mama?

All these years I have resisted letting children in Uganda call me 'mama'. I couldn't bear a child to call me mama and then when the time came I would have to leave them, there was something distinctly un-mamalike about leaving the child that calls you mama. There was also a little bit of vanity coming in there too. 'Mama' made me think of cooking, child bearing and big hips. Not something I was ready to link myself to just yet. So, I contented myself with being Sister Jane or Teacher Jane to all the children who knew me.

Then something changed, a shift in my understanding of what being a mama means in Uganda.

I was in the market with my little 10 year old deaf friend. The market is a crowded, busy, frenetic place and my little friend was clinging to my hand for dear life. Every stall I passed the vendors would grab my hand and try to persuade me with words or force to buy from them. One man stopped me and instead of the usual 'trying to sell me something I didn't need' patter he began by asking me if I was the mother of the girl holding my hand. A strange question. She is black, I am white. It would be a miracle equal to the immaculate conception if I had managed to give birth to her. He didn't wait for my answer, just added 'Thank you for being her mother.'

This encounter made me realise that in Uganda to be called mama does not mean that you have given birth to a child. It simply means that you are someone who has mothered. I am still not too keen on being called Mama but I have a new found understanding for the way that Ugandans appreciate all mothers - biological or not.

Could this be the Seeds School?

Isn't it beautiful? This week, we have been working back and forth with Uganda to try to secure this site for the Seeds School.

We're closing in on it, and I'll keep you posted.

Arts and Crafts for Sale

HI All,
Just thought you might like some photos of some of the children who have been involved with the craft work. There are other children not in the photos who were absent on the day we took them. These children have been such a pleasure to work with, so incredidbly enthusiastic and diligent. They are very very proud of their work and really feeling excited that they are helping raise money for i.HuG and therefore helping themselves and their friends. So spread the word Cincy people about Nov 10th fundraiser and the great children's craft work on sale.

jane

one week in

So, it is a week now since I left the USA. It amazes me how the things that concern me and give me pleasure have changed so dramatically in the space of a week. I am getting used to evenings without any electricity and finally am able to find the space and time to read extensively. Strange that I had to come to Uganda before the space could be carved out for me to do one of the things I really enjoy!

I have spent much time with the children of i.HUG and other children from the community. Their humour, politeness and compassion is impressive. I am doing a lot of craft work with them and they are revelling in it. The standard of their work is much higher than I expected. We are making decorations for Christmas trees at the moment and then we will move on the greetings cards and finally paintings and pictures that speak of their own lives. (All these will be sold at the NOV 10 fundraiser at Cincinnati - Cincinnati people come with your pockets full of pennies to buy these wonderfully handcrafted items... do I make a salesperson yet?!)

I have also spent a lot of time with some of the woman who volunteer at the child life centre with the children. On the surface they are always laughing, smiling, joking but after some time when they feel safe to talk they open up and talk of the things that make them anxious - lack of food, no income to pay the rent, fearof eviction, no means to get educated, fear that their children will get sick or hungry or that they will not be able to find enough money to buy them shoes. It is very hard to know what to say after hearing these worries. They are very real and affect every aspect of their lives. I have learnt to hold my toungue and avoid 'fixing' everything for people, at the same time listening and choosing not to help in any way feels somewhat voyeuristic. I really believe that if i.HUG helps the parents and guardians of the children we school then the children will be biggest benefactors. We have a lot of work to do people. Keep busy!

In Kabalagala ... at last

After much thinking, planning and dreaming I am finally here in Kabalagala. I came loaded up with books, toys, craft items for the school and very few clothes. My bag was inspected on the US side - I wonder what they must have thought about me. Will this traveller wear just two shirts throughout her whole trip?

I arrived at Entebbe airport to be greeted by an all embracing hug from Paddy and Dennis. I was very happy to see them.

On saturday I went to see my friend, who is just 10 years old, hearing impaired (deaf to you and I) and in a boarding school. I was disappointed to find that the head teacher who was an amazing teacher to both hearing and hearing impaired students had left. My small friend was glad to see me and just kept looking at me for a long time with no attempt to communicate. The teacher told me she had a bad cough and boy was that an understatement. By Monday, she not only had a cough but a confirmed case of malaria, worm and a possible chest infection. So I have not taken her back to school but carefully plan our days so I can dish out the pills she has to take throughout the day. (more than 15 pils per day) She has been spending a lot of time at the child life network center and has been enjoying something of a celebrity because of her sigh language skills. It has really cheering to watch her teach other children how to sign. Their willingness to learn another language so that they might accomodate her is really inspiring. Time is up. More soon

The 'Nati Gets Social

Pics from the Cincinnati i.HUG chapter's social. Volunteers got together to meet one another, and plan fundraisers for the fall. To break the ice, they also played a trivia game. Here's only one section of the questions. If you want the answers, you'll have to e-mail us at ihug@ihugfoundation.org

Round 2 – General Knowledge

1) “The British Uganda Program” was a plan to give a portion of British East Africa to the Jewish people as a homeland. True of False.
Answer _________________________________

2) In which African country can the Falasha Jews be found?

Answer__________________________________

3) Name the African countries which qualified for 2006 world cup (soccer)

Answer ______________________________________________________________


4) Which was the first African country to gain independence (from colonization)

Answer___________________________________

5) Which was the only African country that was not colonized?

Answer ___________________________________

6) Which African country has the largest population?

Answer ____________________________________

7) Which is the largest country in Africa (in terms of land)?

Answer ____________________________________

8) Africa is considered to be the origin of humankind. True or false.

Answer _____________________________________

9) In which African country was the biggest diamond in the world mined?

Answer _____________________________________

10) What was Zimbabwe’s former name?

Answer _____________________________________

The Different Areas of Kabalagala

Hi All
I thought you might be interested to have pin pointed the actual area that we are all working so hard to help. (See attached PDF map)

Find Kabalagala (to the south West of the city centre), then find 'Shires Pizza' Next to Shires Pizza is Eighth Street. Our sponsored children and our activities are focused on the Kabalagala end of Eigth street and the surrounding area. This is the area where there are lots of prostitutes, some as young as 12, street children and extreme crippling poverty. Sadly, many of the men who use these prostitutes are foreigners, they come to the discos and bars that you find advertised on the internet and then afterwards pay virtually nothing to local girls for their services. Paddy has much to say about his fight against prostitution in the area and their efforts to help these young girls....

So, if anyone asks you about Kabalagala and it being a rich area remember that New York is pretty rich but still there is a lot of poverty and a lot of not-for-profits working there! (We have had some questions from potential donors who have googled 'Kabalagala' and only found sites that talk about all it's discos, bars and restaurants which has made them ask the question 'Is this really a poor area?')

Jane