Graduations and presidents

Sorry about the lack of updates to the blog – just to assure you that we are both fit and well. We have just found it difficult to find the time to get on the internet – no other excuses! Since our last update we have had a flying visit to the UK to attend Tom’s graduation. We had a brilliant time at home and were also able to catch up with family and friends. It was lovely to see everyone and to be back in ‘our world’ of luxury and plenty for a while.

However, it feels good to be back in Kamwenge and we were straight back to work as we had 8 Irish Global teachers in our schools for 5 weeks and were anxious to see how they had settled in. Schools here are very keen to host a Global teacher and some have been waiting for 2 years for their chance to host. As well as being an amazing experience for them, they have a huge impact on teaching and learning, which Geoff will be following up after they have left. Sabrina had given them a long list of health related issues to look at whilst in their schools. These will become part of the Healthy Schools programme.

The major issue in Kamwenge District at the moment is the lack of water. We are now in the dry season and it has not rained for about 6 weeks. Shallow wells are dry and there are long queues at bore holes. We visited a school where the head teacher said the nearest water source was 2 kilometres away and although he had sent some children to collect water, they had returned empty-handed because too many people were already there. As well as the obvious problem of children going all day without drinking water it also makes the health issue of improving sanitation and hygiene very difficult. For those of us in Kamwenge Town, life is easier as a pump has recently been installed at a nearby river and water is now being pumped to various points, including the schools within the designated area. However, there is a cost to this and we are concerned about what will happen if some people cannot pay when their water bill arrives.

During the Irish teachers’ stay we celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary. They completely surprised us by organising a little party and managing to get a cake baked for us.

Our local church in Kamwenge was upgraded (if that’s the right word) to a cathedral and the new bishop consecrated last Sunday. It was a huge event with people coming from all over Uganda. It was very exciting because as well as most of the bishops in the country, the President, Yoweri Museveni, also came. Everyone felt this was a great honour. We were seated about 30 feet from him as the picture shows.

Last week was the last week of term and Sabrina has been helping to facilitate sanitation training for selected teachers and pupils. The best bit was when she asked the pupils when they needed to wash their hands, one replied, “Before you milk a cow.” This was, of course, correct, but not the sort of answer she would have received in Maldon! She also showed the pupils how to make a ‘tippy tap’. A what, I hear you ask. Well it’s an cheap and easily-made hand washing facility for schools as shown in the picture. The aim is that all schools in our programme will have these by their latrines. The main challenge is access to a nearby, clean water source.