Without a degree in medicine, I've quickly found that the best way for me to help is through education! Much of my time left will be spent educating other people in some way. Yesterday we went to a school for orphans and other vulnerable children, and taught them about diarrhea, dehydration, and rehydration salts.
When we first got there, Richard (a local man who works with FIMRC and also began the school in 2010) told us about the history of the school and why he started it. There are many orphans here in Bududa, often orphaned by AIDS or because of alcoholism. He said that some parents will work small jobs here and there just to make enough money to buy a drink, leaving their children hungry and without care. These children would not be in school during the day because of expensive school fees. Uganda, the land of free healthcare but expensive education for children. Where everyone has a cell phone but almost none have running water. . . A land of breathtaking beauty but also terrible poverty. It's a heartbreaking place, one that I love but have so much difficulty understanding. Anyways, he created this school because many children were not attending school during the day, they were just sitting in the streets during the day. The fees are small to attend, except for orphans, which can attend for free. He has also found homes for those without, safe places where they can be with loving people and have food and shelter, instead of staying on the streets. The teachers are very underpaid, but they were some of the kindest people I have ever met.
Before our presentation, we played dancing games with the children, and they sang songs for us. Their voices were so loud and beautiful! They sang so beautifully, it was heartbreaking actually. Sitting on a wooden bench in a mud hut, with dirt floors and a stripped chalk board, surrounded by barefooted African children singing passionately at the top of their lungs. . . Another surreal experience that I often can't believe is reality. We played outside, and sang to the banana song, and danced crazily just before breaking for lunch. For lunch, Richard took us to a little place in the marketplace while the children ate their meal at the school. It was a little place that I don't think I could find again if I tried. The options were: matoke and beans, posho and beans, rice and beans, or chapati and beans. Haha, I love it (although I miss my American food quite a lot!). I ordered my rice and beans for 1000 shillings, or about 35 cents, and we ate on a little bench in the dark room. It was just another of the countless experiences I have had here, so simple and foreign, but so meaningful to me. I love america, but there is something about living here among the simple, raw reality that really touches my heart. After lunch, we met Richards grandmother-she is 101, and has lived in the same mus home since she was married 80 or so years ago. She wanted to marry a poor man, but her parents were going to force her to marry a rich man (the dowry here in Bududa is VERY expensive). She refused, and was bit by something as a result (this part of the story was a little fuzzy). Because of this bite, she had to have her leg amputated, but was eventually allowed to marry the poor man that she loved (go grandma!). She had 12 children, and still takes care of herself to this day. She uses her small wooden crutches to get around her home, and cooks all her food outside on a small fire. She's missing most of her front teeth now, but grinned from ear to ear the whole time. When we left, she was sitting outside smoking her cigarette next to her little fire, 101 years old. . . Ha.
Back at the school, I watched the teachers play hackey sack, and one woman totally smashed the record. I remember playing hackey sack in middle school, for hours and hours. It made me miss middle school, but that ended quickly ;) haha. Anyways, with all of the children gathered, we gave our presentation. It's difficult to teach children, partially due to the slight language barrier, but also because I'm used to teaching american college students I think. Teachers teach a bit different here, too, so the children are used to that teaching style rather than our Americanized way of teaching. With a little time and practice it'll be even better though.:) we're presenting about HIV/AIDS on Monday to a baby class at another school, so we'll see how that goes, too (baby class is similar to kindergarten in the US).
After our presentation, the children presenting a skit about how important and influential teachers are. It was the cutest thing I have ever seen, really. Even though this school is full of disadvantaged children, and the conditions of the school aren't good, and they lack funds and supplies, the children are SO BRIGHT and SO GOOD. They are smart, and strong, and determined, and gosh darn it, they're going to succeed an make it. The teachers, and Richard, told them so many times that day, "Believe in your dreams! You can achieve them. You are bright children, and you can do whatever you set your mind to." I am so so so grateful for good, honest, patient people who are willing to dedicate their time and lives to education, especially those children who have no one else to believe in them. I thank God that those children have those teachers, because they are making a huge difference in the lives of those children. They came from the streets, homeless and helpless, but are now smiling and laughing and learning and succeeding. I'm a big believer that education is the key to changing the world, and this experience helped to solidified that idea for me.
I think when I come back after I have finished my education, I will work in a school. By then I may have a degree on medicine, but I still want to be involved in education. I'm not sure yet, but I believe with time and faith and prayer, I'll have a better idea in the future what God wants.
A few other notes, we went on a hike yesterday. Julius, a staff member from FIMRC, took us. He said it would be 1 hour. We left at 7 am. . . And returned at 11!!! I call it our 4 times 1 hour hike. It was so beautiful though! We hiked through the forest and mountains, past a few very rural homes, a small primary school, along a small mud path, across the river a few times, by the side of a huge cliff, alongside barefoot men and women (some pregnant) carrying huge bundles of matoke on their heads. Julius told us that some bundles weigh up to 80 kilo!! WHAT! Can you even imagine, carrying 80 kilo on your head while walking barefoot along a muddy, rocky path, up and down hue hills, for many miles?! I saw it with my own two eyes, and even I can't believe it.
Well. . . That's all I have time for now. Today we're leaving for a tour of the medical clinics and hospitals in Mbale (the biggest town from Bududa, about 2 hours away from where I'm staying in Bududa, by matatu). It'll be a long day of boda riding to get to each location on the tour, wish me luck!!
Thanks again to everyone, I hope you are well and safe.
