Well, it has been a week with my host organization, the Organization for the Good Life of the Marginalized, two weeks since I set foot in Uganda, and I finally have a grasp on what my work is going to be for the next seven.
This past Monday was my first day, and I spent it mostly learning names and positions of everyone at my organization. My organization is very multifaceted. They have everything from a microfinance program to AIDS information sessions. The staff is very knowledgeable, and the founder, who is also the boss, is quite serious about his work.
To be honest, my workplace is a nice change of pace from the African work ethic that many of my friends will have to deal with. It is not that the work ethic here is deficient; it is just slightly different. Whereas in America we focus on individual effort and efficiency, Africans focus on working together and prioritize quality over quantity. OGLM seems to blend the two approaches together to an optimal mix.
Ironically, Tuesday was a public holiday, Martyr’s Day, which meant no work! Wednesday, we went to a rural village called Buwaiswa, which is where most of the people with which I will be working live. There is a boarding school there that OGLM runs among other things.
I met some of the people I will be helping. My project is focused on victims of AIDS. More precisely, the grandmothers of children orphaned by AIDS. These “grannies” are the backbone of the lives of these children. Many are only subsistence farmers, left at the mercy of the weather, so I will be developing a microfinance program aimed at bringing them business training and capital to start small income-generating activities.
Thursday and Friday were slow days at the office where I just sat in front of the computer and typed up some reports on the current needs of the organization. Slow, but necessary. Soon enough, I will be on the front-line very often, and work will move much faster.
[Matt's article continues after the jump - including some really stunning photos. - Shawn]
Outside of work, I spent one night with my host father at the source of the Nile. This is where Lake Victoria officially turns into the Nile River. I am still completely amazed at how beautiful the Ugandan countryside is.
Whenever I see a sight as beautiful as this, I cannot help but think, “Why isn’t the tourist industry just exploding here?” Then I remember, Dictator Idi Amin kind of ruined the Ugandan international image for a while back in the 70s. That explains things.
But it is bouncing back, and for good reason. The Source may have been the most beautiful place I’ve ever been. I am quite proud of some of these pictures, and they do not come close to capturing how breathtaking the view was.
This statue is made in honor of Gandhi, whose ashes were spread into the Nile from this very spot.
This week, I will really trying to get immersed into the culture. I’ve been growing more and more comfortable with the area and learning my way around, so I think it is time to get down and dirty. I’ll venture down to the market and get some shopping done, hopefully.
I will also be working with OGLM to create a comprehensive work plan and timeline for the rest of my stay here. I’m ready to get to work!
I’m looking forward to seeing photos from Uganda. I don’t expect to ever see it for myself.