Day 8

The days are beginning to go by so fast now. If we’re not fetching water, cooking, or cleaning, we’re off visiting neighbours and learning more and more about life as an IDP.

We thought today would be a good time to show you some our daily sightings.

As mentioned earlier, I thought I would give you a glance at our cockroach infested toilet. Isn’t it lovely? 

It usually looks this way only at night, but yesterday I was so thrilled to find them greeting me in the morning. I decided to pass. A man walked by and asked ‘are you fearing the cockroaches?’ I proudly answered ‘yes!’ I admit it whole-heartedly. In the evening we cleaned up and this morning it was fresh as a daisy…or close to it☺.

The beans take forever to cook over the fire and preparing a whole meal takes approximately two hours.

The women here cook 3 meals a day and spend a lot of their time cooking, but also take care of the household chores. Again, we’re just trying to be good Acholi women and they are definitely willing to teach us.

This last picture is where we sleep…and eat and live☺.

This is our hut right before settling for bed. We sleep on papyrus mats and are protected by mosquito nets. Most people in the camp do have nets, but I think the majority just do not use them. I understand though, sometimes I get quite tangled at night and want to rip it off, but then I remember my first night in Gulu getting eaten alive without a net and I keep myself covered. During the day we clear the floor for more room to move around, although children usually fill the space.

Actually no matter what time of day it is, many children are around. It always crosses my mind why so many children are not in school during the day? From talking to people in the camp I’ve found that most want to be in school but cannot afford it. In Uganda, primary education is offered to all for free. However, after primary education, secondary school is not free. Therefore, the majority cannot afford a higher education. There is such a want to go to school but just no way. Two days ago we met Moses.

Moses is 19 and has been orphaned by HIV/AIDS. Both his parents have passed and he is therefore unable to continue his education. With no income in the camp, he is unable to support himself and no one is around to help. With only averaging below $100 Canadian dollars a year, it is hard to think that so many will miss out on an education. Moses is just one story but there are thousands with similar situations. Moses’ friend Richard is actually in school right now and is being sponsored by an Italian NGO, AVSI, for the first year. After that first year though, he is on his own. He enjoys the course so much but yet he has no income for the following two years. Richard will have to stop going to school. Moses and Richard are two people that represent so many.

I want to apologize for the delay in posting. Yesterday the internet was down all day in Kitgum town, so after much frustration, Ojibu gave up trying.

And now we’re off to roam through the camp. We’re meeting more and more people each day☺.

I hope all is well in Canada.

~Andrea