As I sit in Entebbe airport about to write the final blog post for the very first HUG volunteer trip I have such mixed feelings. I am so excited to be going home to see my family and friends and so sad to be leaving behind this beautiful country, the amazing people and my wonderful Ugandan friends. It has been the most amazing trip and we have achieved so much, all of which I am extremely proud of.
The last week has flown by! It has been filled with trying to finalize things. On Tuesday and Wednesday night we had the craft ladies come for meetings about what we hope they can achieve for themselves in the future. We had over 20 women graduate and I now have their beautiful bracelets safely packed in my back pack so all you HUGgers out there will be able to snap them up when I return home to Australia. I am so proud of all the Ugandan women who worked incredibly hard to master the weaving skills required to make the bracelets. Hopefully this hard work will help to create an income for themselves in the future.
The craft group meeting at Suubi.
Some of the members of the Masaka Women's Craft Group proudly show off their first payment for bracelet they made.
Celebrating with some of the graduates of the craft class.
Another exciting thing to happen during the week was installing the new signs at the centre. I had shown David all the main display signs previously, but he was very surprised and honored when I installed the 'Ssemwogerere Community Hall' sign. I hope that by dedicating the main hall to him, everyone in the village and surrounding communities will always remember that this amazing, inspirational man was the driving force behind bringing Suubi into their lives!
The Swemwongerere Community Hall!
David and I also visited Lubanda Primary, where he actually went to school, to speak to the current primary 5, 6 and 7 students. He shared stories of how he started various projects while still in primary school; from selling jack fruit to kids at lunch time, growing tomatoes and raising pigs, he helped to put himself through school. By hearing all about how this helped him to become the success he is today hopefully it will inspire todays kids and help them to realize that they too can achieve their dreams if they work hard! It will be fabulous if even just a few of the kids in the village aspire to be like Ssemwogerere!
David at Lubanda school.
While all this was happening the work on the bandas continued. They are now almost up to the roofing stage and I'm sure that Charles and the building crew are going to have sensational new bandas completed very soon, ready for the steady stream of overseas volunteers that Suubi will soon be attracting.
The Suubi bandas, nearly finished!
We popped up to say our goodbyes to the builders.
Thursday was a really tough day for me, saying goodbye to everyone in the village. They have all become my second family and I can't tell you how much I am going to miss their beautiful smiling, happy faces. The only thing that got me through was knowing that it will be less than 12 months before I return with Browny and our four amazing sons. I can't wait!
The last 2 days of my trip was spent at David's house in Kampala. It was a fabulous way to relax and celebrate all that has been achieved in such a short time. Thank you David for taking such great care of us all while we have been in Uganda. You are an absolute inspiration, someone I am proud to call my friend, colleague, partner and soul mate in empowering the Ugandan people.
I would also like to say a huge thank you to every single one of you out there that has helped to make Suubi possible. I promise you all, it is going to be a huge ongoing success! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
OK my plane is just about to start boarding. I'll fill you all in more when I get back home. Love to you all!
HUGs from Helen.
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