Continuing Saturday February 25th.............
After going to assess Harriet at The Centre, I jumped out of the taxi at the Cathedral and looked in to visit Rev. Lydia,the vicar. Millie Wobwimi, the Headteacher of Ksbalega Primary was most interested that I talk about Family Planning and so a meeting had been arranged.Rev Lydia wanted me to talk in church on Sunday , but I was worried that the message/ info from a mzungu(white woman) would not be acceptable. She assured me it would be O.K.
I went on to meet the ladies of the Mothers Union who were full of praise and thanks not only for the electric sewing machine Pat and I gave
them last year but they remembered Ann and Ria who had accompanied Pat and me in 2015 and given reading specs and sewing materials. I then asked them for their views on my bringing up the issue of Contraception to an African audience. They seemed to have no issue with me introducing the topic but raised valid points about the suitability in a prayer service with a widely mixed congregation ,(babies , Primary aged children, teenagers,young marrieds through to the elderly) and the importance of having a discussion afterwards. Back to Rev Lydia who was adamant that this discussion take place.
I feel that the time is ripe now to break through the cultural taboos of not speaking about sex, plus the enormous lack of plain biological knowledge of the body.
Unfortunately my time here is limited ,(10 days) and whilst I do not claim to be an expert, I would need time to prepare materials to facilitate an introductory discussion
I have agreed to talk to a group of young married ladies on Monday when we get back from visiting George Byarugaba,'s new school.
Back at Courtview hotel a lively discussion ensued amongst my mzungu friends!
We five plan to visit tomorrow Chobe Lodge in the Game Park for lunch and to see the elephants who have massed at the waterhole there, in this the end of the Dry Season. A bit of relaxation after the knicker making etc!
Saturday, 25 February 2017
SEVENTH INSTALMENT 2017
SATURDAY FEBRUARY2017
Had a very busy Friday !
Prepared two sewing packs for the two sisters who reported late because their father would not afford their uniforms at the beginning of term.
Yasin, the specialist O.T from Katasenya arrived at midday so after lunch we took a taxi to The Centre for the Handicapped and we met Harriet who looked quite dirty.Her teacher Scholastics took me to one side and explained that Harriet had started term full of jiggers in her hands and feet. She came to greet me on her hands and feet and was not using her walking frame. Yasmin measured her up for splints to straighten her feet and suggested exercises to do morning and night.The Dormitory mother did not come to talk about this.
Thursday, 23 February 2017
SIXTH INSTALMENT 2017
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 23rd 2017
Spent this morning writing a letter to the Visa People supporting Bishop George's application for a visa to spend three weeks in Britain just before Easter. Doubt he'll be successful as he's left it so late and visas are very hard to get.
Then Pat and I prepared the girls work ready to sew
Knickers . All the thirty have improved with their sewing, some more than others - some began with no experience of sewing or using their fine motor skills at all but all can do a fair Running Stitch and most have seen on a button and practised hemming.
Then I began preparing for THE EDUCATIONAL TRIP to the Park and am finding that I am going over budget! Transport is expensive and this year we have 46 pupils in P7. We will need 6 minibuses to take 46 pupils,6, teachers(none of whom have visited the Park before) plus Pat and me and a Game Ranger for each minibus . If we pack more pupils into less buses some pupils will have a clear view of the animals . Anyway I have gone ahead and booked both ?buses and he launch trip down the River Nile. As they say out here "God will provide"! Each minibus costs sh.450.000 (about £100) .
The I
Spent this morning writing a letter to the Visa People supporting Bishop George's application for a visa to spend three weeks in Britain just before Easter. Doubt he'll be successful as he's left it so late and visas are very hard to get.
Then Pat and I prepared the girls work ready to sew
Knickers . All the thirty have improved with their sewing, some more than others - some began with no experience of sewing or using their fine motor skills at all but all can do a fair Running Stitch and most have seen on a button and practised hemming.
Then I began preparing for THE EDUCATIONAL TRIP to the Park and am finding that I am going over budget! Transport is expensive and this year we have 46 pupils in P7. We will need 6 minibuses to take 46 pupils,6, teachers(none of whom have visited the Park before) plus Pat and me and a Game Ranger for each minibus . If we pack more pupils into less buses some pupils will have a clear view of the animals . Anyway I have gone ahead and booked both ?buses and he launch trip down the River Nile. As they say out here "God will provide"! Each minibus costs sh.450.000 (about £100) .
The I
Wednesday, 22 February 2017
Monday20th February 2017
FOURTH INSTALMENT
Alfred (in the middle) on his first day at The Christian Brothers
Vocational Technical Institute at Kakooge near Kampala.
He only reached the P6 class at Kabalega so we are pleased there is s group that will accept him with only this qualification , to learn carpentry.
Vocational Technical Institute at Kakooge near Kampala.
He only reached the P6 class at Kabalega so we are pleased there is s group that will accept him with only this qualification , to learn carpentry.
FIFTH INSTALMENT 2017
WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 21 2027
Had s successful morning at Kabalega Primary although I didn't get exactly what I set to achieve which was to see what books each class had at it's disposal Instead Headteacher Millie had asked Teacher Lucy to make an inventory of all the text books in the store - she only did the ones for P7 and there was not one set numbering more than 18!.
What was useful was a long talk with Millie about the School's Development Plan - generally making the whole compound more secure ( hence the shutters). We also talked of the difference the tables and chairs are making and thought it good to concentrate on The Early Years especially P1 whose motor skills would developer better if they had tables and chairs plus equipment like scissors and paint and paper.......
Somehow we got on to the topic of Contraception ( one teacher has already 6 children under the age of 12) and Millie has asked me to attend a Mother's Union meeting to dispel the many myths and lies that abound here about Family Planning.
Pat is being so helpful in preparing the sewing ready for the lessons. We are learning as we go along and after two lessons introducing basic stitching, we start making the knickers this evening. One group is behind so we had planned to give them an extra lesson - but apparently the school will be closed again on Friday - will check because it seems only that The Municipality is having " a party for some teachers,,,". Friday will be busy anyway because the guy from Katalemwa will be coming to assess Harriet at The Centre for the Handicapped.
Had s successful morning at Kabalega Primary although I didn't get exactly what I set to achieve which was to see what books each class had at it's disposal Instead Headteacher Millie had asked Teacher Lucy to make an inventory of all the text books in the store - she only did the ones for P7 and there was not one set numbering more than 18!.
What was useful was a long talk with Millie about the School's Development Plan - generally making the whole compound more secure ( hence the shutters). We also talked of the difference the tables and chairs are making and thought it good to concentrate on The Early Years especially P1 whose motor skills would developer better if they had tables and chairs plus equipment like scissors and paint and paper.......
Somehow we got on to the topic of Contraception ( one teacher has already 6 children under the age of 12) and Millie has asked me to attend a Mother's Union meeting to dispel the many myths and lies that abound here about Family Planning.
Pat is being so helpful in preparing the sewing ready for the lessons. We are learning as we go along and after two lessons introducing basic stitching, we start making the knickers this evening. One group is behind so we had planned to give them an extra lesson - but apparently the school will be closed again on Friday - will check because it seems only that The Municipality is having " a party for some teachers,,,". Friday will be busy anyway because the guy from Katalemwa will be coming to assess Harriet at The Centre for the Handicapped.
Tuesday, 21 February 2017
FOURTH INSTALMENT ii
Some pictures hopefully of the students we are supporting:
Monday, 20 February 2017
Fourth INSTALMENT 2017
TUESDAY FEBRUARY 21st 2017
Had a good night's sleep because the circus has left town!
For the past ten days there was this "Circus" up on the Boma opposite the hotel ,comprising of a couple of rusty rides, a bar selling drinks ,stalls selling food etc and LOUD music playing well past 3am every night. With temperatures into the mid thirties by day it was difficult to get a good night's sleep but now the temperature has gone down to the mid twenties AND THE CIRCUS HAS LEFT TOWN!
I took Alfred Twape to start his two year carpentry course at the Technical Institute a two hours drive away from Masindi,yesterday. He is the one in the middle.
Now we have got our three boys and one girl into school and we are only two weeks into the new term!
The sewing is progressing steadily: you can't believe the difference the tables and chairs are making! It did threaten rain in Masindi yesterday and Pat was worried WHERE she would teach whilst I was travelling back from The Technical Institute. We have been sewing under a gigantic mango tree planted by the Missionaries in 1914. However the rainstorm never materialised.
Next on the agenda is to plan the Educational Trip to Murchison National Park!
Had a good night's sleep because the circus has left town!
For the past ten days there was this "Circus" up on the Boma opposite the hotel ,comprising of a couple of rusty rides, a bar selling drinks ,stalls selling food etc and LOUD music playing well past 3am every night. With temperatures into the mid thirties by day it was difficult to get a good night's sleep but now the temperature has gone down to the mid twenties AND THE CIRCUS HAS LEFT TOWN!
I took Alfred Twape to start his two year carpentry course at the Technical Institute a two hours drive away from Masindi,yesterday. He is the one in the middle.
Now we have got our three boys and one girl into school and we are only two weeks into the new term!
The sewing is progressing steadily: you can't believe the difference the tables and chairs are making! It did threaten rain in Masindi yesterday and Pat was worried WHERE she would teach whilst I was travelling back from The Technical Institute. We have been sewing under a gigantic mango tree planted by the Missionaries in 1914. However the rainstorm never materialised.
Next on the agenda is to plan the Educational Trip to Murchison National Park!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)