A Final Note from Mark

i.HUG volunteer Mark Webster offers us some thoughts that round our his experience running the self-esteem and conflict resolution programs for children in Kabalagala.
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Dear Jane,
Today is the last day! I am looking forward to awarding all 70! children their certificates. I know exactly what you meanvabout the way Uganda works but I know that we haven't minimized the effect of the work. I have taught
the teachers how to run workshops like this and they have told me that they have seen a change in the children already. I had insisted on evaluation sheets for all the children and the teachers - Hope has tolerated my bossiness for the past two weeks and has met all my demands.

After the workshops today I will be taking pictures of each group, the whole group and then just the iHUG kids - all with their certificates. I have also taken lots of other pictures - the village, the concert, the workshops etc. Paddy is going to download them onto his laptop. You may need to email him and get him to email them to you as I have not brought a lap top with me. I have not checked the iHUG site but Hope tells me that my blog is on there. I don't know which photo of me you arereferring to or who took it.

The village was great as I hope I expressed in my blog. I'm afraid I don't know which children I met were the ones you got to know so well. There was one very funny little guy called Samsa who kept us all entertained.

Hope ensures me that the iHUG children have all written letters to their sponsors so you may want to instruct him or Paddy about what you want to be done with them.

I have had such a brilliant time here. It has been a real eye opener and a great way to start my adventure. Thank you so much for your help in setting this up. I leave with some sadness and wonder if I will ever return - it would be great to see your school and check up on how the childrens' centre has put into practice some of my ideas.

Cheers, Markx.