Reason for a Change-Mitch’s Blog

Emma has decided to be a one woman NGO, is raising money for a girl who wants to go to school to become a nurse. Here is her message:

Dear everybody,

Have you ever wanted to send some money to Africa, but was afraid it would get embezzled by corrupt officials or organizations? Of course you have, and that’s probably what would happen to your money if you sent it to Africa! But not anymore, because Honest Em is here to offer you a chance to give like you never gave(?) before.

I have a group of kids aged 10-17 who meet almost daily for their Straight Talk Club. They practice songs, dramas, and discuss questions about health and HIV. They also have an amazing garden and a nursery for coffee trees. This whole project is run by an amazing girls named Tapither Namono. She is 18, and she wants to be a nurse She is also an HIV orphan and lives with an aunt in my village, Magale. School is not free here, and her aunt is not willing to pay school fees for her to become a Nursing Assistant. She needs fees for one year which will total about 700,000 Ugandan Shillings or 425 US Dollars per year. I am determined to get this girl through school, so any help would be appreciated. I am going to just spend my pitiful Peace Corps allowance on it otherwise. Her first term would begin in April, so only half of a year ($215) would be due at that date.

So here is the deal, you either send a check to my Mom or give her cash. She deposits the money into my account and I take it out from Uganda. It’s that easy!

Also, if you can’t donate but you know someone who can, could you please forward this email to them?

Thanks so much,
Emma

To ask questions:
Emma Rice
alleykitten7@gmail.com
PO Box 62
Mbale
Uganda
cell phone: 011+256 75 1700 564
Send money to:
Eileen Rice
1215 E. Hunter Ave.
Bloomington, IN
47401
812-334-3852

We called Emma last week, Tim came by and we all 3 listened on the speaker phone in my office. She is doing well, the mountain weather keeps the heat bearable, and she actually needs a hoodie to wear at night. Her friend from the next village over was there for the weekend, and they were cooking. We will be sending her another package soon, her Aunt Kitty just sent a big package of dried lemonade, and her friend Lois had called earlier in the week. She is of course homesick, but quite excited about her village and work.

Emma called the other night, our first call from Africa. She is doing well and has been assigned to a region in ___________, working with a health clinic. which is a large extinct volcano, and is a tourist/hiking destination, the area is know for coffee and dairy products (and she thought she was getting away from latte culture!) She will be probably learning a Nilotic or Bantu language, I am not sure which.

I have to figure out how to get and use an African calling card, otherwise we may set up a special account with Cingular for 50 cents per hour.

Emma left last nite on a flight to Belgium, then on to Kenya and finally Entebbe airport in the pearl of Africa, Uganda. She will spend a nite in Kampala getting acclimated and meeting the in-country PC officials. Then the group moves on to the (undisclosed) training site in the heart of the countryside. I used Google Earth the look over the area, it seems the whole of the country is a drainage basin for the White Nile flowing out of Lake Victoria (~3700 ft. amsl) to Lake Kyogo and on to Lake Albert (2700 ft. amsl), then on to Chad and Egypt. So the country is a large plateau surrounded by mountains or lakes on all sides, with rivers running everywhere. Here is some info gleaned from the web:

Uganda’s weather conditions are ideal , ranging from the warmth of the lowland areas to the coolness of the highlands in the South West Kigezi.

For the most of the year, Uganda is sunny with temperatures rarely rising above 85 degrees.
The average temperature is about 79 degrees F, with a maximum of 65-88 degrees and minimum of 59-74 degrees depending on the part of the country.

The rainy season is March-May. There is a light rain season in November and December. Wet seasons are March-May & October-November; dry seasons are December to February & June to August. Rainfall ranges between 20″ to 99″ & the relative humidity is 70% -100%

The four seasons (2 wet, 2 dry) allows two planting and harvesting seasons a year in most parts of the country, without the use of irrigation. About 34% of the country is covered in wetlands with a dense network of rivers,lakes and swamps. Generally, the country is endowed with fertile soils. Uganda shares Lake Albert to the west and Lake Victoria to the south, which is the 2nd largest fresh water lake in the world and also the source of the Nile.

March 1, 2007
What a day! March came in like a lion, bringing swift and decisive changes.

1. It started with the Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard annual breakfast on a morning of rain and strong winds, a tornado watch was active all afternoon. It was a wonderful event, we raised more money than any previous year, plus we got a $10,000 matching gift! So many of our friends and aquaintances were there, it felt wonderful to be with my community of common interest. Sue, Sandi, Doc, and Bob came to represent the bagel buddies, and I had checks from those who could not make the breakfast. Eileen showed up to fill out our table and we had a good breakfast. Laura did a great job giving the keynote, it was her first time speaking after 9 years of Jessica handling the chores.

2. Michael McRobbie named president of IU, a big thing for techies like me.

3. Busy day at work, I teach Tom from IU Medicine how to create signature files. It was busy all the way.

4. (This is the big one!) Emma somehow packs her life into 2 big and 2 small bags, and gets on the airport shuttle to begin journey to her Peace Corps service in Uganda! Everything went well, we got to shuttle in plenty of time, said goodbye, and that was it. It seems our family thrives in high energy times, this is all happening around tomorrow nite’s full moon eclipes in Virgo. Emma’s strong Uranus is emphazed as well, this is a very energtic time for all of us, which I take as a good omen for her time in Africa.

How quickly things change. Kudos to the Peace Corps, they came through for Emma, who was feeling pretty down. The PC placement officer called today, and Emma accepted a position doing health education in Uganda in the heart of East Africa. She will leave in March, and not have to go through the whole process again. What a relief! At least she will not have to launch a Plan B, we can just wait this out, gather a few more resources, learn more about Uganda. Fortunately, a friend of ours, Phyllis Martin, literally wrote the book, [Phyllis Martin and Patrick O'Meara. Africa. 3rd edition. Indiana University Press, 1995.] So look for a new design and info on her blog about the change.

The Peace Corps has withdrawn from Guinea, the current volunteers have moved to Mali, while the new group coming in, G13, has been cancelled. After a year of working and waiting, waiting, waiting (Nov, then Jan, then Feb), now more waiting. She will have to find a job, perhaps move to another city, it is just so hard to move back to the life you have emotionally, financially and spiritually left behind. Unless the PC can move this forward quickly, I doubt Emma will stick it out, she needs to move foward with her life. The next agro placement is in June, this will just be too much I fear, she is looking at Americorps and other ngo type jobs.

It is just so sad that the PC is leaving Guinea just when things start to get improve in terms of democracy and human rights, and when our help will be needed even more. Were our volunteers really in danger? Compared to NYC? I hope they return soon, but it seems too late for us.

Ten killed in Conkary, and Conte’s son made a show of force with his red berets by raiding the labor offices and arresting a bunch of kids. It seems there will be no resolution until Conte is gone, and he is not leaving willingly. Who knows, but even bauxite production has ended, the internationl markets (Alcoa, the Chinese and the Russians) are noticing, perhaps there will be pressure to concede, the govt is willing to raise wages, but this far too little to late for the Guineans.

There have been a few clashes with police in the streets, and heckling of strike breakers in Conkary, but overall the strike in Guienea was peaceful and successful on January 15, 2007. This was to be a day of prayer, with a peaceful rally in Conkary, but this was banned by the government. The unions with the people have been able to keep the strike on track (the powerworkers union is always mentioned, but the poplulation seems to support the strike). They have pledged to keep on striking until an interim government is in named, leading to free elections in 18 months. They have called on the army and police to support their effort, while making clear their non-violent committment.

Here is the best link for the latest info, it is in French, but you can use Babel Fish and a dictionary (optional) to read it:

Guineews.com

Here is timeline of recent Guinean politics 1958-2000.

Will this become a bloodless revolution, a coup, or a dictator shuffle, I just don’t know, do you?

Here is the latest from the Peace Corps, PC Trainees now have an expected arrival in Guinea of Feb 6., with staging in Philadelphia on February 3, 2007. Links to today’s news are below.

This is a general update on the situation in Guinea:

The strikes started today, but as of 5:30pm, Jan. 10, 2007 in Guinea, the Peace Corps Country Director reported that all was calm throughout the country. Many people stayed home today and there was little circulation. There was some activity in the markets in most towns around the country, but most businesses remained closed all day. We anticipate more of the same tomorrow. I will keep you updated of any significant changes, but will not be able to send you daily updates. Please be assured that we are in close contact with the Country Director in Guinea and things are quite calm there currently.
Sunday Times (Zambia)

BBC Africa-Guinea Strike over sick president

Guinea Seizes assets of business tycoon

In French, fullest coverage- Guineenews