three months and counting

In just three short months, I'll be back in Uganda!

At that point, all ten members of Team 5 will be very busy; we'll be blogging about our journey and our experiences with the children at St. Mary Kevin Orphanage. I hope you'll follow along.

This is the time of year when a new Change the Truth chapter begins here on the blog. Over the course of the next few weeks, I will focus on the upcoming trip, introduce you to the team members and share with you our plans.

In the meantime, here is one last photograph from the 2010 trip. Petra is a beloved young girl at the orphanage. This is a closeup I made of the hem of her shorts one afternoon when we were standing together under an eave of a building waiting for a sudden downpour to end.

evalyn's story

One of the Ugandan children who had a profound impact on Team 4 member, Avis Smith, was a young girl named Evalyn. Avis wrote an account of her new friend a couple months ago and sent it, along with a photo she had taken, to me via email. I've been saving it for a special occasion on the blog.

Today is my birthday, and that's a special occasion in my life. I'm posting this story about Evalyn because she probably has no idea when her birthday is. There are tens of thousands of children in Uganda who have no idea when their birthday is. So, on the occasion of mine, I'd like to wish them all, especially Evalyn, a happy birthday today. The fact that you were born, Evalyn, is actually something we should all celebrate each and every day.

Here is Avis' moving description of the birthday girl, Evalyn:

‘Sheela, my daughter, open the door to your mother… Sheela, my daughter, open the door to your mother. She-sheela, She-sheelah… I’m around.’

This is the chorus of a song embedded in an African folk tale that Evalyn taught me one morning at SMK. The story does not have a happy ending. The daughter, left without her mother’s protection, is eaten by a hungry lion. The story resonates deeply with Evalyn. She, like the child in the story, no longer has a mother who ‘is around.’

Evalyn is 12 years old and has been at SMK since she was 7. She is a quiet, shy child.

Evalyn never knew her father. He died around the time of her birth. Her mother was killed by the rebels, and their village was burned while Evalyn and her two siblings hid in the bush. The children were eventually united with their grandmother and lived with her until she became too ill to care for them. Evalyn reports that her aunt eventually brought them to SMK.

Evalyn’s story and song tumbled out as she drew pictures of her past life. Then she began to draw her present life at SMK. It was filled with simple items: her school, her bed, her blanket, her sandals, all bursting with color and activity. Of SMK, she wrote: ‘Here, life is changed. We sleep well.’

As the noonday sun bore down upon us, Evalyn worked on a third art panel depicting her life going forward. Then she wrote: “’n the future, if I grow up, I want to live in a flat and become a nurse.’ That tiny word ‘if’ took my breath away.

Evalyn already knows that life is hard and sometimes frightening and unpredictable. She takes nothing for granted. Not the past or the present or the future.

Yet she has a quiet spirit that runs deep. She moves in the shadows of SMK, making sure her siblings and the younger children are well cared for. She is kind and generous and loving. She has not given up on life. She is planning and dreaming of the future, but living life fully and completely in the present.

In my future, I want to be more like her.”

- Avis Smith, member of Team 4 and board member of Change the Truth

guest post by monique udo

Monique, who hails from the Netherlands, is just about to complete her month-long volunteer stint at the orphanage. She has worked very hard teaching the children how to read music and how to play a lot of new instruments. It's funny - I've never met Monique. We planned her trip solely through emails. In fact, it was an internet search of non-profits active in Uganda that led her to CTT in the first place. That said, I do feel like we've gotten to know one another through our shared love for the children at SMK. (The fact that her two star sax players just happen to be Tony and Oscar... well, anyone who has ever seen me at SMK knows these boys have a very special place in my heart.) Here is a note I recently received from Monique. She, working alongside music teacher Ivan, seems to have worked music miracles this past month in Kajjansi. Thank you, Monique. I know the children have loved having you become part of their lives and will be sorry to see you go.

"Music at SMK!

I’m at SMK since three weeks and a lot of music is going on here. Apart from the music lessons I give, there is the marching band, the dance groups with drums and African harps, and a choir. I’m adding saxophone lessons, recorder groups, sheet music to learn how to play from staff notation, melodicas, guitar playing and the popular ‘cup game’. Imagine happening all of this at the same moment (which happens sometimes…). It sounds like band camp at SMK these weeks. I have some amazing saxophone students (Tony and Oscar) who can play for hours and hours. They learned how to play the saxophone and read notes so incredible quick, they’ve set a new standard for my pupils at home. Since CTT has been purchasing more saxophones with donated money, there are six saxophones at SMK now so the marching band can add a new flavor to its sound.

From the recorder groups, I scouted a few younger children who are starting to play the trumpet.
It’s fun to see those kids blowing, they are doing better than me, so they have fun too, when I give it a try. It’s interesting to see that different children have a talent for different instruments. It’s a good thing that we have all kinds of instruments around so everyone can find the instrument that fits him or her best.

Last week we organized an informal ‘music meeting’ where several groups and individual children performed songs that they had learned. It was a very nice gathering and another one is on schedule for the coming week.

So far, I am looking back on a very productive and fulfilling stay where I’ve come to know many talented, sweet and kind children and the wonderful and inspiring people around them. It’s been a great stay!"

- Monique

guest post by melissa mosher

"Happy One Year to Us!

This past week I have been shaking my head in constant amazement that one year has passed since our arrival to Uganda. One whole year… 12 full months... 2 rainy seasons… 3 school terms. This move to Uganda was the largest leap of faith that I have ever taken, but the rewards have been beyond measure.

Recently there have been reminders about how settled Antwain and I have become in our lives in Uganda. Visitors have literally thought Antwain was Ugandan as his accent and mannerisms have assimilated so much to Ugandan ways. And I have received many compliments from adults and children about being a ‘real African woman. ‘ When we moved here, I wanted to live as simplistically as possible. I chose to wash my own clothes, mop my own floors, prepare my own meals integrating as many Ugandan local dishes as possible, and navigate public transportation. This was my conscious choice, and there have been times when it has been challenging, frustrating, and tiresome.

But one year later, there are a lot of fruits from that labor. On most days, I efficiently run my own household. I can wash some pretty ridiculous things, even heavy towels and blankets. I can prepare almost all of the Ugandan dishes (although there is still a lot more for me to learn). There are becoming fewer and fewer places/areas within Kampala that I have not visited. I have had the opportunity to travel to see the beautiful splendor of other parts of Uganda. I have learned the dance of bartering with market vendors or boda drivers and get amused when Ugandans recognize that I am a knowledgeable muzungu (white person). But admittedly, my Luganda is still very poor (although Antwain is almost fluent in his understanding).

For Antwain it has been a year for him to blossom. I continue to be amazed by Antwain every single day. He has grown taller and matured physically. But it has been the changes in his character, confidence in his academic performances, and the displays of profound friendship that have really transformed Antwain. He has been happier, healthier, and freer than I have ever seen him before. He has also displayed incredible patience and generosity with our enlarged household. Although Antwain still misses the conveniences of America, I can see that he now harbors a greater appreciation for them. It is still uncertain how this experience living in Uganda will shape the young man he is becoming, but I will never regret bringing him here to Uganda during such formable years.

And SMK…a place that I fell in love with back in 2007 still holds a cherished place in my heart. I still have moments (even after a whole year), where I will literally stop, look around, and revel in being at SMK. It still feels incredible to be living this dream! I continue to hold the utmost respect for the daily mission and dedication of Rosemary Kavulu and the entire staff at SMK. I am awed by the incredible support that Rosemary has had throughout the years from her husband, Joseph, and her children. In addition, it has been inspiring to witness the collaborative efforts of so many ‘friends’ of the orphans, like Change The Truth, Touch The World, Kyklou, and a few others who collaboratively are making some significant improvements to otherwise forgotten orphans. I wholeheartedly believe that it does take a village to raise a child here in Africa, and for me, it will be one of the greatest honors of my life to know that I was gifted with the opportunity to be a part of that village.

I am also reminded daily that I would not have the strength or endurance to be living my dreams in Uganda without the unconditional love and support of my family and friends. It is because I am so loved that I can love others. It is because I have champions in my corner that I can be champion for others. I will forever be appreciative for the selflessness of my loved ones who have endured long gaps in communication, a 9 hour time difference, a prolonged visit home, missed holidays and family celebrations, and additional obligations on my behalf.

There is still another year ahead of us. The journey is not over. There is still so much more that I want to experience and learn from Uganda. And remember there is always an open invitation to come and visit!"

- Melissa

welcome new readers!

I am very pleased to be featured in the Kansas City Star Magazine this morning. For those of you who live outside of Kansas City, you can read the article here.

For those of you who are visiting my blog for the first time, welcome! I've been posting for almost four years now. I usually write about my photography and my work in Uganda, but I also sneak in articles about my family, my second home (Portland, Oregon) as well as lots of other photographers.

It's easy to find a previously covered topic. If you'd like to read about the centerpiece of this blog, the non-profit I founded, look for Change the Truth chapters (each represents one full year) under "labels." You may find it interesting to read about the orphaned students sponsored by Change the Truth ("Sponsored Students"), view some of the artwork made by the children ("Artwork by the Kids"), read about the volunteer team trips that I lead each December ("Uganda Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4") or our fundraisers that are held in June of each year ("Annual CTT Fundraiser").

I hope you'll find my blog an interesting stop on your cyberspace travels and that you'll visit regularly.

monique

Gotta love the wonders of the internet.

You've read in previous posts about a woman from the Netherlands who discovered the story of hearing impaired Moses (on this very blog) and who made it possible for him for receive donated hearing aids.

This same woman, Monique, will be traveling to the orphanage later this month! After a flurry of emails, some q & a, and the ironing out of some logistics, Monique will be spending her holiday (late July to late August) teaching music to the children at St. Mary Kevin. How lucky they are. How lucky she is!

It's time to introduce this special woman. I have never met her; we've only communicated online. But already she is a member of the Change the Truth family, and soon enough she will undoubtedly navigate her way into the hearts of the kids at SMK. Monique will not only help begin to teach the marching band members how to read music, she will introduce the recorder to younger kids, she will introduce her beloved saxophone to the band, and she will (if she can find a big enough box!) also introduce the tuba. She will also give the keyboard CTT purchased a good workout.

August will be the month of music at SMK. I am so grateful that Monique found us. There will be much more to come as she begins her month-long adventure - but for now - please meet Monique:

"Hi, my name is Monique Udo and I live in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. I am a saxophone player and music teacher and the last 10 years I have dedicated myself more and more to music projects with children who grow up in less privileged circumstances.

I have worked in so called ‘black schools’ and with children in a centre for asylum seekers. It was there that I met very gifted children with a hunger for expressing themselves through music and dance. I loved working with them and started to realize fully how music can make a change for these children.

In December 2008 I accompanied my mother to Tulip Garden, an orphanage for children with HIV/AIDS in India. I took some flutes with me and for 10 days, I made music with the children: playing the flute, singing and drumming on buckets. After that, I knew I wanted to continue doing this. The joy that the music brought to this children and the eagerness they embraced it with was wonderful.

In 2009 I started the foundation “Muziek voor Kinderen” (Dutch for “Music for Children”). I organized a benefit concert with my Dutch pupils to raise money to buy instruments for the children in India, took a sabbatical from my job at the music school and went to Tulip Garden to stay there for four months. I bought keyboards, guitars, a saxophone, more recorders, melodica’s (blowing piano’s), and a small drum. I taught the children to play on the instruments and formed a music group of 18 children. With that group we give performances in other orphanages or hostels for children in the neighbourhood every time I’m there. I try to visit them at least once a year to keep them going. Luckily, I found a student who comes to teach keyboard every week, so now, after one year of playing the keyboard, some boys are playing the latest hits from the Indian movies!

Since I started these music projects, I’ve been searching the internet to find organizations who are doing something similar to what I’m doing. I came in contact with several organizations and orphanages where the children are brought up with music. I visited several of them and we are exchanging experiences, instruments and we help each other to realize projects.

When I came across the website of CTT during one of my surfing sessions, I immediately was very enthusiastic of what I read. I felt I would like to come over and give my share of changing the truth for the children at SMK. Soon after mailing with Gloria and Melissa it became clear to me that I would travel to Uganda in my summer holiday. From Melissa I got many good suggestions of which music activities could be done with the children so I know I will get busy over there. I’m looking forward to it!"


These are pictures from some of Monique's past projects. Soon we'll see our own kids in her photographs!

antwain

Is it possible that this is the same boy?

The answer is probably: yes and no.

Some of you may remember the slightly stubborn 11 year-old who proclaimed in front of a big crowd at the 3rd Annual CTT event that he was NOT excited about moving to Uganda. Personally, I don't remember seeing Antwain smile all that much during the moving process. It had to have been pretty overwhelming and scary.

He had to get all of his personal items into one piece of luggage. That's a lot of downsizing, especially for an American kid who has lots of things. He had to say goodbye to his friends and his family, his house, his school, Chipotle, beef jerkey, his bike, his Wii.

Antwain has been living in Uganda now for 10 months with his mom, CTT's amazing orphanage social worker and liaison. He just celebrated his 12th birthday. He has transformed from a kid to a young man in Ugandan, and I, for one, hope he writes a book about his experience one day.

Melissa wrote this about Antwain on her blog recently:

"One of Antwain’s greatest loves is playing the drums. His skills have really improved considerably since arriving in Uganda. He is confident and talented and content as he drums away to a rhythm that was I swear was born inside of him…the tall drum being his favorite to play.

As I was walking through the school the other day, I came upon an impromptu dance and drumming session with some of the children. My boy was leading the drumming troops as many girls practiced their dance movements. I could not see a trace of little boy in him at that moment, which made me a little sad but also extremely proud."

Antwain, I hope at the very least you're keeping a journal so that the book I'm hoping for is in the works!

team reunion

Pictures and details about the fantastic, stupendous 4th annual Change the Truth Friendraiser/Fundraiser will be posted soon. In the meantime, I wanted to share this picture that was taken at our team reunion Saturday afternoon. It's always great fun to be together again. I love these people so much.

Front row from left to right:

Eddie Feinstein, Suzanne Garr, Jeff Mildner, (me), Avis Smith, Jane Voorhees

Back row:

Jennifer Smith, Emily Collins, Carol Joseph, Lynne Melcher, David Muhammed

moses and starfish

His name is Moses. He’s adorable, sweet and loving. The first CTT heart he stole belonged to Team 3 member Kaley. That was back in 2009.

Kaley noticed that Moses couldn’t hear very well. She taught him how to sign the alphabet. They hung close whenever the team was at the orphanage. When we left Uganda, Moses gave Kaley some rubber bands so that she would not forget him. He had been wearing them on his wrist and wanted her to do the same when she went back to the US.

We’ve learned a lot about Moses since that trip. All of our hearts have been stolen by him now.

Team 4 member Avis began the process of teaching him sign language this past December. He was like a sponge. He soaked it up. He memorized the books she brought with her, then wanted more.

Moses has some very devoted buddies, each of whom looks out for him and makes sure he is able to make his way through the day in spite of his rapidly progressing hearing loss. Antwain and Francis have got his back. It would warm your heart to watch the boys together. It certainly cooked mine.

Recently CTT Liaison Melissa took Moses into Kampala for a complete hearing exam. Probably his first ever. He didn’t fare so well. The audiologist reported that Moses borders between significantly and profoundly deaf.

Meanwhile, a woman from Amsterdam stepped into the picture. Her name is Monique, and she is planning to go to the orphanage as a CTT volunteer this summer. She read about Moses on my blog and emailed me immediately. Turns out she has a friend who runs a hearing aid shop. His name is Gerben, and he wants to donate a set of hearing aids to Moses. Seems that when a customer dies, the hearing aids he/she wore make their way back to the shop. He just happened to have such a pair that would be perfect for Moses.

After a bunch of emails between Gerben, Monique, Melissa and me, it is now official:

Moses will get the chance to hear. The Oticon hearing aids are now on their way from Amsterdam to Uganda.

Remember the story about the starfish on the beach? The one about a man walking along the beach and noticing 
a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean?

Approaching the boy, he asked, "What are you doing?" The boy replied, "Throwing starfish back into the ocean. 
The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die." “Son,” the man said. "Don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish? 
You can’t possibly make a difference!" After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish 
and threw it back into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said, ”
I made a difference for that one.”

Yes we did.

social unrest in uganda

This past week I asked Melissa to describe the current situation in Uganda (regarding the recent election and political/social unrest). She replied with this comprehensive update:

"Directly following Museveni's reelection for President in February, he firmly stated that he would not allow any protesting of any sort to occur in Uganda, as he did not want Uganda to become like other African countries in the recent media. He forewarned political opponents and civilians alike that the harshest, firmest punishments would ensue for any such protesters. Within the last few weeks, many of the Presidental candidates have been publically denouncing Museveni for the increased prices of fuel (among other things). The two loudest, and most publically known opponents are Kizza Besigye (who was 2nd in the election) and Norbert Mao (who was a very distant 3rd). Each gentleman has staged a couple of 'Walk-To-Work' Protests where people are urged to chose to walk to work instead of taking a taxi or boda boda to show dissatification for the increased fuel prices (which has been directly correlated to other increased prices for food and other necessities). The men have publically urged others to take a stand against the rising fuel prices. All of the demonstrations have ended in the police using excessive force, tear gas, and rubber bullets in attempts to get the protesting to stop.

Following each protest (and there have been about 4 of them), the leader of the protest is arrested to inciting public violence and held accountable for the injuries that occurred during the protests. (Each man has been arrested at least twice.) Within a few days of arrest, either Besigye or Mao is released from jail by the courts. As of today, both men are back in jail-- Mao for his leadership of a demonstration earlier this week in Gulu, which resulted in a couple of deaths (as people ingested too much tear gas from police), and Besigye for his leadership of a demonstration mid-week that resulted in the death of a small child. Museveni has publically released statements that while he does not condone any excessive violence by police, these men should heed his warning about further protests within Uganda.

Besigye's first protest was actually stopped here in Kajjansi. Besigye was injured by a rubber bullet which broke one of his fingers. The shots of the guns could be heard from the school, although at the time, we did not know what was happening. Moses, SMK Headmaster, has been very cautious this term about releasing students to guardians and keeping them at school until the end of the term following that event.

There is a noticable increase in police and miliary soldier presence again around Kampala. At least one officer within a large group will have tear gas canisters on his jacket, probably more as a visible deterant. But I have not felt unsafe within Kampala. I just follow the news daily to chose my day to go into town."

Click here to read an April 21st NYT article about the situtation.

sponsored students: nicky and eddie

You may have read about Nicholas (Nicky) before. He’s one of the children I met very early on in 2006 and whose fantastic artwork has been featured on my blog in the past. I have always had a particularly soft spot in my heart for this gentle, caring, funny, artistic young man.

Nicky is 15. He’s been at the orphanage since 2005. Both of his parents were killed by LRA rebels during the civil war in the northern part of Uganda. He comes from the Lira district; his family’s tribe is called Langi.

Nicky’s two younger sisters are Izzy and Petra. He enjoys dancing, playing basketball and football (soccer) and reading novels. (He does an absolute killer impression of Michael Jackson; his moonwalk would make MJ proud.) On the academic side, he's one of our top performing sponsored students. Nicky wants to be a famous artist and sell his work all over the world. He especially loves painting the human figure and animals.

In his own words:

“I believe in myself - that I can make it. I see people in poor conditions that have become good people & I want to do the same. President Obama inspires me. My aunties and uncles inspire me. They had a poor mother, but they are now living a happy life. Even before my father was killed, he was a traveler, a bus driver to other countries. He worked hard and had a happy life.”



At 17 years old, Eddie is a very friendly, sweet young man. He’s lived at SMK since he was ten. His father died when he was five, and his mother currently works in the market in Entebbe. He is from the Bugandan tribe.

Eddie’s a good drummer. He’s also an excellent football (soccer) player. He plays for his school team and is one of the most talented and respected players.

In his own words:

“I don’t know that my father ever really loved me. My mother said that she and my father were very happy until I was born. When I was young, my father left my mother and me, and he married my stepmother. He had other children with my stepmother. When my father died, my stepmother made my family move from my father’s house. We could not take any of our belongings with us. I have not liked my stepmother since that day. My mother works very hard in the Entebbe marketplace to provide some school fees for my sister, my brothers, and me. I love my mother very much. She is a good woman. I also love football. My football coach brought me to St. Mary Kevin when I was younger. He wanted me to continue to play football, and I live to play football. Rosemary recruited me because I am an orphan and because I am talented at football. I now play at my school. I love SMK because they give me food. I get to see my mother and siblings once in a while. To me, family is the people who live together and do the same things together. I have two families, my one at SMK and my mother and siblings.”

Eddie works hard in school and wants to either be an accountant or a professional football player. His favorite professional team (and he is a rabid fan!) is Manchester United.

paper beads

I’d like to think that whenever I go to Uganda I teach a few things to the kids.

Of course, I also learn a few things.

This past December some of the older girls showed a group of us how to make the beautiful paper beads that they string onto bracelets, necklaces and earrings. I admit I wasn’t very successful and didn’t actually complete anything that day. But I did come home remembering how to make them.

Next week I’ll be speaking about Change the Truth during “Africa Day” at Pembroke Hill School. I’m giving a presentation to the middle school students in the morning. In the afternoon I’m conducting hands-on workshops with the students. During those, we’re going to make paper beads! The students will make earrings to sell as a fundraising project.

I needed to make sure I could actually make the beads and create earrings! So I set up shop at my dining room table and had a date last evening with an old magazine, an exacto knife, glue, varnish and some jewelry making supplies I picked up at a local bead store.

Voila!! A pair of earrings was born.

I can't wait to see what the group of middle school "kids helping kids" will create next week.

And I can’t wait to show this pair of earrings to my teachers at the orphanage!

school days

Want to know what high school is like in Uganda? The following report from Melissa, the CTT/SMK Liaison, spells it out.

Kajjansi Progressive Senior Secondary School is located in the heart of Kajjansi, Uganda (a small village a short distance south of Uganda’s capital city of Kampala). Kajjansi Progressive is a mixed boarding secondary school (with some day scholars) that provides a comprehensive education program from senior one to senior six. The School has been in operation for 19 years.

Change The Truth has a total of 14 students currently attending Kajjansi Progressive. Seven students are in the boarding section, and seven students are day scholars. Kajjansi Progressive has demonstrated exceptional understanding and support of the emotional and educational needs of the orphans from St. Mary Kevin. (Most of our other sponsored secondary students attend Bethel Covenant College.)

Students who are in Senior 1 and Senior 2 take 16 courses during each term. They are as follows: English, Mathematics, History, Geography, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Commerce, Computer, Christian (or Islamic) Religious Education, Political Education, Luganda, French, Agriculture, Literature, Fine Arts. Students in Senior 3 and Senior 4 take 10 subjects. Senior 5 and Senior 6 students take 4 subjects.

Boarding Students’ Daily School Schedule (Monday-Friday):

5:00a-6:00a Morning Class Prep Work
6:00a-7:00a Morning Prayer (Lead by students grouped within their religious denomination) and Breakfast
7:00a-4:40p Classes (one hour lunch break during the day)
4:40p-5:30p Extracurricular Activities or Organized Indoor games –or—Extra Lessons for Senior 4/ Senior 6 candidates (organized in small groups)
5:30p-6:00p Evening Dinner
7:30p-9:30p Evening Class Prep Work
10:00p Lights out within Dormitories
Note: All Progressive Students have School ½ day on Saturday, and all Boarding students attend church service for their religious denomination on Sunday.

As you can see, Secondary School in Uganda is serious business. Change the Truth does all it can to help make it a successful experience for the orphans/half orphans who qualify. CTT provides everything from the school uniform and books to toilet paper and a broom. We are so lucky to have Melissa watching over the kids now. She has told me that when she pulls up at the school in a taxi or on a boda-boda, the sponsored students go crazy with excitement that she has come to see them. Because of the strict and disciplined nature of the Ugandan schools, though, visits are few and far between.

Melissa is the “parent” who proudly shows up at Kajjansi Progressive and Bethel for the official Visitation Day. She usually brings along several of the students’ younger siblings. She attends the parent meeting and gets a chance to speak with many of the teachers about the individual progress of our sponsored kids.

Melissa also delivers "sponsor gifts" to the students. These include: one kilo of sugar, a small bottle of tomato sauce, a small jug of juice, one bar of wash soap, one fork and one covered bowl with lid.

She also hands out sponsor or pen pal letters and doles out encouraging words. And last, but far from least, she gives (and gets) a lot of hugs.

little dresses for africa

Another Change the Truth happy ending story...

A couple weeks ago Team 4 member Avis invited me to accompany her to a speaking engagement she had been asked to do. I was excited because a) I wanted to hear her speak about her experience in Uganda b) the name of the group to whom she was speaking was called “Wise Women” and who wouldn’t want to sit in that audience?? c) I love any opportunity to spend time with Avis.

It was a great evening. We grabbed a quick bite to eat first, so we had time to catch up. When we got to the venue, St. Andrews Christian Church, we set up a little table of CTT goodies to sell: beaded jewelry, note cards, fabrics, etc. Soon the room was filled with women; there was a great turnout.

Avis gave a wonderful presentation. It was so clear that her experience at the orphanage had a profound impact on her. You could have heard a pin drop in the room. The Wise Women were hanging on Avis’ every word.

There was a woman in the audience who spoke briefly about some work she’s been doing to help children in developing nations. She sews. She sews dresses and shorts. She sews these for an organization called “Little Dresses For Africa” which, as it turns out, is very similar to the “Mother Bear Project.” (You may recall that the latter is the organization that sends a teddy bear template to knitters who make adorable bears for kids living in dire situations. These were the bears we took to the orphanage and gave out as Christmas gifts last year.)

As soon as I got home that night I googled “Little Dresses For Africa.” It was founded by a woman named Rachel and is based in Michigan. To date she has collected 120,000 hand sewn dresses (and “britches for boys” too!) from seamstresses all over the world. Check out her website here.

I wrote to Rachel pronto.

Ten days later four big boxes were delivered to my front door. 75 dresses and 75 pairs of shorts!!! A myriad of sizes, fabrics and trimmings. Unique interpretations of the same pattern. (Just like the bears!)

Guess what the children will be getting for Christmas next December?

Thank you, men and women who sew these delightful creations. Thank you, Rachel. And thank you, Avis.

I love that we are all in this together!

print now available for purchase

My photograph "Two Boys, Kajjansi, Uganda, 2010" is now available at the "LIfe Support Japan" online auction at Wallspace Gallery.

Immediately following the earthquake and tsunami, several hundred photographers banded together to donate limited edition prints (10) for sale at $50 apiece. Tens of thousands of dollars have already been raised. If you buy one of the prints, you'll be contributing funds toward Direct Relief International and Habitat for Humanity Japan.

My print was offered up this afternoon, and I'd love to see it sell out quickly! Click here to go to the auction site. Thanks!

totally old

There aren't a lot of old people in Uganda. The average life expectancy, after all, is only about 50 years. This lovely man lives behind the orphanage in a small cluster of huts. There are lots of families living there. He and his wife are taken care of by the children and grandchildren. I visit him each year I go. His kind smile and gentle wave sort of sum up the recent love and good will that has been flowing toward our orphaned kids lately.

When I asked his grandson, this past December, how old the man is he looked at me quite seriously and said, "Totally old."

punctum: a gift from the photo goddesses

In Roland Barthe’s book "Camera Lucida" we learn his view of the two main factors that make a photographic image stand out. One of these is punctum.

Punctum is a detail that stands out: “that accident which pricks, bruises” the viewer. Punctum is an element that rises up from the scene and unintentionally fills the entire frame. It is a detail that attracts you to an image, that changes your reading of it. Punctum is usually accidental, but it elevates the images to a higher and more provocative level.

I was so excited when this boy walked by carrying the heads of two freshly slaughtered goats (the goats were dinner that night at the orphanage – a special Christmas feast.) I knew I was making a photograph I was going to like. But it wasn’t until I made the print and had time to really take it in that I noticed the playful polka dots on the boy’s flip-flops.

Those, rather than the goat heads, are actually what “prick” and “bruise” me.

vote now !!

My sweet and talented sister Bobbie has entered a contest. It's a contest sponsored by a credit union in her home state of Washington. It's a contest that lets people publicly cheer for their favorite cause. It's a contest that requires said people to cram all the information about that cause (plus a cartwheel) into a one minute video. It's a contest that calls upon the public to vote on the videos.

It's a contest that gives away $5,000.00 to the first place vote-getter, $2,000.00 to the second and $1,000.00 to the third.

It's a contest that brings me to my knees in front of each of you as I call out (looking up at your perfectly beautiful face): VOTE NOW!

Bobbie did a magnificent job on this video. Thank you, sis.

Oh, did I mention that the cause she chose is Change the Truth?



See it for yourself here or by going to the Verity Credit Union website.

On their website you can view all 37 one-minute videos and vote for your favorite (all are excellent causes). OR, to save time, you can just scroll down to #18 and watch the video made by Bobbie Baker and then vote, or if you're really pressed for time (heh heh) simply click on #18, then vote!

This is important. The prize is huge; it's one that could go a verrrrrry long way toward helping the kids at St. Mary Kevin Orphanage.

So, please vote (you can only vote once). And then please ask your entire family to also vote. And your office mates. And your school mates. Oh, and all your Facebook friends. And then be sure to ask them to ask their entire family, and so on. I think you know how these things work. Voting ends on March 2nd.

Cartwheel for a Cause is the name of the contest. I think our video might be the only one with a cartwheel all the way from Uganda! (Thanks, Melissa.)

Ok, enough from me. Now get off this blog, head over to the Verity blog and VOTE!

Please.

petra: speaking of dolls... well, bears

Those handmade bears Team 4 took to the children this past December seem to have become quite well loved. Melissa posted this report and these photos on her blog the other day:

"Children in Uganda have very few (if any) store bought toys, especially in the villages. Most children, including the orphans at SMK, make their own toys. Banana fibers are used to make dolls, balls, jump ropes. Old bottle caps are used to make game pieces for checkers. Recycled wire and found bits of rubber are used to make cars.

This past December, Suzanne (one of the members of CTT’s Team 4) was able to secure a donation of stuffed teddy bears to be included in the younger children’s Christmas gift from CTT. These handmade bears were lovingly and individually made by Mother Bear Project. Volunteers were provided with the basic template, but the clothing, yarn color combinations and other embellishments made each bear unique.

About 180 bears made their way to Uganda, and each has been thoroughly loved!! Each bear was tagged with a small card sharing who lovingly made the bear. Petra named her bear baby after the person who sewed it, Sharon. Petra has carried Sharon everywhere on her back, like other mamas do in Uganda. Over the holidays, Petra and some of her friends spent literally hours giving their bears hair extensions. Now Petra lovingly brushes and decorates Sharon’s long hair.



Sharon stays with me at night, cause Petra fears that she will be lost otherwise. Other children have their bears displayed on their beds in the dormitory or tucked away in their cases. They have been an incredible source of enjoyment and security to so many orphans at SMK."

You can read my posts about the Mother Bear Project here and here.

play

The kids at SMK are back in school now. Their holiday (equivalent to summer vacation in America) ended a week ago. The order of the day now revolves around teachers, lessons, books, exercise journals, homework and classroom discipline. The children all wear uniforms; the color depends on the school attended. AT SMK, the uniforms are green.

Change the Truth currently sponsors 25 orphaned secondary students. (Through primary school, the fees for the orphans are underwritten by the fees paid by the non-orphans.) Secondary is the equivalent of American high school. CTT also sponsors one student who has moved on to University and one student who is in Nursing School.



Change the Truth has granted five new sponsorships for secondary school this school year. You will meet those children in an upcoming post. For now, here are a couple new photographs simply celebrating “play” – something the kids are quite good at during their “summer holiday” in December.