Niteo Africa partners with Ugandans to invest in the reading culture of Uganda through a safe and community based literacy centre full of computers, books, and educational resources.
On Sunday, July 18 from 2-5pm, Niteo will host and Open House at the Eva Ruf Resource Centre in Ntinda up from the Red Cross. The community at large is invited to come and freely discover the centre and the programs and resources it offers to the children, families, and educators of Uganda. During the afternoon visitors will be able to informally gather and learn more about the Centre through experiencing it firsthand.
Niteo Africa is an NGO of Canadians and Ugandans partnering together to educate our children. Founded by Karine Liegmann, an educator and humanitarian, the organization includes projects that support quality education and reciprocity among Canadians and Ugandans with sustainable change. Examples of projects include the Eva Ruf Resource Centre, Leaders of Distinction (fka: Kids Helping Kids) with Afroeducare, and Teaching Together at schools such as Kabojja Primary, Kawanda Senior Secondary, Living Hope Orphan School, and Sanyu Babies' Home. Volunteer teams visit annually from Canada to partner with Ugandans in the implementation or encouragement of these projects.
The vision for the Resource Centre emerged as an answer to the idea that "every child deserves a book." The Centre opened in 2008 and currently it serves approximately 1500 students each month. Students, parents, and teachers visit the Centre to study, participate in classes, read literature designed for children to enrich the Ugandan curriculum and reading culture. Programs the centre hosts include breakdancing classes and competitions, computer training, art classes, career guidance counselling and much more.
Niteo hopes to grow and is currently considering expanding into Northern Uganda with a brand new 20' container of books ready to be shipped. Also, over the past year, Niteo has mobilised Canadian children at Glenmore Elementary in British Columbia, Canada to fundraise for a bookmobile. To enrich the instructional program of schools, the bookmobile or Niteo van will be ready to deliver books and resources throughout Kampala. Schools may borrow the resources for a period of time and return them for other schools to use.
Betty Kabagambe, Centre Director, is quoted as saying, "We want to get the word out about how much the Centre offers, encouraging students to participate in our educational programs and take advantage of our learning environment."
The Eva Ruf Resource Centre will be hosting an Open House on Sunday for you to discover more about its services. For more information please visit www.niteoafrica.org, the "Eva Ruf Resource Centre" Facebook group or contact gilbert@niteoafrica.org.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
I am stunned half the time....
I am sitting at the Eva Ruf Center in Kampala, Uganda. I am stunned half the time I am here. Maybe more than half. The Niteo Africa organization has partnered with many needy institutions in and around Kampala - but it is a level of need that is beyond my experience. From what I am learning, at least at the places we have been to such as the Nateete Orphan School called Living Hope and the Sanyu Baby's Orphanage, this has not been a reading culture. Mothers at a neighbouring pre-school have said that their own mothers never read to them, so they do not know how to do it with their children.
Dylan and I read with the primary students today in a classroom in the Nateete slum. It looks like a barn stall, only not a very nice one. The children crowded on to their benches and echoed the words that we said. We asked a question and they answered in unison. They come, they want to learn, there are no books in their classroom, just an old chalk board that is very hard to write on. You can't see the chalk very well. When I wrote on the board, the teacher first sent a student out across the dirt and mud 'center courtyard' - though courtyard is far to grand a term for it. He went to a neighbouring classroom for a piece of chalk. It is a precious commodity here. I have broken three pieces writing on that crude chalk board and am acutely aware of it in a way that I would never be in Kelowna.
Yesterday, I was working with older students at the same school. I was teaching about the continents and had them sketch in their books. Some started right away and some just sat there. I stood back to observe. Why wouldn't they work? They seemed so polite, and it seemed like a good enough lesson to me - replete with chants and rhymes, drawings and instruction....and then it all became clear. Each was waiting for a pencil. A neighbour had to finish first. Then the pencil was passed on and all was completed beautifully in the single book where all their work is done.
Mostly the students sit quietly and wait upon the teacher. Sometimes one will cuff or elbow the other in an effort to clear a little space on a small bench fit for 3 which holds 10. It is warm in the open air shacks and there is not much breeze. There is water and garbage in the ditch that runs through the school area... and other things that add to a rather close odour at times, and yet, something makes my heavy heart sing. What is it? The joyful faces of the children as they take their plastic mugs and get in line for their snack - runny porridge and a slice of dry casava? The ready gaze as I teach, explain, sing and look into each beautiful face trying to have at least one shared moment with each child? They way they celebrate us - the 'muzungus' who have come to a neighbourhood slum that wouldn't attract many visitors? The children chant that word as we drive by. " Muzungus, Muzungus..." I wondered at first if they were taunting, but my experience suggests otherwise. It seems they are as happy and stunned to see us as they would be a unicorn. What are we doing there? Why would we come?
We come because we have been inspired by the children and by the work Niteo Africa is doing here. It is a vision to educate each child, to give them freedom through literacy. I didn't know the power of this mandate until I got here. The children come to the Eva Ruf Center for the books. The shelves are lined with our cast offs, the books we didn't see value in anymore but here the have regained their luster. "We want to read." "There is no other place that is free and has books for us." "We can study here and it is hard to study at home."
Beyond the center, Niteo Africa seeks out the needy institutions to provide support to the teachers and staff who cannot provide resources on their $3.00 a day pay. We provide books, inservice the teachers, tell them to try to read at least one book a day to their students, give them pencils for the children, and paper. We bring medical supplies to the primitive medical hut in the Nateete slum where you can get surgery or have a tooth removed by a general practicioner, to Sanyu Baby's Orphanage, to King's Daughters - a program that rescues girls from the street. In time, they hope to place resource centers in other needy neighbourhoods in Uganda. The value of these centers is high and the need is great. The value of these children is high and their need is far greater than I have ever seen or imagined. It is a privilege to be here, to see past the walls the keep the tourists at bay.
Rhonda
Dylan and I read with the primary students today in a classroom in the Nateete slum. It looks like a barn stall, only not a very nice one. The children crowded on to their benches and echoed the words that we said. We asked a question and they answered in unison. They come, they want to learn, there are no books in their classroom, just an old chalk board that is very hard to write on. You can't see the chalk very well. When I wrote on the board, the teacher first sent a student out across the dirt and mud 'center courtyard' - though courtyard is far to grand a term for it. He went to a neighbouring classroom for a piece of chalk. It is a precious commodity here. I have broken three pieces writing on that crude chalk board and am acutely aware of it in a way that I would never be in Kelowna.
Yesterday, I was working with older students at the same school. I was teaching about the continents and had them sketch in their books. Some started right away and some just sat there. I stood back to observe. Why wouldn't they work? They seemed so polite, and it seemed like a good enough lesson to me - replete with chants and rhymes, drawings and instruction....and then it all became clear. Each was waiting for a pencil. A neighbour had to finish first. Then the pencil was passed on and all was completed beautifully in the single book where all their work is done.
Mostly the students sit quietly and wait upon the teacher. Sometimes one will cuff or elbow the other in an effort to clear a little space on a small bench fit for 3 which holds 10. It is warm in the open air shacks and there is not much breeze. There is water and garbage in the ditch that runs through the school area... and other things that add to a rather close odour at times, and yet, something makes my heavy heart sing. What is it? The joyful faces of the children as they take their plastic mugs and get in line for their snack - runny porridge and a slice of dry casava? The ready gaze as I teach, explain, sing and look into each beautiful face trying to have at least one shared moment with each child? They way they celebrate us - the 'muzungus' who have come to a neighbourhood slum that wouldn't attract many visitors? The children chant that word as we drive by. " Muzungus, Muzungus..." I wondered at first if they were taunting, but my experience suggests otherwise. It seems they are as happy and stunned to see us as they would be a unicorn. What are we doing there? Why would we come?
We come because we have been inspired by the children and by the work Niteo Africa is doing here. It is a vision to educate each child, to give them freedom through literacy. I didn't know the power of this mandate until I got here. The children come to the Eva Ruf Center for the books. The shelves are lined with our cast offs, the books we didn't see value in anymore but here the have regained their luster. "We want to read." "There is no other place that is free and has books for us." "We can study here and it is hard to study at home."
Beyond the center, Niteo Africa seeks out the needy institutions to provide support to the teachers and staff who cannot provide resources on their $3.00 a day pay. We provide books, inservice the teachers, tell them to try to read at least one book a day to their students, give them pencils for the children, and paper. We bring medical supplies to the primitive medical hut in the Nateete slum where you can get surgery or have a tooth removed by a general practicioner, to Sanyu Baby's Orphanage, to King's Daughters - a program that rescues girls from the street. In time, they hope to place resource centers in other needy neighbourhoods in Uganda. The value of these centers is high and the need is great. The value of these children is high and their need is far greater than I have ever seen or imagined. It is a privilege to be here, to see past the walls the keep the tourists at bay.
Rhonda
Monday, July 12, 2010
On recent events in Kampala
Karine and Erika have asked that I post this, a copy of an email sent earlier, to reassure friends, family and followers of Niteo.
(cd.mazurat)
As you may or may not be aware, last night saw two bombs go off in the centre of Kampala, Uganda. Reports are conflicting but there are estimates of between 20 and 40 dead. Both bombs occured as crowds gathered to watch the World Cup Finale.
(cd.mazurat)
As you may or may not be aware, last night saw two bombs go off in the centre of Kampala, Uganda. Reports are conflicting but there are estimates of between 20 and 40 dead. Both bombs occured as crowds gathered to watch the World Cup Finale.
When I called Erika this morning, it was the first that anyone at the Resource Centre had heard of the bombings. They were all very surprised and my call instituted a flurry of internet checking for news. Needless to say, no one in the Niteo family was in any way harmed by these acts.
The safety of the team is our first concern, always. Karine and Erika will gather all the information they can to make the best decisions, but at this stage there are no plans to re-arrange their scheduled work.
The resource centre is in Ntinda, and all is well. They can hear the birds singing, children are laughing as they go to school, and the community is waking up to a normal day. Ntinda is far from the centre of Kampala (it's a suburb/regional district, like Langley to Vancouver) and so no one heard anything. They are safe and well and life is going on peacefully for them all.
In Kampala, Uganda
Africa is amazing. There are many words you could use to describe it, such as incredible, life changing... but I say its amazing.
We got on the plane to London in good spirits. Yay! were going to AFRICA!!!, by the end of that plane ride... not so much. I hadn't slept the whole time. As we landed I fell asleep. Then they had problems waking me up. We then had 9 hours in the London airport to shop. After that we got on the plane going to Entebbe. I fell asleep before we took off. After we landed we went to Kampala by van. It was the wildest driving I have ever seen. The whole city seems to know how to drive there but no foreigner would stand a chance. We have had many close calls but John (our driver) seems to know what he's doing. Then we got to the resource center. It is a building surrrounded by a wall with glass shards on the top. I can only think this is to keep people from jumping the walls. Then we had lunch and some preschoolers came and sang us songs and wanted hugs. After we all got setteled we went for another thrilling ride to supper. The resturant we were heading for was in a building that we had to pass through security to get into. The guards have huge shotguns... and the police... AK47's. Well we had some delightful chinese food at a resturant called Fang Fang's. Then finally, sleep!
The next day we went to the Kawanda Music, Dance and Drama Competition as honored guests. There we learned many things about school in Uganda. The school there starts at 7 am and goes till 5 pm. Often the kids have to bring a desk to class cause there isn't enough in each class. We gave the school science equipement and art supplies. We then went to the competition. That was the most amazing dancing I will ever see I think. Then... way later a singer (singing in luganda) pulled me on stage and danced with me. Well I was terrible, she kept telling me to do stuff but i couldn't understand. What ever, everyone laughed at me... her name is Sylvia Namagenyi.
The next day (sunday) we went to the Watoto church. It was very good. Some kids did a dance to waving flag... they were doing like backflips and jumping off eachothers backs and stuff. Then we went to a resturant called Sam's where I ate crocodile. It was really good. Next we were off to the market. It was fun bartering and I got stuff for some people. That night was world cup final. We couldyn't go to anything and that was good because 2 or 3 bombs went off and killed many people.
Today in the morning we had a heart wrenching time at Sanyu's Baby Orphanage. It was hard seeing all the children. They just loved the visitors and it was so sad when they would start to cry and scream beause we couldn't hold them. We then went to the Neteete school for the living hope. Some young children were outside the school yelling Muzungu (white person) at us. We got a tour of the school. The primary shacks were just some boards with a tin roof. We got to teach a class for a while. They asked questions about Canada and we taught them about the contienents.
I am now going to go to bed cause im really tired. Good night. - Dylan
We got on the plane to London in good spirits. Yay! were going to AFRICA!!!, by the end of that plane ride... not so much. I hadn't slept the whole time. As we landed I fell asleep. Then they had problems waking me up. We then had 9 hours in the London airport to shop. After that we got on the plane going to Entebbe. I fell asleep before we took off. After we landed we went to Kampala by van. It was the wildest driving I have ever seen. The whole city seems to know how to drive there but no foreigner would stand a chance. We have had many close calls but John (our driver) seems to know what he's doing. Then we got to the resource center. It is a building surrrounded by a wall with glass shards on the top. I can only think this is to keep people from jumping the walls. Then we had lunch and some preschoolers came and sang us songs and wanted hugs. After we all got setteled we went for another thrilling ride to supper. The resturant we were heading for was in a building that we had to pass through security to get into. The guards have huge shotguns... and the police... AK47's. Well we had some delightful chinese food at a resturant called Fang Fang's. Then finally, sleep!
The next day we went to the Kawanda Music, Dance and Drama Competition as honored guests. There we learned many things about school in Uganda. The school there starts at 7 am and goes till 5 pm. Often the kids have to bring a desk to class cause there isn't enough in each class. We gave the school science equipement and art supplies. We then went to the competition. That was the most amazing dancing I will ever see I think. Then... way later a singer (singing in luganda) pulled me on stage and danced with me. Well I was terrible, she kept telling me to do stuff but i couldn't understand. What ever, everyone laughed at me... her name is Sylvia Namagenyi.
The next day (sunday) we went to the Watoto church. It was very good. Some kids did a dance to waving flag... they were doing like backflips and jumping off eachothers backs and stuff. Then we went to a resturant called Sam's where I ate crocodile. It was really good. Next we were off to the market. It was fun bartering and I got stuff for some people. That night was world cup final. We couldyn't go to anything and that was good because 2 or 3 bombs went off and killed many people.
Today in the morning we had a heart wrenching time at Sanyu's Baby Orphanage. It was hard seeing all the children. They just loved the visitors and it was so sad when they would start to cry and scream beause we couldn't hold them. We then went to the Neteete school for the living hope. Some young children were outside the school yelling Muzungu (white person) at us. We got a tour of the school. The primary shacks were just some boards with a tin roof. We got to teach a class for a while. They asked questions about Canada and we taught them about the contienents.
I am now going to go to bed cause im really tired. Good night. - Dylan
The Love Trip
Africa is incredible!
The worst thing so far has been the 33 hour plane ride. I'm titling this trip the love trip because everyone is in LOVE with everything. On the way in we loved the trees and the colorfulness and the smokey smell and everything in between.
The first day we got here our driver, John, didn't press the brake at all. There are no speed limits and no stop signs and no LIGHTS!!! The traffic is ridiculous, there are motorbikers with no helmets and girls ride side saddle on the back, the motor bikes swerve in and out of traffic people honk for you to move out of the way there is no order to this place.
When we got to the resource center some preschoolers came and sang us songs, gave us pictures and gave us hugs. There was another Malcolm who was such a little troublemaker, He would wander off from the group and go in a tent, they would find him and he would wander off again, I decided that his name is Malcolm and i need a picture with him. After that we had breakfast then relaxed for awhile, for dinner we went to Fang Fang's. Fang Fang's is a chinese restaurant that is extremely good,we got home and we saw the guard that is on night duty, he has a bow as big as me.
The next day we went to the Kawanda music festival, and it was great.The dancing and singing from all the houses was fantabulous. One of my friends got pulled up on stage with the ugandan version of Rhianna! It was funny he was so nevous but he was great.
We went to church on sunday morning to the Watoto church,which was great and I loved, there was lots of singing and they had a group do a dance to a wavin' flag by K'Naan. After church we went to Sam's, a restaurant that serves crocodile, and had lunch. I got a curry but i tried a piece of crocodile and it was fantastic! Then we went to a market where we started tho buy and barter for stuff, I got lots of stuff including a Uganda soccer jersey.
The sanyu baby orphanage was really fun, the people working there are sooo good at what they do. When we first got there I had the impression that it was going to be very unorganized and unsanitary. At first we got there and played with the kids for a while then we had "tea" time (milk or juice) then teeth brushing,washroom and then we had silent reading. At the orphanage I had a new best friend, his name was Brian, he was the second one to greet me but he was soo nice.He would sit with me and read then leave and put it back then come and relax in my lap. At one point he left and a little girl sat in my lap, Brian came back and tried to sit behind her, I tried to tell him to sit next tome but he stayed stong and finally the girl left and he sat down. The teachers are great there at the end to leave the teacher would ask you to say your name and even if you pronounced it wrong then she would sing a song and you could leave. She sang the same song for each person but each kid had ther little moment to shine cause they would dance their way out the door. When they heard their named called their faces just lit up and they did a little jig.Before we left we stopped at the gift shop and bought more stuff.I spent more money in one shop than I did at a market with 25 + stores. We ate lunch and then left for Neteete.
At Neteete the first thing I see is a little girl jumping up and down saying " A Mzungu A Mzungu" (white person). It was soo fun there,we got into two's and went to a classroom and they asked questions about Canada like, do you have bananas, do you grow bananas and do you eat bananas.They also asked what do you eat, do you have supermarkets, do you have snow, and what animals live in canada. They were quite amazed when we told them that we keep dogs as pets and feed them special food. After we were done answering questions they told us a bit about Uganda. Here there are seasons for food one season for bananas one for potatoes one for rice and so on and so forth. After we got back a tailor came to get our mesurments for anything we wanted made, I got a button up t-shirt and my friend got a traditional african t-shirt. It is soo amazing here!!! Good night Everyone.
Malcolm
The worst thing so far has been the 33 hour plane ride. I'm titling this trip the love trip because everyone is in LOVE with everything. On the way in we loved the trees and the colorfulness and the smokey smell and everything in between.
The first day we got here our driver, John, didn't press the brake at all. There are no speed limits and no stop signs and no LIGHTS!!! The traffic is ridiculous, there are motorbikers with no helmets and girls ride side saddle on the back, the motor bikes swerve in and out of traffic people honk for you to move out of the way there is no order to this place.
When we got to the resource center some preschoolers came and sang us songs, gave us pictures and gave us hugs. There was another Malcolm who was such a little troublemaker, He would wander off from the group and go in a tent, they would find him and he would wander off again, I decided that his name is Malcolm and i need a picture with him. After that we had breakfast then relaxed for awhile, for dinner we went to Fang Fang's. Fang Fang's is a chinese restaurant that is extremely good,we got home and we saw the guard that is on night duty, he has a bow as big as me.
The next day we went to the Kawanda music festival, and it was great.The dancing and singing from all the houses was fantabulous. One of my friends got pulled up on stage with the ugandan version of Rhianna! It was funny he was so nevous but he was great.
We went to church on sunday morning to the Watoto church,which was great and I loved, there was lots of singing and they had a group do a dance to a wavin' flag by K'Naan. After church we went to Sam's, a restaurant that serves crocodile, and had lunch. I got a curry but i tried a piece of crocodile and it was fantastic! Then we went to a market where we started tho buy and barter for stuff, I got lots of stuff including a Uganda soccer jersey.
The sanyu baby orphanage was really fun, the people working there are sooo good at what they do. When we first got there I had the impression that it was going to be very unorganized and unsanitary. At first we got there and played with the kids for a while then we had "tea" time (milk or juice) then teeth brushing,washroom and then we had silent reading. At the orphanage I had a new best friend, his name was Brian, he was the second one to greet me but he was soo nice.He would sit with me and read then leave and put it back then come and relax in my lap. At one point he left and a little girl sat in my lap, Brian came back and tried to sit behind her, I tried to tell him to sit next tome but he stayed stong and finally the girl left and he sat down. The teachers are great there at the end to leave the teacher would ask you to say your name and even if you pronounced it wrong then she would sing a song and you could leave. She sang the same song for each person but each kid had ther little moment to shine cause they would dance their way out the door. When they heard their named called their faces just lit up and they did a little jig.Before we left we stopped at the gift shop and bought more stuff.I spent more money in one shop than I did at a market with 25 + stores. We ate lunch and then left for Neteete.
At Neteete the first thing I see is a little girl jumping up and down saying " A Mzungu A Mzungu" (white person). It was soo fun there,we got into two's and went to a classroom and they asked questions about Canada like, do you have bananas, do you grow bananas and do you eat bananas.They also asked what do you eat, do you have supermarkets, do you have snow, and what animals live in canada. They were quite amazed when we told them that we keep dogs as pets and feed them special food. After we were done answering questions they told us a bit about Uganda. Here there are seasons for food one season for bananas one for potatoes one for rice and so on and so forth. After we got back a tailor came to get our mesurments for anything we wanted made, I got a button up t-shirt and my friend got a traditional african t-shirt. It is soo amazing here!!! Good night Everyone.
Malcolm
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Musings after 4 hours of sleep...
The question is not: Are you a global citizen but rather: What type of global citizen are you?
This was one of the statements that really hit me at the UN conference I attended in April. It’s true that we are all now global citizens because of media, Internet and basic ease of travel. We know “everything” that is happening in the world around us at the click of a mouse button.
But what type of global citizen are you?
This is my third trip to Uganda and lying in my bed at 2:30am and listening to the sounds of the city made me feel like I was back where I needed to be. I cannot explain what it is that I feel inside of me except to say that it is like a tingle that reassures me in what I am doing. I feel right here despite appearing out of place.
Having the three youths with us this time is very exciting. They are seeing Uganda with young eyes and already they are making statements that show they appreciate how different life is at home. Emily shared from her journal that while there is so much poverty evident, the people seem so happy. Dylan, who had what I would consider a mortifying experience yesterday when he was dragged on stage in front of hundreds of spectators to dance with a local celebrity at Kawanda (what a good sport!), said that he felt very proud of himself for making it here. He also commented on how he would never complain about school and the hours he had to attend ever again! Malcolm watches the people carrying huge loads on their heads and backs and has vowed not to complain about his backpack and skateboard ever again.
These three are global citizens because they have come to see for themselves what life is like in sub-Saharan Africa. They are adding another dimension to their friends’ global citizenship by facebooking every night and letting them know what is happening. And they will also continue this by being the voice for the youth here when they talk to their peers and show photos about what they have experienced.
Sam put I beautifully at dinner on Friday when he said that bringing these three students to Uganda was like the tap roots forming on a plant. These three will motivate other youth to be involved, to care and to serve the global community.
Several years ago, the Dalai Lama had a meeting with various leaders from around the world to discuss what the greatest challenge the modern world was facing. After much debate, it was decided that youth apathy was the greatest challenge. Seeing Dylan, Emily and Malcolm here and hearing all their comments about loving everything around them here, I think these three global citizens are going to be the tap roots for establishing hope and nourishing minds.
The center is coming to life. The sun will appear in about 45 minutes and the adventure will continue.
I am truly a lucky person.
This was one of the statements that really hit me at the UN conference I attended in April. It’s true that we are all now global citizens because of media, Internet and basic ease of travel. We know “everything” that is happening in the world around us at the click of a mouse button.
But what type of global citizen are you?
This is my third trip to Uganda and lying in my bed at 2:30am and listening to the sounds of the city made me feel like I was back where I needed to be. I cannot explain what it is that I feel inside of me except to say that it is like a tingle that reassures me in what I am doing. I feel right here despite appearing out of place.
Having the three youths with us this time is very exciting. They are seeing Uganda with young eyes and already they are making statements that show they appreciate how different life is at home. Emily shared from her journal that while there is so much poverty evident, the people seem so happy. Dylan, who had what I would consider a mortifying experience yesterday when he was dragged on stage in front of hundreds of spectators to dance with a local celebrity at Kawanda (what a good sport!), said that he felt very proud of himself for making it here. He also commented on how he would never complain about school and the hours he had to attend ever again! Malcolm watches the people carrying huge loads on their heads and backs and has vowed not to complain about his backpack and skateboard ever again.
These three are global citizens because they have come to see for themselves what life is like in sub-Saharan Africa. They are adding another dimension to their friends’ global citizenship by facebooking every night and letting them know what is happening. And they will also continue this by being the voice for the youth here when they talk to their peers and show photos about what they have experienced.
Sam put I beautifully at dinner on Friday when he said that bringing these three students to Uganda was like the tap roots forming on a plant. These three will motivate other youth to be involved, to care and to serve the global community.
Several years ago, the Dalai Lama had a meeting with various leaders from around the world to discuss what the greatest challenge the modern world was facing. After much debate, it was decided that youth apathy was the greatest challenge. Seeing Dylan, Emily and Malcolm here and hearing all their comments about loving everything around them here, I think these three global citizens are going to be the tap roots for establishing hope and nourishing minds.
The center is coming to life. The sun will appear in about 45 minutes and the adventure will continue.
I am truly a lucky person.
"Imagine a World...
...where every child has a smile."
Saturday at Kawanda...
The students at Kawanda High School created a social and political commentary through their music, dance, and dramatic competition today! It was an inspiring cultural experience where children had a voice and expressed themselves with confidence.
Some of the highlights included the performing arts expressions on the Rights of the Child and on the progressing Eastern African Union. Not only was the festival experience novel, but the content was new and a testimony to progress.
Although we are only one sleep from the tiring, long journey where we didn't see a bed for about 45+ hours; today was a unique and fabulous experience at Kawanda.
Our connection with Kawanda goes back to 2007, when Erika participated in Teaching Together with those teachers.
The bigger picture...
Years ago, when I was writing my graduate studies project, I dreamt of teachers who would come to Uganda and connect with other educators. They would teach together and build relationships where collegial support and professional conversations abounded. Erika has achieved that goal and Kawanda is testimony to it.
Erika has nurtured long term relationships with the teachers at Kawanda and Niteo has been able to continue to partner with these fine educators. Now, we exchange ideas, we offer science resources, they gift us with their culture. It is reciprocity at its finest. It achieves our vision of "partnering with Ugandans to establish hope and to nourish minds."
I love it when dreams come true!
More from Africa soon...
Karine
Saturday at Kawanda...
The students at Kawanda High School created a social and political commentary through their music, dance, and dramatic competition today! It was an inspiring cultural experience where children had a voice and expressed themselves with confidence.
Some of the highlights included the performing arts expressions on the Rights of the Child and on the progressing Eastern African Union. Not only was the festival experience novel, but the content was new and a testimony to progress.
Although we are only one sleep from the tiring, long journey where we didn't see a bed for about 45+ hours; today was a unique and fabulous experience at Kawanda.
Our connection with Kawanda goes back to 2007, when Erika participated in Teaching Together with those teachers.
The bigger picture...
Years ago, when I was writing my graduate studies project, I dreamt of teachers who would come to Uganda and connect with other educators. They would teach together and build relationships where collegial support and professional conversations abounded. Erika has achieved that goal and Kawanda is testimony to it.
Erika has nurtured long term relationships with the teachers at Kawanda and Niteo has been able to continue to partner with these fine educators. Now, we exchange ideas, we offer science resources, they gift us with their culture. It is reciprocity at its finest. It achieves our vision of "partnering with Ugandans to establish hope and to nourish minds."
I love it when dreams come true!
More from Africa soon...
Karine
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