My African savior and finding a husband..

Joining the Survivor dance team was my African savior. I don’t mean to be sacrileges when I say that, so let me explain.

Living here in a host family is like a roller coaster—some days I love it, and other days I just want to call it quits. To describe to you the kinds of cross-cultural challenges I experience on a daily basis would be nearly impossible. But I can say this: sometimes it’s hard for me to simply get out of bed in the morning because I know there will be a new set of challenges to face (as if getting out of bed wasn’t hard enough for me already! Roommates, you know what I’m talking about.). I won’t go on about what those challenges are, maybe in person I can hash them out with you when I get home if you really want to know (trust me, I’ll want to tell), because I feel like when I talk about my challenges, which are a complete reality, I’m only focusing on the negative and not telling the positive. Wow. I’m really tired and I feel like that is being shown through my writing! Sorry, I’ll try and do better…

What I’m trying to say is that I love Survivor.

Poverty--What do we do about it?

I recently read a book that rocked my view on how to respond to poverty, called “When Helping Hurts” (by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert). While some of the ideas I’ve heard before, there were some that were new, but make complete sense. So much from this book has changed my perspectives on how to help alleviate poverty, which I feel are very appropriate considering my major is community development!

            To start with, the author pointed out that every one of us are in a position of poverty, and that poverty is not just a monetary state.

Rambling and internship at Compassion International

I have so much I want to say, from daily life and what it’s like living here, to my experience at rural homestay, to what I’ve been learning in the classroom, to what I’ve been learning through experiences.

But I have a headache right now. So I wonder what this will end up as…

Right now I’m at home writing, and will post this tomorrow; that is, if we have internet. I’m sitting here in sweatpants, sweating. I never thought I would actually wear my sweatpants in Africa! But the mosquitoes love me so I have to cover up my legs at night. They’re more comfortable than jeans which are equally as hot in this weather anyways. A quick little rant; another IMME student today told me that she has yet to see a mosquito and hasn’t gotten bitten at all. WHAT THE HECK MAN! I easily have 5 bites on me right now! Ok, rant over. I’ll be glad for her that she doesn’t go through what I do! Speaking of mosquito bites and living in Africa… I have discovered the multipurpose use of certain items. Germ-x, for example. It’s not only used for quick fixes when you can’t wash your hands, but it can also be used to clean your hands after killing a chicken when you don’t have any soap, or used after eating jackfruit which leaves a sticky sap residue on your hands, or to my latest discovery—bug bite itch relief!

Well, hey look I’m rambling! I think in part I can blame that on lack of sleep; I had to be at the school by 7:30 this morning to get a ride to our internship at Compassion International. Which hasn’t been like we’d thought it would be. Don’t get me wrong, I love the staff and the kids; it’s just often we don’t feel like we’re really doing much. But the good thing in this is the truth that they don’t need us. This might sound harsh and discouraging, but in reality is great. The staff are doing a perfect job without us! This week I actually interviewed a staff member for a class project, and was able to find out a bit more about the program. I think I will post that interview as well. With all that said, there is a little boy there who has captured my heart. His name is Ashad and he is 8 years old. He has the most gentle, loving spirit ever. Watching him interact with the other kids is my favorite. He is such a humble kid and a natural leader. Today, he got a group of kids to start playing a game, but when it didn’t go as planned, or he lost, he didn’t get upset like the other kids—he just kept smiling! There are 4 of us students there for our internship; because we are white and are associated as being sponsors because of our color, the kids sort of see us like celebrities. A lot of times we will have kids tugging on our hands and arms, trying to be the one to hold our hands as we walk. It’s a common thing to be trying to go somewhere with 5 + kids attached to you. When I’m holding Ashad’s hand and another kid weasels his way in, he doesn’t throw a fit like the others, he just smiles and moves aside. If that wasn’t enough, his smile itself melts my heart! This kid is going to grow up to be someone great, I just know it.

Ashad is in the light green

One thing about interning with Compassion that I am excited about is the potential to be included in house visits. I say potential because they originally said they would occur in March, but are now not sure when they will be. Anyways, house visits happen every year (I think?). A staff member goes in and checks on the child and his/her family situation to see if anything has changed, i.e. a different guardian or living conditions. I am STOKED for this potential opportunity! If we are able to go on these visits, I feel like I would really get to see what Compassion is all about.

Ok, I’ve pretty much talked about Compassion this whole post, so I might as well add the interview! Mind you, this is a really cut and dry overview of the interview we had; if you have any questions, feel free to ask!

“On February 26, 2013, we interviewed Jennifer, a staff member at Mukono Compassion International Child Development Center (CDC). Andrina and I were there for our weekly internship, and were actually asked if we had any questions so that we better understood the program. The interview happened naturally, and we came up with questions as we went, just out of personal curiosity of the program.

            There are only four staff members at Compassion, while there are many volunteer teachers that come to the Saturday program. The center opened in 2003 with only three staff, and they needed a health director. Jennifer applied with ten others, and got the job in 2006. They now have a project director, director of finance, a sports director, and health director. There is also a committee responsible for the project, and the project is connected to Mukono Deliverance Church which is on the site.

            Before working for Compassion, Jennifer worked for a health center; when she heard that Compassion needed a health director, she was compelled to get involved. She herself grew up as an orphan, so there was a special place in her heart for needy children. Growing up in a convent, she understood the importance that kids need to have someone to talk to and someone to speak into their lives and give them hope. Many of the kids who are sponsored through this center are orphans themselves; some are being taken care of by their young siblings or are young themselves taking care of younger siblings because there are no guardians in the picture. Some sponsored children are HIV positive.

            The vision of Mukono CDC is for a child to grow in the areas of education, health and physical, psychological, and spiritual in order to become useful citizens. A child who is sponsored benefits in those four main areas. Some of the sponsor’s money goes towards helping pay for the child’s school fees; they won’t pay the whole fee, however, but ask the parents to help with the cost as well. This is a two-fold purpose—not only do they gain ownership, but they also are taught not to become dependent on handouts. The donor’s money also helps in health and physical needs. Families are given food when it is needed, and some kids who are underweight are put on nutrition therapy. They also provide counseling when kids undergo unhealthy psychological situations at home. If a child gets malaria, they take the child to the hospital and Compassion pays the bill. Sometimes children need surgery and are taken to another country, and this is even covered by the sponsorship. HIV treatment is covered as well. Lastly, the staff at Compassion have a heart for each child’s spiritual wellbeing. During their Saturday classes, the students attend a Bible lesson, and a relationship with God is openly taught and encouraged.

            A child is selected for sponsorship by church members and the Compassion staff themselves. Sometimes others will tell the staff of a needy child in the area, but a staff member will always evaluate the situation personally. If a child is needy, he/she will be placed on a list, and the country center in Kampala will register the child when he/she has a sponsor. The center sponsors children who are three years old (nursery) up to Senior 6 (high school level in U.S. terms). They have sponsored a girl until she was 22, because it is at that age she is no longer considered a child in Uganda.

            When a child receives gift money, whether it is for birthday, Christmas, or a family gift, the child’s parents are contacted and informed. At that point, the family and child compose a list together of things they would want to buy. The staff is then informed and either approves or encourages other items to be bought. In some cases, the staff knows and trusts the parents with the money and gives it to them to buy the items. However, sometimes a staff member will go with the child/family to help them buy the items and ensure good use of the money. The staff want to make sure that the money is used to benefit the child, and they encourage buying things that will last longer, such as a cow instead of meat for one night.

            I was really impressed that only 4 staff members oversee the 320 children that are sponsored through this center. I was also encouraged that all of the staff are locals who really understand the culture and way of life.”

Letter Writing