Irgendwie hat es meinen letzten Post nicht gespeichert, aber eigentlich will ich euch nur meinen ersten Quartalsbericht vorstellen. Viel Spaß beim Lesen und beim Belächeln meines Englischs :-)
Activity Area: Uganda Red Cross Society, Busia Branch
Delegated by: German Red Cross
Delegated by: German Red Cross
Quarterly Report
August – November 2012
August – November 2012
I. Description of the city
Since three and and a half month I can call my new home Busia. This is a town in East Uganda, settled near to the boarder to Kenya. The District where Busia is in has the same name. In Kenya there is also the town Busia, Kenya. In the supermarkets in whole Uganda you get aware of many goods from Kenya. Therefore Busia is full of traffic because of many trucks coming from Kenya, which want to cross the boarder.
At the beginning of my time in Busia I could not imagine to organize mysef in this town. But after a time I recognized that there is just one main street. The main street from Busia/Kenya boarder up to the main crossing is called Custom Road. The main street from main crossing up to the direction Kampala is called Jinja Road. So if you want to reach the next towns like Iganga, Jinja, Kampala you just follow Jinja Road all the time.
Than you find the other streets Majanji Road, which goes in direction to Lake Victoria. And Tororo Road, which goes up to Tororo, than Mbale, Kumi...
Not different to other Ugandan cities the streets are full of small supermarkets, mobile phone shops, markets for food and clothes, restaurants and many schools. There are more than 100 schools just in Busia town. Around Busia town there are many villages.
II. Description of the work station
Simon and me are the first
generation who is working at the new Red Cross Busia Branch since the arrival.
The old one changed into a Guest House, but there are still some volunteers.
But now since some years there is the new Branch at Tiira Road. The building is
very big. There is on one hand the Conference Hall and on the other hand the
office for the Branch Manager; also some latrines and a small office next to
the office of the Branch Manager. The Conference Hall includes a stage, so that
you can use this place for events.
Then the Branch includes a really big compound. Unfortunately without a fence; so the Branch is not a safe place to store computers or other stuff.
At the Red Cross Branch is regulary our Branch Manager Sophart Walimba and some volunteers. Oteno Peter is our Focal Person and also the volunteer who introduced us at the orientation days in Mukono. There is also Ali, the Branch Youth Council Chairperson, James and Dennis, two volunteers. At the old Branch are Catherine Alemura as volunteer and accountant and Lawrence also as a volunteer. Those are the people who are coming constantly. There are some more volunteers, but they still go to school, so they do not come daily to the Branch. Since some weeks we have a student from Mbale University for internship up to December. She also joins the Red Cross activities and projects regulary.
In Lumino, this is a small town between Busia and Lake Victoria, we have a Red Cross Sub-Branch. Joseph Kadett is the Sub-Branch Manager and he also participated at the orientation days in Mukono and is coming some days in the month to Busia Branch. Unfortunately we can’t work activly together with the Sub-Branch, because there is a lack of transport.
Red Cross Branch
Then the Branch includes a really big compound. Unfortunately without a fence; so the Branch is not a safe place to store computers or other stuff.
At the Red Cross Branch is regulary our Branch Manager Sophart Walimba and some volunteers. Oteno Peter is our Focal Person and also the volunteer who introduced us at the orientation days in Mukono. There is also Ali, the Branch Youth Council Chairperson, James and Dennis, two volunteers. At the old Branch are Catherine Alemura as volunteer and accountant and Lawrence also as a volunteer. Those are the people who are coming constantly. There are some more volunteers, but they still go to school, so they do not come daily to the Branch. Since some weeks we have a student from Mbale University for internship up to December. She also joins the Red Cross activities and projects regulary.
In Lumino, this is a small town between Busia and Lake Victoria, we have a Red Cross Sub-Branch. Joseph Kadett is the Sub-Branch Manager and he also participated at the orientation days in Mukono and is coming some days in the month to Busia Branch. Unfortunately we can’t work activly together with the Sub-Branch, because there is a lack of transport.
Red Cross Branch
III. Description of Red Cross activities at
Busia Branch
Giving First Aid at events
Since we live in Busia, there were to big events in Busia town organized by government. There was an event called Children Youth Day and the celebration of Independence of Uganda for 50 years. Red Cross is usually invited by the government to take part at those events as the First Aid-team.
Condom Distribution
Red Cross Busia Branch receives condoms once a week from another organization called Y.E.S/ Horizont 3000. We use our bikes to put on a big package full of male and female condoms. We walk through the whole town in Busia. There were many condom dispensers at video halls or other places. But with the time they got spoiled or someone has stolen them. Then you give them directly to the people. For example the Boda-drivers are important clients.
Dissemination
We visit Primary and
Secondary Schools to inform them about Uganda Red Cross.
We tell about the history of the foundation of Red Cross, history of the Red Cross Emblem, the benefits, how to join and the principles.
We tell about the history of the foundation of Red Cross, history of the Red Cross Emblem, the benefits, how to join and the principles.
Membership Recruitment/ Photographing members/ Distribution of
Membershipcards
The students who decided to join Red Cross will be photographed by us. Than for a small fee they will get a
identification card of Red Cross, which are produced at the headquarter in
Kampala.
Hygine and Sanitation
We walk through the villages for visiting the households. Than we want to sensitize them for some rules about hygine and sanitation: For example boiling water before drinking. The problem here is, that the majority does not understand English. So we as Germans can’t talk a lot.
But you can extend the project: Building up a Tip Tap for preventing sickness caused by bacterias from the latrines.
Hygine and Sanitation
We walk through the villages for visiting the households. Than we want to sensitize them for some rules about hygine and sanitation: For example boiling water before drinking. The problem here is, that the majority does not understand English. So we as Germans can’t talk a lot.
But you can extend the project: Building up a Tip Tap for preventing sickness caused by bacterias from the latrines.
Every Friday the Branch
Manager and the volunteers sit together to talk evaluate the last week. After
that we do a workplan for the following week. This workplan includes the
activity, the time, the venue and the responsible persons.
Chicken-Project
The chickenproject is the first project organized by Simon and me. With donations we builded up a chickenshelter at the compound of the old Red Cross Branch. In November we hopefully will receive some treated chicken. Then we are in charge to identify the most vulnerable people in villages. Those will receive two chickens for free. In a contract we fix, that Red Cross will receive the chicks to give it to some other families. Our aim is it to extend the project on many households. We also have to control that the chicken are treated well by the families and that they are not sold to strangers. The eggs which are produced of the chicken in the shelter at the old Red Cross Branch can be used as income generation.
The chickenproject is the first project organized by Simon and me. With donations we builded up a chickenshelter at the compound of the old Red Cross Branch. In November we hopefully will receive some treated chicken. Then we are in charge to identify the most vulnerable people in villages. Those will receive two chickens for free. In a contract we fix, that Red Cross will receive the chicks to give it to some other families. Our aim is it to extend the project on many households. We also have to control that the chicken are treated well by the families and that they are not sold to strangers. The eggs which are produced of the chicken in the shelter at the old Red Cross Branch can be used as income generation.
Office
work
We spend the time at the office at the Red Cross Branch. You can use this time to share and discuss some ideas with the other volunteers, to write reports or proposals for new projects.
Youth Camp
Every Year Red Cross is organizing a Youth Camp for Secondary Schools. This year the camp will hold from 30th of November until 4th of December. We want to use this time to share some issues with the students. The most important topics are Life Planning Skills (LPS), HIV/Aids and informing about Uganda Red Cross.
Music Gala
In October the volunteers, included Simon and me organized a Music Gala. This is an event for students of Primary Schools. They prepare at their school a presentation. The topic of the Music Gala was this year HIV/Aids. So they prepared a dance, a song or a short drama about this issue. Through judges one school was announced as winner. Those won a trophy.
To get enough money for that event was a big challenge, but in the end we could receive enough money through distribution of financial request letters, to buy or borrow the most important things like meals for the students or a music system.
We spend the time at the office at the Red Cross Branch. You can use this time to share and discuss some ideas with the other volunteers, to write reports or proposals for new projects.
Youth Camp
Every Year Red Cross is organizing a Youth Camp for Secondary Schools. This year the camp will hold from 30th of November until 4th of December. We want to use this time to share some issues with the students. The most important topics are Life Planning Skills (LPS), HIV/Aids and informing about Uganda Red Cross.
Music Gala
In October the volunteers, included Simon and me organized a Music Gala. This is an event for students of Primary Schools. They prepare at their school a presentation. The topic of the Music Gala was this year HIV/Aids. So they prepared a dance, a song or a short drama about this issue. Through judges one school was announced as winner. Those won a trophy.
To get enough money for that event was a big challenge, but in the end we could receive enough money through distribution of financial request letters, to buy or borrow the most important things like meals for the students or a music system.
Games at Red Cross compoundTo organize events like a Music Gala, a Youth Camp or just working on a project, meetings are really important. You discuss about the things you need and what you want to achieve. Of course the financial aspect is also an important issue.
German Lesson
Since some weeks I started
to give German Lessons at one Secondary School. I started to teach them in
basic sentences like 'How are you' or 'What is your name'. Now we go on with basic grammar and some vocabularies. The students are
really interested and included me we have a lot of fun during the lesson. I was
really surprised when they asked me for writing a test.
Community Service
We go to a public venue, for example a school to help cleaning the compound. For that activity are also coming many volunteers who are not joining Red Cross activities regular.
Community Service
We go to a public venue, for example a school to help cleaning the compound. For that activity are also coming many volunteers who are not joining Red Cross activities regular.
Road Safety Campaign
We arrange a date with the headmaster of Primary Schools. If the day is coming, we teach students in how to behave on the road/ street and we talk with them about dangers on the road.
(How to cross a street, how to ride a bicycle, how to react on several situations on the road, etc.)
(Taff Move)
Taff Move is a project of the German television-channel Pro7. There is one dance, which should be performed worldwide. We organized some students and after two days training, the videocoverage could take place. I sent this video to Pro7, where it was published on their homepage. The people from the branch, the students and me had lot of fun.
We arrange a date with the headmaster of Primary Schools. If the day is coming, we teach students in how to behave on the road/ street and we talk with them about dangers on the road.
(How to cross a street, how to ride a bicycle, how to react on several situations on the road, etc.)
(Taff Move)
Taff Move is a project of the German television-channel Pro7. There is one dance, which should be performed worldwide. We organized some students and after two days training, the videocoverage could take place. I sent this video to Pro7, where it was published on their homepage. The people from the branch, the students and me had lot of fun.
IV. Personal situation
With the time I really
started to like Busia. I like that you get shortly a good overview.
We have the luck to live in a big house, in which I really feel comfortable with a big garden. Because we have a wall around our garden and house and also a dog I absolutly feel save.
I am also getting used to the local food and I enjoy eating it. But I would lie if I say I do not miss some German food. The volunteers and also our Branch Manager are very friendly and polite to us and they try to support us in every case. If there are days where are no activities planned I sometimes miss motivation to do anything. This lack of motivation can also affects me. But I hope that I can implement some more projects and activities to fill the workplan. I would also prefer if there would be some female volunteers, but it is okay because I really come along with all the guys.
I already have some friends, to who we can come all the time asking for support and help.
I try to learn as much as possible about the Ugandan culture, so we just joined an introduction and a wedding of our Sub-Branch Manager. This was a good opportunity to get closer to Ugandan culture. But I also enjoy meeting the other German volunteers to share our experiences or just enjoying life in Uganda.
We have the luck to live in a big house, in which I really feel comfortable with a big garden. Because we have a wall around our garden and house and also a dog I absolutly feel save.
I am also getting used to the local food and I enjoy eating it. But I would lie if I say I do not miss some German food. The volunteers and also our Branch Manager are very friendly and polite to us and they try to support us in every case. If there are days where are no activities planned I sometimes miss motivation to do anything. This lack of motivation can also affects me. But I hope that I can implement some more projects and activities to fill the workplan. I would also prefer if there would be some female volunteers, but it is okay because I really come along with all the guys.
I already have some friends, to who we can come all the time asking for support and help.
I try to learn as much as possible about the Ugandan culture, so we just joined an introduction and a wedding of our Sub-Branch Manager. This was a good opportunity to get closer to Ugandan culture. But I also enjoy meeting the other German volunteers to share our experiences or just enjoying life in Uganda.
Our accomodationContacts:
Branchmanager Sophart: +256701814300/ +256776312094 (mobilephone)
Focal Person Peter: +256785264537 (mobilephone)
Victoria Winkler
victoria.winkler@gmx.de
Uganda Red Cross Society Busia Branch
Plot 44 Samia Bugwe Road
P.O. Box 30 Busia Uganda
Uganda Red Cross Society Busia Branch
Plot 44 Samia Bugwe Road
P.O. Box 30 Busia Uganda
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