Networking

I decided to go with Madeline and Shalan as they continued their interviewing process. Yesterday (Thursday) they had been interviewing the local boys school's headmaster. This school had 1003 students and 26 teachers quite a ratio! The headmaster advised them to go and speak to a doctor at the local hospital so off we went. Once we located him, he provided a very interesting overview of the issues being faced here. Luweero was the main conflict area during the last government overturn. Many family members were killed as they fought or became casualties of the war. Families were all of a sudden being headed by teenagers who tried to keep it all together. On top of this the AIDS and HIV infections are reeking havoc. When a child's parent die of aids the kids are not told they are just shipped away to a relative or orphanage. The kids are told their parents left - what a guilt trip to place on young children (including some at Maama Watali who showed up with no relatives to ground them). Further to this is the cycle of poverty that has continued. Girls believe that their only escape is to get married and boys believe having more kids is the answer. So we have large families who cannot afford to send a child to school continuing to have more kids who do not have an education and are taught their escape is more children.

In the lives of the more educated they have recognized the problem and are reducing the sizes of their families. The hospital attempts to provide education on family planning and STDs but these workshops are held at the hospital and the young kids are afraid to come as they are likely to bump into a relative. The doctor was not aware of any  other organization in town doing what Maama Watali is providing and when we asked if he would be interested in providing the kids info in a setting like a "community centre" he was very pleased to have the opportunity.

Off to the next contact - a few kilometers farther away so pick p some water and off we walk. Of course we couldn't find it but we did locate a maker of African drums. We dropped in at another guest house and began speaking to the receptionist. A man on the couch said he new where the place was and Shalan just making conversation asked what he did? He worked for the Ministry of Health - Community Outreach. An appointment was booked to speak to him Monday!

Next off to the District Community Development officer. She wasn't in her office as it was 5 on Friday, but her assistant was - a newly graduated university student who jumped at the chance to get involved. It is amazing the resources that can be tapped once the contacts are made and the right people point you.

I have learned that the residential program offered by Maama Watali is unique, desperately needed and begins to fill a void that is very deep. Our library and community centre although not coming together as planned is an integral part of the master plan and hopefully will change a few lives through the opportunity to provide  information and the opportunity for information to be provided through targeted presentations.