When I arrived at the home in the morning the boys who were not at school (either due to no school fees or because they have finished their exams for this year) had already started to wash down the walls, as they were mega muddy, preparing the room for painting. We bought a yellowy orange colour for the walls as we thought the dirt wouldn't show up so much on that colour.
Check out some pics!
The roof needed fixing as it had lots of little holes in, causing a leak in the house when it rains.. and when it rains it pelts it down! Solo, one of the boys who is very much in to his DIY, climbed on to the roof and used the putty stuff (I think! They knew what they needed!) which I bought them to fix the roof.
Once we had finished the painting we bought some strong spray to kill the bedbugs which were all over the house and causing problems for the boys at night. Bedbugs are no longer!
Meanwhile, I got talking to some of the dance/drama boys. Dance and drama is a big part of Mydel as it not only gets the youth motivated, united and off the streets but is also a great way of fundraising. The Mydel Crew put on performances to raise money.. they have another 3 bookings up to Christmas! The explained that they have had quite a few problems since my last visit as the group went from about 10 members to now 30+ members and they are struggling to find somewhere to practise. They tried using the tiny office to train but the landlord was not impressed by the noise of youths meeting and dancing. Then their cd radio broke so they had no music and eventually members started dropping off. Also, they said that they are in need of a new costume (I bought them Mydel Crew T-shirts last time) as they have been ruined from their break-dancing on the uneven floors and some had to use the t-shirts as everyday clothes. So, I walked into the market with two of the dance/drama leaders, through the hussle and bussle of the busy people traffic, taxi traffic and bike traffic, standing out like a sore thumb and being reminded that I was a 'muzumgo' every 2mins to buy them a cd/radio. They are sooo happy now! At least now they have the music to train, they just need a place to practise! Apparantly the local social club is 20,000 ugandan shillings per month to rent... that's about 6quid! They said that they tried to save for the rent one month but only managed 800 shillings...
After this Redondo, Solo and I went for another reeeally long walk to another part of town to get a carpet for a good price. At times I had to stay back because as soon as the shop owners see white skin they up the price! Thankfully Redondo wasn't having any of that nonsense so we managed to get a big red carpet for a good price and planted it over the uneven, damaged floor in the home. The mattress' which were in the first room originally were now ruined because it was being laid on this floor every night so we also bought a big mattress to sit on top of the carpet for the boys without a decker.
I also paid their lovely neighbour some money so that the boys can use her toilet as her toilet is so much cleaner than the community long-drops! She has been like a grandmother figure to the boys, keeping an eye on their well-being and the boys completely trust her. She was a big help when Redondo was sick so I am hugely grateful to her.
The boys are sooo happy! Last night we had such a laugh, they couldnt stop smiling and joking around, dropping themselves on to the mattress in excitement! Yaaay! It was so lovely to get to know the boys a bit better and see them happy and relaxed in their own home. They enjoyed a meal which they cooked on the charcoal stove and were completely chuffed saying they never eat this well. Smiles all round!
I sat and played cards which Eunice and some of the boys and noticed one young boy in particular who always worked so hard around the house. His name is Frank, hes about 12years with a charming grin and hes amaaazing at cards! Redondo told me his story and my heart went out to this poor boy...
This is Frank. His dad died in a car crash when he was young and his mum died of AIDS two years later. Frank became an orphan with no-one to look after him so I had no choice but to live on the streets. He approached small cafe's and asked whether he could work for them as a servant in return for some food and he slept in alley-ways and on shop floors.
One of our youngest boys at the home, Prince, came across Frank one day and they became friends. Prince was pleased to find someone as small and as young as him who he could relate to. Prince would come to the Mydel Home and go without food some days so that he could go and take some food to Frank. One day Frank became seriously sick without anyone to care for him and Prince told Redondo. Redondo found Frank trying to sleeping rough and immediately took him back to the home to feed him and give him medication. Once Frank got his strength back he begged Redondo if he could stay in the house, telling him that he was willing to become the house servant if he could just stay there. Redondo saw no other option than to let him stay at the home but was very clear to him that he does not have to be the servant, that he is now equal to the rest of the boys and that everyone pulls their weight. So Frank is now part of the Mydel boys and is soo much happier! He is in desperate need of a sponsor to help pay his school fees so he can start an education. If anyone is interested in sponsoring Frank, 50pounds a term, then please email me at tiarna4jc@hotmail.com
Thank you
Heart you all,
'Madam Tia' xxx
P.S Check out this Goat Invasion!!
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