Rotarians in Uganda

We built a new hut for this woman and her 6 children. 

Our leaders Ben Abe and Ralph Munroe

After a week of service in Ethiopia about 25 Rotarians traveled to Northern Uganda for another week of projects in Gulu, Uganda. After landing in Entebbe airport, it took us a very long 7 1/2 hours to get there. The group stayed at Church Hill Courts this year. When we arrived, we ate a late dinner then fell into bed.  We had an early morning with a busy schedule.

We repaired the roof of this home and built another hut next to it for a woman and her 6 kids. 

Rotary Club of Gulu President Gerald is taking a supervisory roll in the building.

Our first project the next morning was to build a mud hut for a large family who was living in just one small dilapidated hut.  We repaired the roof of her current hut and built a new, larger hut for her big family next to the existing one.  It was a hands on, get dirty kind of project for those who wanted to dig in while others took supervisory rolls or photographed the event.  It was a fun and different experience for everyone involved.  The lady we built the hut for was very appreciative and happy.  It was a great morning.

Wally was one of the hardest working Rotarians there!   

I was photographer.  Sandra is enjoying the buiding experience. 

Group shot!

Next, the group went to Koch Goma Health Center. Sandra and her club have a project here bringing warm water to the birthing facility and she has drastically improved the conditions of the medical center. I wasn't able to stay for the whole project ceremony because I was whisked away to St Jude Orphanage for some other business.

Several computers were brought to Gulu by the Canadian group.  It was a very satisfying night for me when we gave my young friend from St Jude Orphanage, Steven Okello, his very first personal laptop.  He has a small video editing business, but was using and paying for public computers to do his work.  With his own laptop, he can now get serious about building his business and career.  His smile shows just how happy he is.  We changed his life tonight! 

Steven's smile tells the whole story as he holds his "new" laptop computer.

Engineer Francis with his laptop given to him by Carol Tichelman of Canada.

Francis, an engineer and project manager with Frontline Engineering is another very good friend of mine that received his own personal laptop computer.  His life is a touching story of overcoming tribulations and surviving.  If there was anybody that night that deserved this the most, it was Francis.  He cried with joy as he thanked me for nominating him for the gift of his own laptop. You have to understand something.  Having a laptop computer is very difficult to attain for the average citizen of Gulu.  Everyone in America, including young children, have access to a computer, but not in Gulu. Receiving a personal laptop is a HUGE blessing! The computers were only given to individuals who would take care of them, knew how to operate them, and would appreciate and use them. Two other great friends of mine received a computer; Chris (Engineer with Frontline Engineering) and Siong (US Peace Corps Volunteer). A big thank you goes out to the Canadian Rotarians that brought them all the way around the world! 

My family at St Jude's.  Santa, Florence and Jackie. 

My "sister" Brenda :)

These children are standing next to some donated shorts.

Our Rotary group visited St Jude Orphange and brought them clothes, school supplies and donations.  Gulu Rotarian George, of Aid Africa, formed a circle of children around him and danced and sang with them. He had those children laughing, falling down and jumping everywhere!  I have never seen anyone interact with those children like he did.  I was so impressed.  George, you are an amazing man!  On this day, you made some children very happy (and super impressed me!)  Wow!

George is doing his magic! 

Most people dont interact with the kids like this, so it was wonderful to watch them having such fun!

Bags of school supplies and clothes were brought to St Jude's Orphanage. 

I was busy doing one other project.  Paula Bailey, a Hawaii friend of mine, gave The Well of Hope Foundation $500 for the school fees of a nursing student in Gulu, Uganda.  It was no easy task to identify Rina, interview her, gather sufficient documents including bank slips, school fee letter, biography, etc.  Sponsoring someone for school fees is a process.  You can't just hand someone $500 and say "here you go".  It's not safe for them to have that much money in cash, especially a woman. To be responsible to the donor, the money needs to go directly into the bank of the school to ensure payment of the fees and not food, dowry or living expenses. Rina accompanied me to the bank to pay her fees.  She is also in email contact with her donor. 

Rina is in her last semester of Nursing school and has had to struggle so very much to get through these last 3 years.  She is forever grateful to Paula Bailey and the The Well of Hope Foundation for their assistance with her tuition.

On Thursday night we had the Rotary meetiing and a wonderful ceremony and dinner.  Gifts were exchanged and a good time had by all.  After the dinner, we went to BJz Quiz night for an evening of dancing, drinking, laughing and friendship.  I left Friday morning for England to meet my friends Helen Johnson, Tony Sharma and Abiy Negussie for a ceremony with the Ethiopian Ambassador. The rest of the Uganda Rotary group went  to Paraa Resort for Safari.  I really enjoyed my short time in Gulu, although it wasn't long enough!  I will be back though.