors to help us in installing the tanks. We dug the majority of the holes with some help from a constructor that we have now named “superman”. Superman has incredible strength and endurance and can dig at an unbelievable speed. We dig all of the holes with pick axes and hoes. After the holes are dug, we helped the constructors mix cement, and move materials to each of the tanks. The constructors themselves then build the base that the tanks sit on. We also helped the constructors fill the drainage holes with enormous rocks.
Progress has moved at an incredible rate. The digging and installation of the drainage systems and connecting the tans to the gutters was expected to take 12-14 days. Just after 5 days of work, we have completely installed all systems and the tanks are up and running! The fresh rain that we received here in Jinja over the weekend has provided the very first source of water to fill the tanks. On Monday, the school will have fresh water for the first time.
Due to our progress, we will start planting avocado trees in the garden and increase the teaching of Basic English and Basic Mathematics.
His Worship: The Mayor of Jinja
His Honor, David Wakimidura, the Mayor of Jinja (2002-2006)
In January when this trip was in the very first stages, there was a lot of concern regarding safety and legitimacy. Now that we are here, I have to laugh at the fact that there were so many concerns. As it turns out, this trip and the people that we have met could not have been more legitimate.
Davids, the director of the Busoona Primary Project, is son to His Worship David Wakimidura. Davids father was the Mayor of Jinja from 2002-2006 and is the most well known and connected man in this region of the country. Talk about legit! He is currently running for a position in parliament.
His Worship Wakimidura is infamous as being one of the only ethical politicians in the country. As the Mayor of Jinja, her repaired nearly 90% of the roads, increased employment by 30%, and only wants to better his people and his country. He is originally from the poor region of Busoga (where Busoona Primary is located) and therefore he has lived through many different aspects of Ugandan life.
Mr. Wakimidura is a very inspiring individual. We have had the opportunity to spend a lot of time with him. He is a very insightful, intelligent, and peaceful man to be around. He chooses his words very carefully, and is always willing to put others before himself.
He has traveled to Busoona with us on several occasions. He came with us on the very first day we began teaching, and spoke at the meeting we had with the Head Master and teachers. He spoke on the importance of building a strong relationship with us, thus connecting Busoona with the Western World. The next 4 weeks would be the deciding factor in how that relationship plays out and that a good relationship is not guaranteed. He stressed to the teachers of the school of the hard efforts we have made to come to Uganda, and that we are putting the most we can into the school. The process of building a relationship as well as improving the school will be a process that happens slowly over time. We must build brick by brick.
Mr. Wakimidura also stressed the role that the community must play in this project. We are here to do the initial work, but our projects must be maintained. The water tanks must be taken care of, and the gardens and crops must be tended to. The progress of the school and the relationship with volunteers that come to the school depend on the parents to ensure that their children are attending school and that a committee of parents is created to ensure that the water tanks are maintained.
His Honor came to Busoona later in the week, and brought the media with him. Reporters from a Ugandan radio station came to talk to us about where we are from, what we are doing, why we are doing it and our thoughts about Uganda so far. The interview was broadcast later that evening and again in the morning. Luckily, we were able to record the broadcast using our video cameras.
We have also learned through our new friendship with Davids and his Father is that who you know truly does pay off. We had to submit our last payment to the Tourist Center, and used our Travelers Checks. We signed them and gave them to the Tourist Center. They then brought the checks to the bank, but they would not accept the checks because they had already been signed. We got the checks back and went to Crane Bank in Jinja ourselves and still the manager would not budge.
Mr. Wakimidura had gotten word of our struggle, and decided to take us all back to the bank. We waited while he talked to the manager, and within minutes he gave us a simple wave and we were able to exchange our travelers checks. He explained that the problem was not that we could not prove that the signatures were actually ours. It was simply a matter of trust. His Honor proved to be the trust worthy, and reputable figure to help us in our time of need. If we were not able to get those checks through, the tanks and progress at Busoona would have been greatly affected.
We have seen David Wakimidura do a large amount of campaigning around the country as well, and if he is voted into Parliament next year, I cannot begin to imagine how our project at Busoona will benefit. We will have a direct connection to a high figure in the Ugandan government.
I guess it isn’t always what you know, but who you know. And as it turns out for everyone who has been worried back at home, we have built a strong friendship with the Mayor of Jinja and his son! Who would have thought!
In January when this trip was in the very first stages, there was a lot of concern regarding safety and legitimacy. Now that we are here, I have to laugh at the fact that there were so many concerns. As it turns out, this trip and the people that we have met could not have been more legitimate.
Davids, the director of the Busoona Primary Project, is son to His Worship David Wakimidura. Davids father was the Mayor of Jinja from 2002-2006 and is the most well known and connected man in this region of the country. Talk about legit! He is currently running for a position in parliament.
His Worship Wakimidura is infamous as being one of the only ethical politicians in the country. As the Mayor of Jinja, her repaired nearly 90% of the roads, increased employment by 30%, and only wants to better his people and his country. He is originally from the poor region of Busoga (where Busoona Primary is located) and therefore he has lived through many different aspects of Ugandan life.
Mr. Wakimidura is a very inspiring individual. We have had the opportunity to spend a lot of time with him. He is a very insightful, intelligent, and peaceful man to be around. He chooses his words very carefully, and is always willing to put others before himself.
He has traveled to Busoona with us on several occasions. He came with us on the very first day we began teaching, and spoke at the meeting we had with the Head Master and teachers. He spoke on the importance of building a strong relationship with us, thus connecting Busoona with the Western World. The next 4 weeks would be the deciding factor in how that relationship plays out and that a good relationship is not guaranteed. He stressed to the teachers of the school of the hard efforts we have made to come to Uganda, and that we are putting the most we can into the school. The process of building a relationship as well as improving the school will be a process that happens slowly over time. We must build brick by brick.
Mr. Wakimidura also stressed the role that the community must play in this project. We are here to do the initial work, but our projects must be maintained. The water tanks must be taken care of, and the gardens and crops must be tended to. The progress of the school and the relationship with volunteers that come to the school depend on the parents to ensure that their children are attending school and that a committee of parents is created to ensure that the water tanks are maintained.
His Honor came to Busoona later in the week, and brought the media with him. Reporters from a Ugandan radio station came to talk to us about where we are from, what we are doing, why we are doing it and our thoughts about Uganda so far. The interview was broadcast later that evening and again in the morning. Luckily, we were able to record the broadcast using our video cameras.
We have also learned through our new friendship with Davids and his Father is that who you know truly does pay off. We had to submit our last payment to the Tourist Center, and used our Travelers Checks. We signed them and gave them to the Tourist Center. They then brought the checks to the bank, but they would not accept the checks because they had already been signed. We got the checks back and went to Crane Bank in Jinja ourselves and still the manager would not budge.
Mr. Wakimidura had gotten word of our struggle, and decided to take us all back to the bank. We waited while he talked to the manager, and within minutes he gave us a simple wave and we were able to exchange our travelers checks. He explained that the problem was not that we could not prove that the signatures were actually ours. It was simply a matter of trust. His Honor proved to be the trust worthy, and reputable figure to help us in our time of need. If we were not able to get those checks through, the tanks and progress at Busoona would have been greatly affected.
We have seen David Wakimidura do a large amount of campaigning around the country as well, and if he is voted into Parliament next year, I cannot begin to imagine how our project at Busoona will benefit. We will have a direct connection to a high figure in the Ugandan government.
I guess it isn’t always what you know, but who you know. And as it turns out for everyone who has been worried back at home, we have built a strong friendship with the Mayor of Jinja and his son! Who would have thought!
The First Day at Busoona
Monday June 28, 2010
Monday was our first day working, and getting our hands dirty at Busoona Primary School. We arrived at the school to be greeted again by hundreds of children surrounding the car and silently following us as we made our way to see the head master. Out from the crowd I heard a voice behind me, “What is your name?” I turned to see who had yelled to me and out of the sea of yellow was a boy about the age of 12 wearing a white buttoned up collared shirt.
“I am Bryan. What is your name?” I replied.
“I am Nelson,” and he turned and began to turn away.
“Hey Nelson!” I yelled to him. He turned to look at me and began smiling. “You’re my boy, right?” He laughed and gave me a high-five and ran to go join his friends.
I turned from the crowd of children and followed Brendan, Evan, and Davids into the Head Master’s office where we joined him and a group of teachers at the school. It was a very small space, with two old desks, a cabinet, and two benches. We sat down on the benches as the teachers crammed in through the doorway into the office. The walls were lines with charts that broke down school attendance since year 2,000. Since the new Millennium school attendance has increased from about 800 students to nearly 1,700 students. Since the students’ fees are funded by the government, it has allowed more children to attend school. But, due to corruption within the government, funds have not been put towards maintaining the school and its facilities. As attendance increases, it becomes harder and harder for each individual student to get a quality education.
The Head Master spoke to us of how thankful they are that we are here and that is of the utmost importance to them that we have a good experience here so that the school can continue to see groups of volunteers come through on a consistent basis. He informed us that because we were here and that we would be teaching an hour of class everyday that attendance in the school would increase as well. The students are ecstatic that we are here and will be interacting with them. Karma was another topic that the Head Master discussed with us. It is very important in this world to give to those who are in need, and all those who give will benefit in return. Not only are we having a life changing experience, but the Head Master is looking forward to seeing the community strengthen and give back to Western culture. It is of the utmost importance that the Western World sees beyond stigmas and understands the hardships that the communities of Uganda have been through. I hope to build on this topic throughout my posts.
We left the Head Masters office and taught Basic English to our designated classes for the first time. At the school, we are teaching Primary 4, which is basically the same as 4th grade in the U.S. When we entered the classroom, all the children crammed into one small room with benches of desks, stood up in unison and began singing a welcome song to us. We thanked them, and began our first lesson.
After the lesson, the kids had some free time, so Evan grabbed the Frisbee out of the car. None of the kids had ever seen a Frisbee before, so we taught a group of them how to throw it and sorted them into two lines to throw back and forth to each other. Nelson and his friends stood close by, speaking Lusoga (the language of the Busoga Tribe) to me. Nelson is one of the only students that I have met that is able to speak English at a relatively fluent level and has been very helpful. I teach him a few words, while he teaches me his language. He is very intuitive and always high in spirits. We are becoming good friends.
Monday was our first day working, and getting our hands dirty at Busoona Primary School. We arrived at the school to be greeted again by hundreds of children surrounding the car and silently following us as we made our way to see the head master. Out from the crowd I heard a voice behind me, “What is your name?” I turned to see who had yelled to me and out of the sea of yellow was a boy about the age of 12 wearing a white buttoned up collared shirt.
“I am Bryan. What is your name?” I replied.
“I am Nelson,” and he turned and began to turn away.
“Hey Nelson!” I yelled to him. He turned to look at me and began smiling. “You’re my boy, right?” He laughed and gave me a high-five and ran to go join his friends.
I turned from the crowd of children and followed Brendan, Evan, and Davids into the Head Master’s office where we joined him and a group of teachers at the school. It was a very small space, with two old desks, a cabinet, and two benches. We sat down on the benches as the teachers crammed in through the doorway into the office. The walls were lines with charts that broke down school attendance since year 2,000. Since the new Millennium school attendance has increased from about 800 students to nearly 1,700 students. Since the students’ fees are funded by the government, it has allowed more children to attend school. But, due to corruption within the government, funds have not been put towards maintaining the school and its facilities. As attendance increases, it becomes harder and harder for each individual student to get a quality education.
The Head Master spoke to us of how thankful they are that we are here and that is of the utmost importance to them that we have a good experience here so that the school can continue to see groups of volunteers come through on a consistent basis. He informed us that because we were here and that we would be teaching an hour of class everyday that attendance in the school would increase as well. The students are ecstatic that we are here and will be interacting with them. Karma was another topic that the Head Master discussed with us. It is very important in this world to give to those who are in need, and all those who give will benefit in return. Not only are we having a life changing experience, but the Head Master is looking forward to seeing the community strengthen and give back to Western culture. It is of the utmost importance that the Western World sees beyond stigmas and understands the hardships that the communities of Uganda have been through. I hope to build on this topic throughout my posts.
We left the Head Masters office and taught Basic English to our designated classes for the first time. At the school, we are teaching Primary 4, which is basically the same as 4th grade in the U.S. When we entered the classroom, all the children crammed into one small room with benches of desks, stood up in unison and began singing a welcome song to us. We thanked them, and began our first lesson.
After the lesson, the kids had some free time, so Evan grabbed the Frisbee out of the car. None of the kids had ever seen a Frisbee before, so we taught a group of them how to throw it and sorted them into two lines to throw back and forth to each other. Nelson and his friends stood close by, speaking Lusoga (the language of the Busoga Tribe) to me. Nelson is one of the only students that I have met that is able to speak English at a relatively fluent level and has been very helpful. I teach him a few words, while he teaches me his language. He is very intuitive and always high in spirits. We are becoming good friends.
Cheaters
Friday June 25, 2010
Only in Uganda can you get kicked out of a taxi for bargaining over the fees of public transportation. Although the government has been able to bring peace to the country, financial corruption has trickled down to every level of social hierarchy. Thus, even when a taxi is stated as being 300 shillings, the prices get doubled because we are foreigners. This also plays into a misconception about whites in Uganda: we are all rich. False. We are not rich by any means. In comparison to the people here, we can consider ourselves rich, but we are perceived as being millionaires by the locals. Hence why the prices are raised so much for us. In reality, I could only afford coming on this volunteer trip only due to generous donors. Another harsh reality is that my plane ticket cost more than double what the average household makes in a year in Uganda.
The taxis in Uganda are much different than the taxis back at home. They are vans that have a limit of 12 people. Yet, nearly 14-18 people can be crammed into one taxi. There is a conductor who collects all the payments and regulates order as crowds try and claim their seat at each of the bus stops. We were unable to use our own car for the day, and had to walk to the bus stop. We got on our taxi, and before it took off the conductor told us, “You are white, you must pay 500 shillings (25 cents)”.
“Skin color does not mean that we should pay more! I am a Ugandan and I am their guide. We will pay the set price,” Davids barked in return.
“Every rider must pay the foreigner’s price!” The Conductor yelled back. We sat crammed in the back seat and looked as every passenger looked back in frustration and disbelief that they were being forced to pay a higher price. The arguing continued and we were forced out of the taxi.
We picked up another taxi, and the conductor let us come on for one price. Davids and I sat in front with the driver as we explained our frustrations to him. The driver had a very different insight. He spoke of the importance of equality, and that if the locals continue to cheat visitors out of their money, it will give a bad name to the country. People traveling to Uganda will only help the economy. Another aspect of the issue is that if prices are kept at a set price, areas such as public transportation will still get tipped for the quality of service. To us, there is little difference between 300 shillings, 500 shillings, or even 2,000 shillings. The difference between those numbers for us is literally less than 50 cents. It is simply the principle of the matter.
Friday seemed to be a day full of these “cheaters” trying to take advantage of us for our money. The entire boat ride on the Nile, Davids was speaking in Lugandan to the operator of the boat that we were on. We had no idea what they were talking about, but Davids told us after that they were charging us 80,000 shillings ($40) for the boat ride, when the set price is 25,000 shillings (about $12). Davids was able to bargain his way to 32,000 shillings for the trip to the source of the Nile. We walked away and went up towards a local market that was on a hill above where the boat launched. Other locals tried to talk us into getting onto their boats so they could give us a tour of the Nile. We told them that we already had gone on a ride. One man had said that he hoped the driver gave us a fair price. When we asked what a fair price was, he told us 85,000 shillings. Davids just began laughing at him as we stared in shock and told him that we paid 32,000 shillings.
Good luck with your business.
On the way back from the Nile, we decided to walk back home instead of taking a taxi. We stopped and took a break because of the beautiful view. I began taking pictures of the landscapes and cows that were grazing in the nearby field. A man out in the distance began walking towards us and as he came closer he told us that we had to pay him for taking pictures of his country. Are you kidding me?! Apparently photography isn’t free anymore either. Of course we didn’t pay him and continued on our way.
I had enough of these cheaters for one day.
Only in Uganda can you get kicked out of a taxi for bargaining over the fees of public transportation. Although the government has been able to bring peace to the country, financial corruption has trickled down to every level of social hierarchy. Thus, even when a taxi is stated as being 300 shillings, the prices get doubled because we are foreigners. This also plays into a misconception about whites in Uganda: we are all rich. False. We are not rich by any means. In comparison to the people here, we can consider ourselves rich, but we are perceived as being millionaires by the locals. Hence why the prices are raised so much for us. In reality, I could only afford coming on this volunteer trip only due to generous donors. Another harsh reality is that my plane ticket cost more than double what the average household makes in a year in Uganda.
The taxis in Uganda are much different than the taxis back at home. They are vans that have a limit of 12 people. Yet, nearly 14-18 people can be crammed into one taxi. There is a conductor who collects all the payments and regulates order as crowds try and claim their seat at each of the bus stops. We were unable to use our own car for the day, and had to walk to the bus stop. We got on our taxi, and before it took off the conductor told us, “You are white, you must pay 500 shillings (25 cents)”.
“Skin color does not mean that we should pay more! I am a Ugandan and I am their guide. We will pay the set price,” Davids barked in return.
“Every rider must pay the foreigner’s price!” The Conductor yelled back. We sat crammed in the back seat and looked as every passenger looked back in frustration and disbelief that they were being forced to pay a higher price. The arguing continued and we were forced out of the taxi.
We picked up another taxi, and the conductor let us come on for one price. Davids and I sat in front with the driver as we explained our frustrations to him. The driver had a very different insight. He spoke of the importance of equality, and that if the locals continue to cheat visitors out of their money, it will give a bad name to the country. People traveling to Uganda will only help the economy. Another aspect of the issue is that if prices are kept at a set price, areas such as public transportation will still get tipped for the quality of service. To us, there is little difference between 300 shillings, 500 shillings, or even 2,000 shillings. The difference between those numbers for us is literally less than 50 cents. It is simply the principle of the matter.
Friday seemed to be a day full of these “cheaters” trying to take advantage of us for our money. The entire boat ride on the Nile, Davids was speaking in Lugandan to the operator of the boat that we were on. We had no idea what they were talking about, but Davids told us after that they were charging us 80,000 shillings ($40) for the boat ride, when the set price is 25,000 shillings (about $12). Davids was able to bargain his way to 32,000 shillings for the trip to the source of the Nile. We walked away and went up towards a local market that was on a hill above where the boat launched. Other locals tried to talk us into getting onto their boats so they could give us a tour of the Nile. We told them that we already had gone on a ride. One man had said that he hoped the driver gave us a fair price. When we asked what a fair price was, he told us 85,000 shillings. Davids just began laughing at him as we stared in shock and told him that we paid 32,000 shillings.
Good luck with your business.
On the way back from the Nile, we decided to walk back home instead of taking a taxi. We stopped and took a break because of the beautiful view. I began taking pictures of the landscapes and cows that were grazing in the nearby field. A man out in the distance began walking towards us and as he came closer he told us that we had to pay him for taking pictures of his country. Are you kidding me?! Apparently photography isn’t free anymore either. Of course we didn’t pay him and continued on our way.
I had enough of these cheaters for one day.
The Beast of the Nile
June 25, 2010
We took a boat ride down the River Nile, and went to see its source: where the Nile begins and where Lake Victoria is filled. All of my life I thought, naturally, that the Nile flowed from Egypt, but its true source is in Uganda. The violent current flows north to its final destination in Egypt. On the surface the Nile looks calm and peaceful. In the hot and dry weather of Uganda, it was beyond tempting to jump into the refreshing water. Yet, a beast thrives below the surface.
What is the beast? It is the strong current that is created from the source. As we floated down the Nile, we admired the diverse wildlife: birds, pelicans, snakes, and even a komodo dragon along the rivers edge. The green vegetation grew wild before the area was settled by the British and alligators and crocodiles roamed freely as the kings of this location. Increases in population and development have pushed the crocodiles north. You could see the rolling green hills for miles, and a light breeze cooled us from the heat.
We arrived at a tiny island, right at the source of the Nile. As we looked north, the Nile flowed peacefully, and to our south laid Victoria, the largest fresh water lake in the world. We stepped off of the boat, and knelt at the edge of the water and saw water thrusting from beneath the soil towards the water. Where is this water coming from? As we look out at the water, for about 15 feet the water is completely calm and every few seconds a ring appears about 10 feet in diameter. Beyond the rings that reach the surface from the source below, the current picks up and forces its way downstream.
Down in the depths of the water, are wells, thrusting out water from the crust of our planet. Evidence of the wells is seen by the flowing water from the edge of the land and from the air bubbles that create the rings at the surface. From the wells, comes the violent current, thus creating the deceiving River Nile and revealing the source of the beast.
We took a boat ride down the River Nile, and went to see its source: where the Nile begins and where Lake Victoria is filled. All of my life I thought, naturally, that the Nile flowed from Egypt, but its true source is in Uganda. The violent current flows north to its final destination in Egypt. On the surface the Nile looks calm and peaceful. In the hot and dry weather of Uganda, it was beyond tempting to jump into the refreshing water. Yet, a beast thrives below the surface.
What is the beast? It is the strong current that is created from the source. As we floated down the Nile, we admired the diverse wildlife: birds, pelicans, snakes, and even a komodo dragon along the rivers edge. The green vegetation grew wild before the area was settled by the British and alligators and crocodiles roamed freely as the kings of this location. Increases in population and development have pushed the crocodiles north. You could see the rolling green hills for miles, and a light breeze cooled us from the heat.
We arrived at a tiny island, right at the source of the Nile. As we looked north, the Nile flowed peacefully, and to our south laid Victoria, the largest fresh water lake in the world. We stepped off of the boat, and knelt at the edge of the water and saw water thrusting from beneath the soil towards the water. Where is this water coming from? As we look out at the water, for about 15 feet the water is completely calm and every few seconds a ring appears about 10 feet in diameter. Beyond the rings that reach the surface from the source below, the current picks up and forces its way downstream.
Down in the depths of the water, are wells, thrusting out water from the crust of our planet. Evidence of the wells is seen by the flowing water from the edge of the land and from the air bubbles that create the rings at the surface. From the wells, comes the violent current, thus creating the deceiving River Nile and revealing the source of the beast.
Bats
The glowing yellow-red globe slowly wanes in the sky, and begins to dip below The Pearl’s (
For as far as the eye can see, from the farthest reaches of the west and east, this never ending wave of moving spectacles mask the last light. If one could count, they would say that there are hundreds of thousands of these night-flyers escaping from their daytime home.
When the sun pounds its power on the Earth during the day, these creatures hide and hang from the limbs of the canopy in the deep
Sunday, June 27, 2010
The Children of Busoona Primary School
On Thursday June 24 we visited the Busoona Primary School for an introduction to the Head Master, teachers, and students in the school. We were also going to look at what exactly we would be doing in the classrooms and inspecting the current conditions of the water tanks at the school.
We left our apartment and made our first of many crossings over the Nile and into the center of Jinja. It was incredible seeing the Nile for the first time. You grow up reading of the historic Nile River in text books since 1st grade. To see the forceful beast winding through the green hills of Uganda was a spectacle and surreal moment. It is awfully strange visiting places you grew up hearing about; places that seemed so distance, so far away; nearly untouchable.
We made our way through the center of town and onto the road that leads to Busoona Primary. As we left the center town, the road slimmed down, only able to fit one vehicle. The dust from the roads rose up as thick as the dust bowl. I felt awful for the people walking and biking alongside the road getting caught in a storm of dust coming from the back of the car. As the road continued, the trees grew thicker and only a few clay huts appeared through the trees every now and then.
Children played alongside the streets and at their homes, and as they saw us drive by they would smile and jump in delight yelling “Jambo! Jambo!” Jambo is a tricky translation. It is technically a hello in passing. We would yell jambo back to the kids and they would begin laughing and giggling even harder. In these rural areas, the people (especially the children) have had little to no contact to foreigners. It was very exciting for them to see us driving by.
We have often had our cameras out recording the scenery, and the children would see the cameras and be immediately drawn to them. In most cases, these kids have never seen images of them and have no idea what they look like. As we record driving by, groups of kids run along the car, jumping and laughing trying to get into the shot. We pulled over by a group of kids and I asked them if they would like their picture taken, They all quickly gathered and ushered each other into a group and stood waiting for the camera to snap. You could see the anticipation building in their faces. I took several photos and turned the camera showing them the group shot. I smiled to the smallest girl, about 2 years old wearing a pink dress, and pointed from her to the reproduction in the screen. “Thats you,” I said. Her eyes widened and she turned away running and crying. I think I might have scared her. She wandered back as we were getting into the car and began laughing again yelling “Bye!!!” as we drove off towards Busoona.
We arrived at the school, and it was even farther out on the outskirts. Busoona is a very small school, with about 3 buildings with 3 classrooms in each. They will cram upwards of 200 kids into a classroom that maybe seats 90 comfortably. The school has a total of 1,700 students in grades P1-P7 (similar to our 1st grade -8th grade). Once they complete P7, they go off to high school. The age range at the schools is age 8-14. To put the numbers into perspective, I went through Ashford school, which had pre-k through 8th grade and 600 kids in a school literally 15 times the size of Busoona. Try to imagine the lack of space and quality that there is in the educational environment. The children can barely afford books. They have one notebook and one pencil. They wear no shoes, and walk upwards of 2 miles to school everyday. The government covers their school fees and uniforms, which is a bright yellow dress or shirt. Sanitation is extremely poor, and all of their water tanks are cracked or broken. Gutters are in place which collects water when it rains, which may be 1-2 times per week at the most during the rainy season. The water runs from the gutters and into the water tanks. This is their source of water.
When we pulled into the school, there were many children playing out in the yard outside the classrooms. They all became extremely silent and turned their heads towards us. The car came to a stop, and in my peripherals I saw hundreds of children gathering around the car. Many children hid behind a few trees, and some dared to cautiously walk up towards me, ducking and inspecting us. Other children poured out of the school, and a sea of yellow surrounded us. Out of the short crowd stood one of the teachers, who laughed and smiled as he called to us and greeted us.
I looked towards one little girl who, out of what seemed to be a great amount of bravery, came within a few feet of me. I knelt down and smiled, “Oli Otya (How are you?)?” Her eyes widened, not believing what I had just said, and she began laughing and ran back towards her friends.
We met the Head Master, who was very thankful for our volunteer service, and one of the teachers continued to show us around the school. We were introduced to several classes. As we walked in, all of the children stood up simultaneously and began singing and clapping as they laughed. We asked Davids what they had sung to us, and he said that it was a thank you song. As we left the classroom, we waved to the children and spoke, “Wabale ino,” which means thank you very much.
After visiting the classrooms, we were shown the water tanks. There were 2 tanks: enormous plastic cylinders that stood beside two of the classrooms. There were holes and cracks in the bottom of them, and in one of the tanks the entry point for the water was completely clogged. The gutters that channel the water to the tanks were misaligned and broken. We were shown that we were going to repair the gutters, and the tanks, as well as ordering and installing new tanks at the school. Behind the school, the land slightly slopes downhill towards gardens. We will also be digging channels so that water can flow from the tanks and down to the gardens for irrigation.
Besides working on the tanks and the water system, we will be teaching Basic English to the students. The main key of the lesson will be to share different aspects of the two cultures and to share where we come from. We will also be participating in after school sports and activities. Later in July, we will be spending a morning and evening with a family of one of the students to getting a more intimate grasp on the culture and functions of daily life.
We completed touring the school just as classes had ended and some of the children came up to us. A little girl walked towards Evan, raised her hand and bowed saying hello. We didn't know what to do or how to react. Davids informed us of the split between genders. It is common courtesy for a woman/girl to bow to a man when greeting. Davids said that this custom is slowly declining and that women still bow to their elders as a sign of respect. This was a new introduction to the culture that we had yet to see. Older women tend not to bow, but the children are taught to bow to their elders in every day life. It is a common aspect of their daily interactions.
The first water tank will arrive at 10 a.m. on Monday morning and we will begin installation. We begin teaching on Tuesday. I am excited and nervous all at once to begin teaching, but cannot wait for our project to make headway.
Currently the our work at Busoona is being run through the Tourist Center in Jinja under the direction of Davids, but the incredible news is that Davids is well on his way to founding the Busoona Primary School Project as an official Non-Governmental Organization, which will only increase benefits for the future. The goal is in the years to come to bring solar power for computers and electricity, school supplies, more classrooms, and installing new bathrooms. We have already confirmed our return trip for next summer to continue the work for Busoona, and once the NGO is approved, the project will have its own bank account. With these advancements we will begin fund-raising projects at our Universities for Busoona as well as bringing more volunteers next summer. With more volunteers we also hope to expand our services to other primary schools in the Jinja community.
I will have more updates in more detail on the Busoona Primary School Project.
Mzungu!
In Uganda, white foreigners are called, “Mzungu”. This is in no way a racist or derogatory term. It is simply just a reference and a name. It is not a means of disrespect. I have begun to become very adjusted and comfortable, and have found creative ways to use the term. One day we were driving through town and we passed a group of foreigners. I leaned forward to Davids, pointed, and whispered, “Mzungu!” He broke out in hysteria.
We thought it would be interesting to test out this newly gained sense of humor: a mzungu calling out another mzungu. The locals can’t get enough of it. They laugh and point, and think that it is hilarious, but I don’t think that the mzungu’s find it very funny. We have tried calling out loud to them and all we get is evil stares and disgusted looks. Eh, what they heck. I thought it was funny.
I even tried to pull in a little light humor when bargaining for the bracelets I mentioned earlier. The woman would not give me a fair price at all, and so I jokingly looked to Davids and pointed at myself saying, “Ahhhh, mzungu!”. The woman began laughing, but quickly responded, “No, no. You are a man, and he (Davids) is a man as well. I am a woman, and that is the only difference that God has created in us”.
I replied, “Webale ino nnyabe”. (Thank you very much madam). I was flattered by her kind words, and paid her price for the bracelets.
It has been interesting being a minority. But as Davids says, you will soon no longer be a mzungu, but mutaca (of the soil).
…
…
So this post was for you, fellow Mzungu’s!!!
Translations
I wanted to take some time to share some of the common words and phrases that we have been using.
Ki kati – hello
Oli Oltya? – How are you?
Bulungi – I am well
Siba Bulungi – Have a nice day
Sulu Bulungi – Goodnight
Webale – thank you
Webale Ino – thank you very much
Ssebo – Sir
Nnyabo – madam
Sente Meka – how much does it cost?
Ogambaki – whats up
Tewali – not much
Gyebale – well done
Jambo – hello (in passing)
Neda Bambi – no thank you my good friend
Mutaca – from the soil (as in “I am a local/I grew up in Uganda”)
The one word I wanted to reflect on was “mutaca”. Language is culture. Notice that mutaca means I am from the soil. That is the literal translation, but it actual means that I am a local; a Ugandan. Thus meaning, that I grew up here, and that I am as pure as a plant is from the soil. I believe that this is highly representative of the appreciation that people have for their culture and their land. The language is representative of past and current culture, and I am happy to see that the culture carries through. After being in Uganda, I am not sure that I believe that in America we even have a sense of culture. We have homes, and family. We experience love, lust, hate, terror. But, we feel and speak of all of these emotions and cultural values in a blunt and unemotional way. In the Ugandan language, you can truly see and feel the love and emotion within the translations of the words. The culture is expressed on a whole new level when the language is spoken. I am afraid to go home, realizing that the world that I live in and have known from birth is only lacking in cultural and in values compared to the one that I am becoming submerged into.
TIA: This is Africa
In Africa, Davids speaks of the relevance of time in ones daily life. They say in Africa, “TIA” (This is Africa). In case you were wondering, TIA did not originate in the film Blood Diamond, but is an actual saying. Africans have all the time in the world. It is a very calm and laid back lifestyle and daily tasks are extremely easy going. If you say you are going to do something at 10 a.m., plan on getting to that part of the day by noon. It is the exact opposite of my non-stop lifestyle at home, and I am settling in very nicely to not being pressured by a restricting time line.
The locals (for the most part) highly enjoy your company and conversation. Some of the conversations we have are a bit limited, but it seems to brighten their day when we can say hello and ask how they are doing in their native language. I have enjoyed getting to know new people. I have also tried my best to keep a keen ear when Davids is speaking and interacting with the locals. Just seeing his expressions and tone of voice speaks measures about the people of Africa. There is an enormous amount of appreciation, respect, and etiquette between the people here. Seeing daily interactions is much more fulfilling than the horrible way that people treat each other back at home. Back at home, people think of Africa as having warlords, children wielding guns, and starvation. These things are true, but are not applied to all aspects of the country and culture. America is not exposed to the beautiful culture and kindness of people in Africa (on a general level).
We have too much apathy. We must relearn what we think we know. I tell you, TIA. Absorb what you have learned so far, and learn what TIA truly means.
The Culture of Jinja
Sunday June 27, 2010
Jinja is very populated, having about 120,000 residents. The center of town is a city compared to my hometown Ashford. Yet Jinja is considered rural, being much greener, laid back, and peaceful than the hectic city life in Kampala. I am enjoying Jinja more than I could have ever imagined. The atmosphere is very welcoming. I try and use what little Lugandan I know to try and speak to locals and within moments of speaking we laugh and joke as if we are old friends. The disconnection that people have from one another in American society is heartbreaking. People speak and laugh from their souls here in Africa. There is so much enjoyment in everyday interaction, and the locals seem quite impressed with our attempts at using the native tongue. At home, walking the streets of any city or town, people keep to themselves and are only concerned about themselves. In Africa, people have so little, and live off of bare essentials or less, yet they are the happiest people I ever have met in my life.
It saddens me to think of the enormous amount of ignorance in American culture. Leaving home, people would speak to me as if we are going off to live in the bush. The cities and towns are extremely civilized and even westernized in many aspects here in Uganda. Although, when you get to the outskirts of towns and into more rural areas, the majority of the residents live in clay huts, and shacks made out of slabs of metal and wood. What people in America must understand is that there is extreme poverty in Uganda due to corruption and embezzlement within the government. It is not the peoples fault that the government takes millions that are meant to go towards schools in one town, puts it in a bank account, builds interest on it, and only puts the interest towards the school. The millions then go towards mansions bought in other countries by the leaders of this nation. The corruption is so bad that it has even seeped down to local levels. We have witnessed it first hand, such as people trying to get money out of us for taking photographs or prices being tripled because we are foreign. There no set prices on anything. In most cases, after severe bargaining, we are able to cut our costs by 50% or more.
To go into greater detail about the condition of the economy, let me compare costs between Uganda and America. The other day I was bargaining for a few bracelets in a local shop just to get a taste at it. The set price for one bracelet was 4,000 shillings, which is equivalent to $2. Two dollars for a bracelet is pretty cheap in my mind, but in the Ugandan economy, the seller had actually doubled the price of the item. I ended up bargaining for 3 bracelets which I paid 6,000 shillings for; $3 in American. I went from 1 bracelet for 2 dollars to 3 bracelets for 3 dollars. And the merchant still made an incredible profit. Take a second to let those numbers and figures set in. YEAH, thats what I thought. Shocked, aren't you?
The good news is, the middle class is rising in Uganda, and having the country in the recent spotlight has brought foreigners and is boosting the economy. The next year is huge for Uganda as well, with the upcoming election. President Museveni, who took power by a military coup in 1987, has run the country and brought the deep seeded corruption (financially) to Uganda as well. Although he has been able to bring peace to the country after the evil presidency of Idi Amin (besides Gulu in the North until recently), his hand picked officials have profited off of embezzlement. The election in the next year could mean many changes for Uganda. Until then, we will just have to wait and see what happens.
The structure of Jinja itself is quite simple. The center of town is made up of streets that branch off of Main Street. It is relatively small and is made up of banks, restaurants, supermarkets, local market stands and arts and crafts shops. Our lovely host, the Tourist Center, is also located in Jinja center. Once you leave the center of town, there are only 4 roads in Jinja. One of those roads goes to Kampala, the other to Kenya, and the others go towards 2 other districts in Uganda. Once you get out of the town center is when you touch upon the more rural areas of the country.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Photos from Uganda
First Night
Davids Mytalia
Children of Busoona
Children of the Nile
Children at an Orphanage
The Road to Jinja
Thursday June 24
Jinja, Uganda
11:08 p.m.
The Road to Jinja – on Wednesday June 23
The journey out of Kampala and into Jinja was another shift in perspective for Uganda. We moved out of the city and into more rural, impoverished areas. The green of Uganda, a lush landscape, stretches far past the horizon with few mountainous hills. Along the roads, cows and goats graze, but among this beauty are conditions we do not see back at home. Trash fills the gutter systems alongside the roads, and streams of sewage pool and flow alongside the road and into the jungle. The city contains buildings, but as we travel east we see people living in shacks and clay huts, living off of less than bare essentials.
The open fields outside of Kampala slowly turned to the thick Mabira Jungle, and the road we traveled was the only path through this forest. It was a peaceful journey. Davids truly loves his country and spoke of the serenity of the jungle. He is always in his best place when traveling through the quiet and deep green heart of Uganda.
Along the jungle, stood out a local market place where we stopped to buy fruits and vegetables. There were hundreds of poor merchants that riddled the market anticipating every vehicle that came down the road. As we pulled up to the market and began to slow down, the enormous crowd rushed the car and dozens of hands thrust through the open windows. In each pair of hands were fruit, chicken, or water/soda as everyone tried to sell you their products. As we are white tourists, or as Ugandans say ‘mzungo’, we are the immediate target. I was sitting in the front seat looking back at Evan as a woman in the opposite window yelled, “Mzungo! Mzungo! Mzungo!” She immediately grabbed my attention and we stepped out the car to try our hand at bartering. As tourists in the bartering lifestyle in Uganda, the prices start much higher than the locals and we must try to barter down as best as we can. The funny thing about the bartering is, most prices for fruit will start at about 2,000 chillings which is equivalent to the American dollar. For us, the prices seem reasonable when in reality, in a society with unemployment rate of 60% and the average income of a family is less than $100 a month, the prices were raised for us. As strange as it was to barter for only cents, it goes a long way in the Ugandan economy.
As we left the market, we all munched on the freshly cooked plantains which begin with a dull taste that quickly turns very sweet and flavorful. I looked back only to see other vehicles puling up with the mass crowd surrounding them.
We continue through the jungle and made it to Jinja. Home.
Jinja, Uganda
11:08 p.m.
The Road to Jinja – on Wednesday June 23
The journey out of Kampala and into Jinja was another shift in perspective for Uganda. We moved out of the city and into more rural, impoverished areas. The green of Uganda, a lush landscape, stretches far past the horizon with few mountainous hills. Along the roads, cows and goats graze, but among this beauty are conditions we do not see back at home. Trash fills the gutter systems alongside the roads, and streams of sewage pool and flow alongside the road and into the jungle. The city contains buildings, but as we travel east we see people living in shacks and clay huts, living off of less than bare essentials.
The open fields outside of Kampala slowly turned to the thick Mabira Jungle, and the road we traveled was the only path through this forest. It was a peaceful journey. Davids truly loves his country and spoke of the serenity of the jungle. He is always in his best place when traveling through the quiet and deep green heart of Uganda.
Along the jungle, stood out a local market place where we stopped to buy fruits and vegetables. There were hundreds of poor merchants that riddled the market anticipating every vehicle that came down the road. As we pulled up to the market and began to slow down, the enormous crowd rushed the car and dozens of hands thrust through the open windows. In each pair of hands were fruit, chicken, or water/soda as everyone tried to sell you their products. As we are white tourists, or as Ugandans say ‘mzungo’, we are the immediate target. I was sitting in the front seat looking back at Evan as a woman in the opposite window yelled, “Mzungo! Mzungo! Mzungo!” She immediately grabbed my attention and we stepped out the car to try our hand at bartering. As tourists in the bartering lifestyle in Uganda, the prices start much higher than the locals and we must try to barter down as best as we can. The funny thing about the bartering is, most prices for fruit will start at about 2,000 chillings which is equivalent to the American dollar. For us, the prices seem reasonable when in reality, in a society with unemployment rate of 60% and the average income of a family is less than $100 a month, the prices were raised for us. As strange as it was to barter for only cents, it goes a long way in the Ugandan economy.
As we left the market, we all munched on the freshly cooked plantains which begin with a dull taste that quickly turns very sweet and flavorful. I looked back only to see other vehicles puling up with the mass crowd surrounding them.
We continue through the jungle and made it to Jinja. Home.
The First Night: Reflections from the Red Chili Hideaway
Wednesday June 23rd, 2010
1:33 a.m.
Reflections at the Red Chili Hotel Hideaway
Leaving home I had no fears, no expectations. The only thing that felt out of place was the continual goodbyes between friends and family. As I hugged all of my loved ones goodbye, it truly felt as if I would never be seeing them again. I became overcome with this emotion of loss. When leaving to venture the developing world, the uncertainty truly makes you realize the people that you love and the aspects of your life that matter most. I have an emotional and mental connection with all my friends and family and have established a set of the strongest relationships imaginable. By leaving on this journey I feel as if I have been able to connect at an even deeper level with the intensity of the connections that people have with each other. Even though I would be gone for only two months, the uncertainty that I felt within myself had shown through in my goodbyes. .
As we took off from
In
We landed in
Evan, Brendan, and I were joined with our new friends. Davids was significantly taller than I imagined, and his joy and love for
Andrew, a friend of Davids, drove us down the long trek of
Hannah and Davids took us to Bungaloo, a popular barbeque restaurant in
We ended our night settling into the Red Chili Hideaway. We had one room and one bed to ourselves. Outside, you could hear the goats eating the grass as the dogs howled in the distance. The one pig that scavenged the grounds lay fast asleep near the supposedly infamous 3 legged cat.
Under the safety of my mosquito net, a good night’s rest will do for now. It has been lovely
P.S. There is currently a mosquito in the mosquito net around my bed. Shit
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Save Arrival!
Hey Everyone,
This will have to be a quick post.
We have limited internet access and I have not been able to post. For now, I will write up all my posts in a Word document and copy and paste them to the blog whenever we get internet.
Sorry for the inconvenience.
We have spent one night in Kampala so far, and are currently in Jinja about to head to the Busoni Primary School to meet the headmaster and the children.
We have already seen and heard incredible stories. I cannot wait to keep you all updated and tell you all about the amazing people I have met. I will share as soon as possible.
For now, know that the people are warm and welcoming, the food is delicious, the weather is hot, and Uganda is beautiful.
BMF
This will have to be a quick post.
We have limited internet access and I have not been able to post. For now, I will write up all my posts in a Word document and copy and paste them to the blog whenever we get internet.
Sorry for the inconvenience.
We have spent one night in Kampala so far, and are currently in Jinja about to head to the Busoni Primary School to meet the headmaster and the children.
We have already seen and heard incredible stories. I cannot wait to keep you all updated and tell you all about the amazing people I have met. I will share as soon as possible.
For now, know that the people are warm and welcoming, the food is delicious, the weather is hot, and Uganda is beautiful.
BMF
Monday, June 21, 2010
The Time Has Come
And here it is!
It is 1:46 p.m. on Monday June 21, and in just about an hour I leave with Brendan and Evan to board our 7 p.m. flight! We will be arriving in Uganda on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.
The past few days have been filled with mixed emotion and some of the strangest goodbyes I have ever said in my life. For some strange reason, every time I hug a friend or a loved one goodbye it feels like I won't be seeing them for a long time, when in fact it will only be a short 2 months before I return home. Life is all about building and forming new relationships and bonds with those around you. It breaks my heart to have to leave all those behind, but I have never been more excited to travel to a new place and to establish new meaningful relationships.
I know that I would not be where I am today without the people in my life.
Thank you - you know who you are.
B Funk, signing out.
I will post once we are in Uganda, and then the journey begins!
BMF
It is 1:46 p.m. on Monday June 21, and in just about an hour I leave with Brendan and Evan to board our 7 p.m. flight! We will be arriving in Uganda on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.
The past few days have been filled with mixed emotion and some of the strangest goodbyes I have ever said in my life. For some strange reason, every time I hug a friend or a loved one goodbye it feels like I won't be seeing them for a long time, when in fact it will only be a short 2 months before I return home. Life is all about building and forming new relationships and bonds with those around you. It breaks my heart to have to leave all those behind, but I have never been more excited to travel to a new place and to establish new meaningful relationships.
I know that I would not be where I am today without the people in my life.
Thank you - you know who you are.
B Funk, signing out.
I will post once we are in Uganda, and then the journey begins!
BMF
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
E. O Smith High School comes to the Rescue
6 hours + "hell yeah I can change the world" attitude = $1,200 and improving lives in Uganda
Here's to all the students who made it Possible!
(and this is where Oprah chimes in)
Here's to all the students who made it Possible!
(and this is where Oprah chimes in)
I can honestly say that I have had the honor and privilege to work with a one of a kind senior class at E. O. Smith High School who have motivated their entire community to rise over all odds to create opportunity for others and change lives.
As I reached the 2 week landmark until I leave for Uganda, I received disheartening news: an expected $1,000 donation towards the funding of my volunteer trip was no longer available. An old teacher and friend, Kevin Degnan, spoke of this struggle: "Bryan, this is beautiful. This is your struggle. You are being tested, and you will succeed".
Without even thinking, I hopped in my car and drove to my alma mater, E. O. Smith High School. At the beginning of May I helped mentor and took part in an incredible student-run fundraiser for Haiti. These high school students were able to raise over $10,000 for Roots of Development (an organization in Haiti) and Osmopure (a water purification system) in just 8 hours! My intuitions led me to look for support from these inspiring and driven young adults.
After hearing about my situation, what did they do? The leaped into action. Today, on their very last day of high school EVER, they spent every moment connecting one on one with their peers all around the school.
Study halls. Cafeteria. Hallways. Classes. Team meetings. Club meetings. Bus rides. Maybe even bathroom breaks?
They took every means necessary to spread the word to their peers that one small donation would directly be improving lives in Uganda.
Wallets opened, and out came not flies, but dolla' dolla' bills!
The doors of E. O. Smith open at 7:15, and by 10:45 nearly $700 were raised. I received a phone call at 1:30 and was asked to come to the school. I was greeted by the most influential and passionate people I have every met in my life and in their hands held a jar. A jar that contained $1,210.62.
I know that no other high school, or educational institution for a matter of fact, have amounted to the impact that these students have made on the lives of others.
They have climbed mountains, grown to unobtainable heights, and changed lives. They have changed my life and the lives of the children in Uganda will be changed as well.
There are many people in the world that believe that the youth can't make a difference, yet everyday walking within the halls of this high school are 1,300 students ready to prove the doubtful wrong.
Oprah, are you listening?
World - can't you see? These are the stories that need to be heard. The youth that see the good in humanity and act based on what their hearts tell them.
I am beyond thankful to call you my Friends
Brandi Stenglein
Chelsea Flower
Liz Moynihan
Aileen Yang
Caitie Parmelee
Franny D'Antonio
and to all the other students involved and who donated
As I reached the 2 week landmark until I leave for Uganda, I received disheartening news: an expected $1,000 donation towards the funding of my volunteer trip was no longer available. An old teacher and friend, Kevin Degnan, spoke of this struggle: "Bryan, this is beautiful. This is your struggle. You are being tested, and you will succeed".
Without even thinking, I hopped in my car and drove to my alma mater, E. O. Smith High School. At the beginning of May I helped mentor and took part in an incredible student-run fundraiser for Haiti. These high school students were able to raise over $10,000 for Roots of Development (an organization in Haiti) and Osmopure (a water purification system) in just 8 hours! My intuitions led me to look for support from these inspiring and driven young adults.
After hearing about my situation, what did they do? The leaped into action. Today, on their very last day of high school EVER, they spent every moment connecting one on one with their peers all around the school.
Study halls. Cafeteria. Hallways. Classes. Team meetings. Club meetings. Bus rides. Maybe even bathroom breaks?
They took every means necessary to spread the word to their peers that one small donation would directly be improving lives in Uganda.
Wallets opened, and out came not flies, but dolla' dolla' bills!
The doors of E. O. Smith open at 7:15, and by 10:45 nearly $700 were raised. I received a phone call at 1:30 and was asked to come to the school. I was greeted by the most influential and passionate people I have every met in my life and in their hands held a jar. A jar that contained $1,210.62.
I know that no other high school, or educational institution for a matter of fact, have amounted to the impact that these students have made on the lives of others.
They have climbed mountains, grown to unobtainable heights, and changed lives. They have changed my life and the lives of the children in Uganda will be changed as well.
There are many people in the world that believe that the youth can't make a difference, yet everyday walking within the halls of this high school are 1,300 students ready to prove the doubtful wrong.
Oprah, are you listening?
World - can't you see? These are the stories that need to be heard. The youth that see the good in humanity and act based on what their hearts tell them.
I am beyond thankful to call you my Friends
Brandi Stenglein
Chelsea Flower
Liz Moynihan
Aileen Yang
Caitie Parmelee
Franny D'Antonio
and to all the other students involved and who donated
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