The Martlet

Chida Henry was an intern with Environmental Women in Action for Development (EWAD) in summer 2011.

I had never considered how special it would be to watch children seeing lights for the first time. So it was with great surprise and pleasure that I was able to witness this small miracle during my UVic summer co-op, in none other than Kampala, the bustling capital city of Uganda, after the sun had gone down and great big lights turned on to illuminate the towering high-rises, busy traffic and street vendors.

Shallon, my Ugandan co-worker, and I had spent the weekend travelling to Rukungiri for Shallon’s cousin’s wedding. Afterwards, we were to take Stella, an orphan, back with us so she could attend the Early Learning School in Entebbe, where hundreds of orphans study by sponsorship through my employer, the Environmental Women in Action for Development (EWAD). Stella, a very small 12-year-old who’d been living with her grandmother, had made a heart wrenching impression on Margaret Tuhumwire, EWAD’s director, just a few weeks prior. When Margaret visited her school in March, Stella had burst into tears and begged to be taken away from the village. Margaret took a picture of Stella’s tear-stained face, and gave us a print so we could find her. With Stella in tow, we ventured further into the country to visit Shallon’s brother and his family, and ended up also bringing Joshua, Shallon’s curious six-year-old nephew. He’d always dreamed of seeing the big cities, especially after hearing rumours of the excitement they held. Seeing as school was out for summer holidays, Joshua’s parents readily agreed to let their son go for an adventure.

Most of the one-hour bodah-bodah (motorcycle), two-hour special hire (car), two-hour wait, eight-hour bus and one-hour hour matatou (taxi-van) rides across the 500 kilometres of dusty, bumpy, red roads from Rukungiri District to home sweet Entebbe were spent with Stella in my lap, while Joshua dozed in Shallon’s lap. A few hours into the bus ride, I was the first one to shout excitedly after I spotted little groups of wild zebras grazing in the fields, while the rest of the bus giggled at me. After the sun went down and the sky darkened at 7 p.m., the children noticed something infinitely more novel than zebras — lights! Once we reached and drove deeper into the sprawling city of Kampala, Stella and Joshua leapt out of our laps and squished their faces against the window for a better view. Their excited chatter verged on shrieking as they pointed at all of the things they’d never seen before. Shallon told me what they were, announcing, “Look at the lights! Look at the police! Look at the big houses! So many people still awake!” Staring at his first high rise, Joshua pondered out loud, “I wonder if I could build a house that big?”

That was when it really dawned on me that the village living I’d experienced with Shallon is the only reality most Ugandans have ever known. It gets dark at 7 p.m. every night. Only the wealthier families have gas stoves, lanterns and mosquito nets. Dinner is often cooked and served in the dark. And yet, everyone has a support network of family, friends and neighbours, and they are incredibly generous with everything they have. When I offered biscuits, fruits or soda to Stella, she immediately sought out little Joshua and made sure he was offered food before anyone else. Shallon impressed me too; we hadn’t planned to take Joshua with us, but it hadn’t even crossed her mind to refuse hosting him for the next few weeks.

What a delight and eye-opening experience to watch the wonder and awe of others when they see things you have always taken for granted. I came back to Entebbe a little more humbled and wondering if simply being generous is already having more than most.

The culture shock upon return to Canada gets easier with experience, but unlike travelling quickly city to city in some countries, living and working in Entebbe for four months allowed me to make a lasting connection with friends, coworkers, EWAD and people from Uganda, the pearl of Africa.

Come out Friday, Feb. 3 to Felicita’s for “Step up and Dress up,” a night of live music, dancing, raffles and fun, with all proceeds going to help EWAD sponsor orphans and build an orphanage home where I planted fruit trees this summer. In the words of Shallon, “tell them it’s a benefit that will help Uganda shine!” Tickets are $5 in advance of $7 at the door. For more information, please contact Chida at chidah@uvic.ca.