Jenny's Uganda newsletter 1&2

Kia ora e hoa. Well warm temps continue and we are in a great house with basic facilities but perfect for us- cold shower but fine in these temps!

I cooked up one of my omelettes for each of us last night with yummy local veg- tomatoes, onion, local cheese, green peppers.... yum.

Yesterday we went to a preschool with about 25 children- learning their local language and english- using slate boards and chalk. In a hut with mud floors, basic wooden desks and no resources. From things people gave us to bring we were about to give each child a dress, skirt  or shirt. Also knickers, pencils, balls to kick, skipping ropes, sunhats..... They had a ball in the playground kicking balls, skipping, running and chasing...

Seeing their faces was a treat! Such gorgeous smiles, sang us  heaps of songs, clapped heaps...  and joined in with us singing 'This is the day' and in maori  'Tenei te ra.' Very humbling.

Today we went to 3 homes with children with special needs- blind, deaf and cerebral palsy caused by malaria. These and other children get support  through the Foundation eg meds to help with preventing epilepsy, hearing aids, physio to help with building muscular strength, special chair to give physical support....

One young deaf man now 17 was given a goat 4 years ago and now he has bred them up & has 13. Next step is to sell them and buy a cow- better outcomes  as can get calves to sell, milk and meat. Can mean a better house with this better income... Foundation supported him with a new bed, mattress and blanket.

I am  a bit distracted as we are setting the budget for next year with guidance from a guy from UK who is a volunteer adviser- accountant! He is a gem- been here for 3 weeks- all at his own expense.

Progress is being made!

The work being done by Rwenzori special Needs Foundation is incredible! I am soooo impressed. One local  guy and his mother have got all this going and it a real credit to them. My friend Dot in Inver is backing them- so looks like lots more cheese roll making coming up!

Having a great time  learning so much! Of course I know how blessed I am - but this confirms it for me even more!

More adventures ahead for the next fortnight.

We are all on fire for Rwenzori-= so watch out Dot and Lois say!

Go well and feel free to pass on this email to nayone who might be interested.

rangimarie, Jenny







Rwenzori newsletter 2/ 14 July 2016

Kia ora e hoa ma, Well it is still a pleasant 26 degrees. We are settled in to a house together – basic but comfy beds, toilets- in fact 2 and 2 cold showers – but fine as it is so warm.
We have had very full on days, going around seeing the offices, families, schools, gardens, pig farms etc.
What a huge amount of work the Rwenzori Special Needs Foundation (RSNT)  are doing with a  minimum of staff. Project Manager Daniel and his mother ( who is a school principal & is actually doing the equivalent of ERO visits this week!), set up this wonderful scheme in conjunction/ with support of Dot Muir from Invercargill.
On the smell of an oily rag they are doing amazing things. They have employed a Social Worker and two people who train teenagers on vocational courses eg tailoring, hairdressing.
Over the last 2 days :- we went to see several families who had a child with a special need. These  included being deaf, blind and having cerebral palsy all resulting from malaria when they were tiny children. Also a 9 year old with epilepsy who can attend school now RSNT is supporting with medication.

Brian who is deaf is now 17 was given a goat at age 13 by RSNT and he now has 13 beautiful  animals. Thinking of selling them for a cow! He is a full time farmer. So proud as is his mother.

The others are getting support in their homes and parents being guided with options, physiotherapy, exercises and basic needs like assistance with school uniforms. RSNT social worker is a young woman with a heart for these children and  has a degree from  Kampala University which qualifies her to assess, refer on etc. She seems to be the link in connecting them with services the families may not know about, and getting them to appointments, supporting them at Drs and helping with explanations. She is on a minute salary but worked here as a volunteer for about 3 years as she is so committed- she saw her niece with hydrocephalus   and how a social worker could have helped so much.
We went to a pre-school as well- 3 classes from 4-6 years. Classrooms tiny with 4year olds on a mat on the dirt floor and older ones with basic desks. Very limited resources eg 2 posters. Learning English and their own language – using a slate board and chalk. Some of the children had awful coughs. Their lovely shiny faces, winning smiles, and flashing bright eyes totally won our hearts! We gave them the dresses, hats and shirts which Myra from Invercargill had given us. Just tried them over their school uniform and they kept them on!  So proud. Then we had the footballs, soccer balls, wee bats and balls, pencils, skipping ropes, - they had a fab time playing, laughing, kicking and of course we joined in. They sang us some of their songs and we sang ours- especially ‘This is the day- Tenei te ra.’’They joined in too.
We met the volunteer UK consultant accountant who has been here for 3 weeks finding out about RSNT and making recommendations about how to be accountable. Keep accurate records and making very dollar spin as far as possible for RSNT. He was a real trick and kept us all on our toes. We helped with a budget for the next year and made some commitments to support them some more from NZ- so watch out cheese rolls brigade! He went home today feeling very pleased with the results of his time here and how he had met all the commitments he had made to help RSNT. He will keep in touch by email and support over the year as needed for advice.
He gave me the left over time on his modem stick so I am very spoilt.
Today we had a day off and went to local caves   with stalactites and stalagmites along with a lovely waterfall and our guide told us of the stories and myths associated with them and their history. They are trying to develop Fort Portal in to a tourist area around some of these natural features. We then walked for about 2 ½  hours  up hills and down dales( across farmland – banana plantations, cows, veg gardens ….. ) and around old volcano craters and lakes as well as up a very steeeep hill to get good views. About 26 degrees! A secondary school had its students out for the day too so we talked with them- apparently they all speak English as well as one of four local dialects.

We visited Daniel’s home tonight- one small room with a bed, cot for his 18 month old daughter, a table, and cooking facility was a charcoal burner with one pot. Everything else was communal eg toilet, shower, washing facilities…. Dot went in there and found it very emotional seeing the way he lives. This one room is behind their wee clothes ‘shop’ run by his wife, all rented.  Humbling.
Just keeping you all posted! Please circulate to others who might be interested.
Thoughts and prayers,
Rangimarie, Jenny, Lois, Dot, Alison and Margot



On Tuesday, 12 July 2016 3:27 PM, Gillian Swift wrote:


hi Jenny, wish it that warm here! another good frost last night.  Packing all finished, Jamie & family in Wellington.  I think they have a house to rent in lower Hutt.  Gosh I will miss them.  Enjoy yourself and take care, blessings Gillian

From: Jenny Campbell
Sent: Monday, July 11, 2016 5:53 PM
To: Corwin Newall ; Steve and Mandy Newall ; Adrianne Stewart ; Sandra Romero ; Fiona Newall ; David and Chris Henderson ; Gillian Swift ; Bruce & Sonya ; Sr Judith ; Marie Lockie ; Carmen Campbell ; Stephen Price
Subject: Re: On my way from Sydney!

Yes now in Kampala & 26 degrees. Stayed in hotel overnight with huge canopy to keep mossies out- I heard one! Huge dinner- I could not eat it all- fish rice and veg. We had ahd lots of meals on planes of course. Saw several movies- well parts of them- between nodding off!

Very tired after 27 hours of travel- but have done it before so know I will be fine by tomorrow! I love sitting at airport watching people. All full of shops with 'stuff' though! No recycling in Dubai airport!

Had a walk around local suburb last night ( Sun) -  very noisy, lots of stalls trading and quite a rough area- big drains to catch water when it pours obviously- heaps of big vehicles, motorbikes and few bikes, Chldren loved Hi 5 to us!

No dogs or cats that I noticed.Very green here.

Feel free to send around other who might want an update. Not sure how well connected to email we will be at next place- where we are at the Rwenzori special needs project- hopefully doing some 'work'!

Heaps of interesting people in queues doing great  things around the world.

Sandra- baby???

Off by van to our  'work site' to day- about 5 hours away- Fort Portal. The van is one Dot organised by raising money in Southland. it goes well. Driver picked us up at airport and negotiated traffic with ease= plenty of practice I figure.

Hope to keep you posted as I go. Of course was still writing articles for newspaper from Sydney- even managed to send with help of foreign currency young woman! What a gem.

Go well and safely as we are! Hope frosts not tooooo bad at home. Fab seeing family at CHCH airport too- thanks for coming!

Rangimarie, blessings hope and joy to you all,

Jenny