Safely in Uganda

I arrived ok in Uganda and met Isaac before setting off on the drive to Mukono. I was totally taken back by what I saw on the way. Really basic and poor stuff, even when passing through the capital! There were mud shacks, wooden stalls just made from a few sticks, property agents consisting of some guys hanging around a handwritten sign, people carrying large things on their heads and much more. I didn’t even know what to take photos of so I decided to just take it in. 

Here are some photos from the first day that I did manage to take:

First Meal

Opening up the donations

Loving the skipping rope but still noob

Isaac then told me of how he came to start this volunteer organization he runs. It was a fascinating story starting with him struggling to get through school as he had no money. He had to work at a stone quarry for less than $1 a day to try pay for school fees. He went through around 20 schools during secondary school as he was basically going until he got kicked out for not paying school fees. Eventually he got a general servant job at some guy’s house who after a while offered to pay for a vocational school (TAFE) to learn about camera work. He eventually got a job documenting some poverty stricken areas for the government where he came across women who making some kind of artsy jewellery. He tried to sell it in Kampala but had no luck. Fortunately, after a few months of walking 3-4 hours each way he came across some Canadians who were interested. After taking some samples back, they apparently sold well and Isaac was able to get have these women create these jewllery pieces for a living. This venture grew but a new problem soon emerged. Many of these women had HIV so some started to die leaving their children behind. Naturally they couldn’t stay in the provided child care center so an orphanage started. Up until this point all staff were local volunteers and Isaac was encouraged to look into having international volunteers come over and help out. Without going into more detail, the projects expanded into 36 districts, the jewelley making expanded as well.

I will talk more about the house and people in it next time. But it's great and the kids are really cute and happy.