An easy way to help the women of bigodi

Looking for a unique gift for a birthday, the holidays or an upcoming wedding. What about a beautiful handmade basket or necklace from Uganda. All the proceeds are sent back to Bigodi to assist with community projects. I can ship and I take all major credit cards, paypal, and personal checks. To see pictures of the crafts please visit, www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.146552817211.125216.572152211&l=e88ad1c5c4&type=1. The link is also on the right hand side of this blog, under pictures. If you don't see a color or design that you like do ask, as I have many more pieces and may have just what you're looking for.

The baskets and jewelry are all made by members of the Bigodi Women's Group. This group of 115 members has been working together for 15 years to create beautiful works of art. To read more about this group please visit
www.bigodi-tourism.org/4301.html

I pay the women for the crafts when I order a shipment than all the additional proceeds are sent to the community for community projects. Currently, community leaders are still collecting funds to finish a desperately needed well for the 500 families that live in Bigodi. At the present time, women and children are still walking miles each way daily to get water.

Thank you for your continued support!

Two years and two months

It's hard to belive that I've been back home for two years and two months! It doesn't feel that I've been away from Uganda and my village of Bigodi that long. I think of the friends that I left behind in Bigodi everyday. In the morning when I let my shower run to get hot, I think of my friends and how they still have to walk miles to get water everyday for bathing, cooking, drinking and cleaning. When I drive my car to work, I think of my friends who ride their bikes and walk miles to work and home everyday. I especially think of my friends when I go grocery shopping and I have twenty alies of food to chose from while their choices are whatever they grow in their gardens. When I do to the doctor I think of my friends and their familes members who die from easliy treatable illness. Everytime Uganda comes on the news, I see my friends faces and my desire to return to Uganda/East Africa increases.

During the spring and summer, I was in a contest with Travlocity to win a trip to Tanzania to work on a womens entrpeurnership project. While I was one of the finalists, I was not chosen as one of the four winners. However, thank you all for your amazing support. I know I could not have become a finalist without your support. I ended up 9th based just on the votes which is amazing in a national contest!!!

I appreciate you all supporting my dream of returning to Africa as I know my work is not finished.Please let me know when you see travel and service opportunities here and around the world.

Ugandan Crafts for Sale

Looking for a unique gift for graduation, mother's day or an upcoming wedding. What about a beautiful handmade basket or necklace from Uganda. All the proceeds are sent back to Bigodi to assist with community projects. I can ship and I take all major credit cards, paypal, and personal checks. To see pictures of the crafts please visit, www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=125216&id=572152211&l=e88ad1c5c4. If you don't see a color or design that you like do ask, as I have many more pieces and may have just what you're looking for.

The baskets and jewelry are all made by members of the Bigodi Women's Group. This group of 115 members has been working together for 15 years to create beautiful works of art. To read more about this group please visit
www.bigodi-tourism.org/4301.html

I pay the women for the crafts when I order a shipment than all the additional proceeds are sent to the community for community projects. Currently, community leaders are still collecting funds to finish a desperately needed well for the 500 families that live in Bigodi. At the present time, women and children are still walking miles each way daily to get water.

Thank you for your continued support!

Update

It's still so hard to believe that I have been home 21 months!

Last month Tinka and Michelle (the current UNITE teacher trainer) visited NC from Uganda. Tonay and I were lucky enough to get to have a wonderful visit with Tinka. I was so excited to have these two important men in my life meet each other. Since it was St. Patricks day, we got to take him to a pub for a beer. It was wonderful to catch up on all the news from Bigodi. They will be paving the main road though the village this summer and electricity will be coming as well. I have mixed feelings about the electricity as I'm afraid how it will change life for my friends. But as they say the only constant is change. I know with the possible negative consequences will come lots of amazing positive changes. I sent Tinka back with a suitcase filled to the brim with books and gifts!

I had always hoped that I'd get back to visit within two years. With the two year mark looming ahead in July, it was obvious that I didn't have the funds to go back as soon as I had hoped. However, thanks to a friends recommendation I have applied for a volunteer travel grant though travelocity. While Uganda wasn't on the list there was an amazing program working with women's entrepreneurship in Tanzania. With the help of another Jaycee friend, I made a video and got it posted just in time. In the last week I have moved up so I am now 20th in the voting, which is fantastic! I need to stay in the top 25 to be a finalist.

Please share this link with family and friends. You can vote every 24 hours till May 31st. I really appreciate all the support!
www.volunteerjournals.com/volunteer-travel-grants/entries/experienced-volunteer-tanzina

I hope to be back in East Africa soon!