HIV/AIDS prevention in schools

This term, Sabrina’s School Health programme is all about HIV/AIDS prevention. Over one million adults are living with HIV/AIDS in Uganda and 3.5 million children are orphans due to their parents dying from the disease. Over the last few months we have carried out workshops for head teachers on HIV/AIDS prevention in schools and this term I am visiting all the schools trained to help them with implementation of the policy. The workshop consisted of topics such as prevention through education, preventing sexual transmission to pupils and teachers and mitigating the effect of HIV/AIDS. In fact I have never talked about sex so much as I have in the last few months!

Schools in Uganda cover a lot of information in PIASCY which stands for Presidential Initiative on AIDS Strategy for Communication to Youth. This was introduced by President Museveni in an attempt to halt the spread of AIDS. The initiative is successful to a degree although, when working in schools, we have found the messages given are good but understanding is lacking. For example, children chant ‘Don’t have unprotected sex’ without understanding what it means and school compounds have notice boards displaying messages saying things like ‘Have sex later’. The work in schools is very important as children present a ‘window of hope’ for stemming the HIV/AIDS epidemic, as those at school are usually free of HIV and the challenge is to keep them that way.

When visiting schools I talk with the head teacher and teacher responsible for PIASCY and we discuss how understanding can be improved through bringing the topic of HIV/AIDS into assemblies, clubs and lessons. The aim is to keep children free of HIV by identifying actions that the school can take. I also give lots of information on universal precautions to keep everyone safe. Supporting children who are caring for sick relatives in an attempt to stop them dropping out of school is also part of the discussion.

During the first workshop we held, Geoff and I did a role play during the session on Guidance and Counselling. I played the part of a caring teacher and Geoff was a pupil struggling at school because his mum was sick. Role play is obviously not big in Uganda because out of all the sessions we did, that was the one the head teachers remember and say they have tried with children. We feel under a lot of pressure now to do an even better role play at the next workshop we hold!

Sponsorship and Birthdays

Geoff's birthday
With Josephine's family at her home

We have decided to turn over a new leaf and update our blog more often. We used to struggle due to poor internet connection, but now it is much better so we have no excuse. Also, it is good for us to keep a diary of what we are doing as we quickly forget (we blame the heat rather than our ages!). Speaking of which, Geoff has had a birthday since our last update! It was spent staying with volunteer friends in Fort Portal and going out for dinner in a posh hotel!
Since the last update we have had our final VSO training in Kampala and Geoff has now completed his in-country motor-cycle training. He now has a motor cycle licence and, all being well, should have a bike within the next couple of weeks.
On the 18th September, we had a very good day visiting a child called Josephine, who is sponsored by St. Andrews (our church at home). She is sponsored through an organisation called Compassion and, when we first came to Uganda, we had no idea that Josephine lived only 30miles from us in Kasese. When we discovered how near she was to us, we organised through Compassion to visit her to see for ourselves what ‘being sponsored’ actually means for her. She lives in the foothills of the Ruwenzori Mountains and we were very impressed with the project and the difference they make to children’s lives.
How does the project impact on Josephine? Well, we must admit to some scepticism before our visit but are now convinced it is working successfully. Why?

• Josephine is still in school when, without support, we are sure she would have left as she is ‘below average’ and struggles academically;
• She has the opportunity in the future to go on to either vocational training and secondary school, which would not be possible for her family without Compassion’s support;
• She has had regular medical check-ups and clinic visits when ill;
• Her parents have received guidance at weekend sessions on how to support Josephine educationally;
• This support has also helped the other children in the family to make the most of their educational opportunities;
• The family have received a goat and training so it can generate further income for them;

Although this is, of course, what every child should receive, the reality is that in Uganda, as in so many other developing countries, many children do not have these basic things.
As well as visiting the project, we were able to visit Josephine’s home, which involved a 1500 ft climb up a mountain! Had we realized how difficult the climb would be, we would not have attempted it, but 2 hours later and soaking wet, due to a thunderstorm, we reached her small mud and wattle hut with amazing views across the valley.
After meeting all the family plus neighbours and friends, it was time to go down so we could get home before dark. It took an hour of scrabbling down the now slippery paths before we got back to the valley floor and the project. We were amazed to look back at Josephine’s house and see how high it was. We were even more amazed to learn that she goes up in 45 minutes and comes down in 25 minutes!

We saw some animals

Whilst visiting Bollus near Masindi, we managed to fit in a trip to Murchison Falls National Park and went on a boat trip up the Nile to the base of the Falls, an early morning game drive and a walk to the top of the Falls. Here are some of the animals we saw as well.

The Falls are caused where the half-mile wide River Nile is forced through a 6 metre gap in the rocks and down 40 metres. It is truly awesome and from the top you can feel the staggering power – photos do not do it justice.

Visiting Friends

Last week we were able to visit Bollus Wembabazi, the headteacher who hosted me on my first visit to Uganda back in 2002 and who came to visit us in Essex in October 2005. Children from Stock may remember him visiting the school and he has an album full of pictures of the school – Geoff was interested to see how bright the (only just done then) playground markings were and the absence of the new buildings! We met his family, had a lovely local meal at his house and went on a walk round his farm (called a garden here – what we call a garden is called a compound). We thought it would be interesting to hear about his children’s activities as it gives a small insight into family life in Uganda.

He lives with his wife, Margaret, has 7 children of his own, looks after 2 orphans of his wife’s sister and hosts an old man. The oldest 2 children are twins of 22 years, called Irene and Collins. The next two are also twins, Daniel and Godwin, aged 18. His children are completed by Nelson, 16, Bridget, 13, and Noreen, 11. The orphans are Daphne, 16, and Douglas, 13. The old man, only ever called Muzee during our visit - a term of respect for an old man in Ugandan life - used to look after the garden of Bollus’s mother, but when she died 4 years ago he was made homeless and so Bollus now looks after him. Incidentally Geoff is often called Muzee, which he finds difficult to come to terms with!

They live in a traditional home which was built by Bollus using home-made bricks with corrugated iron sheets for a roof. It has a living area and sleeping areas. There is an outside kitchen made from a wooden framework and covered in local mud from the farm with a thatched roof. The pit latrine is set about 20 metres from the house and is made in a similar way to the kitchen.

Bollus has worked at 5 schools since 2002. The moves have been for 3 reasons; Firstly due to conflicts with the local community, secondly by the district in order to fill more rural schools, and thirdly so Bollus could work at a school nearer his home. These 3 reasons are common across Uganda and mean that there more movement of headteachers than is good for school stability.

Margaret has been a local politician and is currently the treasurer of her local primary school. She wanted to go further in politics but is not well educated enough. She only made Primary 4, because her mother died and she had to leave school to look after her younger siblings.

Irene is very hard working and after taking A levels, she went on to do a secondary teaching diploma, which she has just completed. She is awaiting the final results and is working as a matron in a girls boarding school (where she did a teaching practice), before applying for jobs.

Collins also did well in his A levels – well enough to be able to go to university to do engineering as fee-paying student but not quite well enough to get a government scholarship. Bollus wanted him to do teaching diploma as he could not afford degree fees, but Collins refused and left home – teenagers are the same everywhere regarding their parents’ wishes!

Daniel left school before O levels so works on the farm. Bollus has bought him two oxen so he can set up a ploughing business and he has built a home on the farm where he lives with his pregnant wife.

Godwin is mentally handicapped and the family looks after him at home.

Nelson is at the local government secondary school, but with classes of 90, Bollus is unhappy with the quality of teaching and is keen for Nelson to attend a private school. Nelson however is happy to stay with his friends in the local school!

Bridget did well in her primary leaving exams last year, but again not well enough to get into a ‘good’ secondary school. Her parents say this is because she is ‘playful’. She is repeating her year at a local private school as government schools are not supposed to allow children to repeat the final year of primary education.

Noreen is just chugging along in Primary 4, content to keep her head down and let her older siblings take the parental flak.

As we re-read this we realise the difficulties faced by government schools when even goverment headteachers are not keen on using them for their children! It makes us even more determined to improve the quality of the schools used by most children.

After lunch and a photograph session, we all went for a walk around the 10 acre farm. They grow maize, beans, cassava, matoke (a type of banana), cabbages, pumpkins, coffee and groundnuts. They also keep pigs, chickens and goats. What they produce is mainly used to sell to supplement their income from his teaching job after they have eaten their needs. Sabrina was particularly excited by the cabbage seed bed and got some seedlings to take home and grow on in her plant pots. They have been planted and are doing well.

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.

Lazy Morning

Woke up late after a Nile Special Beer to drown our sorrows after the tennis last night so having a lazy morning on computer and washing before going out to visit the accomodation that the Irish teachers will be staying in.

Prime steaks, bishops’ washing, travelling chickens, HIV/Aids workshops and food parcels?

No update to the blog for a few weeks as we have been at VSO training for new volunteers in Kampala and access to internet has been limited to checking our emails with not time to do anything more. It was good to see and sample the bright lights of a capital city, although we felt like the country mouse visiting the town mouse! At one point we went to an Italian delicatessen and Sabrina lost Geoff, only to find him staring open-mouthed at a cold counter full of prime steaks.

The training was held at the Lweza (pronounced Louisa) conference centre, which is owned by the Church of Uganda. The accommodation was basic hostel-like, but the hot showers were bliss. Our stay coincided with a retreat for all the bishops of Uganda, so we were sharing the place with 33 bishops. We chatted to them in the meal queues, spoke to the Archbishop of Uganda and met the new bishop of our new cathedral in Kamwenge. But enough name dropping. The best sight was of 35 purple shirts hanging out to dry on the washing line – definitely a missed photo opportunity.

The new volunteers were a mixed but amazing bunch of people. 2 Americans, 1 Kenyan, 1 German, 8 English, 2 couples, and a family with 3 children under 8. Most were in their 20’s and 30’s and we were the oldest, but we felt young. The job skills ranged from doctors and nurses, through fundraisers and sign language teachers to managers and organizational capacity builders (a common job in development circles but we’re still not sure what it really means).

We went up from Fort Portal by bus, which was our first experience of coach travel in Uganda. We sat in the two window seats of three and were joined by a succession of passengers who squeezed into the small third seat. One of them fell asleep on Geoff’s shoulder. The journey took four hours, with stops only to pick up and drop off passengers. There was a chicken under the opposite seat and at every stop, street vendors would try to sell a range of snacks through the windows – goat kebabs, fried bananas, boiled cassava, sugar cane and drinks. We had brought our own sandwiches.

At Kampala we were just dumped off in the street, as apparently the bus company is in dispute with the bus station about an increase in fees of 10,000 USH (about £3.30) per coach. The number of people around was absolutely amazing and special hire drivers (our taxi drivers) were continually thrusting their keys in our faces to tout for business. Fortunately one of my work colleagues, Salvatore, sorted us out with a good, safe and cheap special, although not before a language misunderstanding meant we had walked for 20 minutes through the hot and bustling streets to another bus station.

Back to work this week and we have 4 days of workshops. On Tuesday Geoff was with the senior education officials and local politicians of the district to review last year’s, and plan next year’s, work. On Wednesday and Thursday we facilitated a workshop on HIV/Aids issues in schools with headteachers – 40 of them. On Friday we are told headteachers and host families how to look after the 8 Irish teachers who will be visiting for 5 weeks. Ugandans get quite worried about hosting bazungu (whites) especially with our ‘weak’ stomachs and so we will try to allay their fears.

P.S. We watched Wimbledon on the TV in the next door hotel, eating Minstrels which had been sent by our daughter, Catherine, to our new Post Office Box – the address is
Slide
PO Box 1511
Kamwenge
Uganda
just in case you’re interested. They took 3 weeks to arrive and tasted even better for the wait. The packet of chocolate buttons has however melted into one big button due to the heat. Going back to the tennis, it was great to see the shots of the London skyline between games.

P.P.S. Some more chocolates and liquorice allsorts arrived from Nicola this week as a late Father’s Day present. No pressure Tom

P.P.P.S watched Murray lose last night – very sad. The game finished at 9.00 local time, which meant that the locals were unable to watch their very popular soap opera – equivalent to East Enders. Very culturally insensitive but how often do we get the chance to see a Brit in the semis of Wimbledon?