UP | uncultured project

The good news? I’m fully recovered from that illness I had a few days ago. I’m ready to get back into the swing of things. The bad news? It’s becoming harder to stay in this country. The coming days will be the make or break point of this project.

Don’t get me wrong. I want to stay. In fact, I have an obligation and responsibility to stay. I’ve received a lot of donations from people around the world and I have a responsibility to spend this in a way that makes a difference here. I also have more items from Vestgaard-Frandsen (they donated much more than a PermaNet or two – much more) that deserve to go to needy families. And, quite frankly, I feel this project is just getting started – there is so much more that can be done.

But my biggest pillar of support – my grandmother – is (understandably) starting to falter. The biggest reason is financial. It ain’t cheap for someone on a fixed income to offer room, board, and help with transportation. I’ve offered to help with these expenses. But my grandmother is the kind of person that wouldn’t take a dime from her own grandson. For example, when the car recently needed to be sent in for repairs, I offered to pay for the repair costs. I went so far as to put the money in her hand only to see her toss the cash out the door. My money is no good here it seems.

Instead, my grandmother has been making some subtle (and not so subtle) hints that she can’t afford to help me the same way she has for the past year. I’ve had to cancel or delay a few appointments with some charities and NGOs I was hoping to team up with because my grandmother has been reluctant to lend the car after spending so much money repairing it. Other times she asks if my uncle (the one with the mansion and the fleet of cars) or my aunt (the one with the school and the upscale apartment) can help. But both of us know the answer to that.

My grandmother should have never been the sole source of family support in this country. The biggest irony of this project is that – for someone who has devote his life to helping others – I’m having a hell of time trying to find family here to help me.