A Trip to Jinja

Tuesday I returned from Jinja! I started my journey Sunday from Entebbe with Robin and her family. We drove through the Mabira rain forest and through Lugazi. Lugazi is the biggest producer of sugar in Uganda. We drove past the tea and sugar fields, then ended up in Jinja 3 hours after leaving Entebbe. They dropped me off and continued to Mbale. I was to meet my friends Julie an Rio in town. I checked into Paradise on the Nile because backpackers was full. I then took a boda boda along the Nile River to Flavours Cafe. Julie and Rio come into Jinja town on the weekends from one of the villages they are teaching at. I met them at Entebbe Backpackers about a month before and enjoyed a day of Botanical Gardens and pizza. I had a mocha and pineapple crumble, the best dessert since I have been here. I returned to my hotel around ten and had the worst sleep. For the price Paradise on the Nile is loud, doesn't have the best view of the river and a mediocre breakfast. I decided to go to Bujagali Falls to rest up.

I took a 30min boda boda ride to Nile River Explorers Backpackers. On the ride we passed on a bumpy road past many little villages set against the beautiful backdrop of red clay dirt and trees. I reached NREB around 10am and reserved a dorm bed for $7. I had the whole dorm to myself! I borrowed a book from the book exchange and read in the sitting area looking over the Nile. As I read The Time Machine by H.G. Wells the Nile River was swooshing over the rocks and birds were calling. NREB has a beach and an outdoor shower looking over the river. I decided to opt out of the shower because the water was cold. I have been spoiled sine being here and have mostly hot showers, even in the village. I continued to read H.G. Wells and tan on the beach, watching the kayakers and swimmers. I swam in the Nile along some very small rapids. You start on the rocks then the rapids take you for a little bit then you float around to the beach.

Later I had dinner and read some more. However, I didn't get a very restful sleep. NREB starts the music around 6pm and doesn't stop until 1am. It was a beautiful location and I would go back and try rafting for the day.

Decided to leave on Tuesday instead of Wednesday and missed the Riots that happened in Kampala on Wednesday. I took a coaster from Jinja to Kampala. The taxi didn't take us all the way to the taxi park so we had to walk all the way from Buganda road to the old taxi park. Then I found a taxi to Entebbe and reached here about 2:30 pm after leaving Jinga around 11am. I took a nap then decided I would eat chapatti for dinner. I walked to Kitooro Market and bought a Chapatti and pineapple for dinner and was satisfied.

They next day I went to work and stayed the night. The language barrier between the two new girls Beatrice and Eve gets a little frustrating. I know they understand some English but just smile at you as if you aren't going to do anything. They are very cute girls but very cheeky. Moses has gained so much weight. Last time I weighed him he was over 7 kilos! He has went from a size 6-9 months to 12-18 months in clothes. Zach is being adopted and we are ready for him to go home. He is crawling rather well and fussing more than anything. Zach's biological father also wants his other son adopted by the same family. They are considering Miracle, but need some tests done before they make a firm decision. Jonathan has been considered by a new organization in Jinja that deals specifically with special needs children. John Mark is gaining more and more everyday and talks all the time. The boys are doing great and are moving to better things.

This will most likely be my last post while I am in Uganda. Thank you for all your support and comments. I have learned a great deal about Ugandan society and how government services work here. I have a better understanding of what will and won't work in a third world country when writing a program. The infrastructure and educational system is vastly different from our own. Implementation of a program would take much longer here and getting people to stay in one place is hard. They need to look for work or go home to vote. Tracking or evaluating the people and the program would take considerable effort.

I am sad to leave all the amazing people that I have worked with and met the past 3months. I am happy to be going home and to share this experience with family, friends and classmates.

Two New Babies!!

Well one isn't quite a baby.

Today Robin, Blessed and I were off to Kampala to pick up two girls from Makerre Community Initiative in Wagenda. M.C.I deals with child rights and doemstic violence. Beatrice (4.5 years) and Eve (1.5 years) are sisters who lived for awhile with their mother but then were transferred to their father and stepmother. The stepmother used Beatrice as a house girl. In Uganda house girls are used for washing, cleaning, cooking, etc. She wasn't beaten very often. However, Eve was beaten for pooping in the bed. The police report also stated that a beating was her daily meal. When we first arrived at M.C.I, Eve was very shy and you noticed how puffy her face was. To me it looked like odema, but her extremities were not puffy at all. She also has a wound on her hand where some blood had pooled and made the top of the hand swollen. So they lanced it and drained the blood. While we were at M.C.I the girls did not talk. Ruth, who is a volunteer with M.C.I, was taking care of them in her home and she made the trip back to Entebbe with us.

We stopped at a restaurant in Kampala and those girls ate matooke, g-nuts, rice and passion juice. They gobbled it all up. When we returned to AcaciaTree the girls got right to playing with toys and talking to eachother. This was the first time in three hours that I had heard either of them talk. They were tickled that there were so many toys to play with. Ruth was shown around the house. She had come to check the place out to make sure it was suitable for the girls. We piled back into the car to drop Ruth off at the taxi park and take the girls to Victoria Medical Services to have a medical examination.

Eve is so puffy in the face but her nutrition is fine. The puffines is most likely due to something with the kidneys. She is 9.3 kg and 73cm tall. Beatrice is also fine weighing in at 15kg and 104cm tall. Beatirce tried to hide behind me as Eve was being examined. So I held her in my lap and she put her arm around my neck.

When we got back from the doctors it was bathing time, then feeding time. Those girls can eat! Beatrice is very pretty and they both look at you with big eyes. It was a little tricky this evening when Beatrice was trying to tell me something in Lugandan, but I really couldn't understand her. I guessed she had to go to the bathroom. I took her in there, sat her on the toilet but didn't hear anything. So I asked Desire to come and ask what Beatrice wanted. By the time Desire got there and asked her she had gotten off the toilet and didn't respond to Desire. Beatrice looked at me as if she needed something else and said something in Lugandan, so I got her a glass of water but she refused. So maybe she just needed to go to the bathroom after all.

Yesterday, Robin's mom asked for my input on how to serve the volunteers better and she gave me insight on how a board of directors work. April, Kendall, and Joe (Robin's mom, brother, and dad) are all on the board of directors for AcaciaTree. I found it helpful and insightful on how they approach the business side of a non-profit. They have much more to think about then an Ecexutive Director and have a plate full of things to do. Not only do they have to be culturally sensitive but they also can't treat employees with kid gloves and let them take advantage. It is always hard in an economy that isn't so much capitalist. I also need to make a medicine chart for the babies so staff know when, how much, and with or without food. If anybody has an idea or knows where I can get a fairly simple one then please post it or email it to me.

John Marks mother also came yesterday to take her baby back. She had come when Robin wasn't home so she had to coem back later. She came back with a fresh set of braids and wanted to see John Mark. She claims to have a job or at least be earning some sort of money and can afford to keep him. She also says that the man she is with now is willing to help with the baby. That was one of the reasons she brought John Mark to us in the first place, because the man she was with didn't want to feed it because it was not his. Hoever, her milk has dried in her breasts and John Mark cannot take cow's milk yet. Robin is trying to avoid having the mother bring him back at one year becasue he is malnourished.

Really this week has been one of the best. Being to go out into the community to see how other organizations work gives me an idea of how to improve upon program ideas and what is feasible for a small organization to handle. I have also realized the resources available to people in Uganda, especially in Entebbe and Kampala. Everytime I turn around there is an organization available to help. The resource guide that is part of The Acacia Project will be beneficial not only for the people in the community that we help but other organizations. AcaciaTree can't really take disabled children, becasue there isn't the funding available to keep up with medical costs. So we had to turn down a boy at M.C.I today. If M.C.I also has this resource guide then they could find a more suitable place for him. Maybe one of the Ministries will have a complete book of registered Community Based Organization and NGO's and other smaller organizations that might not be registered but are heard about through word of mouth. I also read through a Ministry of Health book about Infant Feeding Practices and Feeding Infants with HIV. That is an excellent book to give to every caregiver that we help in the community and once the babies return home. Jessica, if you are reading this make sure that Robin gets more from the Ministry of Health. It would be a great way to reinforce feeding lessons and we can leave something as a refrence.

Yesterday, Robin, April and I were walking through the Kitooro Market. I was holding John Mark. I was holding him facing down so my arms were under his chest. He has a bit of a stuffy nose so he could breath better this way and wasn't fussing. All the Ugandan's at the market were telling me I was holding him wrong, or the men were saying it was their baby. We had a very thin blanket over him to keep the sun off him and because Ugandans would fuss at us if we didn't have him covered because he might get cold, it was 90+ degrees outside. Walking out of the market I saw a woman holding a baby upright facing her with two blankets. One was very heavy. Later Blessed explained that when you don't carry a baby upright with its head held up a bit, then it is dead.

Elections

The incumbent President, Museveni, was announced on Sunday to have won the elections. So there has been amped up soldier patrol. At the market today there were soldiers present and riot officers patroling the streets. I think this is just a precautionary measure. Saturday I was on a Boda Boda going to work and the President's helicopter was landing. It wasn't more than 50ft over head.

Yesterday, Leah, Emily, Blessed and I went to Divine Orphanage in Kitala. Kitala is about half-way in between Kampala and Entebbe. We took a public taxi and walked down a dirt road past a witchcraft shrine that was for many Gods. When we arrived we first looked at the new building being constructed. This would house more children. Then we walked past the Secondary School to Molly's own compound and house. Molly and Aggie (she is only one of two volunteers/staff, who has known Molly since she was a child) gave us a tour of the living quarters for the boys and girls. There are three-four bunk beds in each room where two-three children share a bed. It is very tight quarters. Then there is only one toilet per house for all those children. The childrens ages range from 3-13. The Secondary schoolers help take care of the younger ones and teach them respopnsibility. Then we went on to the playroom and school.

The minute we walked in all the children wanted to touch us and hold our hands. They know very little English, but are learning in the adjacent classroom. All school children in Uganda are taught in English. They want to touch Mzungu hair and hands. They don't want to leave our sides becasue they will tell everyone that they met and touched the Mzungu. We played outside with them and entertained them until nap time.

The orphanage is run by Molly Tabaro. She worked at TASO, which is an HIV/AIDS center, for a little while when she encountered these children being mistreated by their parents. Her heart went out to these children and was trying to figure out a way to help these children survive. She witnessed the paper and stick shelters which were only for sleeping. Molly asked TASO for an advance so she could build one of the families a larger house that had a roof. TASO agreed and Molly helped this one family. However, there were more children to help. So Molly started Divine Orphanage and Secondary School. She has 53 chidlren there with her now. She usess her own money and home to support these children. Most of the children come from the shores of Lake Victoria and some from the same landing site as Moses who is at AcaciaTree.

Molly found Moses at a landing site off of Lake Victoria. At first she thought he was a kitten, but she heard a faint gasp of breath and went in for a closer look. She discovered a baby so thin and malnourished that she thought he wasn't going to make it. So she sought after the mother who was collecting food, and asked when was the last time she had fed him. The mother had only fed Moses in the evening after returning from foraging and to give him a pancake (Ugandan pancakes are dense and bread like). Molly found this unacceptable and took Moses and his mother to the Police so she could get an order to take care of Moses. The Police agreed and Molly took him home. Moses was severly malnourshed and had respiratory problems. This gave Molly concern and she thought that he would not make it through the night. He did and after a little while in Molly's care she thought it best to bring him to AcaciaTree where Robin specializes in malnourished infants.

Moses has gained weight and now has chubby legs and arms. He cannot walk yet, but we have been doing exercises with him. He has been at AcaciaTree for six months now and is ready to move on. We cannot get him adopted yet because there needs to be signatures from both parents (who we cannot find) and a judge has to agree. So he needs to be placed somewhere else.

Molly has also told us that some of the girls that she has come to care for have been raped by their fathers or other men who were entrusted to care for them. This seems to happen frequently here. Robin also had a girl who had been raped by her mothers boyfriend.

If you would like to contact Molly or send her anything you can trust this is not a corrupt organization and all monies or gifts go straight to the care of the children.

Molly Tabaro S.P.
Director
Divine Orphanage and Secondary School
P.O. BOX 55 Baita Ebb, Uganda

Email: mollyorphanage@yahoo.com.uk

Internet has not been working

So this past week has been terrible for internet. Since Presidential elections were this week there has been less power, water, network and internet connection. Museveni is going to win. He has 67% of the vote so far. Today they should announce the winner.

Robin's family (Mother, Father, and Brother) all came from Texas on Tuesday night. So it is a full house at Robin's. Yesterday, Emily, Leah, Nicky, and I went to 4 points for Indian. Which was so delicious! Although medium spice has the same hotness as mild. Funny how that works. Although, I have found in Uganda it all has the same heat level no matter how hot you want it. We also went to the pool and I burned.

I haven't gotten very much done this week. Desire, she is another one of the mama's at AcaciaTree, went home to Kabale to vote. It has been a little hectic without her, but we have managed.

Jonathan hasn't been doing so well on his ARV's. He is throwing up most of his food after taking his medication. So Robin bought some anti-nausea mediaction to see if it would help.

What a day!

(These two pictures are from the slums in Kampala)

Today was pretty good! I had to pick the girls from on Boda Boda. That was pretty fun, especially with Rayah talking the whole way home. Speaking of Boda Boda's I was on my way home from getting take-away and a Boda Boda clipped my arm. A taxi (public transport van) was coming to the shoulder where I was walking and clipped the Boda Boda who clipped my arm and he fell. I am fine, but my arm is a little sore. However, the boda guy was scrapped up and his Boda had a few bits come off. He said he was alright. All the people who were witness to the crash was telling me sorry for the stupid taxi. I was trying to tell them to take care of the Boda guy.

(This is the new baby John Mark, whose mother wanted to abandon).

Anyway, I got matooke and gnut sauce from a take-away restaurant near Kitoro Taxi park. I was going to get some corn on the cob that had been roasted over coals, but I needed a bit more for dinner. I am going to start eating more take-away and street food because it is so much cheaper than eating at the hostel. The hostel has put a Mzungu price on all the food. The matooke and gnuts from Take-away was only 3,000ush when the hostel charges 7,000 for the same meal.

(This is Blessed's son Paul, Jonathan-he has HIV and Down Syndrome, and Moses-with fingers
in mouth)

I drove today!!!

Today I drove on the opposite side of the road!!! There really aren't any rules to follow (I guess I should say they aren't really enforced). It wasn't very scary but a little confusing.

On another note, Robin went for a meeting at the Ministry Health in Kampala. She was given books on the guidelines Uganda wants her to follow for the Malnutrition program. I also need to write a memorandum and update Acacia Tree's project profile, so Robin can give it to the MH and they will give her more material and pamphlets to use and hand out. If we become a malnutrition center recognized by the Ministry of Health then there is a possibilty that we could get free Plumpy Nut to hand out in the community and for our own use.

Other than that, elections are coming up and for the most part are supposed to be peacful but one can never know.

Busy Week

This has been a busy week. It is the first week Robin's girls are back in school, two new volunteers came two days ago, and we got a new baby.

Blessed has been sick most of the week, which sounds like an upper respiratory infection, and needs to rest. So I made my first lunch all by myself. It consisted of home made tortillas, ground beef, rice, passion fruit juice and cabbage with dressing. Everything I made from scratch, even the juice.

Then the two girls, one from Minnesota and the other from Sweden, arrived. They jumped right in. Now there are more people than babies.

Yesterday, happened very fast. When things happen they happen all at once. A young 15 year old mother was sitting outside Robin's compound. Robin had asked her if she needed assistance, but the girl answered no. So Robin sent Blessed and the girl and Blessed talked for a bit. Then her baby was brought in the house and the Local Chair woman was called to handle the sitaution. The teenager had been having a hard time caring for the child although it was not malnourished. She wants Acacia Tree to take it and adopt the boy out. The chair woman, who is sort of a social worker in a way, handles everything from land disputes between land owners and mothers wanting to give their child away. The LC knows Robin's work well and tried to get the story from the girl on who the father is and why she wants to give the child up. The girl was threatened with police if she was found to be lyign to us about the situation.

The next thing I know I was going with Blessed, the LC, the mother and baby on the back of a boda boda to her village on Lake Victoria. We arrived and the village descended on us to tell us what her story was and the hard times she has faced in the month since her delivery. However, the mother did not have the chart of immunization or health card so we waited and she still could not find it. So we left her and the baby in the village so she could return to Robin's the next day with the card.

We took boda bodas to the market where we were to find a woman who was a bit crazy. She lived in the market in a shack that was no wider than my outstreached arms. She and her baby did not sleep there but rather on a slab of concrete infront of a shop. The LC, Blessed, and I went to the Kitoro police post for the market to get them involved since anything could happen. Blessed stayed back with me and I quickly became a distraction and not helpful to the situation. I saw the baby from a distance but left the market just incase. Blessed came back a little bit after I arrived back at Robin's. The baby girl is very tiny amd malnourished. The mother had tried to straighten the baby's hair with a chemical straightner. The mother also doesn't want anyone to take the child, but for the well being of the child she may not have a choice. So we did not ge the child, but the police or the LC of the market might have to steal the child at night and bring the child to us. This sounds horrible but that is what the police suggested. The mother also should not know where Robin lives since there is a chance that the woman could come and attack the compound.

Then last night the teenage mother returned with her son and now Robin has John Mark in her care. He is a very healthy baby, but was going to be dumped in a known baby dumping ground if help was not available to her. She loves her son very much but saw no other alternative.

This was a very good experience for me. I really got to see how Blessed handles these sitauations and the protocol. I also saw that Muzungu's should not be involved in obtaining the babies because this can further antagonize the situation.