The Gift of Education

The following letter was written to S.O.U.L.’s CEO and Co-Founder, Brooke Stern, from one of the university students we sponsor.

Hi Brooke,

How are YOU and every thing you’re doing?  I know you’re spending so many sleepless nights working so much for S.O.U.L. so on that note please allow me to say that THANK YOU so much.
So, Mama Africa, every one is missing you here in Bujagali.  I got this modem from a friend and that's why I have decided to wake up this early morning to write to you before you go to bed.

Really I do not know how much I can thank you for the good things you have done for me and for my family so far. I together with my family are indeed so much happy ‘cause when I remember the situations I was passing through in order for me to get my school fees, indeed, I know I could not have made it to the university. Brooke, I only wish you the best for your life.

I don't have money but you deserve something so much better.  I will at least make sure that I do something small, not as a return for the tuition but for just appreciating.

I know that money given as school fees is so much more valuable than any other money simply because it is what makes up one's future.

I PROMISE I WILL NEVER FORGET S.O.U.L. AND I WILL NEVER LEAVE S.O.U.L.!
LONG LIVE S.O.U.L. LONG LIVE BROOKE AND LONG LIVE EVERY ONE WORKING HARD TO SEE THAT S.O.U.L. GOES AHEAD!

By: Richard, S.O.U.L.-sponsored university student

Uganda, Take Two

So...Uganda

Omg. What an experience. For a number of reasons. 

My first visit two years ago was very hard for me and I’m not sure that many people I know would be able to manage the rawness of it all. Today, I say sincerely: "this experience is not to be missed.” 

It was eye opening, once again.  The village looks different to be me in so many ways than it did two years ago. My daughter Brooke, who founded S.O.U.L. with my husband three years ago, tells me the only difference is that I am not in shock this time.  While that may be true, there are significant differences that are overwhelmingly evident in a multidimensional way. 

The village looks cleaner; there is less garbage and waste on the paths. The homes we visited have much more order and the people seem proud of their living conditions. The smell of waste is not evident as it was two years ago.  More people have shoes on their feet although many of them tell me they spend a good portion of the day wearing their "originals" (which is their bare feet), to keep their feet in shape and tough skinned.  They are standing taller, smiling more and their clothes are cleaner.  Although they are poor they do not look downtrodden.

During my time in Uganda, S.O.U.L. held a community-wide meeting, which was attended by over 500 people including local and regional officials.  The progress S.O.U.L. has made in the community was recognized and celebrated. A female politician who represents seventeen sub-counties (probably equivalent to a state senator in the U.S. or maybe even a congressman) gave a speech that brought tears to the eyes of many, including my husband. The local leader discussed how never in her political life or in all of her lifetime has she seen villages transform in such a short period of time and declared that S.O.U.L.’s example should and will be a model for all of Uganda. She was choked up in her presentation, and wowed us with her kind and generous words.

The local chairmanship then proceeded to surprise us by donating a large piece of land in a central location to the S.O.U.L. Foundation, positioning us to better serve the numerous villages surrounding our original project area. That's a real vote of confidence. The meeting went on for six hours and included presentations from our preschool children, female students whose education is sponsored by S.O.U.L. and the women who participate in our business cooperatives even coordinated a dance performance! The day was mixed with speeches and entertainment. Brooke hired a PA system so all could hear and at the very end we were able to play some music. Food was provided by members of S.O.U.L. business cooperatives who cooked all morning to feed over 500 people rice and beans and vegetables.  

At the close of the meeting, one by one, the women from the community came up to Brooke and gave her gifts of fruits and vegetables.  By the time it was all over, the gifts could have filled a small grocery store. Now for the first time, I saw Brooke cry. It wasn't the land that was donated, or all the wonderful things that were said about her and S.O.U.L. that day; it was the appreciation that the women showed and the significance of their gifts of food. A year ago, they could not have given that food away, as it might have provided for the only meal their family would eat that day. Brooke was choked up, a rare thing to see. As a mom, I was completely moved by all of it, but especially by that moment. 

We also visited the fish ponds. I was floored. The pictures don’t do the project justice. It just so happened that representatives from the World Bank, the African Development Fund and a number of other global lending institutions were scheduled to visit the project to listen to Brooke give a presentation on our progress. I felt privileged to watch as Brooke described the hard work that has gone into making this project a success.

Here's a funny story. 

We needed two cars to get to village and when we were only about 1 km away we noticed the left wheel on the other car was severely wobbling.  Several meters down the road, the wheel completely fell off and the car collapsed. It was something out of a movie. Now picture this. Cars behind us and cars in front. No one can pass. We are 1 km away. Out of nowhere, at least fifty Ugandans emerge and start helping to figure out how to jack the car up and get tire back on. Lots of conversation amongst them debating how to do this. Women and children everywhere. The willingness to help was amazing and was only topped by the reception we received when we entered the village.  After we finally drove the last km, we were greeted with at least sixty women and scores of kids singing and clapping and cheering. Everyone was so happy to see us. My sister-in-law and niece got choked up witnessing the loving welcome Brooke and all of us received. It is unimaginable. You need the 3D experience to really appreciate the depth of it all.

This time was glorious for me. Beyond words. This time I entered into S.O.U.L. through a new door, with new eyes and new skin. 

I am already planning my next trip back. Can't wait!

Diane Stern, Director of Outreach and Public Relations 

International Women's Day 2012 in Bujagali Falls, Uganda

As International Women’s day approached this year, I wanted to do something for the women of Bujagali Falls. I could not let this day go by without recognizing the incredible women of this village- it’s all about the women, the women are the backbone of society and they are what makes the village run.

S.O.U.L. supports over 250 women in the Bujagali Falls area.  The day before Women’s Day, we had 54 women at our tailoring meeting and I announced the idea of having a women’s netball tournament.  The idea of having a sports tournament just hit me and I knew that it was the right way to celebrate the women in our community.  I wanted to do something different and give them a chance to take time off, time when they didn’t have to think about their kids or cooking or cleaning.  These women range from 20 to 75 years old, all with different skills, some with 2 babies, some with 11 or even 12.  They are women who cook and clean and wash and learn new skills with S.O.U.L. all day long and they never get to express their inner child and just have fun! So I said, “what do you guys think of having a netball tournament?” They screamed and yelled and chanted and danced in approval, so I said, “It’s on!”

I wasn’t sure if we would have a great turnout or not, but as soon as 3 o’ clock came around women started arriving in packs. Since S.O.U.L. Foundation has been in the village, women here have learned to work together.  They used to garden alone, wash their clothes alone- caught in a survival of the fittest mentality.  Now they all do things together.  Because our programs really focus on teamwork, they have realized that more people are better than one and that they can go to their friends for help and support.

We prepared the nets and the chalk on the field and as we did this, 50…60…70… 80 women showed up along with hundreds of kids.  Then the elders started coming, saying, ‘I’m here to watch the netball tournament!’ Even people at the river were talking about it, it was the biggest thing in Bujagali and the women were so proud, saying, “yes! Today is our day!” I made a speech talking about how important it is that the women know how important they are and feel empowered and feel respected and know the importance of their role in society.  That was the focus of the day and the women came and we had three and a half hours of the most incredible netball and football games EVER! 

The women were on the ground dodging balls, screaming, chanting, keeping score and fighting over points and I could tell it was such a needed escape for them. Afterwards we brought out cookies and juice and the women didn’t expect anything, they thought it was just the game, so they felt even more special. I just wanted to keep doing more for the women, so I went in my donation pile and brought out everything I had.  I called each woman by name and each one came up to get a shirt, or a skirt or a purse. When the women accepted their gifts they put them on and danced and serenaded the group.  Some of the women made speeches about what the day had meant to them, how it was the best day of their life and it had changed the way the see themselves. I could really tell how S.O.U.L. Foundation has had an impact on their lives and made them feel empowered and given them skills so they don’t have to rely on their husbands, and they understood that it was their day, and not only on International Women’s day, they are now empowered to feel like they are in control of every day and in control of their own lives.  It was a great day, and a truly incredible experience.  

By Brooke Stern, Co-Founder and CEO 

Welcome to the New S.O.U.L. Blog

As they say in Uganda, "You are most welcome" to the S.O.U.L. Foundation blog!


This is a forum we will use to share personal stories and experiences from a variety of S.O.U.L. stakeholders. Our first post, written by our Founder and CEO Brooke Stern, recounts her experience delivering a baby for the first time after stopping by to visit the local midwife in Bujagali- a day she will never forget!


We will continue to share stories from our staff, volunteers and the community members with whom we work in Uganda, so keep visiting to learn about our work through the personal reflections of the individuals whose lives are impacted by S.O.U.L..


Sincerely,
Jenna Rogers, Executive Director

March 1st, 2012- A Day to Never Forget at the S.O.U.L Birthing Inn/Midwife Center, By Brooke Stern

Today was a remarkable day. A day I could have never planned. A few hours of sheer joy and excitement. A few minutes of heart racing anxiety. A few seconds of uncertainty. An afternoon with an incredible outcome.

As I drove back from my fishpond project site to S.O.U.L.’s main office in the village of Bujagali Falls, I decided to stop in to visit Kalimentina, the local midwife I have been passionately supporting for the past 10 months.

Anyone who knows me, knows about the undying passion and love I have for Kalimentina- a woman in her late 60’s who has been delivering babies since 1974. She is the only midwife in the area and delivers between 5-7 babies per day, thought most of the deliveries take place at night. She is a women filled with incredible energy, kindness, and love. She will tend to women at any time of the day and night, and rarely gets anything in return from the villagers.

When I first visited Kalimentina’s birthing center, the roof was leaking, the door was made of cardboard and the windows were broken. There were no beds. No sheets. No materials or supplies- NOTHING! Devastating to see, S.O.U.L has since redone her roof, installed solar panels to provide electricity, put in 3 brand new iron doors, 3 glass windows, 4 mattresses, a bed frame, locks for her doors, gloves, medical supplies, a water collection system, and painted the inside, which is still the bare minimum.

I arrived at Kalimentina’s around three in the afternoon to find her relaxing on the grass, chatting with some other women. Seeing me pull up, a huge smile spread across her face as she walked to greet me at my car. We began walking to the birthing hut to sit and chat but before we could sit down, a young woman came screaming and running towards us, speaking in the local dialect. Kalimentina, barefooted, and barely dressed, grabbed my arm and pulled me as she started to sprint deep into the village, bushwhacking, and listening to the villagers as they informed her as to what awaited us.

I follow. Her stride gets faster. At this point, I am trailing a 60+ year old, and gasping for air. Kalimentina leads the way as others follow us, anxious to help. Up the hill, around the corner, lying on the red dirt a women suffering in pain comes into view. At this point, we are almost a half-mile away from the birthing center. We circle around her and realize that her water is about to break. We lift her, each on one side, and start sprinting with her down the path, out of breath, as each of her arms drape over us. Her pain increases, so we lay her on the red dirt. Once the pain subsides, she chooses to walk, a testament to the toughness of Ugandan women, and we guide her carefully, but with a fast stride, to Kalimentina’s birthing center.

We make it to the clinic with barely a minute to spare, as her water breaks. The beds are disheveled and still unmade following two deliveries earlier in the day. We grab anything we can- garbage bags as sheets, a plastic bag to put beneath the delivering mother, and one cotton cloth. That’s all there is. Kalimentina gives me her 2nd to last pair of sterile gloves and the adrenaline is high. There is NO pain medicine, as is the case in most Ugandan clinics.

The woman starts screaming “mammmmmaaa, maaaaammmmaa Mzungu (white person).” I rush over to her, helping her through each contraction. She is within minutes of delivering when another women enters the clinic in desperate pain. As Kalimentina tends to her, I realized I needed to improvise and grabbed anything in sight. There are no medical instruments. No sheets. No tourniquet. NOTHING. I grabbed a black garbage bag, put it under the woman, took the package from the gloves and used it to clean the area, used an old glove to act as a tourniquet, and a razor blade to cut the umbilical cord (when the time came).

The contractions got closer together. I called Kalimentina over, but she said this one was all me! I said, “Mama Kalimentina IDA SOW WENA (Mama, come here now, fast).” She reiterated that she only had one more pair of gloves, and it had to be used for the next woman, so I had to do this on my own. She encouraged me, saying, “you already delivered two babies in the past, you can do this!!”

Understanding with my whole being that this was a life or death situation, I sat down between her contractions, and yelled push in the local language over and over. And she did. Kalimentina is quiet and calm and confirms my actions when I feel unsure. She is a soft-spoken, confident woman who knows more than I would have ever expected. With the next contraction, the head started crowning. The screaming got louder, the pain grew, and as the head emerged, I grabbed it and slowly rotated the body, pulling the baby out in a clockwise direction to assure the limbs came out together. I was sweating, the woman was quietly gasping in pain, the mother of the woman in labor was screaming in joy and praising me, as I pulled the baby out!!! The umbilical cord was wrapped around the baby’s neck 2 times, and I was terrified. I started to panic. Kalimentina assured me everything was ok. I held the baby in one hand, and unraveled the cord in the other, and within seconds heard that amazing, wonderful, reassuring CRY from the baby. What a relief. A HEALTHY BABY BOY WAS BORN!!!!!!!!!!!!

-Brooke Stern, RN, Co-Founder and CEO