URF Volunteer Newsletter

 This page features monthly newsletters written by our volunteers in Uganda.

<> April 20, 2008 (mid april)      <> April 2008 (early april)

 <> SEPTEMBER 2007               <> DECEMBER 2007

April 14 - 19, 2008,  by Melissa Schlichting

What got done:

• Took three women from women’s group to Masaka to go to hospital; had them checked out and treated.  Bought them each housewares: soap, cooking oil, detergent, paraffin, etc.
• Bought two pigs and brought them to their zones: Kalisizo and Kamusenene
• Took all furniture and housewares to Deo and Zaituni’s house (in the picture below)
• Took Deo and Zaituni to Masaka to buy clothing, undergarments, toiletries, and housewares
• Printed, laminated, and mounted library sections
• Cleaned and organized store room.  This was an epic task that Melissa was more than thrilled to engage in with Bridget.  Melissa’s OCD feels much better. 
• Picked up sign for school
• Pulled up all flooring in computer room and bought new flooring
• Walls, ceiling, and floor completed in office
• Drafted rules for the poultry project
• Taught three days of sex ed, and answered a plethora of questions from the upper level students, discovering and correcting misconceptions about sex, pregnancy, and STDs
• Two of the walls got completed for the chicken structure for the upper level class
• Held heated debate in debate class: “should women earn income?”  Proposition won.  Proposed next week’s debate: those who were proposition for “should women earn income” are now going to be opposition, and vise versa.  The winning team for this week will be taken to Masaka for lunch
• Found and trained a new drummer
• Met with Rotary Club to find out process for donations
• Bought materials for, constructed, and mounted library cards for all the books
• Brought Clare to the hospital; she had fallen off her bike and hurt her foot terribly.  Her mother brought us avocados as a thank you.
• Bridget received some funds for computer monitors from friends in Vancouver
• Bridget gained the courage to finally hit the turkey with a stick.  Fred is oh-so proud.  Melissa has opted to use her kung-fu skills to show the turkey who is boss.  Bridget is feeling inspired.

URF Volunteer Newsletter, September 2007

General

 The program has organized a regular meeting on every Monday. They will discuss goals, issues, the weekly schedule, and future projects at these meetings. In the coming month they plan to create a volunteer information guide for newly arriving volunteers.

Women's Empowerment Program

The three current volunteers Hannah Cunningham (US), Monic Nankya (Uganda), and Thirsa Borsje (The Netherlands) are working on extending the women's empowerment program to Kyetume. So far, a questionnaire has been developed to determine the areas of greatest need in the community. The topics covered in the survey include the following:

• CivicEducation

  • Women/children's rights

  • Domestic violence

• PrimaryHealthCare

  • HIV/AIDS awareness

  • Family planning

  • Availability of health care

• ParentingSkills

  • Health/Hygiene

  • Maternity care

  • Disciplining Children

  • Child Development

  • Community Involvement

  • Parental Relationships

• Education

  • English

  • Reading/Writing

• Economic Empowerment

  • Saving Money

Over the next month, the volunteers have plans to mobilize and survey the local women about their needs and interests. Once the greatest needs have been determined the program hopes to offer seminars, courses, and workshops to improve their living conditions. These programs hope to involve some of the local women in leadership roles. So far, three local teachers have offered their skills in leading seminars and discussions on various topics. The local clinic has also dedicated its skills in leading seminars on family planning, maternity care, and hygiene.

Family Outreach

Monic and Thirsa decided to identify the different needs in the community. Over the last few weeks the volunteers visited different families in the community and identified their needs. The target groups visited were: the elderly, people with physical or mental disabilities, and children lacking basic needs. All the reports and needs are being documented. After those with the greatest need are identified the program will begin to address their issues.

After School Program

Database

A computer file has been created because of the need of proper documentation and organization the after school program. All students attending the after school program have been documented in the new file.

The Hope Academy

The floors have been leveled off in three of the classrooms and they are now in usable condition. The after school program classes are now being held in the school building. The plans are to continue construction in the remainder of the building.

Parent me eting

The parents of the after school program children attended a meeting to discuss the program. The parents wanted to extend their  thanks to the program for helping supplement their children's education. The parents brought up their concerns with the program so that the coordinators could better address their issues. The open channels of communication allow the program to run more effectively and with the interests of the community in mind.

Social Skills Training
Every Friday the upper class attends Thirsa's program to improve social skills. The program includes different topics such as communication, identity, insecurity, emotions, setting boundaries, etc. One student's response was, “wow, you are going to change our minds! I will be able to communicate better with other people after your program. It is really interesting to know how my behavior has an influence on others and how I can change it.” The program will continue over the next coming months.

See PICTURES from after-school and volunteer activities