Rotary in Gulu

 

A few weeks ago, Aid Africa's Executive Director and Rotarian Peter Keller asked the Rotary Club of Gulu to identify one broken borehole well that Aid Africa could pay for and rehabilitate.  The Gulu Rotarians chose the broken borehole at the bus park.  The Gulu Bus Park is like Grande Central Station of Gulu.  It is where all the buses from Sudan and Kampala arrive and leave.  It is a happening place, and all those people coming and going need clean water to drink!  So it was a very good and necessary borehole to fix!  In this picture, we have the staff of Aid Africa and Gulu Rotarians coming together to the aid of the town's people. 

 

This is the staff of Aid Africa.  From left, Water Project Manager and Rotarian George Ovola, Water Engineer Opiyo, and Water Engineer Bam. 

 

The Manager of the Bus park was SO happy we were fixing his borehole.  He had been trying to get it fixed for a long time, but the funds were not there.  It is a project that costs about $100 US dollars.  Imagine, $100, can bring so much joy to an area!  That is what having clean water is all about. 

 

 

It is almost fixed and the water is running clear.

 

Another group picture with the fully functional borehole well.  Thanks to Aid Africa and Gulu Rotarians, the Gulu Bus Park has clean water for all the travelers coming and going.

 

President of the Gulu Rotary Club, Dr Gerald Obai, is talking to the children of Gulu Primary School.  The Rotarians across the world are having a three day program called "Rotarians at Work".  We are at work making the world a better place through service.  They visited 3 Primary schools (Layibi, Gulu Prison, Gulu Primary) and did compound cleaning, rubbish collection, latrine cleaning and wash tank construction.  We also gave individual class lessons on brushing teeth, clipping nails, and menstruation hygiene.

 

Rotarians George, Thomas and Joyce and Aid Africa volunteer,Kyla, are marking lengths of rope as a measure of how far apart to dig the holes we are going to plant the trees in. We are at the University of Gulu.

 

Rotarian Dan Derrick is explaining how to plant the trees, although we never really planted any trees.  We just dug the holes; lots and lots of holes.  To clarify, they dug the holes; not me.  I wore slippers, so was not in proper attire to dig, and it was too hot. I cheered them on though, and supported them with water when they needed it. Kind of :)

 

We are wrapping things up, laughing and just having a good time in fellowship like we always do with the Rotary Club of Gulu.

Aid Africa Tree Distribution

 

Aid Africa does more than distribute environmentally friendly stoves.  We have a nursery where we grow fruit trees to distribute to the villages.  We grow avocado, jack fruit, orange, citrus, papaya, and others.  Aid Africa is an NGO that is not going to pull out of Northern Uganda as the war trauma ends, like so many other NGOs have already done. It will take years and years for us to install these special stoves in every village, and we will be making Northern Uganda even greener with all the fruit trees we are planting.

 

George Ovola, Aid Africa Human Resource Manager and Water Project Manager, is explaining how to plant the trees and how to take care of them as they grow bigger.  He explains how we will be handing them out.  He is a good communicator, and the people like him. We are in the village of Bobi.

 

Each person called will get two citrus trees and a jack fruit tree.  The orange is an example of what the tree will produce if they take good care of it.

 

Lilly, on the right, is giving a tree to one of the villagers.  She is Aid Africa's Tree Site Manager.

 

George was doing all the talking and explaining to these men.  The women are sitting opposite them along the hut wall.  I knew it would be the women who would plant and care for the trees, so I tried to get George to turn around and talk to the women, but he stayed facing the men.  Maybe it had something to do with respect.  I just hope the women saw his demonstration...

 

When their name is called, they will come to the van and get their trees.

 

The lady in the back ground was getting 3 trees for herself and 3 trees for another family member.  Her hands are full!  

 

This little child wanted her own tree to plant!  She kept holding out her little hands!

 

We handed out hundreds of trees today.  It was my first tree distribution in the village Bobi.  We made a lot of people happy today.  In a year, they will have fruit for their family to eat. 

I am Lanyero Rhona

 

I have been living in Gulu for quite some time now.  It is time for me to have an Acholi name.  The Sister's of St. Monica came together and gave me a wonderful name.  My new name is "Lanyero Rhona".  Lanyero means "a happy person".  The reason I got this name is I am always making them laugh. I like to eat lunch with them every Sunday afternoon.  I tell them stories about my travels and adventures (the good and the scary), stories about my children growing up (good and bad), and experiences about guys I meet (good, but mostly bad).  I have had a lot of crazy stuff happen to me, so I always have a good story.  One Sister said, "When you aren't here, we talk about the bible and how many Hail Mary's we said today.  When you come, you make us laugh!"   That is a true compliment!

 

Sister Rosemary is the leader of this group of wonderful Sisters.  She has unlimited energy (unless she takes one little benadryl :). She is always thinking of new things to make, recycle, and sell to fund the girls at St Monica. She is always involved in so many acts of service and kindness.  Most of all though, she is full of wisdom and good advice. She has been a real blessing to my life.  Through her spirit, and the love of the other sisters, I am finding that my life is filling with more Peace.  Because of them, my relationship with my Heavenly Father is growing.

No party is complete without a cake!  Sister Betty made my cake, and it was the moistest cake I have ever eaten in Gulu.  (I once wrote a blog about how sweets are not very sweet here and cakes are crumbly and dry).  Well, not this one!  I LOVED it!  And, as you can see, I cut BIG pieces.  Normally, when cake is served here, they are cut into very thin bite size pieces and you just get one!

 

Music and dancing always come together, and the Sister's are no exception!  In fact, these ladies are some of the best dancers I have come across in Northern Uganda!  They can definitely out dance me.  In this picture, there are three volunteers/medical students who are staying at St Monica's for a bit this summer.  I have really enjoyed getting to know them and their sweet spirits.

The Sister's of Saint Monica's are more than just my friends.  They are my family. Since I am far away from my own family, they play an important role in my life.  When I was not well the other day, I went to a bed at St Monica; it is not fun to be sick alone. I felt like I was "home". 

 

This is Chris, another volunteer with St Monica.  He is building an eco toilet;  a toilet where the waste can be turned into fertilizer. I saw one once in Costa Rica.  I can't wait to see it when its complete.

 

Everyone is enjoying the popcorn, cake, soda and wine; the dancing, the music, the stories and the laughs. Thank you Sister's of St. Monica.  I am honored to be "Lanyero Rhona", and your friend.

Pearls of Africa Children's Home

Aid Africa supports an orphanage in Jinja, Uganda.  This was my first time to visit it.  It is called "The Pearls of Africa Children's Home", and I met some real pearls of Africa.  The children were so well kept.  The home was organized and clean.  Everyone was happy and well fed and clothed. Jinja is a lovely tourist town famous for being the source of the River Nile. 

Kyla is teaching the kids how to play jacks. 

These beautiful faces loved having their picture taken, then looking at the results!  

We played football with their new soccer ball.  Peter is in the background taking a picture of every child for documentation purposes. 

Kyla brought some clothes to hand out to everyone.  Her suitcase is now a bit lighter. 

Rossette, on the far right of the group is the lady that started this orphanage many years ago.  She is responsible for the well being of all of these kids.  She has a big family to take care of! 

Rosette, the founder of the orphanage. 

This is probably the amount of laundry she does every day!

This little girl is trying to figure out how this new toy works. 

Kyla's hair is so long she can share it with others!  What a cute photo!  This made the children laugh and laugh.  Everyone wanted to see what they looked like with mzungu hair on their head! 

After a great day in Jinja, we had a wonderful dinner at an Indian Restaurant in Kampala. 

Murchison Falls, Uganda

A trip to Uganda is not complete without a game drive through Murchson Falls.  It is exactly two hours from Gulu.  The giraffes are my favorite; so graceful and beautiful.

This is a water buffalo. I didnt take many picutres because I have been here many times.  We didn't see a lion, and the elephants were far away. 

You can almost cross the Nile on the back of these hippos! 

Most tourists stay at the expensive $189/night Paraa Lodge. They dont know that across the river is a great hide away called "The Red Chili" for $25/night.  It was my first time at the Red Chili, and I loved it. 

This was very brave of Kyla because these warthogs can be VERY aggressive. 

This is the only picutre I have of Peter in Murchison Falls.  We were on the ferry crossing the Nile River on our way to the early morning game drive, after which we headed to Jinja.

A busy month for Aid Africa

A farewell dinner for Kyla.  She has graced our lives for almost two months as a volunteer at Aid Africa.  She reminds me so much of my own daughter Kayla.  I have enjoyed her friendship in a place that can be so isolating and hope she returns again soon. Kyla, you touched many lives while you were here, and I know you were changed by the experience as well.  Wat Ma Beh.

Standing: Lilly, Priscilla, Julie (Board Member in CA), Freda, Rhona and Gloria

Sitting: Peter Keller (Executive Director), Issa, Xavier, George

With the exception of our visitors, Peter and Julie, these are the people I work with on a daily basis at Aid Africa.  Lilly is over the tree nursury.  Freda handles the daily cash expenditures, Issa is manager.  Xavier is the stove project manager.  George is our human resource manager and oversees the water projects. We are missing Jenna, our Peace Corp Volunteer, in the picture. 

After working all day long, it is sometimes a good idea to share some swallowship and fellowship!  We were able to convince Peter to come to BJZ with us for Quiz Night.  Because of him, our team scored very well. Our Team Name was "Bad Ass Stove Makers", and it is a fitting name! Top row is Kyla and Jenna.  Sitting is George, me and Peter.  Peter came the end of April for a month and he brought Kyla, a recent college graduate, with him.  She stayed an extra three weeks. 

Shamz, Jenna and Okello

When Jenna's boyfriend Naimat, known here as Okello, came to Gulu for the first time in January, his heart was touched by the lack of acess to clean water for the people of Gulu.  He returned in May with the pumps and technology that are used in Pakistan.  He believes that drilling a borehole shouldn't cost the $8-$10,000 it currently costs to drill here.  He believes that his pump, from beginning to end, can be drilled and installed for around $500.  I saw it happen.  Now he has to convince the community leaders, private investors and NGOs to bring more pumps from Pakistan.  I believe his dream will come true. 

Most of Aid Africa staff, including Peter Keller, Executive Director, are celebrating the installation of the first Pakistan pump in the village Loyoboo. Notice how the handle is much smaller than the traditional pumps here.  With just a little push, a LOT of water gushes out. 

The first pump is installed and operating.  It still needs the cement base and water catchment area. All the parts for maintenance are above ground for this pump.  It is very easy and low cost to maintain.  There are no casing pipes to remove or replace underground.  This village child is enjoying how EASY it is to get a great amount of water! 

The drilling was done by hand with the help of this pulley.  No large trucks or machines were used.  Okello and Shams had the drill bit designed and made in Gulu.  It pounds right through rock, sand, and the dark red clay.  It runs on man power. 

This is some of the "man power" I was talking about.  Except one thing.  See that person in the green tank with mud all over her pants?  That is our Kyla.  She worked right there next to the men and was never afraid of hard work, sweat, mud and heat.  She was able to save a few frogs here and there.  So I need to correct my comment.  The drill bit works on "man and woman power". Go Kyla!  Now some of you might be asking, "Where is Rhona in this picture?"  Remember, I am the accountant.  I was accounting for things. :) LOL