HODASSU

I met today with Eustace, who runs HODASSU, Help Orphans and Disabled Adults Stand a Skill Uganda. I was connected to him last year through a mutual friend, and met with him briefly in August. I was so impressed by him and what he is doing that I recommended that we spend this year considering whether to take them on as another organization. Eustace has been working with Rini, Fount’s longterm intern since the fall, with information gathering and strategic planning. If everything continues successfully, we will be able to work with them this summer. I am especially excited about this because HODASSU is almost entirely vocational-based. They do some education initiatives as well, but giving vocational skills to the disabled is their primary focus. We sat down today and went through all the different programs and initiatives they have operating and it was inspiring. They work in very small numbers so each beneficiary receives a lot of one-on-one training. And, since they are working side-by-side with professionals in their place of business, it is 2-fold. The professional is not taken away from their work, and the student gets to learn first-hand about what goes into the work. Eustace has a quiet presence about him. I think his success so far can be attributed to his quiet patience and persistence. I look forward to traveling with him next Thursday to visit all of his locations personally.

Care and Share

Care and Share is another one of our potential new organizations.  I met them through a lady named Betty, whom I have known since I started traveling here 3 years ago.  Her brother, Robert, runs C&S in the village where he grew up.  They have a HUGE group of feisty women, whose energy is contagious.  I went with Rini on Tuesday to visit them, see what is going on, and to ask about what direction they would like to go.  I am excited about working with them because of the successes they have already had on a very small level in their group. 

They have been running a successful program called the “Bread Basket”, in which they bake small cakes called “Queen cakes” and sell them locally.  They have 4-6 women cook 2 days per week and then have a man who takes their cakes around to sell.  Although I knew they were doing this, I had no idea just how much revenue it is actually bringing in.  Once we crunched some numbers, we realized they are bringing in potentially maybe $50/week, after expenses….this is HUGE!!!  Rini is working with them specifically on writing a proposal for how they can improve and expand this program with so much potential, and how the profits can be put directly into other programs, like a sewing/tailoring program,  which will eventually be able to do the same thing. 

As far as sewing and tailoring, they are at the VERY beginning.  I am excited to be able to work with them from initial stages of development for this program, as every other program we have supported has been running with a teacher already for at least a year or so.  In this case, they were given 2 machines, but absolutely no instructions on how to use them.  Thankfully they did not do anything to damage them, but they have been sitting for a few months waiting until they can figure out what’s next.  They were convinced that they were broken and needed fixing by a repair man because no one could get the pedals moving.  So, I went with them, set them up and tried them out.  Come to find out, on one the pedal simply needed oiling and then it was off and running.  And, the other one’s leather string which runs the wheels was too short.  So, once that is fixed, it will be fine too.  I will be returning a week from Tuesday to do a seminar on machine care, set-up, and basic skills so they can not only be sure to protect their valuable investments, but also start to practice the basic skills they need for sewing.  We made a plan over the next 5 months of how to identify 5-10 strong, capable women who we will focus on becoming the teachers for the other women.  I am excited to see what happens over these next months.

Embroidery before and afters...

Here are pictures of the Marys with examples of their first day of class, and their final projects. Notice the difference in quality from the first to the last. I am very proud of their improvement, as they are.



In Lusoga, the local language here, we would say, "Bulungi!", or "Beautiful!".

The good and the hard

The main focus of this blog is to show you the work as it happens here in Uganda each time I come back. But, it is important to state that working here is challenging. I read often about how other organizations approach their work, looking for ideas and inspiration. There are many different approaches from doing temporary relief/individual gifts to setting up a western-structured and led program, and every thing in between. The way Fount has chosen to work is unique, as it’s vision is to empower indigenous organizations to run their own work the way they envision it, while providing support, resources, training, and guidance. What this means theoretically is that the organizations remain self-sustaining and will grow their capacity to flourish…and it will help the leadership to grow as leaders as well. What it means practically is that it can be difficult. It means that we have to get inside the cultural parameters and navigate difficult areas where western ideas conflict with African. It means communication is paramount and when it breaks down, problems occur. It means being disappointed when things move a lot slower than expected or things change direction. It means both sides building trust when things are difficult. And it means that hard decisions have to be made. It is just a fact of life, but will ensure that Fount is protected and remains true to its vision, and that the African organizations will be empowered rather than enabled.

Embroidery class

One of Sewing Hope's initiatives for this fall was to send 3 of our teacher to do additional training to improve their skills, eventually to pass on to their students. Well, I am happy to report that all 3 have completed the 3 months course. I went to visit them on Friday and see the results of their education.

From Left: Toepista, an assistant teacher who actually was not part of the class, but in the picture because we love her. Mary (front) who everyone affectionately calls "old Mary". "Young Mary" is next (in white), then Sarah. And, in the lower right corner is Kanna, their teacher.

These women not only learned alot, but were proud and happy to tell me how much they love eachother and now consider themselves family.

They pulled out piles and piles of work they had completed. I could see the stages of improvement through the weeks they worked. See some before-and-after's of their work in the next post.

Back in Uganda

So, as some, but not all, of you know, I am back in Uganda for the month of February. In an effort to move towards someday working for Fount of Mercy full-time, I am trying to spend more and more time in-country, building our Sewing Hope and other vocational programs. I am very excited to be back!

The purpose of this particular trip is mainly to do follow-up from the summer, prepare for the coming summer, and to generally solidify on paper what our work is...so that we can apply for grants, document our work more intentionally, and continue improving what we do here. I am working closely with Lori Acton, Fount's International Development Director, who lives here full-time.

Traveling here would have been uneventful, had I not hurt my foot the day before I left. And, as always, I procrastinated and had to not only clean my entire apartment and pack, but I also had errands to run and shopping to do last-minute. That, combined with hobbling through airports, did a number on my foot, so I spent the first few days mainly at our apartment, setting up meetings and preparing for my work.

It has been good to be here without being responsible for a team. Don't get me wrong, leading a team here is some of the most fulfilling work I do. But it is also intense and every moment is accounted for. Figuring out a "real" life here has been really good....slower. As I consider being here more, I need to figure out how to really live here. Lori and Rini, Fount's intern, have been great at showing me their daily life...where they shop, etc...and they cook amazing food using local fresh ingredients!!!..another first, as I am used to eating out every night.

Africa in words...

I just found this interesting...from a blog that I follow by a woman who is a photo-journalist in Liberia, but spent a few years in Uganda. www.scarlettlion.com

via Appfrica via World Famous Design Junkies