May News
VISITORS, CELEBRATIONS, SCHOOL AND JUST BEING TOGETHER. ONCE AGAIN, LETTING THE GOOD COME AND GO AROUND.
Festivities are good place to begin, as drums, dance and song have echoed out of Caring Hands on many afternoons so far this year.
Even several guests and groups of visitors have had the opportunity to enjoy the performances and hearing about the women’s life stories. We even held a wedding celebration over here. Congratulations Pia and Nuren!
Among other things, in the beginning of March we were delighted by a visit from Maija Saarni, a Development Coordinator from Fida, and later on, by a team of CPA (Christian Partners in Africa) from Great Britain.
Even Canada called on us, as Caring Hands power couple John and Carole Grabish came all the way from Thunder Bay, for a two week visit in a hot Kampala.
All visitors are important to Caring Hands, because through them our message and beautiful beads are passed forward into the rest of the world and the good continues to go around.
Studies and ethical ponderings. In the midst of all the visits and celebrations it is always a good thing to calm down and also spend time focusing on some of the more serious issues.
Our literacy and writing program is already more than halfway through its second year and on April 14th, the ladies received their intermediate reports. No longer does anyone need to use an “X” or thumbprint for a signature, instead all of the names are written in beautiful, individual handwritings. In addition, mathematical equations along with various societal issues have been covered, lessons have been learned and many of the women are already reading fluently. Needless to say, self-respect is improving!
At the end of April we began to hold series of gatherings to discuss the topic of ethics, two of which have already been held. Fida interns Malla and Katja led a fine presentation on the topic and afterwards, with the help of dramatic skits and speeches, we discussed different ethical issues and scenarios, what is “right” and what is “wrong”.
Since the start of this year, Caring Hands social worker Dan Njuba has put in a lot of hard work and effort in regard to child protection matters and as a result we have now held two large functions in March-April along this theme. These occasions have been attended by teachers, religious leaders, police representatives, social workers, children’s parents and of course also by Caring Hands workers and bead makers. The idea is to raise awareness of children’s rights and to educate and stir the community to carry the issue and concern forward. Those who attended the meetings now continue to work in small groups among their own neighborhoods.
This is an extremely important and remarkable work!
Malaria, the silent killer. Like the HIV infection, malaria also kills a large number of people in Uganda each year. While Malaria is an infectious, fever causing disease transmitted and spread through mosquito bites, it is treatable. Because malaria transmission happens mainly between dusk and dawn as that is when the mosquitoes are out in flight, the best way to prevent infections during these hours is by wearing clothing that covers and protects your skin and by sleeping under a bed net.
Unfortunately not everyone can afford mosquito nets or medical treatment if they are already infected, thus Caring Hands has already been distributing nets and helping many people to receive treatment this year! Information and awareness of this deadly but treatable virus must be shared!
A time to clean and to clear out the clutter.
Every single day, a considerable amount of work takes place at both the Caring Hands bead and paper workshops. As a side product, we get a lot of mess that doesn’t always get sorted out with the daily clean-up. Therefore, it was high time to put things back in their proper places and tidy up!
Boxes upon boxes of beads were carried out and jewelry reorganized into bunches of ten as we cleaned out our storage space. We even managed to finally replace the curtains that were destroyed in last year’s fire! At last, the storeroom is in beautiful order with our new red curtains adding to the celebratory mood. Now the place is fit to be disheveled and untidy again!
Time for goodbyes.
Our interns Malla Vanhoja and Katja Hintikka have come to the end of their 3 ½ month placement at Caring Hands. Finland is calling the girls home and their return journey will begin on May 19th.
Thank you girls, you have been such a great help in this hectic Caring Hands family life!
What's more, Pia Abubakar (formerly Järvinen) will end her 15 month long stay in Uganda and as our volunteer as she returns to Finland at the end of May. Without a doubt, Caring Hands work will continue on in Finland and beads will be sold on the side.
In the words of Milla:”It will leave a great ache behind, Pia will be missed and her position will be hard to replace. Come back already!”
Caring Hands receives thanks through poetry.
Pastor Juliet’s, who is one of our beadmakers, daughter Sharon Ishimwe has been volunteering at Caring Hands once a week, interviewing and writing stories about Caring Hands family members. Here is Sharon’s poem of thanks:
CARING HANDS
You are giving Hands
Lifting and sharing Hands,
Caring Hands to be exact.
It takes more than caring
To be the Caring Hands
The nature of caring
Requires a blend
Of warmest compassion
And love deep and true
To reach and to comfort
The way that you do.
You may never change my past
With all its misery and pain
But I am comforted
That the untold stories
Of my future are bright
Because you have been there
When I needed someone to care.
By Sharon Ishimwe