UgandAshis 2: Mubende Field visit.
Saturday. October 18, 2008
“ We well-o-come you, we well-o-come you! “ Twenty-five kids in the age range of three to fifteen are singing and dancing for me. All are orphans from a small village near Mubende. AIDS has hit very hard in this neighborhood. A very caring grandmother at first took in her own grandchildren and when people started bringing other children she took them in as well. Over the years the village has donated a piece of land so the children can plant and harvest crops as bananas and beans. The land is big enough to feed them for 6 months. The other six months the Rural Health Care Foundation supplements food. There are plans to rent or buy more land so the orphanage can become more self-reliant.
Thirty goats run around the compound as well as many chicken (beautiful local black chicken which I should probably export to my chicken farm in Bahai, Chad to create a new breed). One semi-concrete hut for the girls and a mud one for the boys is where the children sleep. Their school is about 10 kilometer away and all have very few clothes and shoes. Yet the children are smiling and laughing. They are happy that they have a visitor and while I am sat down on a tree trunk the form rows on a rocks. Each child has a rock and I have an opportunity to explain who I am, what I do and why I am visiting. I tell them that I am a doctor and working with Dr Dickson, that we hope to collaborate more closely in the near future and that I will revisit them as often as possible.
I ask them what are their dreams: hands shoot up: school, going to university, playing football for the Cranes (Ugandan soccer team), clothes, shoes, books and notebooks. It reminds me a lot of the refugees in Chad. Despite a seemingly bleak future and present they have dreams and ambitions like any other child. They want to play, go to school, have friends and live their lives. As I had said that I might build a house in Uganda one boy asks me if I can build one in their courtyard. It is easy to make promises and what I can promise is that I will return often and work as hard as I can to inform my friends about how they live. That I can talk about their dreams and ambitions. It is remarkable and touching to see these kids not downtrodden or cast to the side, no proud, beautiful, sweet and full of laughter. Again the world shows me when you lose parents that there is still hope and dreams.
Dreams the Rural Health Foundation makes come true. Starting in 1998 they have amongst other things taken on the care for these orphans. The orphanage is an example how a small group of dedicated people (grandmother and one young lady) can have a huge impact on the lives of many. If then a larger group of people steps up even with minimal resources a maximal outcome can be achieved. That children live in a safe, loving and nourishing environment.
Over the last years the urge to find a semi permanent place to stay has become stronger and stronger. What I looked for was a family of friends that are making a difference by the being the change the want to see in the world. It is very likely the quest is over. In the next few post I hope to tell you more about the RHCF and the people working for it! Namaskar- Ashis
Saturday, 18 October 2008
Tuesday, 14 October 2008
Homecoming
UgandAshis 1: Homecoming
Monday, October 13, 2008.
“ How does a frog move? ” Hop-hop… Twelve kids squatting and hopping. “ And how does a snake go? “ Slither-slither… Slide, slide. Arms and legs move side to side. Here I am at a very special occasion. It is a meeting to decide the bride price according to the Ugandan traditions. I am back in Uganda after 5 years and this time it is possible to dance with the kids.
In 2003 I had been working for Doctors Without Borders in Lira in the Northern part of Uganda. The Lord Resistance Army (LRA), a motley group of child soldiers, sex slaves under the lead of a self proclaimed Christ, Joseph Kony was terrorizing the entire province. Burning of houses, capturing of children, killing, raping, maiming and amputating limbs of civilians was common then. It was the time when a documentary appeared about the children leaving their villages at the end of the afternoon to sleep on the porches of shops in the bigger cities of the province; Lira, Kitgum and Pader. Hundreds of thousands of people could not till their land for fear of being attacked by the LRA. Despite the fact that the area is a fertile one acute hunger and malnutrition of children and adults was rampant. It was a stressful time as the outskirts of Lira were attacked while I was there. In the short month I was in Uganda I helped starting to set up a therapeutic feeding center next to the hospital in Lira.
Even in that short month I came to feel the kindness and easygoing ways of the Ugandans. And in the few short days I am back now I feel it again. Joseph, Dr Dickson, Liz, Willy, Anne, Tyson and everyone I meet treats me as if I am part of the family and have been for years. That feeling of homecoming is pure bliss. It makes it easy to be.
The equator runs through Uganda and it makes it an interesting geographic and social launching pad for the Phoenix Global Humanitarian Foundation. As many countries in Africa there is corruption, social injustice and at the same time there is hope to tackle and address the HIV epidemic and to develop the country economically.
This year I have been traveling in Chad, Gabon, France, India, the USA, Cuba, Mexico, Colombia, the Netherlands and now Uganda. A deep yearning for a home has been surfacing. It may sound strange but in three days in Uganda it may all come together. As a choice of a place to stay and have as a base it looks super. Let us see if over the next 6 weeks this feeling gets stronger. If so I will act on it.
Kids are beautiful all over the world. Yesterday it was so much fun to dance with the small ones. Children are gifts to the world. They are the reason to act and improve our actions in the World. The reason to find a solution for the fuel, food, financial, banking, capitalistic, emotional, and military crises the world is currently facing. Let all our inner child’s unite and let there be a dancing party world wide.
Namaskar, Ashis
Monday, October 13, 2008.
“ How does a frog move? ” Hop-hop… Twelve kids squatting and hopping. “ And how does a snake go? “ Slither-slither… Slide, slide. Arms and legs move side to side. Here I am at a very special occasion. It is a meeting to decide the bride price according to the Ugandan traditions. I am back in Uganda after 5 years and this time it is possible to dance with the kids.
In 2003 I had been working for Doctors Without Borders in Lira in the Northern part of Uganda. The Lord Resistance Army (LRA), a motley group of child soldiers, sex slaves under the lead of a self proclaimed Christ, Joseph Kony was terrorizing the entire province. Burning of houses, capturing of children, killing, raping, maiming and amputating limbs of civilians was common then. It was the time when a documentary appeared about the children leaving their villages at the end of the afternoon to sleep on the porches of shops in the bigger cities of the province; Lira, Kitgum and Pader. Hundreds of thousands of people could not till their land for fear of being attacked by the LRA. Despite the fact that the area is a fertile one acute hunger and malnutrition of children and adults was rampant. It was a stressful time as the outskirts of Lira were attacked while I was there. In the short month I was in Uganda I helped starting to set up a therapeutic feeding center next to the hospital in Lira.
Even in that short month I came to feel the kindness and easygoing ways of the Ugandans. And in the few short days I am back now I feel it again. Joseph, Dr Dickson, Liz, Willy, Anne, Tyson and everyone I meet treats me as if I am part of the family and have been for years. That feeling of homecoming is pure bliss. It makes it easy to be.
The equator runs through Uganda and it makes it an interesting geographic and social launching pad for the Phoenix Global Humanitarian Foundation. As many countries in Africa there is corruption, social injustice and at the same time there is hope to tackle and address the HIV epidemic and to develop the country economically.
This year I have been traveling in Chad, Gabon, France, India, the USA, Cuba, Mexico, Colombia, the Netherlands and now Uganda. A deep yearning for a home has been surfacing. It may sound strange but in three days in Uganda it may all come together. As a choice of a place to stay and have as a base it looks super. Let us see if over the next 6 weeks this feeling gets stronger. If so I will act on it.
Kids are beautiful all over the world. Yesterday it was so much fun to dance with the small ones. Children are gifts to the world. They are the reason to act and improve our actions in the World. The reason to find a solution for the fuel, food, financial, banking, capitalistic, emotional, and military crises the world is currently facing. Let all our inner child’s unite and let there be a dancing party world wide.
Namaskar, Ashis
UgandAshis 1 Homecoming
UgandAshis 1: Homecoming
Monday, October 13, 2008.
“ How does a frog move? ” Hop-hop… Twelve kids squatting and hopping. “ And how does a snake go? “ Slither-slither… Slide, slide. Arms and legs move side to side. Here I am at a very special occasion. It is a meeting to decide the bride price according to the Ugandan traditions. I am back in Uganda after 5 years and this time it is possible to dance with the kids.
In 2003 I had been working for Doctors Without Borders in Lira in the Northern part of Uganda. The Lord Resistance Army (LRA), a motley group of child soldiers, sex slaves under the lead of a self proclaimed Christ, Joseph Kony was terrorizing the entire province. Burning of houses, capturing of children, killing, raping, maiming and amputating limbs of civilians was common then. It was the time when a documentary appeared about the children leaving their villages at the end of the afternoon to sleep on the porches of shops in the bigger cities of the province; Lira, Kitgum and Pader. Hundreds of thousands of people could not till their land for fear of being attacked by the LRA. Despite the fact that the area is a fertile one acute hunger and malnutrition of children and adults was rampant. It was a stressful time as the outskirts of Lira were attacked while I was there. In the short month I was in Uganda I helped starting to set up a therapeutic feeding center next to the hospital in Lira.
Even in that short month I came to feel the kindness and easygoing ways of the Ugandans. And in the few short days I am back now I feel it again. Joseph, Dr Dickson, Liz, Willy, Anne, Tyson and everyone I meet treats me as if I am part of the family and have been for years. That feeling of homecoming is pure bliss. It makes it easy to be.
The equator runs through Uganda and it makes it an interesting geographic and social launching pad for the Phoenix Global Humanitarian Foundation. As many countries in Africa there is corruption, social injustice and at the same time there is hope to tackle and address the HIV epidemic and to develop the country economically.
This year I have been traveling in Chad, Gabon, France, India, the USA, Cuba, Mexico, Colombia, the Netherlands and now Uganda. A deep yearning for a home has been surfacing. It may sound strange but in three days in Uganda it may all come together. As a choice of a place to stay and have as a base it looks super. Let us see if over the next 6 weeks this feeling gets stronger. If so I will act on it.
Kids are beautiful all over the world. Yesterday it was so much fun to dance with the small ones. Children are gifts to the world. They are the reason to act and improve our actions in the World. The reason to find a solution for the fuel, food, financial, banking, capitalistic, emotional, and military crises the world is currently facing. Let all our inner child’s unite and let there be a dancing party world wide.
Namaskar, Ashis
Monday, October 13, 2008.
“ How does a frog move? ” Hop-hop… Twelve kids squatting and hopping. “ And how does a snake go? “ Slither-slither… Slide, slide. Arms and legs move side to side. Here I am at a very special occasion. It is a meeting to decide the bride price according to the Ugandan traditions. I am back in Uganda after 5 years and this time it is possible to dance with the kids.
In 2003 I had been working for Doctors Without Borders in Lira in the Northern part of Uganda. The Lord Resistance Army (LRA), a motley group of child soldiers, sex slaves under the lead of a self proclaimed Christ, Joseph Kony was terrorizing the entire province. Burning of houses, capturing of children, killing, raping, maiming and amputating limbs of civilians was common then. It was the time when a documentary appeared about the children leaving their villages at the end of the afternoon to sleep on the porches of shops in the bigger cities of the province; Lira, Kitgum and Pader. Hundreds of thousands of people could not till their land for fear of being attacked by the LRA. Despite the fact that the area is a fertile one acute hunger and malnutrition of children and adults was rampant. It was a stressful time as the outskirts of Lira were attacked while I was there. In the short month I was in Uganda I helped starting to set up a therapeutic feeding center next to the hospital in Lira.
Even in that short month I came to feel the kindness and easygoing ways of the Ugandans. And in the few short days I am back now I feel it again. Joseph, Dr Dickson, Liz, Willy, Anne, Tyson and everyone I meet treats me as if I am part of the family and have been for years. That feeling of homecoming is pure bliss. It makes it easy to be.
The equator runs through Uganda and it makes it an interesting geographic and social launching pad for the Phoenix Global Humanitarian Foundation. As many countries in Africa there is corruption, social injustice and at the same time there is hope to tackle and address the HIV epidemic and to develop the country economically.
This year I have been traveling in Chad, Gabon, France, India, the USA, Cuba, Mexico, Colombia, the Netherlands and now Uganda. A deep yearning for a home has been surfacing. It may sound strange but in three days in Uganda it may all come together. As a choice of a place to stay and have as a base it looks super. Let us see if over the next 6 weeks this feeling gets stronger. If so I will act on it.
Kids are beautiful all over the world. Yesterday it was so much fun to dance with the small ones. Children are gifts to the world. They are the reason to act and improve our actions in the World. The reason to find a solution for the fuel, food, financial, banking, capitalistic, emotional, and military crises the world is currently facing. Let all our inner child’s unite and let there be a dancing party world wide.
Namaskar, Ashis
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