PIA ABUBAKAR
PIA ABUBAKAR
It was more like an ordinary morning for the rest of Uganda, wet with rain and dirty with mud but it was a different day for Pia and for Caring Hands. Pia had lightened up the Caring Hands compound with her wedding gown complete with the bright red flower in her hair and yes, your guess is right-she was getting married. Once Pia Jarvinen, now Pia Abubakar.
Born on 26th December 1969 in Helsinki Finland, Pia was a student of Civic Activities and Youth Work at Mikkeli University of Applied Science when she came to Caring Hands as an intern in February 2009. She had done too well and since she was in her study leave, the Caring Hands team asked her to stay longer as a volunteer and well, she did.
She had worked with Kuopio University Hospital’s Orthopedic and Traumatological wards since 1996 when she graduated as an Operation and Anesthetic nurse. She also has a diploma in psychiatric nursing but she is aware of the fact that she cannot work in a hospital ward any more due to the asthma and sinusitis that she acquired due to the moulds that affect houses back in Finland.
Working with Caring Hands to Pia, is like a dream come true. She has always been open minded and a fighter for justice. She has managed to work with communities and to make several true friends. Talk of an even bigger family and hasn’t she even gotten a husband?
But still, Pia loves her Finnish summer. The blue berry pies and summer cottages, plus her big African-like family are things she cannot wait to have a piece of again. So, she plans at the end of May to go back to Finland-to her 19year old son Nikolas, her only brother Toni and of course her parents who all live in Kuopio. Plus, she also needs to complete her education. Nevertheless, Caring Hands will always be a part of her just as she will remain a part of the team.