fredag 23. desember 2011

Merry Christmas from Uganda !

These days we have been very few at Miles 2 Smiles – only 12 kids, and compared to what we have been used to with 200 it’s now a very quiet period at work . The Christmas-holiday starts much earlier than what we are used to in Norway. After the children have finished their exams, they are free to go for their holiday. Cause of that, already from the begging of the month people leaves Kampala to go their families in the village.




Although we have had a very nice week with the children at Miles 2 Smiles. They have been allowed to play with the few toys we have available (since it have been enough to all of them), and also letting them stay at the office while we have been working with the paper we had to deliver during this week.  Music, dancing, laughter and joy at the office this week !

Benedicte and I have chosen to write about the health system in Uganda – which is VERY different from what we are spoiled with in Norway. In that conjunction, we interviewed a doctor-student and visited Mulago Hospital – The biggest public hospital in Uganda.  From what we have been told- and what we have seen: We have NOTHING to complain about in Norway. A line-system not working and corruption as a big concern “Survival the fittest” is unfortunately a reality here in Uganda…

The week ended with a Microfinance-Party where the men and women got an envelope with all the money they have saved during this year. It was wonderful to see the how proud they were about the money they had made. Next year, Benedicte and I will join one of the saving-groups so that we can understand- and learn more about Microfinance in general. I will save money every week so that I will be able to pay school-fees to one of the children graduating from Miles 2 Smiles next year. When I know more about Microfinance myself, I will write a own blogpost about that.

We will spend our Christmas here in Kampala with the CHRISC- and CRO-girls celebrating it "Norwegian-style" the 24. and "Ugandan-style" the 25. After that, we will go to Tanzania to climb Kilimanjaro and reach the top as we enter the new year 2012. Infield in Kenya after that. Many plans the next weeks, so I will not blog for a long time.

Enjoy this christmas-movie made by my talented team-partner; Vegge !


I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy new year ! Love from Uganda.

1 kommentar:

  1. Hi, Helene.

    Micro finance is interesting and an important tool to fight poverty. It enables people to develop their own business, to earn some money and improve their living standards. Try searching for D - Miro, and you will find a bank in Ecuador specialized in micro financing. The saving part is really important as well, since banks allocate capital from the ones who have money to the ones who need it. But also for the individual, who can be proud of their achievement and reach their goals.

    BR
    Hans Petter

    SvarSlett