Encouragement

7.25.06

I am more encouraged everyday that we not only can organize a successful and sustainable internship at UNC, but also help the displaced communities of Masese and Kakira. At times when I have dwelled on the issue of being able to assist those communities and simultaneously put together an internship, it has seemed very difficult in light of the fact that our school is on the other side of the world and sustainable development takes work ON THE GROUND. But after realizing that there was someone right under my nose all along who can be trusted to do groundwork for us when we leave, I think it can be done.

So, as I’ve said before, in both communities there are tailoring projects, which have been stopped because of a lack of funding and we hope to be able to assist them. However, to mobilize at home to get enough money for this will take time and that will mean that they may just be waiting for us and we are not 100% sure we will be able to work with them as of yet. It would be great if those groups started with something now.

I met a woman named Claire here last year who works for the Salvation Army in Uganda. She is Ugandan, and was once an orphan but was able get through college…so she is very adamant about getting children who roam the slums into school. Lack of schooling for young children in Uganda, due to lack of school fees, might definitely be the biggest internal setback to this society next to AIDS and malaria. She now cares for 9 orphans and pays for some of their schooling, while she has found sponsorship for the rest from other sources. She has even started a primary school through the Salvation Army and assists in teaching.

She has extensive experience in community organizing and feels strongly that funding must be met internally. Her opinion is that if money comes from outside sources, it is more likely to be used inefficiently or squandered. When she does community work, she starts by having a “community conversation” in which members discuss their problems AS WELL AS the assets in the community which can be utilized. This is important because when a group simply discusses their problems it can be very disempowering. It can also encourage dependency because psychologically, if promoting your problems to others brings benefits, then why not do it all the time to all who will listen instead of doing for yourself?

So, after a leadership (chairperson, treasurer, secretary) are elected, the group (usually of women since they the primary family caretakers) meets once a week and EVERYONE, whether one has a job or not, must contribute 1000 Shillings (about 60 cents) each meeting. Self-sacrifice will bring a true feeling of ownership as well as a well thought out plan for using the funds.

Eventually, members can take loans from the pool and people’s turns rotate. During this time, other services are given to the group such as business skills and improved literacy. Although this is a small start, I think this approach has potential to grow very large within a year or two.

Claire is soon losing her job at the Salvation Army because they want to move her to a new location. So it would be great to get her on board to start these things immediately if the internship could secure some money ASAP. We will see what happens…she is preparing some reports about how these programs work for me to bring back to UNC.