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August 17, 2006
Happy ending (sort of)...
Children enjoying the view on top of Wanali Ridge - Sunday, 14 August 2006.
17 August 2006 I posted the last entry in a rush. Some of the counselors (Margaret and Sylvia) from TASO invited me for dinner at the Sunrise Inn, determined to help me forget about the stresses of the day. We planned to meet at 6pm. At 6:05pm, I posted the blog and took a boda boda to the restaurant. I was thirty-five minutes late. Aha.
Margaret is one of the founding members of TASO Mbale - an amazing woman! And Sylvia is a sweetheart - she counsels children at TASO. We talked about the project and how stressful its been. We also discussed the importance of projects that empower clients. We talked about the high cost of education in Uganda, and the persistent poverty. I asked Margaret if the poverty is getting worse. She said, "When families have to share salt to cook with, salt that costs 200 Ush (1800 Ush = 1 USD), you know something is wrong."
Around 7:30pm, Enos joined us. He came straight from TASO to the Sunrise after a long evening of delivering birds and bicycles to five families. I was overcome with joy and relief and gratitude when I heard this. I had no idea the other team of counselors set out to make deliveries. Three deliveries left. Tomorrow night, all 21 families will have their 4 hens, 1 cock and a bicycle. Hooray.
And someone asked how we can ensure that these families will not eat the chickens. Well, it's possible that some of these birds will be eaten for dinner, but it's our hope that most of these birds will be used to lay eggs for eating and sale. The families participated in a training workshop on smallholder poultry farming last Saturday. They learned about housing, feeding, disease management, and basic business skills. They also received bicycles, which are a major source of income, as they are the predominant mode of transportation here, especially in the rural areas. Each family has been encouraged to use the bicycle as a boda boda and, once the hens start laying eggs, as transport to the market. Many families plan to use the bicycles for transport to school, too. TASO counselors will keep close watch of each family's progress with assistance from TASO community nurses and chairpersons. With close monitoring and supervision, we expect most of the families to adhere to the project framework and guidelines.
The testimonies at the training were telling of the general enthusiasm and motivation among these families to make this project successful and to become self-supporting. Peter, the mother & father to his 4 brothers, stood up during the training workshop to speak. He pleaded with the other participants to take this project seriously, to care for the birds, and to utilize fully the opportunities and resources that the poultry project offers. After Peter spoke, others stood to express their gratitude and excitement.
They know that these chickens aren't for dinner; hopefully, they'll feast on the other white meat.
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Update on Peter and Wickliff:
While John was in the village yesterday, he saw Peter. After spotting John, Peter ran to greet him. Peter's leg is healing. He's running! He finished his exams at school. Peter told John he is very happy.
Yesterday, Wickliff's grandma, Alice, fell sick. The doctors admitted her to the hospital, but Wickliff was ready to go home. Grandma couldn't care for Wickliff, so John went back to their village to bring a relative to Mbale to help. Wickliff has left the hospital with the relative, and is staying with her in Mbale. Grandma is still in the hospital. She's 74 and in bad shape. This whole situation confuses me...did we do the right thing by bringing her and Wickliff to the hospital; did our assistance harm more than help; will Wickliff get the nutrition he needs when he returns to the village; what happens when grandma passes - who will care for Wickliff and his two brothers...
Posted by kmf23 at August 17, 2006 10:20 PM
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Comments
Kelly, it appears that you're leaving a small part of the world a better place! Thank you! See you soon. Dr Pav
Posted by: Dr Pav at August 18, 2006 03:34 PM