I started volunteering at an orphanage from 9-5 on Thursday (and also went Friday). I am absolutely loving it so far. There are about 60 kids – from a couple months old til about 4 years are so. They are really cute – some have lots of personality and I am having a great time playing with them, reading to them and helping to feed them and put them to bed. By the end of the day I am absolutely exhausted from running around all day. So far I am the only volunteer – there are quite a lot of “moms” – prob. at least 15 in the day, all Ugandan women who are lots of fun. They sing and dance lots and always have lots to say.
I’m still in the process of trying to arrange a health placement that is a little more heath related (hopefully at the Jinja hospital). I am supposed to find out on Monday or Tuesday. If not I am starting to make some other connections that say that they may be able to help me get a volunteer placement at a clinic – or at least set up some meetings to learn more about the pandemic here.
Yesterday with the orphanage I got to go up to a village that is about half an hour away. Very rough ride getting there – and very different from life in Jinja. All of the houses in the village were made from mud (well that’s what it looked like) with frames from long sticks. The first thing I though of was that it reminded me of one of those “Save A Child” advertisements on TV. All the kids came and surrounded the car we were in and followed us everywhere. Really the worst poverty I have ever seen – all their clothes ripped, falling off, and dirty. But all the kids were REALLLY excited and absolutely beautiful and happy. We went up to this village, as the orphanage is helping 3 kids. One girl has a tumor on one side of her face so they are arranging for her to see a doctor in Jinja and then hopefully a surgeon in Kampala later on. Also, a girl named in Immaculate who I think had polio – and they provided a wheelchair for her (made of bike parts – so that she peddles with her hands). Really amazing. There was also another little boy, who has some kind of disease (has been to the doctor and they can’t figure it) – some kind of auto immune disease and is really, really sick. It’s frustrating – as they really have no access to health care (can’t afford first to get out of the village to get into Jinja, and secondly can’t afford to get health services). I left feeling guilty and gracious for everything I have, even all the stuff I have even here. It’s frustrating, but I also feel really inspired – and touched. Leaving the village all the kids ran to this feel and then chased the car down the road waving (It was really like out of a movie)!
I have today off. I met another Canadian girl, Tara, who is staying at the guesthouse and has been here since August. And another girl, Lindsay, who is with my NGO is coming this afternoon! Take care,
Lots of love.
Leslie.
I’m still in the process of trying to arrange a health placement that is a little more heath related (hopefully at the Jinja hospital). I am supposed to find out on Monday or Tuesday. If not I am starting to make some other connections that say that they may be able to help me get a volunteer placement at a clinic – or at least set up some meetings to learn more about the pandemic here.
Yesterday with the orphanage I got to go up to a village that is about half an hour away. Very rough ride getting there – and very different from life in Jinja. All of the houses in the village were made from mud (well that’s what it looked like) with frames from long sticks. The first thing I though of was that it reminded me of one of those “Save A Child” advertisements on TV. All the kids came and surrounded the car we were in and followed us everywhere. Really the worst poverty I have ever seen – all their clothes ripped, falling off, and dirty. But all the kids were REALLLY excited and absolutely beautiful and happy. We went up to this village, as the orphanage is helping 3 kids. One girl has a tumor on one side of her face so they are arranging for her to see a doctor in Jinja and then hopefully a surgeon in Kampala later on. Also, a girl named in Immaculate who I think had polio – and they provided a wheelchair for her (made of bike parts – so that she peddles with her hands). Really amazing. There was also another little boy, who has some kind of disease (has been to the doctor and they can’t figure it) – some kind of auto immune disease and is really, really sick. It’s frustrating – as they really have no access to health care (can’t afford first to get out of the village to get into Jinja, and secondly can’t afford to get health services). I left feeling guilty and gracious for everything I have, even all the stuff I have even here. It’s frustrating, but I also feel really inspired – and touched. Leaving the village all the kids ran to this feel and then chased the car down the road waving (It was really like out of a movie)!
I have today off. I met another Canadian girl, Tara, who is staying at the guesthouse and has been here since August. And another girl, Lindsay, who is with my NGO is coming this afternoon! Take care,
Lots of love.
Leslie.
2 comments:
Hiya Leslie! I just wanted to let you know that I am thoroughly enjoying reading your blog - it is such a wonderful thing that you are doing. Wonderful for the people you will meet and help and wonderful for you and your personal growth. I'm sure that you are tired at the end of the day, but I want to encourage you to keep on writing in your blog - even the most mundane things - because it will be something that you will cherish years from now (like when you get old and your memory goes like people my age!!!). I look forward to living in Uganda vicariously through you!
Take care Leslie and God bless!
Love,
Maggie :-)
p.s. I REALLY like your Ghandi quote and am in awe that you are actually living it. Way to go!!
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