I have been struggling with tonsillitis over the past week so the fact that I am here, feeling able to still work is amazing. I even got an allergic reaction to something in the airport which made my skin come up in spots, like the ones you would get from stinging nettles! All over my face, arms and chest! Thanks to Matt staying calm and Mum and Dad praying, the rash went down within half an hour.
The plane journey was amazing - thanks so much Rich! We managed to get all 6 suitcases on without a blink from the staff and it all went so smoothly. We couldn't have asked for more!
It's lovely being here with Matt, especially as I am seeing Africa through new eyes again as I remember how I first felt when I came here. The shock of the completely different lifestyle - mad car drivers who swerve and overtake at any moment, dust everywhere which gets in your eyes and to the back of your throat and being on edge at all times to ensure safety.
When we arrived we went straight on a boda boda (motor bike) into Garden City to show Matt Kampala. Darting in and out of traffic on the back of a random mans motorbike in Kampala is definitely something you have to experience in Uganda - in busy Kampala especially! Holding on in excitement and in hope that you will get off alive! Ha ha! Nothing like being thrown in the deep end!
We then met the staff of Mydel, who were very welcoming and seemingly a lot more mature and committed to their work. It was a long but brilliant meeting, sat in the small run down office in Mengo. Mydel are an organisation which have many projects within it - when I started with Mydel it was just a few children being 'schooled' in a wooden shack and a few children learning how to make paper bead necklaces.
Now, they have an IT project in which youth from the slums come to learn computer skills. 12 of our boys are currently half way through a course there, which they attend during their school holidays.
There is also a Tailoring project for the 'GirlChild' - the girls in the slums who gave birth at a very young age (10+) who need to learn skills such as sewing, bag making and clothes designing, which can enable them to work and gather money for their family. It's a great project which was working very well but now the sewing machines have broken and they have no funds to fix it or buy new ones so the project is at a stand still. The women running it are clearly demoralized by this as their eyes are full with dampened passion. They need about 200pounds to get the project running again. I have told them that our focus is on the Mydel Boys Home but if anyone would like to help this specific project them please get in touch: tiarna4jc@hotmail.com
A group of Americans came in a few years back and built a building for the younger orphans (who were originally being 'schooled' in the wooden shack) called Nansana Home. This is lovely for them but they did not follow up the project with any funding to keep it running or provide any land for sustainability. This has left Mydel in a funny position as they are grateful for a place for the children but are struggling to meet the needs of both the children and the home.They have no income for electricity, food or staff. I have told them that this is a separate project from The Mydel Home and that we cannot fund both projects - all your money is definitely funding the Mydel Home alone. However, I hear their struggle.
Pascal was very clear that he believes it is important to ensure all the boys are being fed and schooled first (which they are) and then we can buy the land to grow food, leaving the building as the final thing to set. I totally agree with him and I'm pleased that our boys have a secure foundation of shelter, food and education with a steady income of donations, which has the potential to be a sustainable project. Pascal stressed that out of 200 organisations only 5 survive more than 2 years. We are coming up to our 4th year now so we must be doing something right!
Check out the pic of the staff trying on their clothes (the very large items donated by some of you). It was great to give them a thank you gift and they loved it!
After the meeting, Redondo and I showed Matt the Home. It was in good condition apart from the dirty, worn walls - which we will be painting today! They have moved the beds around so there is more space in the centre of the bedroom which I am really happy with. It looks very homely with their photos and flags up. Matt had the great idea of buying a wind up lamp, which came in very useful as when we arrived there was no electricity due to the thunderstorm they had whilst we were in the meeting!Fortunately, there were exactly 10 boys, who have finished their exams for the term, who were already at the home.We had exactly 10 pairs of flip-flops kindly donated so we were able to hand them out to the boys who were there. They loved them! So much so that they asked Matt and I to sign them! It was amusing but a flattering gesture!
On to painting today!
Lots of Looooove xxx
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