I thought I would send along a recap of my trip to Kamdini. I know this is a bit long (sorry), but there was much to do and experience while I was here, I couldn’t pick which to eliminate so I’ll share it all.
Community Engagement - Cases
My first Tuesday morning we headed out to the villages with one of Ignite Changes’s caseworkers, Betty to meet with families and people from cases Ignite Change is involved with:
One family with a mentally ill child (they are helping provide treatment and medication),
One rape survivor (Betty is working with a sweet lady from the village who works at the medical clinic and is helping with placement/temporary housing for stability while the case is being investigated, which is far from over) and
An 85 year old grandmother who has been taking care of her two grandaughters (ages 8 and 10) because she has no other family left. They have been homeless for a period of time and needs housing (Ignite Change has plans to put a hut up for her asap).
This is definitely one of the hardest parts of this trip - to see people living in such extreme conditions. Huts for homes, cooking on an open fire, no shoes, clothes in grave disrepair and kiddos who will probably never travel more than a few miles from home their entire lives.
Youth Empowerment - Graduation for Young Mothers
The second Monday here was a true delight! I was able to attend the Young Mothers graduation in one of the nearby villages that Ignite Change serves. Mere words cannot describe the pride, joy and overall feeling of gratitude and accomplishment expressed by 55 lovely young ladies who came through the program led by Ignite Change, specifically the project officer, Colline. Just by listening to them speak (some through a translator) - it was apparent how much confidence they now had prior to the beginning of classes. Not only transforming their lives, but also the lives of their immediate families (there was one husband that spoke who had everyone in stitches talking about the remarkable change in his wife) and even into the village who will see the impact moving forward. It was amazing to hear of their newly formed businesses and how numerous ladies have come to know Jesus! At the end of the program, each young lady received a certificate of completion, a Bible translated into their native language and a mosquito net (a must-have for the prevention of malaria). I could tell how grateful they were!
Visit to Other Vocational Schools
To get an idea of Vocational Schools in the area for the upcoming Ignite Change build, on Tuesday we were off to see Vocational Schools in the area. The government school was very run down, classrooms were very basic (desks and blackboards) there was clearly a lack of tools, and the dorms were overcrowded. We were watching some of the students practicing laying bricks and it was visible to the naked eye that the rows were unlevel. The students were not even using a level which I believe is a necessary tool for this type of work. Unfortunately, the government schools are poorly run and staffed.
Professional Development Training on Child Development
On Wednesday I led a class for the Ignite Change staff on Child Development. We talked about appropriate ways to instruct and talk to children, open-ended questions, and language development. In Uganda children are “seen and not heard”; - and too often children are yelled at and, unfortunately, hit for correction. At the end of class, staff started sharing stories about their childhoods. One staff member said he was so happy the day his father died because he would no longer have to endure beatings. Another shared how she was sure the lady in her home was not her mother, (which she was indeed her mother) because the lady was so mean to her. Their stories were heartbreaking and situations I could never imagine. Needless to say, I was in tears listening to their stories. However, it did give us the opportunity to discuss how our Heavenly Father loves us! and how Jesus modeled the perfect example of love throughout his life on earth! We looked at numerous Bible verses to support how we are to treat others, including our children! At the end, each staff member was up to the challenge to be the change so desperately needed here moving forward, not only in their own families, but to share with neighbors and those who they come into contact with through their work. Praise God!
…. to be continued. Part 2 will be posted soon.
