Travel Diary by Werner and Angelika Jaksch, April 2008
We visited all projects which UAAH supports and which benefit from our donations. Everywhere we received a warm welcome and we were surprised to find such a large number of children. Prior to our trip, we were not aware of the fact that Ugandan families have, on average, seven children. In addition, almost every family we visited had taken AIDS orphans into their family. It is a matter of course for women to care for children orphaned by AIDS as well as their own children. Due to HIV/AIDS a large proportion of 40 to 50-year-olds is missing in the Ugandan population. The over 65’s constitute a mere 4% of the population! Out of a total population of 28 million, 16 million are children under the age of 15, of which 1 million are orphaned by AIDS. Infant and child mortality rate is still 16% although there has been improvement over recent years thanks to improved nutrition through milk. Fresh milk has reduced protein deficiency. However, few families can afford to buy meat and fish.
Prior to our visit, we were unaware that Uganda is such a beautiful and fertile country – The GARDEN of EDEN. Nevertheless, people suffer from nutritional deficiencies, particularly protein deficiency, and illness’ associated with this. A large proportion of the population lives on plantaines – banana-like fruit, sweet corn, rice, potatoes, fruit, vegetables and peanuts. Almost every family has a small patch of land to grow crops. The fertile volcanic soil and the favourable climate produce good harvests.
The consequences of Idi Amin’s reign of terror are still felt. The population is grateful for “peace” in their country and accepts the government of president Museveni, even if corruption is widespread. Progress is noticeable. We were able to recognise differences in comparison to the travel reports from previous years of our daughter Anna and our son Stefan.
On our arrival in Kampala on 1st April, we were greeted by Vincent and Mary. Both were able to attend university thanks to our support (Mary will graduate this summer. She has been studying Computer Science at Makerere University. Vincent was proud to show us his office. He sells properties (with a focus on energy saving houses) and insurances.
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In order to obtain an overview of what can be bought in the capital Kampala and how prices compare to European prices, we stayed in Kampala for two days.
We continued our journey from there on the 4th of April by public bus to Mbarara (south-west of Kampala) to visit Florence (as you know, the idea for UAAH originated with Florence, who went to school with Anna Jaksch and Lisa Warth in the United Kingdom). Florence studied food technology with the financial assistance of UAAH and has been working at the University of Mbarara for several years. She is planning her doctorate and has moved with her young daughter Lisa to a house for which she is now paying back the mortgage. She accompanied us with Lisa to Fort Portal the next day (5.4.) were we were welcomed by Father Fred and Father Hilary. That evening, we met the Bishop of the Diocese of Fort Portal and his very interesting guests from the United States.
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Visit of the Boma group of FOCAV, Sunday 6 April 2008 with Father Hilary
Children greeted and instantly surrounded us. Mama Teddy, who was critically ill last year, greeted us warmly and thankfully. Her hospital bill was covered by donations.
The exterior walls of the Kindergarten are now plastered and an office has been divided off. There are now benches for the school. We were shown around the kindergarten and assured that the primary school children had no difficulties in school and were receiving very good grades. The children danced and sang “welocome” for us. We thanked them and were given gifts: 2 baskets and a large flower made of fruits.
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exchanging gifts |
...a flower made of fruits |
We distributed pencils and sweets and two manually rechargeable torches. We promised to make sure that each of the 30 families will receive a torch. The women told us about their everyday life; the lack of funds for tuition fees, the water shortage and the lack of income sources due to insufficient qualifications. They wish to be trained in sewing school uniforms. Families cannot afford connection to the local water supply. We promised to look into this situation. The construction of the kindergarten also requires additional funds. The teachers, Regina and Rose, demonstrated the English skills of their students. Teaching materials are attached to the walls of the kindergarten. Paper and pens are scarce due to tight funding.
With 15 Euros per month per child, UAAH meets the costs of school uniforms, meals in kindergarten and schools, medical care as well as the cost of learning materials. Many of the 30 AIDS widows are HIV positive and need medical care. 55 AIDS orphans are cared for together with the women’s own children. The children urgently need new clothes. The parcel with T-shirts from Germany was greatly anticipated.
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The Nazareth Kindergarten consists of two buildings. The upper wooden one was built first . Later, a second building was added and equipped with tables, benches and black boards. One room was divided off by a door and is being used as an office. The children are divided by age. Since the beginning of the last school year the first year of kindergarten leavers have been attending primary school and to the pride of their teacher, are performing better than children from other kindergartens. The kindergarten also admits children from outside the group and as these children pay tuition fees, this generates a source of income. All families of Boma/Focav have a small parcel of land around their house where they grow plantaines, vegetables, corn, and potatoes for their own use. They do not have any other sources of income, but now some are keen to learn to sew in order to make school uniforms - instead of buying them,and at the same time to increase income. We reported on the Jatropha plant, and solar energy. We discussed the cross-linking of the public water supply in Fort Portal and planned an inspection.
Fort Portal
Between the 7th and 12th of April, we explored Fort Portal and had a number of meetings. At the hospital, which is part of the Parish of Virika (Father Fred), Angelika Jaksch made enquiries about the training of nurses. Entry requirements are above average GCSEs in the natural sciences. The hospital only trains the number of nurses that it can employ. The qualification takes two-and a-half years and costs around three million Ugandan Shilling (around 1200 Euros), which is beyond the reach of most families.
Werner and Angelika Jaksch discovered a new gas/electrical cooker at the Parish of Virika. As the girls there did not know how to use it, Angelika taught them how to cook and conveyed elementary rules of hygiene and food storage. Angelika went shopping with Father Emanuel, bought kitchen utensils, pots and pans, basic ingredients such as baking powder, dry
Kiyombya
On the 9th of April, the second FOCAV project in Kiyombya was visited with Father Hilary. After an adventurous 90 minute journey (impossible without an all-wheel drive) we were met on the way by children and members of the project. We were proudly shown the fields of peanuts, beans, sweet corn, pineapple and of course bananas. We saw our first pig and huge mango and avocado trees. It was hot and an amazing spectacle of clouds announced rain. Everything was prepared outside for our arrival but the rain was quicker so we fled into the house of Immaculate Kato. She introduced all project leaders to us and the children sang and danced for us. Gifts were presented: sugar cane, potatoes, eggs, avocados, pineapple, etc.
This group has three male members. One is responsible for bee keeping, the second for the pottery and the third for the fish farm. The group asked for further UAAH support with the tuition fees for the 55 Aids orphans who are living with the families. The honey project is new and is expected to be further expanded. The pig breeding is planned to be expanded as there is much demand and it is a promising source of income.
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arrival in Kiyombya |
field in Kiyombya |
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handmade pots |
piglets |
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As the rain stopped, we were able to take a tour. Through hilly and soaked terrain, we reached the bees which are kept in straw baskets. We also discovered how and where the handmade pots are burnt. The clay for pottery is skimmed off the pond water which then allows fish to breed in it. A a fish was quickly caught and shown to us. We had to hurry to travel back as darkness was falling and more rain announced itself. With our gifts we embarked on an adventurous return journey as the roads had become very slippery following the rain.
On 12th April, we visited the last of the three FOCAV projects, Mabira, with Father Hilary. He had borrowed Father Fred's four- wheel drive, and we realised quickly that we would need it. The roads had become enormously slippery following the rainfalls. Transport costs are a problem – petrol prices are comparable to those in Germany. At the beginning of every trip, we paid the bill at the petrol station. The journey took more than two hours.
We were greeted with singing and dancing by the group. In front of Madame Anna’s house, a roof was made of palm leaves to protect us from the sun. The women were wearing their festive garments but many of the children had no shoes and only humble clothing. Students were wearing their school uniforms with white socks (!!). Children first danced the local dances, but the women soon joined in full of spirit. They told us about the pig breeding and their different crops, of which they made us generous gifts: aubergines, pineapples, sugar cane, potatoes, cassava, peanuts, a woven sleeping mat, a table cloth with napkins – it was simply overwhelming.
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We promised to return to appraise the progress. We were asked to provide funds to cover the tuition fees for secondary schooling. At present, two out of the 49 orphans are funded by UAAH to attend secondary school. All children in Mabira attend a private school as the next state school is too far away. It costs UAAH around 15 Euros per child to attend a kindergarten or primary school. The cost for secondary school tuition is 30-50 Euros per month, depending
Ihunga / Mahyoro
On Monday 14th April, Father Hilary accompanied us to Ihunga and Mahyoro. On the way, we were invited for lunch by Father Peregrine and exchanged experiences with two German women who are working there. We were already expected at Father Fred’s house in Ihunga as the health unit was to be officially opened the next day.
Tuesday, 15th April. Opening of the Health Unit of Mahyoro.
The building was blessed in a celebratory service with many priests and handed over to the community. Many patients were already waiting to be treated. A nurse wason duty throughout the day and the night. Although the health unit is not yet completed, work there has already begun. Mattresses were brought in quickly so that patients cold be treated on the spot. The health unit was constructed thanks to a Dutch donation. UAAH donated the money for the equipment. Part of the equipment is the water connection to the public water supply of the commune Mahyoro, as well as a solar system to provide electricity, the furnishings - including a small laboratory, and finally the salary for a nurse and assistant nurse for the first year.
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Lunch for the attending guests was provided at the St. Theresa Vocational School. This school is a project that has been funded by a number of organisations. RENA Italy, Eleonore
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The photos of the school are self explanatory. The kitchen is outdoors, protected by a roof. The students have lunch on the lawn. There is a separate toilet block with a water tap for washing hands and the girls showers comprise mini cabins separated by bamboo matting and each has a yellow plastic bucket for water. A sight worth seeing!
Schools in Uganda cannot be compared to European schools. None of the students own books. The school’s director was overjoyed by the English-language chemistry books which were donated to us by the European School Munich-Perlach. The prospect of receiving sufficient books for each class was overwhelming. Other English language books are also welcome. However, we face the problem of transportation costs. So far, each 20kg packet costs up to 82 Euros. In one parcel we sent a hectograph, a manual duplicator which works with special stencils. In a second packet we sent an electrical and a manual type writer for the school, which were first used in our presence. The secretary was overjoyed by the electrical typewriter with correction tape. We further distributed exercise books and pens, as well as
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Wednesday, 16th April. We visit the Ihunga Womens Group with Father Fred.
Ruth Tumurhairwe is the leader of the group. Although she is HIV positive, she dedicates all her energy to various projects. She is not only leads the women’s group but also the youth group “Ihunga Needy Orphans”, which we later visited. In addition she is primary school teacher and teaches a class of 114 students. The women’s group was able to generate income sources with the help of UAAH. and the construction of a corn mill has given them a new perspective in life. These ideas were integrated in village life and over time, each family could afford to purchase a goat. Now they proudly told us that each family is able to afford to hold a cow which they associate with lower child mortality and better health for their children. With the help of UAAH, they developed a “micro-finance” system. We were shown the room that functions as a bank and learned that members could take out short term loans of up to 6 months and a 2% interest rate.
A joint group building has been erected and let to a nurse as a “pharmacy”. This generates income which will be used to fund the construction of a storage room for the milled corn behind the original building. Storage can improve the prices for the crops.
We were greeted by these 25 women and their children with an overwhelming reception, music, singing and dance. They thanked us for our commitment and Angelika was admitted as an honorary member of the group. These women have only one wish, which is to increase their income in order to fund their children’s education. For the future, they hope that UAAH can help them with the purchase of a new generator for the mill. The old generator only operates at reduced performance. A new generator would cost around 2 million USh, which amounts to approximately 800 Euros. However, the old generator can serve as an advance payment. The women further asked us for help with the purchase of land. Through the acquisition of an additional 3 to 4 hectares they could grow more crops and afford their children’s tuition fees.
Following refreshments in the house, we were asked to go outside to receive our gifts. We were offered fruit vegetables and baskets, and - to our great surprise – a living cow and calf! As a new honorary member, Angelika could return this amazing gift to the group, so to speak as an advance payment for the new generator.
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Visit of the “Ihunga Needy Orphans” group
This group consisting of 45 youths was founded in 2003 with the support of UAAH. to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS. They individually visit families and as a group attend local events, weddings, visit schools and community centres. Here, the uniforms sponsored by UAAH are important. We met in the village shop run by the group where we saw a sewing machine donated by UAAH. Sewing and the village shop are their main source of income. They also
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The group thanked us for the support provided by UAAH and asked us for further support with education, tuition fees and school uniforms, as most of them have grown out of their current uniforms.
Werner and Angelika Jaksch bought sweets for all the children in Ihunga and fabrics as small presents to take back to Germany. They also bought hand-woven baskets, and decided spontaneously to give Ruth the money for the school uniform T-Shirts in cash.
The group is constantly changing, some of the youths have started their own families, others are planning it. For all of them, the wish for a good education is a priority. As the school in Mahyoro is relatively close, they asked for support with the tuition fees to enable them to be educated there. We asked Ruth to provide us with more information to evaluate the possibility of providing support.
Miscellaneous
In addition to our visits to the projects, we visited Kibale National Park and participated in a chimpanzee trekking. In addition to seeing chimpanzees and other apes, we experienced the rain forest. We also visited the Queen Elizabeth National Park where we saw elephants, buffaloes, antelopes, hippos, crocodiles, eagles, storks, pelicans, and many other animals. We attended a graduation ceremony at a technical college and a church dedication. We visited the Royal Palace in Fort Portal and we attended the church service every Sunday ( two hours long, which would be unimaginable in Germany).
It will take a long time to process all the impressions and insights that we have gained during our journey and we will remain connected in a special way with this country.