I’m speechless. Well not enough to keep this story from you ☺
Yesterday was a day we’ve been unknowingly awaiting for over three years. The beginning of Dwon Madiki was a dream, a vision, and eventually one that took reality by storm.
But since then the partnership has demanded something very different in order to grow. In place of us, the “far-off American students”, administering and guiding Dwon Madiki, it is time for something new. Something organic. Something original. Something unique.
What is that something? A painful, hopeful letting go…
Those of us who have seen Dwon Madiki grow from a spark of an idea into a running, skipping child are finally being called to a bittersweet moment. And yesterday was the beginning of that moment.
The five of us gathered on the office lawn with Grace, her daughter Florence, Father Eric, a few guardians, the Local Council leader, our office landlord, an Invisible Children staff, and about fifteen nominated local professionals.
Why? To form the first interim Board of Directors for Dwon Madiki.
This decision has been a long time coming because in essence its implications are more than simply administrative. Its implications reach as far as our worldview. It caused us, the Americans, to stare challenging questions straight on.
Do we honestly believe that a group of local Ugandans is as capable to lead Dwon Madiki as a group of “highly educated Americans” would be?
Who would be able to lead the organization with flawless love of the community?
Who knows the tragedy and hope of Uganda with enough depth to envision its future?
And our questions answered themselves at the meeting yesterday as we all sat, observing, stepping back for the first time, our mouths shut (for the most part), and our minds and hearts twirling.
The meeting began with Father Eric, now the head of what we’re deeming the “Steering Committee” which consists of us (the donors), Grace Odonga, and Father Eric. The Steering Committee has been overseeing the formation of an Interim Board and will reserve the power to monitor and even dissolve the Board if necessary.
A prayer opened the meeting, as usually in Uganda. And we shared our organization’s history with the guests. Everyone introduced themselves. The need for our first, Ugandan, interim Board of Directors was explained. And from there we were to move into the very planned and precise process of silent ballots and short platforms from each of the nominees.
And here is where we began to let go of our “child” Dwon Madiki and give her back to her true parents, the community of Lacor, of Gulu District, of Northern Uganda.
As the plans disappeared and the guests took charge of the voting process, all five of us were left in awe, in silent laughter, in tears, in confusion, and in immense anticipation.
It was decided that paper not be used for the votes… “Transparency is best” one of the parents suggested with a chuckle. And before we knew it, Father Eric began to take his role as MC: “Nominations for president of the Board? Ok, someone to second that? More nominations? Ok, these are the three nominees. Now they’ll leave the room for us to discuss their competency.”
This wasn’t the plan… we already have nominees. We were going to vote on specific positions in the next meeting. Today was to simply vote on the 7 members. Why aren’t we using paper ballots? We haven’t even heard enough from the nominees, my worries began to roll in.
“Wait” one of us asked. “What is going on? How many people have been nominated? This is for the president of the Board? And the floor’s been closed?”
The Ugandans around the circle were certain, they knew their process, and they weren’t lost like we were. They reassured us that things were going smoothly, and we sighed inwardly, trusting their competency.
I felt as if I was walking an over eager golden retriever on a leash that was ready to snap. Snap, maybe because of the energy spouting from the lively souls at the meeting. Snap, maybe because freedom for the organization was begging to be granted. Snap, maybe because it wasn’t my turn any more to be telling her where to go.
Well, the leash did snap. And I’ll be forever a better person because of it. Ugandans have no fear in them. Those who are competent share their competencies without pride and without false humility. And they are quick to recognize those competencies in each other without hesitation. They admit openly when they cannot rise to the occasion or fulfill the role, backing down respectfully from the nomination. They are fervent for a balance of gender, calling for at least three women on a Board of seven people.
“One reason African is behind is the lack of women in leadership,” the newly elected secretary added in an attempt to convince our female landlord to accept the nomination. And she accepted gracefully.
Hellen Ogik, one of the women nominees, was asked to fulfill multiple roles and she consistently backed down referring to herself as simply a well-wisher. After the her third nomination as treasurer and her third attempt at declining, the newly elected president, Patrick, stood. “Hellen, I humbly ask you to reconsider. If you are truly a well-wisher, you will not be simply wishing the organization well. You will rise to use your experience in finance as a civil servant and you will be a well-wisher by doing rather than by simply wishing. As a woman with knowledge of finance, you will be wishing the organization its best by giving of your time and experience.” And Hellen rose, accepting the nomination.
When it came time to elect the last of 7 Board members, three men were nominated. One of them, Miller, is a local businessman with experience on Boards in his community. His spirit is endlessly cheerful and his humor and smile bubble over. He left the circle with the other two, and immediately Hellen spoke on behalf of him “He is a man of business, trustworthy and dependable, with a family and children of his own. When you call him, he is ever there.” Then the LC1 (local council), sat forward “Miller, ah, he is very capable, and not to mention, he is my buddy.”
The men returned to the meeting, the winner was announced by Father Eric, “Miller, you have won the vote for the last member of the Board.” With his eyes glistening, Miller shouted, “And just now, I was praying even!”
By the time all new members had been elected, lightning was fighting through me up out my eyes in hidden tears and laughter and disbelief. I couldn’t have chosen the more perfect people.
President: Patrick (A young, inspirational man who currently works at a non-profit. He is extremely scripted in Boards and how they work, and he has written a comprehensive book about Uganda and its recent struggles.)
Vice-President: Father Eric (A clergyman and teacher at Lacor Seminary, where only 10 years ago over 40 seminaries were taken by the LRA.)
Secretary: Chagga (A younger man who currently works at a CBO for youth in Lacor.)
Treasurer: Hellen (A retired civil servant who owns a business in town. Her son was abducted by the LRA from Lacor Seminary and is one of few who escaped and returned home.)
Member: Florence (Our kind-hearted landlord and nurse at Lacor Hospital. She is a woman who struggled with her husband harvesting sugar cane to become a nurse and build our beautiful office by hand.)
Member: Lucy (An older, quiet woman from the rural village and a nurse whose husband was shot by the LRA.)
Member: Miller (The jolly local businessman with years of experience on local Boards.)
Needless to say these people are ready and fully apt to carry Dwon Madiki farther than was ever expected. Their vision is for these 20 children to return from school someday, as doctors, as teachers, as businessmen, as lawyers, contributing back to their own community. Their vision is intimately intertwined with their own destinies. Their vision is one and the same with the future of their homes and the progress of their people. Their vision does not belong to “us” anymore as the Americans. Their vision is theirs. And now we are free to contribute, to give, to share in that vision as best we can, forever recognizing that Ugandans are -yes are- actually more capable of guiding Dwon Madiki than we could ever be.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Other Uganda Blogs
As you know I'm here with friends from Chicago.
Sometimes they have pictures and/or stories that I don't have time to include!
Megan
http://megceleste.blogspot.com/
Elena
http://elenalovesuganda.wordpress.com/
Sometimes they have pictures and/or stories that I don't have time to include!
Megan
http://megceleste.blogspot.com/
Elena
http://elenalovesuganda.wordpress.com/
a view of life in Uganda and the USA
Lately we’ve been visiting the guardians of the kids in Dwan Madiki in order to better understand each individual situation and household. We’ve designed a survey that takes more than 2 hours and is so specific that it literally narrows down "How many people live in your household?" “How many jerry cans do you own?” "How many mosquito nets do you own?" "How many times a week do you eat meat/vegetables/fruit?”
The idea is that once we’ve done this with each family, a detailed, accurate picture will be painted of each child’s home life, and therefore, we and the Board of Directors will be able to form programs that benefit not just the kids but their entire families!
We’ve all been flooded with realizations because of these surveys. Some of them reflect the immense difference between life here and life in the
Katie: I live in a home with 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a living room, a dining room, a sunroom, and a kitchen. I share it with two friends.
Katie: I’m 23, I went to university, and I can read and write.
Katie: I have about 5 outfits (sets of clothing) on this trip and a closet full at home in
Katie: I have no husband and no children.
Katie: My clean water source is 6 steps from my bedroom to my sink.
Katie: When I go to the supermarket, the month doesn’t matter. I can get fruit and veggies any time!
Katie: When I get low on toothpaste, I run to Walgreens or CVS.
Katie: I have a plant in my living room that I sometimes forget to water!
Katie: My portion of rent in my
Katie: My means of transportation in
Katie: When my guests come, I invite them in and we talk.
But the thing is, this 6,000 UGS is 10% of my monthly income. So if I lived in the United States with a yearly income of $60,000, then my gift would be worth 10% of my monthly income which would be $500. In essence I was living in the
Katie: I tell my guests when I need to go, because my life is so busy and I can’t get behind on my plans! I tell them to come by anytime, which implies give me a call, we’ll make plans, and maybe someday we’ll spend time together again.
Gosh…. I didn’t even realize how crazy it is to compare lives like this. I felt a lot of this when we were doing the assessment with her the other day, but to see these juxtaposed leaves me speechless. It's just a reminder of how intertwined life is, and therefore how seemingly impossible it can be to break these systems. Every aspect of poverty is both a result and a cause of every other aspect....
Water from the bore hole is far, so there is less time to work in the garden, so there are less crops to eat, so there are less crops to sell in the market, so there is less money to buy mosquito nets, so there is more chance of contracting malaria, so there is more need for a doctor, but no money to pay him/her, so there is more sickness and weakness, so there is less energy to go fetch water at the bore hole.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
bodas and celebrations
Monday, June 15, 2009
progress for Dwan Madiki
The past few days we have made so much progress with our vision for the Dwan Madiki Partnership, so I figured it's finally time to give an update!
Our goals for the summer have slightly shifted but that's because the needs of the organization and the people have changed.
After numerous meetings here with those of us from Invisible Conflicts and local representatives of Dwan Madiki (like Grace), we have come to a consensus that Dwan Madiki Partership's (DMP) most pressing need is:
We have met countless people from NPO's, INGO's (International Non-Gov Organizations), and CBOs (Community Based Organizations). And from 100% of them (especially local Ugandans) we have heard that they often put the most faith in CBOs.
Why?
Well, generally speaking a CBO is guided and administrated by local professionals through a Board of Directors. So the idea is that, in essence, we (as foreigners) do not have the cultural-understanding to be able to "lead" or "make the decisions" anymore. Rather than us working from the US, this Board of Directors will intimately know the culture, the community, its needs, and its resources as they pertain to DMP.
Concretely here's how we've moved forward in this. There have been 2 major meetings recently that have filled us with so much inspiration and hope for the future of DMP.
1) Through Grace and Father Leonsyo, we've been connected with a priest who lives IN Lacor (outside of Gulu) where DMP is based. He already knows all of the guardians and is a teacher at the local seminary. Saturday we hosted a Ugandan-style meeting, which means there is ALWAYS food served. In the presence of Father Leonsyo and Grace, I got to represent our group to him, explaining that we are in a place of change for DMP and would love his guidance on finding a Board of Directors. Needless to say, he responded speaking of "sharing and sacrifice" in life, "the gift of the work we do for his people", and his "eager willingness to move forward with us to develop Dwan Madiki".
In other words, we have an extremely trustworthy, educated, community member now guiding us through the process of finding a Board!
2) Then on Sunday, Grace had organized a gathering with the Guardians' Association of DMP for us to meet them and communicate about our summer goals. We heard from the Chairman and others who's words mainly shared the recent difficulties due to the lack of a Board of Directors. We all responded together with excitement to find that they (separate of us) and we (separate of them) have all come to the same realization that a Board of Directors is the most important need of DMP for the summer.
The guardians then presented us with a gift (very parent-like) of avocados, mangos, bread, butter, and toilet paper! They gave us our Acholi names... and thanked us for our presence and aid to them in these hard times.
Our goals for the summer have slightly shifted but that's because the needs of the organization and the people have changed.
After numerous meetings here with those of us from Invisible Conflicts and local representatives of Dwan Madiki (like Grace), we have come to a consensus that Dwan Madiki Partership's (DMP) most pressing need is:
a local, Ugandan Board of Directors
We have met countless people from NPO's, INGO's (International Non-Gov Organizations), and CBOs (Community Based Organizations). And from 100% of them (especially local Ugandans) we have heard that they often put the most faith in CBOs.
Why?
Well, generally speaking a CBO is guided and administrated by local professionals through a Board of Directors. So the idea is that, in essence, we (as foreigners) do not have the cultural-understanding to be able to "lead" or "make the decisions" anymore. Rather than us working from the US, this Board of Directors will intimately know the culture, the community, its needs, and its resources as they pertain to DMP.
Concretely here's how we've moved forward in this. There have been 2 major meetings recently that have filled us with so much inspiration and hope for the future of DMP.
1) Through Grace and Father Leonsyo, we've been connected with a priest who lives IN Lacor (outside of Gulu) where DMP is based. He already knows all of the guardians and is a teacher at the local seminary. Saturday we hosted a Ugandan-style meeting, which means there is ALWAYS food served. In the presence of Father Leonsyo and Grace, I got to represent our group to him, explaining that we are in a place of change for DMP and would love his guidance on finding a Board of Directors. Needless to say, he responded speaking of "sharing and sacrifice" in life, "the gift of the work we do for his people", and his "eager willingness to move forward with us to develop Dwan Madiki".
In other words, we have an extremely trustworthy, educated, community member now guiding us through the process of finding a Board!
2) Then on Sunday, Grace had organized a gathering with the Guardians' Association of DMP for us to meet them and communicate about our summer goals. We heard from the Chairman and others who's words mainly shared the recent difficulties due to the lack of a Board of Directors. We all responded together with excitement to find that they (separate of us) and we (separate of them) have all come to the same realization that a Board of Directors is the most important need of DMP for the summer.
The guardians then presented us with a gift (very parent-like) of avocados, mangos, bread, butter, and toilet paper! They gave us our Acholi names... and thanked us for our presence and aid to them in these hard times.
What's my Acholi name????
Lakica. (la-ki-sha) It means, kind or merciful one.
Lakica. (la-ki-sha) It means, kind or merciful one.
The Slaughtering: CAUTION
One hot afternoon in Pajule, Pade, we were told a goat was to be slaughtered to feed us dinner. We've never received a live gift like that before... it has been alive for 1.5 years and was large enough to feed over 40 people!
We all gathered around, banana leaves covered the red dirt ground, and children began to circle around to watch us watching the goat.
A local Acholi man was asked to kill the goat, and as he began to cut the noise was so painful that I had to cover my ears. I has started filming and literally had to stop because I felt like I was invading some kind of sacred privacy of the goat's death.
That night I could barely eat one piece of that meat... makes me realized just how separated we are in the US from our food. We never have to plant it, ask for rain, kill our animals, tear the feathers off or skin them. We simply go to a grocery and buy what looks appetizing. Well, I can assure you, the sound of a goat dying and the look of it is definitely not appetizing!
Here's some pictures from that day and I'll post a video of some women laughing at my 'freak-out' reaction!
PHOTOS of GOAT
We all gathered around, banana leaves covered the red dirt ground, and children began to circle around to watch us watching the goat.
A local Acholi man was asked to kill the goat, and as he began to cut the noise was so painful that I had to cover my ears. I has started filming and literally had to stop because I felt like I was invading some kind of sacred privacy of the goat's death.
That night I could barely eat one piece of that meat... makes me realized just how separated we are in the US from our food. We never have to plant it, ask for rain, kill our animals, tear the feathers off or skin them. We simply go to a grocery and buy what looks appetizing. Well, I can assure you, the sound of a goat dying and the look of it is definitely not appetizing!
Here's some pictures from that day and I'll post a video of some women laughing at my 'freak-out' reaction!
PHOTOS of GOAT
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
on the road again...
Our first week here was travel, greet, travel, meet people, eat, travel, greet people, etc. You get the idea! It basically went:
Entebbe to Kampala to Gulu to Pajule to Puda to Pajule to Gulu
This video is......... (parents and grandparents beware) our means of travel from Gulu to Pajule. We couldn't all fit into the pickup trucks. So Megan, Nick, and I got in the back. The only thing is we were on TOP of all of our luggage and mattresses, bouncing around, holding on, with our feet stuck under the lip of the truck for leverage. And for those of you who know bad road, that added a whole different level. Imagine potholes the size of small ponds....haha.
At least the view was priceless.
At least the view was priceless.
a view of Southern Uganda
I wanted to show you the capital city, Kampala, in the South of Uganda, first so that then you have a context for understanding the North of the country. Looks impoverished right? Can you imagine this is what we first saw when we arrived... knowing that the North would be even more run down? That definitely made me curious to get to the North and see the comparison.
Here we are all of us (from Loyola Chicago, from UIC, and Father Leonsyo) piled into a 'mutatu', which is basically a small van used as a taxi. This is the view through the window out to the road through Kampala, the capital.
Here we are all of us (from Loyola Chicago, from UIC, and Father Leonsyo) piled into a 'mutatu', which is basically a small van used as a taxi. This is the view through the window out to the road through Kampala, the capital.
VIDEOS
I am so happy!
For the past week I've been searching for a way
to upload videos for everyone and I've figured it out!!!!!
For the past week I've been searching for a way
to upload videos for everyone and I've figured it out!!!!!
This first one is of Elena and Father Leonsyo. Father Leonsyo is a catholic priest from Pajule (where we later visited), but this video is outside the Fokolare house in Kampala soon after we arrived. Father Lesonsyo is so full of life and humor and welcomed us with such enthusiasm!
Photos Finally!
Here are a few photos finally! So, hold tight and enjoy the few posted on this site.
http://s673.photobucket.com/albums/vv91/katharinequinby/Uganda%20Album%201/
My biggest task now is to figure out how to post videos but internet is so extremely slow here that I'm not sure it will be possible.
http://s673.photobucket.com/albums/vv91/katharinequinby/Uganda%20Album%201/
My biggest task now is to figure out how to post videos but internet is so extremely slow here that I'm not sure it will be possible.
A trip to the hospital
I've recently learned that all of the kids in Dwan Madiki are actually still at their boarding schools until August. Sadly, we won't all be together here near the office, but that just means we get to go visit their individual schools!
The only student I HAVE gotten to meet is Atim Sharon... big smile, 14 years old, 1st in her class.
She came home recently with a toothache so I offered to go with her to the hospital today.
Picture this:
You are 14 years old.
8:00am the Lacor hospital gate opens
people flood in so quickly that you may need extra medication just for the headache
You wait 20-30 minutes for an entry receipt
You wait in line to meet with a Medical History doctor
You wait in line for the dentist about 1-2 hours
You have a tooth extracted without pain killers.
You spend another 40 minutes waiting in line for the Pharmacist to return.
You get your medicine.
Basically, Sharon and I spend 4 hours at the Lacor Hospital today waiting in lines, and all it cost for the visit, the tooth extraction, and the post-medicine was 7,000 schillings (about $3.50).
The least I could do afterwards was tell her how brave she was and buy her some cold milk!
The only student I HAVE gotten to meet is Atim Sharon... big smile, 14 years old, 1st in her class.
She came home recently with a toothache so I offered to go with her to the hospital today.
Picture this:
You are 14 years old.
8:00am the Lacor hospital gate opens
people flood in so quickly that you may need extra medication just for the headache
You wait 20-30 minutes for an entry receipt
You wait in line to meet with a Medical History doctor
You wait in line for the dentist about 1-2 hours
You have a tooth extracted without pain killers.
You spend another 40 minutes waiting in line for the Pharmacist to return.
You get your medicine.
Basically, Sharon and I spend 4 hours at the Lacor Hospital today waiting in lines, and all it cost for the visit, the tooth extraction, and the post-medicine was 7,000 schillings (about $3.50).
The least I could do afterwards was tell her how brave she was and buy her some cold milk!
Sunday, June 7, 2009
I am in Uganda!
Hi friends, family, everyone!
I’m in Lacor, Gulu District, Northern Uganda, Eastern Africa!!!!!
I know I haven’t had much contact over the past week and a half, but as you can probably imagine TIA. (This Is Africa, as we say here).
To answer some questions:
Yes, I’m alive!
Yes, I have lots of mosquito bites.
Yes, I’m taking my malaria medicine.
Yes, Internet is hard to come by.
Yes, I would LOVE LOVE LOVE it if you call me by Skype or a calling card on any of these numbers: 0777362132 0779947990 or 0777370955. Just don’t forget the Ugandan country code 256.
Yes, I wandered around London for a day.
Yes, I slept on the plane.
Yes, I’ve been traveling A LOT for the past week or so. From the airport (Entebbe) to the capital (Kampala) to where I’m staying (Gulu) to an even smaller town (Pajule) to one of the poorest villages in Uganda (Puda) back to home (Gulu).
Yes, Ugandan food is delicious, except when you’re already feeling nauseous.
Yes, I’m learning to speak Luo (the Acholi language)! I love Uganda: Amaro Uganda.
Yes, the kids stare at us in disbelief and call out to us “Munu!” (white person)
Yes, one kid has even cried because our pale skin scared him so much.
Yes, some of the places we’ve been have never seen "Munus".
Yes, I love it here.
And... no, I won’t go on forever… :)
Anyway, I’m going to put up some videos that may give you an idea of what life is like here. From the wealthy(er) Southern Uganda to the war-torn North, we have spend hours on buses, packed into cars, crammed in hot vans, and balancing on motorcycles.
Next time I’ll give more of a narrative on just a few of the unforgettable experiences I've had here.
I send my love and would LOVE to get a call.
PS. The best time for you to call (your time) is from when you wake up until about 3pm in the afternoon.
I’m in Lacor, Gulu District, Northern Uganda, Eastern Africa!!!!!
I know I haven’t had much contact over the past week and a half, but as you can probably imagine TIA. (This Is Africa, as we say here).
To answer some questions:
Yes, I’m alive!
Yes, I have lots of mosquito bites.
Yes, I’m taking my malaria medicine.
Yes, Internet is hard to come by.
Yes, I would LOVE LOVE LOVE it if you call me by Skype or a calling card on any of these numbers: 0777362132 0779947990 or 0777370955. Just don’t forget the Ugandan country code 256.
Yes, I wandered around London for a day.
Yes, I slept on the plane.
Yes, I’ve been traveling A LOT for the past week or so. From the airport (Entebbe) to the capital (Kampala) to where I’m staying (Gulu) to an even smaller town (Pajule) to one of the poorest villages in Uganda (Puda) back to home (Gulu).
Yes, Ugandan food is delicious, except when you’re already feeling nauseous.
Yes, I’m learning to speak Luo (the Acholi language)! I love Uganda: Amaro Uganda.
Yes, the kids stare at us in disbelief and call out to us “Munu!” (white person)
Yes, one kid has even cried because our pale skin scared him so much.
Yes, some of the places we’ve been have never seen "Munus".
Yes, I love it here.
And... no, I won’t go on forever… :)
Anyway, I’m going to put up some videos that may give you an idea of what life is like here. From the wealthy(er) Southern Uganda to the war-torn North, we have spend hours on buses, packed into cars, crammed in hot vans, and balancing on motorcycles.
Next time I’ll give more of a narrative on just a few of the unforgettable experiences I've had here.
I send my love and would LOVE to get a call.
PS. The best time for you to call (your time) is from when you wake up until about 3pm in the afternoon.
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