Keeping Girls in School

Practicing how to use the kits

It was a bonding of sisters. All the P4, P5, P6, the female teachers and the school secretary gathered in a classroom during break time. Nurse Olivia and Betty started a frank discussion on menstruation: what it is and  why we get it.  Then we talked about what to do once it happens.  Betty shared her story with the girls and told them that many girls stopped going to school once this happens to them, but that women can still go to work and school.  We  showed them the DaysforGirls hygiene kits and how to use them. The kits are designed to allow girls to attend school everyday. See their website for more information on this amazing organization.  Each table of girls received a kit to explore and try out.  We laughed and clapped as the girls successfully demonstrated  how the kits should be used.

Olivia talking to the girls

Afterwards all the P6 girls received a  kit and the other girls were told to come talk to teacher  Betty or Hawa, the school secretary when then needed a it.  Betty and Olivia encouraged the girls to  talk to their parents about what they learned.  Betty also plans to talk to the parents next week when they are gathered for the celebration the Gate City Church  team will hold here at ROA.

P6 Girls With their kits

Everyone was so  grateful for the kits. I can’t thank enough,  the ladies of Grace Lutheran church, especially Charlene Farwell who organized the project,  and all those who donated  time, materials  and money. 

If any sewers out there would like more information on how to make these kits, let me know at karla@hands4uganda.org.

It's not just the students we are helping

Betty the ROA Seamstress. The room she sews in also serves as her
 bedroom. It is  maybe 8 by 10.

A little over 2 years ago, funded by the Juneau Alaska Rotary club, a sewing project was initiated for some of the moms at ROA school. The goal was to  give the moms skills to earn a living. We bought sewing machines, hired an instructor  and supplies purchased supplies.  The first project  to teach the ladies to make school uniforms.   Today, one of the women, Betty,  is using her acquired skill to make ALL the  uniforms for ROA children. She earns a set fee for each piece she makes.  She also takes in business from other schools from time to time. I asked her how sewing  has helped her.  She is the sole supporter of her  2 children who both attend Rock of Ages. She told me that  her life has been greatly improved. She can now feed and clothe her children as well as  contribute to school expenses for her children.   This mild mannered, gentle lady was so  grateful for this opportunity.

These dresses are for the older girls. They take about 4 hours to make,

These dresses for the smaller girls take about 7-8 hours. 

As a side note, the parents pay about 8 dollars for the children’s uniforms.  They are not covered by sponsorship money. This and other miscellaneous expenses  ( ex. each student must buy a ream of paper) help foster some responsibility for their child’s education. Betty gets a little over a dollar per  piece.  A boys shirt and shorts count as two pieces.  The school makes no money on the uniforms.  

Betty did not stop smiling. She spoke as much English as I did Lugandan. And we both laughed at our inadequacies.

Betty's son was playing with this innovative car in the door yard. 

Look at his Smile!

This is a story of the love  of one family reaching around the world to touch a boy and his family.

Just 4 weeks ago I wrote about Enoch's  fall from a mango tree. (click on link read about more about his ordeal)  He had  broken one leg and one arm and was languishing, hopeless,  with little more than pain killers in Jinjia Main hospital.  With the help of  the family that pays his school fees at ROA, surgery was performed  to set his bones. Here he after his visit with the  doctor on Friday.  His smile says it all!

Olivia, the nurse who has been instrumental in his care reports: "His doctor asked  Enoch to start bearing some weight on the leg with the help of crutches. He was given wooden crutches yesterday to start walking a bit, short distances for a start. We cautioned him to be so careful whilst at home because their home has no smooth surface or ground like you know. He was so excited to be able to start walking again thanks to you. He was also asked to put less weight on the arm that was operated on while using the crutches.  He had no new complaint.

His family sends greetings and blessings. "

Enoch will be back in school next term, which starts at the end of May.  

Handprints - Tuesday March 11

Today  we spent the morning making hand prints of all  nursery students: Baby Class, Middle Class and Top Class, about 95 students. The children were  intrigued with the process and the print that their hands made.  Small hands, large hands, long fingers, short fingers, slender fingers, fat chubby fingers: I was reminded how unique each of these little people are, such precious individuals  as I watched child make their print. 

Karen also read “Chicka, Chicka,  Boom,  Boom”  to each class and they all loudly chimed in.  This is story about the alphabet that crosses cultural  boundaries.  Karen knows it by heart!

Karen  was able to meet with the parents of some of her sponsored children and give them gifts and hear their stories. A  wonderful perk of sponsors who come to visit! Many, many times  these people tell us, “there is no way I can  ever repay you, but we will ask God to bless you.” 

It is another hot, hot day here in Uganda. It has been in the 90’s all week and  the Ugandans tell us , “even for us, it’s hot”.

Tuesday, March 10th - A busy Day

Baby  Class 

A busy day at Rick of Ages. Karen spent the morning with the nursery classes. Today  she covered opposites and colors using story books she brought and of course she lead songs with accompanying hand actions.  I have never seen Karen in her professional role, but her 30+ years’ experience teaching pre-school is evident. She reports that she is hugely impressed with the 3 teachers  she has been working with and observes that  they are good teachers.

Pastor Jimmy also came today (he comes every Tuesday) to  work with the nursery class. Karen says it was fun to watch him relate to the kids as talked  to the kids about God’s creation. I was thrilled to see he uses the children’s bibles we purchased for the purchased for the school a couple of years back.  He told me they are a great resource for him.

I spent most of morning with Betty and Olivia as they called in parents to discuss various medical

Olivia with Elvis. He has serious, chronic infections
in one of his ears. He has trouble hearing,

issues and treatment options for   chronic ear infections, syphilis, and other ills. A couple of children are losing their hearing.  Olivia, our school nurse patiently explained they need to keep up with the medicine and go back for follow ups. She told me that often the parents are not sure that modern medicine really works so they are not diligent about taking the needed medicine. In the case of the dad who came in about  potential syphilis, she arranged for the whole family to be tested and told him we would then figure out where to go from there. They will go to St. Francis tomorrow. Olivia told me later than many people see syphilis as a curse and are not aware that it is treatable.

Betty and I  also spoke with a mom who’s  child attends ROA.  The child’s sponsor sent some money  for the family and Betty asked her what she needed. This mom makes sumbusa,  little triangular shaped pies filled with onions and peas that she sells for 100 shillings (about 3 cents) during school breaks. They go quite fast.  She also sells them in the market. She asked for funds to buy inventory so she can grow her business.  Currently a vendor extends her credit for the  flour, peas, onions an oil she needs to make the pies. Once +she sells them she pays the vendor and the keeps the rest. She wanted to have enough inventory so she  buy whole sale and replenish her stock as needed.  There was enough money to also buy a small table and a new  fuel efficient charcoal stove. She will now be able to use less charcoal which also cuts down her costs.  It is always a pleasure to help women  grow their businesses.   

First Impressions of ROA

Karen found a friend! 

Play ground! Well used and still functional! Thank you Alaska team!

This Weeks attendance

Karen and Billgates, (His real name). Karen and Gabe sponsor Billgates!

Our small but growing library! The kids are allowed to take books over the weekend and return  in Monday!

2015 School enrollment

Stopped by the school for a short  visit, I love seeing the kids and the progress made during the past year. Some random pictures!

Silly Boys!

:

P6 Students, Cramped into nursery classroom until new building finished. Notice the class clown in the background.

Finishing off the inside of the new building

We arrive

March 6th, 2015

The plane landed on time and we disembarked, shedding clothes as we made the hurried trek to the immigration hall. Although it was 10Pm, the temperature was  75F  and it  was  humid. As we entered the hall,  masked and gloved greeters squirted sanitizer from giant bottles into our hands and herded us into a long labyrinth to await our health check. Six stations were set up ( a special station for families with children) and one  by one nurses scanned the  questionnaires  we had filled out on the plane  and took our temperatures with digital thermometers aimed at our foreheads. A clean bill of health and we were on to the normal immigration process.

All though the hysteria has passed in the US, Uganda is still concerned that the Ebola virus might slip into the country, even though the epi-center is thousands of  miles to the north and  the  threat  there is waning daily.  A stark reminder, that although greatly diminished,  the threat for global contamination is not over. Unlike the US, Uganda has not had  a single case from that outbreak.

After collecting our bags we headed outside (no one  other than workers and passengers are allowed inside the Entebbe terminal) to be warmly greeted by Betty, Abdu and 3 of their children, Moses, Hannah and Abby,  who like children everywhere had grown so tall in the last year!   Lots of hugs, smiles, and laughter! Moses,  with all the determination a nine year can old muster, helped push one of luggage carts to the parking lot.  Such polite, sweet kids. Betty and Abdu are doing a great job.

Another 2-3 hours ride eastward thu Kampala and beyond and  we were in Mbiko.

For me, the night was short. Dawn is breaking, ushered in by those incessant roosters. Everyone else is sleeping but  my internal clock says it is 10PM. A long, but exciting day  awaits. I am blessed and happy to be here.