…and if you know anything about the people of Mawanga, they know how to party.
For those of you who don’t know what a party in Mawanga looks like, here’s what you would have seen if you were there. There were 2000 community members, ROWAN members, spiritual leaders, government officials and an international team of 17. The ROWAN women and children danced and put on skits. ROWAN honoured the 32 students who have worked hard and graduated the program. These students were awarded certificates. But the celebrations didn’t stop there.
Tom Dluzak and Troy Nibbelink, who were instrumental in the design of the Hall of Hope were able to make the trip to ROWAN and see the completed project. They were excited to see the work that had been done. With over 8,000 square feet of space, the Hall of Hope will be a pillar in the community and ROWAN will be able to host all their programs and events within these walls!
Help is still needed
The Hall of Hope still needs some work to be fully completed and ready to serve the people the way it was designed. If you are willing to help fill the need of a solar panel and a water pump, please click here and donate.
My husband stays quite connected to his friends, family and people from Uganda. He has lived in Canada now for almost 11 years, but Facebook, Whats app, Instagram and other social media has given him the chance to stay way more connected that he was able to in the past. Not only are there more opportunities, but it is much cheaper for us not having to purchase phone cards to use to call his friends and family. Youtube has also kept him connected with the music and news from Uganda, but the one thing that we have to work at to keep his culture in our home and in his life is the food.
The food in Uganda is something that brings many memories and great moments back for both of us. Whether it was the popcorn Mama used to make with our morning tea in Mawanga, the rolex that Julius would make me at Namuwongo market, the many Fanta oranges that I enjoyed under the shade of a tree or down at the market while teaching my husband to play the guitar, or the roasted maize I would snack on while walking home from town. Food is something that I associate with many wonderful people and amazing memories from my time in Uganda.
Over the 12 years of being married to Busiisi and the many months that I have spent in Uganda, I was able to pick up on how to make a few of the dishes that are staples in Uganda. With my husband’s help, we can make a mean chapatti, thanks to the lessons that Jane gave me and the recipe that Hakim wrote in my journal. My husband has taught me how to make “soup” using beef, chicken, pork or beans for him to enjoy with his rice. I have yet to learn how to mingle posho, but Busiisi does a great job of making that.
One of Busiisi’s favourite snacks that he used to get down at Namuwongo market was Mandazi. It’s similar to a plain donut here in Canada, but a little heavier. I find that when he is busy with life and is missing home, a batch or two of mandazi will cheer him up. My boys enjoy baking with me, so this past weekend, we surprised Busiisi with a double batch of mandazi. We probably made about 75 of them when all was cut and fried. As I sit and write this, there is not one piece left. He told me they tasted like home.
I cannot tell you my mandazi is better than Mama’s is, but for a mzungu, I think it tastes pretty good! Feel free to give it a try!
-Kris
Mandazi
1 egg 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 cup milk 2 tbsp butter, softened
2 cups and a bit of white flour 2 tsp baking powder
-mix all ingredients together
-the dough should be soft, but not sticky
-roll it out to about a 1/4 inch thick
-cut into triangles or squares (or hearts if you are my boys)
-fry it in hot oil and place it on a paper towel
adapted from http://allthingskenyan.com/food-mandazi.html
As someone who loves to read and write, I love words. A perfectly-turned phrase can make my heart go zing. String those phrases and sentences together and we can read or listen to something that makes us laugh, cry, fume, gasp, and absorb.
In 2019, there are A LOT of words out there. Because they are available to us 24/7/365, they can overwhelm and cause us to turn away. Or cause us to only turn to memes about dog, cats, and Marvel movies.
We can get desensitized to what we read and hear and it’s understandable. This can cause us to take in diluted meaning and truth, or put a hand up to say, “Stop”. Sometimes a break is good. And sometimes forcing ourselves to slow down and ponder the truth of what we are reading is also good. We’ve known for a long time now what AIDS is, but have you read the definition lately? I looked at the meaning of each word in the name ROWAN and it stopped me short. Please read what each of the words in the ROWAN title means. From Webster’s Dictionary: RURAL: of or relating to the country, country people or life, or agriculture
ORPHANS: a child deprived by death of one or usually both parents
WIDOWS: a woman who has lost her spouse or partner by death and usually has not remarried, or whose spouse or partner leaves her alone
AIDS: a disease of the human immune system that is characterized cytologically especially by reduction in the numbers of CD4-bearing helper T cells to 20 percent or less of normal thereby rendering the subject highly vulnerable to life-threatening conditions (such as Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia) and to some (such as Kaposi’s sarcoma) that become life-threatening and that is caused by infection with HIV commonly transmitted in infected blood especially during illicit intravenous drug use and in bodily secretions during sexual intercourse
NETWORK: a usually informally interconnected group or association of persons; a fabric or structure of cords or wires that cross at regular intervals and are knotted or secured at the crossings
Whether you are part of the ROWAN family or just learning about Eastern Uganda, to pause and understand what ROWAN is, what each word in the name means, is a good thing. It helps us remember in the 21st century glut of words that we can look clearly at the people in the village, at their pain and their hope, at their knotted and secure relationships with God and each other, and know the truth. The words of ROWAN allow us to learn and help and not turn away.
Stanbic Bank Uganda Limited is a large commercial bank headquartered in Kampala, licensed by the Bank of Uganda; the national banking regulator. Stanbic Bank is a strong advocate of education in the country and produces a National Schools Championship annually. Stanbic Bank recently financed a comprehensive research on primary education in Uganda. The findings were released on April 10, 2019. (stanbicbank.co.ug)
Only 7.5% of primary school going children finish primary. Of that 7.5%, only 24% finish o-level. Of those that complete o-level, only 5.4% finish A-level. Of those that reach the tertiary level, only about 11% finish successfully.
We are doing everything we can to infuse the amazing young people of ROWAN with hope for the future. Anything you can do to help, whether it is a one time donation or sponsoring someone directly is a gift that goes directly to those in need, prioritizing education.
If you ever have the pleasure of going to Uganda and you have a day or two with no plans, I would suggest going a little farther east, past ROWAN to Kapchorwa. While there, you will have the opportunity to meet some very friendly people, maybe purchase some local coffee beans and hike to three absolutely breathtaking falls.
I have had the pleasure of visiting Sipi Falls twice. Once with a friend of mine just for the day and the second time, with my husband for our honeymoon. Both times we were well taken care of with a guided tour to all three of the falls as well as the caves behind. Both times it poured rain on us and we used banana leaves as umbrellas. Both times were beautiful days and many chances to take some amazing photos of some stunning scenery.
My husband even braved getting as close as he could the the largest of the three falls. He went down to the rock at the bottom of the falls where he was showered with the mist and came back to the path soaking wet. He could even wring out his socks.
The hike takes about three hours to visit all three falls and the path is rocky and steep in some areas but so worth it. If you do make a trip to visit Sipi Falls and plan to stay the night, I would suggest taking some “warmer” clothes as it can really cool down there in the evenings.
My husband and I stayed at Lacam Lodge and were treated like royalty. Their bandas are located right at the top of a cliff and overlook the falls. We woke up to amazing views and wonderful food. I am sure there are other amazing resorts, lodges and camps as many people visit these falls.
I remember being in awe of how beautiful everything was around me. Everywhere I looked I could see how the hand of God was so powerful and how unbelievably wonderful his creation is. It makes it very clear to me that I worship an incredible God. I am amazed that a God, who created such a beautiful world for us to live in, also created me.
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” Psalm 19:1 (NIV)
Another amazing flashback Friday featuring portraits of the amazing men, women & children of ROWAN. Each one of the people in these portraits is absolutely dear to our hearts & the photography is sublime. Some of those featured have encountered struggle, but that simply makes their smiles all the more divine.
Monika 2009
Flashback to 2009
These series of portraits is a fun way to share the progression of life here at ROWAN, with hopefully more happiness than sadness to show. After over a decade ROWAN (& your donations) have helped a lot of deserving people (like Monika) enjoy a better life. This series of posts wants to celebrate the beauty of every life at ROWAN.
Enjoy the Show
Keep checking back as we will continue to share more about the people of ROWAN. Their strength & smiles should be an inspiration to us all. Please keep them in your prayers & if you want to help, we’d love for you to get involved.
Not only have we been sharing more about Uganda with you, lately we have been sharing more about what we do. ROWAN has a lot of amazing programs, allowing almost anyone to get involved to help those in need! We thought we share a little more about how those interested can get involved.
We helped educate all of them!
Why Education Matters
Simply put, education reduces poverty. Studies show that each year of schooling increases a person’s earnings by an average of about 10%. This is true worldwide. Illiteracy is Africa’s most virulent disease & because of that it’s the only region in the world where poverty has increased in the past 25 years. Even when children beat the odds & make it to school, there is an average of 40 students per teacher in rural communities.
Classroom learning
What Our Education Programs Provide
It’s a tall order to fight against the kind of odds above. Luckily we are up for the challenge. When you donate to our education & training programs you help us provide the following:
Orphans 1. Uniforms, books & exam fees for primary level (elementary age) children. 2. Scholarships for secondary students (high school age). This helps supplement the sponsorship funds for boarding school. 3. Special gifts for children as they graduate higher level education. Because they deserve it! 🙂
Widows & Widowers Literacy training that empowers widows/widowers (who never had the chance to go to school) by teaching them to read, write & study the Bible independently. Edith learned math skills in literacy class, so she started selling gasoline. She is now the #1 stop for taxis & motorcycles in Mawanga!
Classroom learning
About School in Uganda
The education system in Uganda starts with primary education (7 years), followed by secondary education (4 years of lower & 2 of upper), then post-secondary education (3 to 5 years). In 1997 free primary education was made available for up to four children per family.
That is some classroom!
Quick Uganda Facts
– The incidence of AIDS decreases in villages that have primary schools.
-A child who quits attending school is 3x more likely to be HIV positive later in life than a child who completes basic education.
– The average ratio of students to teachers in Uganda is 50:1.
-Although 9,000 to 12,000 students a year are qualified for higher education, only 25% of them are able to find room in the limited number of institutions.
What a smile!
How You Can Help
Our Education & training programs are a constant. Educating people who need it will always be a challenge. Anything you can spare is beautiful to us, whether it’s a few dollars or a new school!
I really didn’t believe my friend when she told me that the best chicken in the world can be bought on the side of the highway between Kampala and Jinja. She claimed that it not only tasted the best, but it was a fun experience as well. If you have ever travelled the highway I am talking about through Mabira Forest, you know exactly what I am talking about.
All you need to do is pull your vehicle over to the side of the road and you will very quickly be surrounded by people dressed in blue aprons with numbers on them. They will be carrying a variety of items from water, fanta, soda, ngonga (roasted banana wrapped in newspaper), meat on a stick, bananas and the famous chicken on a stick.
The best part about this experience is watching the vendors. They will surround a matatu or vehicle but if they don’t make a sale in the first few minutes, they will leave. But if another vehicle pulls up, they will dash to that one hoping to be at the window of a person hoping to buy their product. The best is when a bus pulls up. I don’t think I have ever seen people drop what they are doing to chase down customers on a bus as fast as “the blue apron” people. They can barely reach the windows to sell their product, but they manage as best as they can.
Now as I said, the chicken on a stick is the best in the world. Why? you ask. Well, it’s salty, perfectly roasted and a little crispy. But eating it in the back of a matatu when you are sweaty and squished is the best part. The windows are down, as you barrel down the highway, and every single bite makes the dangerous drive on this highway way more worth it. For me, I know that if I end up in a head on collision with another vehicle because my taxi driver was passing a sugar cane truck and another matatu side by side, I will have had the best meal ever as my last.
New HIV vaccine could expose latent virus and kill it!
Antiretroviral therapy may soon be obsolete, as scientists have successfully used immune cells to kick the dormant form of HIV out of its hiding place and destroy it. The findings may soon lead to an HIV vaccine.
Antiretroviral therapy can keep HIV in check so well that the virus is near-undetectable in the blood. However, HIV continues to “live” in latent form, so people with it must keep taking the medications to prevent it from flaring up.
Antiretroviral therapy can have a host of side effects. These may include gastrointestinal problems, cardiovascular problems, insulin resistance, and bleeding events, as well as effects on bone density, liver health, and neurological and psychiatric health.
So, the search for an HIV cure is ongoing. Now, new research may have found a way to “drag” the virus out of its hiding place and neutralize it. The findings may lead to a vaccine that would allow people living with HIV to stop taking antiretroviral medication every day. (Medical News Today 04/09/2019)
Senior study author Robbie Mailliard, Ph.D. — an assistant professor of infectious diseases and microbiology at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health in Pennsylvania — and colleagues have published their findings in the journal EBioMedicine.
This week the world watched as the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France, caught fire. Part of her centuries-old structure was destroyed, and her grand spire burned away.
Notre Dame Cathedral
Historian Yvonne Seale writes at vox.com:
Notre Dame de Paris was never the preferred cathedral of kings. Notre Dame was instead the cathedral of ordinary Parisians. Since the Middle Ages, it’s been the backdrop against which the city’s inhabitants have lived their lives. The building, which stands on a small island in the Seine River, was a constant amid the upheaval of the French Revolution and the terrors of the Nazi occupation. As one 14th century scholar wrote, the cathedral was “like the sun among stars.”
There’s been a church on the site now occupied by Notre Dame since at least the sixth century. In 1163, Bishop Maurice de Sully launched an ambitious project to build a new cathedral for the city’s growing population. For centuries, the cathedral has been a tourist draw, a meeting spot, a place of refuge in times of crisis. It fostered both the beginnings of the University of Paris and, quite literally, the city’s abandoned children in the orphan home it ran.
“It’s just a building,” some say. “It can be rebuilt.” This is true. However, people bond with places. And the longer a building exists, the more memories are housed there and in the people who make it part of their lives. The cathedral has stood for centuries as a symbol of beauty, help, and refuge. Sometimes a building matters.
ROWAN is building a Hall of Hope. Why build a hall? Ten years ago ROWAN began under the Ugandan trees. Most organizations start up and fairly quickly look for a building. Widows and orphans began gathering with ROWAN staff under the trees, in harsh weather, rain or shine, with no thoughts of a building. But God began to bring more women and children to ROWAN and ten years later the family is overflowing! The Hall of Hope will have two large classrooms for tutoring, literacy, Bible studies, tailoring, jewelry-making, and much more. There will be additional office space; most of us know the value of a desk or table to work from. What might be most exciting though is that the Hall holds 600 people and will be able to house the entire ROWAN family, at once. The ROWAN family has never had a place where they can all gather together. In the past, it was difficult to even get people to come on the property, as the word AIDS is in our name. The shame and stigma are high. But God lovingly brought dignity to those who came, and more came, and it became clear it was time to give them a place, a beautiful building, their “sun among stars”. They can look at their Hall of Hope now and think, “WOW, that is for me.” People will pass by and see who this beauty is for.
We know that Notre Dame began as a place for ordinary Parisians to worship God. “If anyone is worth a beautiful building, let it be the widows and orphans. ROWAN is their family and the Hall is our family room.”— Co-founder Kelsey Hargadine
The Hall of Hope will be dedicated on May 26, 2019.
