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 

Three Moments that Changed my Life: S.O.U.L. Uganda Makes my Dreams Come True

Hello everyone!!

Well my name is SAFA LWABAGA, 22 years of age from BUJAGALI, UGANDA, EAST AFRICA and why not AFRICA in general.

Currently I am pursuing a diploma in JOURNALISM AND MASS COMMUNICATION in KAMPALA at UMCAT school of Journalism.

I am from a family of 8 members with 2 brothers, 3 sisters and guess what? I’m the 1^st born!!  In Africa the 1^st born is referred to as the “Real Child” because we think that parents are still faithful to each other and therefore chances of cheating on the hubby are limited!!!!!!!! So are you the 1^st born?? Comments reserved for the next publication! Hahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You all know life is not a smooth terrain but rather filled with ups and downs that every human being is entitled to pass through no matter who you are and where you are from. But my caution is “Never Let the Negativities Faze on you.”

Whatever you are going to read here is success achieved through ALLAH (GOD), S.O.U.L. and MY PARENTS.  I swear without the above, SAFA would be a hundred miles away from where I am right now.  That’s why I big up my chest every single day.

So as a human too, 2011 unfolded both negatives and positives in my life but to begin with are the most spectacular and splendid three moments and, to be honest, these all left me “zero-worded.” I kept asking myself am I dreaming? Is it me, Safa? OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!

1: BECOMING ONE OF THE S.O.U.L. SPONSORED STUDENTS!!!!!!!!!

If I could turn back the clock of time, for sure I would LOVE to see that stunning moment appear again in my life. I am a very talkative lad, cracking jokes is what I do best but I was left shut, amazed!! I couldn’t talk for the next couple of minutes and later filled with tears of joy. OMG I couldn’t believe S.O.U.L. had given me the opportunity to achieve my education, career and more so, my dream. I was overwhelmed by the words from my sponsor and the S.O.U.L. staff.

To drive you a little back, I had completed my high school studies in 2009 and therefore was supposed to be joining University the following year. But as wishes are not horses, I took a dead year off thinking I could work and save money together with my family so as to accomplish my studies. This was all in vain as I failed to get a job during vacation!!! I lost hope and felt the world was against me.

It was in mid May that my life terrain noticed some ups when I started volunteering at S.O.U.L., being available at all times needed. This was followed by a run of splendid performances as a volunteer coordinator.

The happiest moment of this all was when my friend and S.O.U.L. volunteer Danielle returned to Uganda the following year with a sponsor for me and passed the news to me that they are now ready to sponsor me! What???!! I replied in shock! But they told me to keep this a secret from my parents because they wanted to surprise them. I called my family members that S.O.U.L. has invited them to a dinner at the S.O.U.L. SHACK! Wow no one knew what was going to happen and here came the moment to remember! Daddy Kenny, Danielle, Brooke, and my sponsor Suzie all stood up and informed my family that they are sponsoring me to university the next fall. Damn!!!!!!! I remember watching my dad kneel down thanking S.O.U.L. in tears of joy, mama was just a feet away from collapsing and just like I explained my situation before, that was the kind of mood in the house! BIG UP TO S.O.U.L.!!!

2: MEETING MY UGANDAN FOOTBALL HERO, DAVID OBUA

As I write this, I still don’t believe it was me, SAFA, with this guy talking like it is you and me. Tell you what? It was an exhausting day in Kampala with Danielle and Brooke as I had gone to research on what University to undertake lectures from and also purchase sewing machines for the women’s Tailoring project. 

At dinner as we were discussing what had happened earlier that day and there entered a tall, dark skinned guy putting on a hat and glittering pins on both ears. Is this David? I asked myself, he must be David Obua! You know I was used to watching him live on TV so I wasn’t sure if he was real. I told Brooke and Danielle that the guy up there is Uganda’s best footballer. “Are you serious?” Danielle asked, “Who he is? Where he does play his soccer from? Why he is in the country now?”

Without hesitation Danielle and Brooke stood up and said that they were going to make my dream come true, they approached David’s table narrating how I knew him, and how he is my hero and so on. He there and then ordered them to bring me to his table.  WOW if you guys were present you would really see how Danielle and Brooke rushed to me, “Safa! Safa! Safa!!!” They shouted, “See what is happening to you now, your dream is coming true now, stand up and lets go!” Danielle and Brooke screamed loud. 

OMG! Here was David Saying, “Hey Safa!” Hey David! Nice to meet you! I gave him a chest hug like I knew him before. Have a sit he said. We had a 30 minutes interaction with him and exchanged digits. He said to me, “I can’t believe you analyze every step I make in my career.” I could not believe I was saving his number in my contacts. Damn!

Amazing above all was the moment when he offered me a free trip with the rest of the National team Uganda Cranes to watch a live game at the National stadium Nambole in the V.I.P. stands and guess what?? In the stands with me was the Vice President of Uganda, Gilbert Bukenya.

I was seated in the Cranes bus with all these other professionals on the National team, having a hand shake with all of them in escort of the Police patrol at the back and front. For sure I still don’t think it was SAFA who got this golden opportunity to hang around with these boys especially when the population of Uganda has hit 38 millions. But who is SAFA from a remote village of BUJAGALI to even share dinner on the same table with the Crane’s team? Wow Big up to S.O.U.L. and particularly here Brooke and Danielle. LONG LIVE S.O.U.L.!!!!!!!!

3: BALE FRANCIS A.K.A THE LEGEND IS MY LECTURER!!!!!!!!

Some of you are now asking who the hell this guy is but for sure he is a legend in the Uganda Media industry. Baale Francis is Uganda’s best news anchor the country has ever had. I used to watch this guy when I was young on TV newscast and listen to him on radio. He works for the national station in the name of UGANDA BROADCASTING CORPORATION.

Well the story is that I adore this guy like crazy. He is my biggest inspiration when it comes to Journalism. I remember one time saying, “when will I ever get to meet him point blank?” But on my first day and lecture at school on 5^th September 2011, there was Baale Francis standing in front of the lecture room saying, “good evening ladies and gentlemen.” Wow! S.O.U.L. making everything HAPPEN.

NOTE: Whatever you have heard from my story is 90% S.O.U.L. success.

Thanks to my sponsor SUZIE a.k.a. KP for supporting me out. I CAN’T STOP LOVING YOU!!!!!!!!!!!

I dedicate this story to my S.O.U.L. family. 

I DO IT  ALL FOR S.O.U.L..

BY: LWABAGA SAFA, Volunteer Coordinator and S.O.U.L. sponsored student