The dry season is still on…sort of

The newspaper headline this week was “The dry season is still on” but we have had rain at least once every day since we arrived, and some overcast skies as well. The temperatures have been warm, however, and despite the red mud that covers everything (including shoes and feet and skirt hems) it is not much of a bother. In fact, although the rain falling on the amabati roof makes a great deal of noise, it does serve to drown out the sound of Steve’s snoring at night!

Even with the rain, we have had great success with our many meetings. We have talked with each user group and heard their ideas about what is great, and what could make the centre better. We also went into Kampala to meet an incredible woman named Irene Mutumba. She is a globally recognized leader and social entrepreneur who founded a large, non-profit organization here that helps children and youth to “find out what they can do best, develop it, and give it back to the world”. She is clever, energetic and highly accomplished.

It was after careful research that Steve arranged this meeting with Irene even before we arrived. He knew that if she was interested in our Learning Centre she could be an invaluable tool for coaching and supporting the committee as they look to become self-sustaining. Thankfully, she is excited about the project! Steve shared with her the story of Dr. Joyce, and she said she was only sorry she would never get to meet her. But she agreed to become a member of a governing board (that we are in the process of setting up) and to be a resource person as the Learning Centre. Since her education program is already in the Masooli Secondary School, she said it would work out very well.

The lack of sunshine here has made everyone talk about how “cold” it is. We even see people wearing fleece jackets and parkas! We are assuring them that this is not cold at all; Canadian winter, now that’s cold! As we describe the Canadian snow and ice to yet another person, we remember everyone at home. Perhaps the winter season is still on…