This is the first of a pair of posts, “The First Week as a Teacher Without Borders (TwB) volunteer in Uganda”, in which the topics “Keeping Uganda Great Again” and “What Happens When Two Elephants Fight” are addressed.
Allow me to open by addressing the painful personal loss of the child inside me, which has something to do with running 2.5km to a mobile service provider and back at noon on the streets of Muyenga for reasons I may or may not be willing to disclose later.
Destined for greatness, my first grade began victoriously as I was crowned champion of the Hyvinkää Village Schools in the long jump. Inspired by Samppa Lajunen’s treble of gold medals in Salt Lake City just half a year later, I knew bringing glory to Finland in skiing would make the already bursting trophy cabinet a source of pride for my grandparents, as passionate armchair athletes as any. Not to be disheartened by a meagre 13th-place finish in the Hyvinkää skiing competition a couple of weeks later, I set up a more realistic target to emulate Haile Gebrselassie at the Summer Olympics, albeit representing Eritrea. I have reason to believe his thumbs-up, all-smiles approach to running made it seem simpler than it is.
Turns out not all 50 million Ugandans are passionate runners, the first of many simplified myths to be busted, I presume. I suspect not even all of the Kalenjin. Based on the bewildered looks and the absolute highlight of my jog, the “Uuwii, what are you doing, man?” comment from a bloke chilling beneath a tree I cannot name, I ought to integrate and adjust my day according to the sun.
Sunrise is fruit-platter time. It’s better to be active until right after noon, a time best suited for engaging with colleagues, family, or just about anybody over lunch. My favorite place in Kampala so far is the gazebo at the FCA office, a source of intellectual and nutritional nourishment. Somehow, people manage to stay productive until five, when it is time to face the rush-hour traffic. Generally, it seems work and spare time blend here, as people tend to respond quick even after office hours when needed.
Alas, I find myself making a brief stint into the mobile service provider and collecting a local sim-card just to turn around and face these climbs again.
Now, having run 5 km in Muyenga, these childhood dreams have taken their last painful breaths, vaporized under the equatorial sunshine in Kampala, left in the dust of Joshua Kiprui Cheptegei (2 years my junior) sprinting away on this last climb on Tank Hill Road before cruising to victory over the finish line adjacent to the well-guarded gates of Caffè Roma l’originale Italian Restaurant, Pizzeria & Boutique Hotel. “You´re late”, exclaims mr. Cheptegei cheerfully.
With no time to rebuild an ego, I rush to meet up my TwB pair at the Finn Church Aid (FCA) country office in Kampala for our first meeting. The freeze of US foreign aid last week has implications to the education of 180 000 refugee students and therefore personnel with immediate effect. This has made us volunteers extra wary of our presence; namely, am I of help or literally and figuratively standing in the way. Unable to compare to previous meetings we still feel an added element of tension in the room. The school year also started on the Monday so the agenda is packed.
Having been present in meetings a hundred and eleven times, I first notice the effectiveness of this meeting of 20+ people. The chairwoman yields the floor to the different departments, each of which has prepared its comments. It is emphasized that everybody has a chance to comment before moving on to the next topic. Somehow, everybody is on point, and nobody is addressing what happened to their cat, the neighbor’s dog, or even the very relevant and acute policy matters echoed on CNN just minutes ago.
To all Finnish organizations it should be noted I am looking for work in August and willing to consult on Ugandan FCA efficiency.
It does not take long before the security, finances, land projects, water projects, communications, logistics, and different materials of the ~50 million strong nation in general, and refugee settlements in particular, have been comprehensively addressed and a shared situation overview is constructed.
It seems that senior management appreciates the professionals, as they are practicing the “two ears, one mouth” approach until now. “Before going any further we should circle back and do what should have been done first – introduce the respected Teachers without Borders volunteers.”
Now, as showcased by the masterful storytelling of Wilson Kirwa (no idea if he has published in English), whose work I highly recommend for people between the ages of 0 and 200, the best stories use imagination as a vehicle to pass on a lot more important ideas than the empirical truth ever could. However, here is a direct transcription of the words drifting from the vocal cords, amplified by the odor of perspiration flowing in their wake:
“Hi! We were briefed that Ugandans in general dress up well, of which we are desperately self-concious now (laughter). We did the best we could. We appreciate that we come in at a difficult time (nodding in acknowledgement). Therefore, our first priority is to not be in your way, and the immediate second objective is to be of the small help we can (encouraging nodding). We would also like to point out that we have learned that FCA and Uganda have faced challenges on many fronts before and overcome them, most recently during covid-19. We offer a word of encouragement, in that together we can KEEP UGANDA GREAT AGAIN!” (laughter).
Ego restored.
As if sensing our (or maybe it´s just me) insecurities, the professionals at the FCA country office have made it clear that the volunteers input is much respected. We have received expansive briefings on acute matters regarding the refugee settlements and suggestions on how to best support the teachers there. It becomes clear that we stand on the shoulders of giants to an extent thanks to the FCA´s long-term and high-quality commitment to the settlements (some changes have occured since that piece was published, mainly more impact). In other words the structure is already in place for a productive stint whenever a volunteer is sent to a these locations – encouragement for any teacher pondering whether to apply. Obviously the lasting impact in the end is made by the thousands of teachers in the classrooms.
Representing Teachers without Borders does not seem too bad.
Us volunteers will be dispatched to the Moyo field office Sunday morning. We are expecting a 10-hour drive with minimal stops and a ferry crossing over the Nile. There will be a lot to learn not only from the FCA personnel on the field but also other stakeholders in the area. Hoping to post about the first week before there is too much to post about the second.
Most people have their heart in the right place regardless of their occupation, whether it be in education, healthcare, retail, business, technology, manufacturing and so on. Readers like you are often already active in improving communities through work, volunteering, donations, or all three. Thus, it would be fair and productive to ask more from the influential individuals, entrprises and organizations ignoring their part on the platforms available to you. Meanwhile you may consider that the FCA is considered among the more effective charitable organizations. Christmas, birthday, confirmation or graduation coming up? Consider an alternative gift.
Blue Karibu 