Update email to Family and Friends 7

VS Uganda - August 7th

In our final week in Ramogi, we learned how UORDP helps the larger community outside of the village proper. Last Friday, we attended a session hosted by UORDP to teach the basics of business management to care givers of child-headed households. This program, like the lend-a-goat program, sets up sustainable projects that can provide the participants with future income to pay for school fees, uniforms and supplies. That afternoon, we continued our work on the church, and during the break, Phillip had the opportunity to literally become a "Fiddler on the Roof". Our work continued into this week as we finished putting metal sheets on the roof and painted the Early Childhood Development Center with murals, shapes, letters and numbers.

Last Saturday afternoon, we continued our friendly competition of the "Uganda Olympics" with a balancing contest which provided a good visual reminder for that morning's session where we discussed the importance of balancing work and rest. The contest was a draw; the white team eked out a narrow victory over the blue team in the following game of charades. That night, the group was able to experience a little more of local culture, as we were invited to a memorial party for a local doctor's mother. While the final funeral rites seem to us an unexpected reason to throw a ruckus party, we enjoyed dancing to both Ugandan hip-hop and Spanish reggae-ton.

On Sunday afternoon we traveled to the neighboring village of Petah to explore and climb some well-known rock formations. The area was a gorgeous vantage point to watch the sunset, and was also the home of a family helped by UORDP. Over a hundred years ago, European explorers posted plaques on one of the rocks, leaving their mark on the land. As we began our final week in Ramogi, we began thinking about what sort of mark we have left on the community, and how we also have changed.

As much as we try to live our last few days in Uganda by living in the moment, we each began thinking about what will happen when we return home. We had many sessions to help us think about this journey. Amy Klein, the visiting journalist, ran a short informational session on how to publish articles as students or recent graduates. On Monday, different participants led programs that prepared us to continue our work when we go home. Natalie facilitated some writing exercises to put us in the memoir- writing mood. Even if the product never makes it to print, the act of writing is an excellent way to organize our thoughts. Leran and Ilana H-S also discussed their previous volunteer experiences. Leran's extensive work as an anti-genocide advocate taught him the most effective ways to work for a cause. Ilana shared her experience with Invisible Children, and international organization that is working to stop the Lord's Resistance Army, a group plaguing the north of Uganda for many decades.

Our education session this week reinforced the idea of continuing service once we return home. We have started to prepare for our departure which also includes exchanging contact information with many of our new friends. We really feel like we have become a part of this community, and in our audience with the Adhola King on Wednesday he told us that we have truly become part of the Adhola people.

Sarah wants to send a shout out to her dad who recommended that the updates say one thing about everyone, and a shout out to her whole family, and happy b-day Laura!

Julian says "I love not having to shower everyday!"

Ilana requests a Subway sandwich with her arrival at the airport.

Eli says "I am muzungu."

Hannah L put polio vaccine droplets in baby's mouths, helping out at the clinic this week.

Natalie misses her family terribly but does not want to leave Uganda .

Judith has been teaching the geography of East Africa to Ugandan school children.

Rachel can't wait to share all she has learned of Ugandan culture with her family and friends.

Philippa has conquered the latrine.

Reva finally knows why the chicken crossed the road.

Shani wishes all her siblings who had birthdays - happy birthday!

Leran invented the Ramogi sandwich!

Hannah K-C has useless powers.

Faigy is looking forward to going to Kampala

Jamie is savoring her last week here but is also looking forward to the adventures to come.

Aaron's mind is blown

Adam has loved being with the group in Ramogi and looks forward to travels in Europe and then coming home in a month.

Philip doesn't like how this is turning into a Facebook status update

Wally likes Philips status update.

See you all soon! VS Uganda

Update email to Family and Friends 6

Dear friends and family,

Our fifth week in Uganda has brought us as many new experiences as our first week. On Wednesday, we started a new work project at the Ramogi Church of Uganda. Building a roof has given us the opportunity to learn new carpentry skills from the community members. The physical labor has been both demanding and rewarding.

We had our third community exchange during which we shared pictures and stories of our families and home. The next day, the female participants hosted their second woman’s meeting. The group visited the homes of two community members and continued to learn what it is like to be a woman in Ramogi. Meanwhile, the men also bonded by exchanging cultural values over Michael Jackson DVD’s (which the whole community seemed to love).

For Shabbat, we were very lucky to visit a local Jewish community, the Abuyadaya, who refer to themselves as a "lost Jewish tribe". After converting in 1919, the community faced oppression under the regime of Idi Amin who tried to wipe out the Jewish population in Uganda. Today, the Abuyadaya are thriving, with a population of 1,300. The community was very welcoming as we celebrated Shabbat services in different tunes and in different languages.

On our way back to Ramogi, we visited an early childhood education teaching college established by Seth Owino, who has been living and working with us on the compound. He has become one of our closest friends.

This week we began working individually on our mini projects. Some of us are working to cultivate land, others are teaching in the classroom at primary schools, while the rest continue to visit health centers. The mini projects allow us to explore personal interest while still giving back to the community.

Although we have been here for five weeks, we find that we are still learning about our partner NGO. Just yesterday we were able to visit two child-led households that are being sponsored by the “Give a Goat Program.” The goats are valuable to the households both as a reproductive source and as a long-term investment in the children’s future.

Today we are observing Tisha B’av through discussion and mediation. Some group members are fasting while all of us are reflecting on suffering in the spirit of the holiday. Today we were also visited by Amy Klein, a journalist who will be staying with us through Monday. We’ll have more to report on Amy’s visit next week.

Our last two weeks are promising and full of excitement and we look forward to further immersing ourselves in the culture of Ramogi before we return home.

See you soon,

VS Uganda 2009