Today I had the opportunity to visit my host organization for the first time. We spent the day touring each of the five intern’s host NGOs, and learning about the work they are doing in the community.
I will be working with COTFONE (Community Transformation Foundation Network). COTFONE operates a school for orphans and vulnerable children (OVC’s), and it is my understanding that most of the children have been orphaned by HIV/AIDS. COTFONE is also involved with health education and services, youth and women’s programming, economic development and micro-credit services. They have a new website, http://www.cotfone.org/ if you have a chance to check it out.
While I am staying in Masaka for a week of training, I will actually be living and working in the village of Kiwangala (pronounced Chi-wah-n-gah-lah) which is about an hour away from Masaka. There are only a few paved roads in this part of the country, and many of the dirt roads are in bad shape after the rainy seasons. Since we were running late, the program director was driving quite fast. We all had a fun time/sore bottoms after flying over bumps and potholes at 100 km/hr.
Most of the Ugandan children get very excited to see a white person (Muzungu), and we passed many groups of school children along the road who would shout “Hi Muzungu! Bye Muzungu!” and wave eagerly. (They were thrilled if one of us waved back.) However, I don’t think any of us were prepared for the welcome we received when we finally reached my host organization. The children had just been released from school, and there were at least 40-50 young children waiting as we pulled in. They all began to scream and chant “Muzungu, Muzungu, Muzungu!!” in unison and clap their hands. When we parked the car, hoards of children surrounded us and you could barely open the car doors. They each wanted to hold your hands, or be picked up or simply touch your skin. It is an experience that I will never forget.
I feel like I caught a glimpse of what it must be like to be a teen pop star. :) Jokes aside, it was incredibly moving to feel so welcomed, and I can’t wait to begin working with the organization.
I will be working with COTFONE (Community Transformation Foundation Network). COTFONE operates a school for orphans and vulnerable children (OVC’s), and it is my understanding that most of the children have been orphaned by HIV/AIDS. COTFONE is also involved with health education and services, youth and women’s programming, economic development and micro-credit services. They have a new website, http://www.cotfone.org/ if you have a chance to check it out.
While I am staying in Masaka for a week of training, I will actually be living and working in the village of Kiwangala (pronounced Chi-wah-n-gah-lah) which is about an hour away from Masaka. There are only a few paved roads in this part of the country, and many of the dirt roads are in bad shape after the rainy seasons. Since we were running late, the program director was driving quite fast. We all had a fun time/sore bottoms after flying over bumps and potholes at 100 km/hr.
Most of the Ugandan children get very excited to see a white person (Muzungu), and we passed many groups of school children along the road who would shout “Hi Muzungu! Bye Muzungu!” and wave eagerly. (They were thrilled if one of us waved back.) However, I don’t think any of us were prepared for the welcome we received when we finally reached my host organization. The children had just been released from school, and there were at least 40-50 young children waiting as we pulled in. They all began to scream and chant “Muzungu, Muzungu, Muzungu!!” in unison and clap their hands. When we parked the car, hoards of children surrounded us and you could barely open the car doors. They each wanted to hold your hands, or be picked up or simply touch your skin. It is an experience that I will never forget.
I feel like I caught a glimpse of what it must be like to be a teen pop star. :) Jokes aside, it was incredibly moving to feel so welcomed, and I can’t wait to begin working with the organization.
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