In the last five days I have visited 19 schools around Kibale National Park in western Uganda. About half of the schools are currently in our program and the others we wanted to see as comparisons. All but one were primary (elementary) schools.
The conditions vary among the schools but we saw many schools with dirt floors, most did not have widows, many were falling down, some were just pavilions not buildings at all, and a few that had mud and thatch roof structures for classrooms. It was not uncommon to see a class with over 100 students and one teacher! In fact we saw many classes with 150 students. You can see it would be difficult to get any teaching and learning done in a class like that. Desks were in short supply, so often we saw nine students crammed in one bench meant for three. In some classes there were no desks or benches so children sat on the floor. Resources are slim- many school “libraries” were in fact simply a cabinet in the headmaster’s office. There are no computer labs, teacher assistants, playgrounds, very few educational supplies, media centers, school busses, auditoriums, etc...- All things we take for granted in American elementary schools. My task is too train teachers in hands on ways of teaching conservation education which will be a challenge with such large class sizes and limited resources.
The students were wonderful and seem so eager to learn. The older classes asked us questions like “What do we eat in America?”, “Are there blacks there?”, “Can we give them a scholarship?’, “What could we do so they weren’t so poor?” Many of the students walk miles each morning and evening to get to school. At some of the schools, hundreds of students would spill out of their classes and surround us as they had never seen a Mzugna (white person) before.
The Ugandan education system has many challenges facing it. As we toured the schools the headmasters shared with us their concerns that after p4 the number of girl students rapdleiy decreases as students get married early or are kept at home for domestic help.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Monday, February 9, 2009
I now have internet in Bigodi
It's hard to belive but I now have internet in my banda (hut). Seriousley, we don't having running water or electricty but I now have internet!!! I am using a portable wireless modem - it's slow as molass but it's internet access
Information on how to donate to bring water to Bigodi
I have been overwhelmed by the responses of folks who would like to donate to help bring water to this village- thank you so much for your compassion. I am blessed to have such wonderful friends.
Until we get online donations set up- checks be sent to my address Jamilyn Cole, PO Box 733 Fort Portal Uganda. Please make the checks to the KARFED - Kibale Association for Rural and Economic Development. Do write water project in the memo line
If water isn't your things the schools can also use money for school supplies and sports equipment. The children pall with balls made of plastic bags. If anyone wants to ship deflated balls they will be put to good use!
many thanks!
Until we get online donations set up- checks be sent to my address Jamilyn Cole, PO Box 733 Fort Portal Uganda. Please make the checks to the KARFED - Kibale Association for Rural and Economic Development. Do write water project in the memo line
If water isn't your things the schools can also use money for school supplies and sports equipment. The children pall with balls made of plastic bags. If anyone wants to ship deflated balls they will be put to good use!
many thanks!
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Lessons from my first week in Uganda....
1. Technology can fail you no matter where you are- I had a very eloquent blog written that I saved on my jump drive but the computer here in the Internet cafe can't read it as these computers don't have MS 2007!
2. Life goes on- In just the week since I left one of my best friends uncle has been diagnosed with stage 4 brain cancer and my high school best friends first baby was born 6 weeks early! I'm sorry to not be there for these.
3. Hospitality is not just limited to the south- I have been treated with such kindness since I've been here. The family I'm living with has done everything to make me feel at home including giving me a bookshelf for my banda (house) once they saw how many books I had!
4. Potatoes make great gifts- After going and visiting family of the Tinka family that I'm living with their Aunt gave me a sack of potatoes to thank me for my visit. I should have been the one thanking her! People may not have much in the way of material possions but they give what they have and they are truly rich in love.
5. Monkeys are easy to spot with a good guide- On the trip to Bigodi last Weds with Tinka we saw Baboons and black and white columbus monkeys. Then on Friday on a 3 hour guided walk of the Bigodi swamp we saw red columbus monkeys, red tail monkeys, and mackerbee monkeys. They were so playful. I can't wait till I can post pictures.
6. Peanut sauce goes with everything- So peanuts or groundnuts as they are called here are very common. Groundnut sauce is served with nearly every meal and is put over cassava, sweet potatoes, steamed bananas, bread, vegetables, and the list goes on. I've learned if I don't like something, I can just bury it in groundnut sauce and it's fine.
7. There are still great needs here. The first few days were tough as I was adjusting to the extreme poverty all round me. Women and children have to carry water from unsafe distances back to their homes. We have a cisterne at my home but out of 500 in Bigodi we are the only ones! They need just $2100 to bring a pipe system to the village. If you would like to donate please let me know. In addition to un safe water, people are malnourished, school have no resources, and the list goes on.
8. Less is more- less is more in so many ways here. However, I am specially speaking of shampoo. See I bath using two basins, one gallon of hot water, one gallon of cold, and a cup for mixing the two. I am find with having a sponge bath, where I mess up i using two much shampoo and not having enough water to get the shampoo out of my hair.
9. Uganda is a beautiful country- From the mountains to the forest to the wildlife to the lakes, Uganda is a beautiful country.
10. There are drive-thus here-now before you get all worried that KFC and McDonlads have taken over Uganda what I'm taking about is the original drive thu. Here there are charcoal grills set up on the side of the road and as you stop your car. 5 or more people come cover asking if you want a roasted banana, roasted chicken or beef etc...
2. Life goes on- In just the week since I left one of my best friends uncle has been diagnosed with stage 4 brain cancer and my high school best friends first baby was born 6 weeks early! I'm sorry to not be there for these.
3. Hospitality is not just limited to the south- I have been treated with such kindness since I've been here. The family I'm living with has done everything to make me feel at home including giving me a bookshelf for my banda (house) once they saw how many books I had!
4. Potatoes make great gifts- After going and visiting family of the Tinka family that I'm living with their Aunt gave me a sack of potatoes to thank me for my visit. I should have been the one thanking her! People may not have much in the way of material possions but they give what they have and they are truly rich in love.
5. Monkeys are easy to spot with a good guide- On the trip to Bigodi last Weds with Tinka we saw Baboons and black and white columbus monkeys. Then on Friday on a 3 hour guided walk of the Bigodi swamp we saw red columbus monkeys, red tail monkeys, and mackerbee monkeys. They were so playful. I can't wait till I can post pictures.
6. Peanut sauce goes with everything- So peanuts or groundnuts as they are called here are very common. Groundnut sauce is served with nearly every meal and is put over cassava, sweet potatoes, steamed bananas, bread, vegetables, and the list goes on. I've learned if I don't like something, I can just bury it in groundnut sauce and it's fine.
7. There are still great needs here. The first few days were tough as I was adjusting to the extreme poverty all round me. Women and children have to carry water from unsafe distances back to their homes. We have a cisterne at my home but out of 500 in Bigodi we are the only ones! They need just $2100 to bring a pipe system to the village. If you would like to donate please let me know. In addition to un safe water, people are malnourished, school have no resources, and the list goes on.
8. Less is more- less is more in so many ways here. However, I am specially speaking of shampoo. See I bath using two basins, one gallon of hot water, one gallon of cold, and a cup for mixing the two. I am find with having a sponge bath, where I mess up i using two much shampoo and not having enough water to get the shampoo out of my hair.
9. Uganda is a beautiful country- From the mountains to the forest to the wildlife to the lakes, Uganda is a beautiful country.
10. There are drive-thus here-now before you get all worried that KFC and McDonlads have taken over Uganda what I'm taking about is the original drive thu. Here there are charcoal grills set up on the side of the road and as you stop your car. 5 or more people come cover asking if you want a roasted banana, roasted chicken or beef etc...
Monday, February 2, 2009
The first few days...
It's hard to believe that I have been in Uganda 3 full days now! We landed about 8am Sunday morning and it is now Tuesday afternoon about 1:20pm.
Kamapla is a big crazy city and its taking some getting used to- I'm looking forward to getting out to Bigodi and Kibale park. I think the country is more my speed.
The drive from the airport to our hotel took about an hour. The roads were crowed with folks dressed in their finest walking to church. Had lunch at the hotel, naps, than dinner bout 10pm and went back to sleep. Monday we had a wonderful brunch for breakfast in the morning, though many of the items on the buffet are unusual for breakfast by American standards. For example: fried Taplia, baked beans, kidneys, roasted tomatoes. You can see the British influence in Uganda ( it was a British Colony) many places but especially in the food. The baked beans and tomatoes for breakfast reminded me of when I lived in London in '99, they are part of a traditional English breakfast. The assortment of fresh fruits- mango', pineapple, and sweet bananas are just wonderful.
Monday consisted of exchanging money ( the exchange rate is very good right now - we get about 1900 Uganda shillings for the dollar- for a reference point my meals range form 6000-12000; so about $3-6 ), went suvioner shopping at a crafts market, went to the mall to buy school supplies, came back and had lunch with Tinka our UNITE coordinator in Bigodi who I will be living with. In the evening we had a wonderful dinner at Kampala's version of a food court - the tea and fruit tart was amazing. After dinner I came back and had my first Uganda beer at the hotel bar while listening to the band.
Tuesday started out a little rough, I fell getting out of the shower/tub and banged up my arm pretty bad. After another great breakfast, Tinka and I headed out for more shopping. I wish I could fully capture the chaos of Kamapla. We went to two bookstores (I was in heaven ) to get boosk for school and a cookbook for me! We also got my modem and cellphone. I know it's crazy I'm moving to a village with no electricity and running water but I'll have a cellphone and Internet access!
Kamapla is a big crazy city and its taking some getting used to- I'm looking forward to getting out to Bigodi and Kibale park. I think the country is more my speed.
The drive from the airport to our hotel took about an hour. The roads were crowed with folks dressed in their finest walking to church. Had lunch at the hotel, naps, than dinner bout 10pm and went back to sleep. Monday we had a wonderful brunch for breakfast in the morning, though many of the items on the buffet are unusual for breakfast by American standards. For example: fried Taplia, baked beans, kidneys, roasted tomatoes. You can see the British influence in Uganda ( it was a British Colony) many places but especially in the food. The baked beans and tomatoes for breakfast reminded me of when I lived in London in '99, they are part of a traditional English breakfast. The assortment of fresh fruits- mango', pineapple, and sweet bananas are just wonderful.
Monday consisted of exchanging money ( the exchange rate is very good right now - we get about 1900 Uganda shillings for the dollar- for a reference point my meals range form 6000-12000; so about $3-6 ), went suvioner shopping at a crafts market, went to the mall to buy school supplies, came back and had lunch with Tinka our UNITE coordinator in Bigodi who I will be living with. In the evening we had a wonderful dinner at Kampala's version of a food court - the tea and fruit tart was amazing. After dinner I came back and had my first Uganda beer at the hotel bar while listening to the band.
Tuesday started out a little rough, I fell getting out of the shower/tub and banged up my arm pretty bad. After another great breakfast, Tinka and I headed out for more shopping. I wish I could fully capture the chaos of Kamapla. We went to two bookstores (I was in heaven ) to get boosk for school and a cookbook for me! We also got my modem and cellphone. I know it's crazy I'm moving to a village with no electricity and running water but I'll have a cellphone and Internet access!
Highlights so far...
I have figured out how to access the wireless Internet from my room which seems to be faster and allow me to access the blog which the business center did not. It's hard to believe I've been in Uganda for 36 hours- I'm just trying to take it all in.
Highlights so far
1. After a very hectic departure day - of having to drive form Clayton to Richmond to get my visa from Gigi than race to Greensboro to make my plane just getting here feels like an accomplishment.
2. Spending a wonderful day in London (one of my favorite cites)- took a bus tour, ate at a wonderful pub and even had a pint!
3. Getting moved up to first class on the ride from London to Entbee.
4. Having all of my luggage arrive - my travel companions did not.
5. Getting to buy some wonderful souvenirs this morning. The crafts of this country are beautiful.
6. The Immigration officer at the airport getting me " Saying is this your first time to Uganda ? We're going to like you here and you're going to like it here. You are going to make lots of friends. " I hope so ....
7. The hustle and bustle of Kampala. It is a very busy and modern city though Coke is served in glass bottles. There are motor bikes darting everywhere between cars
Highlights so far
1. After a very hectic departure day - of having to drive form Clayton to Richmond to get my visa from Gigi than race to Greensboro to make my plane just getting here feels like an accomplishment.
2. Spending a wonderful day in London (one of my favorite cites)- took a bus tour, ate at a wonderful pub and even had a pint!
3. Getting moved up to first class on the ride from London to Entbee.
4. Having all of my luggage arrive - my travel companions did not.
5. Getting to buy some wonderful souvenirs this morning. The crafts of this country are beautiful.
6. The Immigration officer at the airport getting me " Saying is this your first time to Uganda ? We're going to like you here and you're going to like it here. You are going to make lots of friends. " I hope so ....
7. The hustle and bustle of Kampala. It is a very busy and modern city though Coke is served in glass bottles. There are motor bikes darting everywhere between cars
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Arrived! Well... Sort of
Jamilyn is now in her hotel in Kampala. And even though it's only 2 in the afternoon there, she's ready for bed. (Slacker, anyone?)
My hat's off to her, though. I certainly couldn't survive three flights over two days, an 11-hour layover in London, a ride (cab, motorcycle, or camel?) from Entebbe to Kampala, and still have the where-with-all to find the business center in the hotel and check my email - all without sleep!
So it's three more days in the capital before she's whisked away to her 4-star hut in Bigodi. In the meantime, she'll be lounging in the lap of luxury, sipping pina coladas by the pool, and cursing the dial-up access she has in the hotel. Talk about stone ages!
Fear not, though, she will be online again Tuesday or Wednesday before her 5-hour trek across the country and thus will begin the real adventure. The one she embarked upon three short months ago when deciding she could make a difference in the lives of so many people half-way across the world. We love and admire your courage, Jamilyn. We know you will be amazing, see amazing sights, and do amazing things. Just don't forget the souvenirs! ;)
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