2010 Volunteer Trip Blog

It seems like a long time since I have had a chance to sit down and write about what has been happening here. The internet connection has been almost non existent in Masaka so there was little point in attempting to post a blog, but now I am in Kampala I am hoping it will co-operate more. Fingers crossed!

The last couple of weeks has been a busy time since Browny and the boys have left Uganda. Much of the time has been spent with David and I discussing and preparing for the direction Suubi will take over the next 12 months. So many great things have been achieved in such a short amount of time here and we really want to keep the momentum rolling.

We have been busy researching the procedures we have to follow to set up a Community Health Clinic at Suubi. We both believe that this is the next logical step to take. The various projects and programs which are available at Suubi Education and Community Centre have been embraced by the local community. We feel sure that we can now build on this strong relationship we have developed, and by providing a clinic at the centre, we can further improve people lives. Basic medical issues will be handled at the clinic, but it will also give us an avenue to provide education, information and support programs relating to a variety of issues. Malaria and HIV awareness will be a focus and educating people about reproductive health, family planning, motherhood and child development will also be tackled.

It is an exciting and challenging time ahead. We hope that all you HUGgers out there will get behind setting up the clinic! A variety of fund-raising events have been planned when I return to Australia and the sale of 2011 HUG calendars will go into full swing. So please support any HUG events in your area, and if 100 of you out there can sell just 10 copies each of the calendar we will able to start building!!!

In amongst all of our planning we have still had time to to do other things though. After David recently returned from his week in Germany the Suubi ladies decided to give him a welcome home party. In true Ugandan style much matooke was prepared, the music was played loud and everyone danced the night away. It was so lovely to see everyone having such a great time; a far cry from when I first came here in 2007!




I have also spent much of the last couple of weeks working with the Suubi ladies. While we had been away traveling to Gulu and Bujagali they had been busy practicing their paper bead making. It is a new skill we have introduce to them relatively recently so when I returned they were keen to make necklaces like the ones I had bought to show them from other areas. Every day they would come to Suubi to collect the materials required (fishing line, connectors and small beads) so they could go home and produce their necklaces in the evening. Once at the centre they would sit and make beads together and help each other learn new ways to roll or thread them. While all that was happening there was always lots of chatting and laughing; another thing I am so glad to see at Suubi now days! I now have close to 700 necklaces, bracelets and other craft items, safely packed in my bag to bring home to sell for them. Hopefully we can sell them ALL so that people in Australia can get a beautiful handmade craft item and the ladies in Uganda can earn an income to support their families.


Other projects have also been moving on well. A new crop of mushrooms have just started to be harvested over the last week or so.The ladies learnt much from their first crop and many of them have now increased the number of sachets of spore they have planted. This means they are now harvesting larger quantities of mushroom each, which will of course means an increase their income!


The knitting project has also gone ahead in leaps and bounds. Just a few short weeks ago when Jan Heap was here helping the ladies with their sewing and knitting skills they were still struggling to produce a school vest. Jan should be extraordinarily proud of them now because Namirembe Sarah has not only mastered making a complete jumper herself, but she is also teaching other ladies as well! In-fact while we were visiting St Theresa (one of our partner schools) yesterday the director of the school said he would place the next order for their school jumpers through the Suubi ladies. Very exciting!!


Wednesday was a very exciting day at Suubi. It rained!!!!!!! Yipppppppppppeeeeee!!!!! This is the first 'real rain' we have had since I have been here so everyone was very excited. The tanks had been almost completely dry so it was great to see the gutters pouring over and the liquid gold running into the tank. It also means that people can now plant their next seasons crops which they had been unable to do before. The demonstration garden at Suubi has also been pretty bare since we harvested the maize a few weeks back so David took the opportunity on Thursday show John exactly how we wanted the double dug garden beds prepared. I'm sure John will busy right now planting the new seedlings. I can't wait to see the new crop!!!



Friday was, once again, the really tough part of the trip. Saying goodbye to everyone at Suubi is never easy. Everyone there is like my second family now. It is getting easier though because I know I will always be back next year! David and I will spend the next week in Kampala doing some further planning and will hopefully get a chance to celebrate all the great things that have been achieved since May.



It has been an amazing trip. Thanks to everyone that has been following the blog and hopefully you will continue to keep up to date with everything that is happening at Suubi through the Suubi update blog from now on. I sure am looking forward to getting home and seeing all of my Aussie family!!! Four months is a long time to be away and I can't wait to give everyone back home a huge HUG!

Love to you all.

HUGs from Helen

Anyone for a game of cards while we wait?


No pit latrine in sight...........not a problem for 'boys'!!!

WOW, Uganda :-)

For us four boys it has been a long time coming - over 2 years for Chad and Brenton - but for Ryley and I it is our very first time in Uganda, and that has been around 4 years in the making! All the stories all the photos and some broken up phone calls over time could not prepare us for the real thing & the excitement to finally arrive.

Being the first Brown boy out of the doors in Entebbe, the look on Mum's face was priceless, dripping wet from trying to cool herself down during a bout of malaria, tears running down her eyes she just couldn't stop smiling as one by one we came into a place she considers her second home. It literally was HUGS all round as Dad waited his turn and then we finally got to meet the inspirational person that is Mr. David Ssemwogerere.

Arriving on dusk to the Suubi centre was a bit of a blur, it was nothing like we had expected, again we had seen the photos and heard the stories but the work that has been done and the organisation of the entire project is just beyond belief. The next morning was a tour showing us all around Suubi and explaining how everything works, from the computer classes, to the reading classes, to the demonstration garden, to the mushroom house. The work that has been done is just truly amazing!

The last week has been has moved at a slower and more relaxed pace compared to the first six weeks of this trip. After the initial shock of seeing things in 'real life' Browny has settled in well. Having only seen the centres development via photos David had been sending to Australia over the last couple of years he found it quite surreal to be actually standing amongst the structures, and more importantly the people at Suubi. It is wonderfully to finally be able to share it all with him!

The last week or so has been filled to brimming point with activity as the current group of volunteers wound up their time at Suubi. After just ten short days at the centre the Tomaino family reluctantly waved goodbye to the community. Their offer to completely fund the building of the 2nd banda at the centre will definitely have a positive impact on Suubi well in to the future. Webale nnyo nnyo nnyo guys for your unbelievable generosity! Now sharing their experiences in Uganda with family and friends is something they are all looking forward to doing. They are all set to spread the HUG word. Nevine is already busy planning for a fund raising event later in the year and Lucynda promised to return to Suubi after she finishes school. So watch out for the Tomaino's...........they are a changed family and they are on a mission!

Last Saturday proved to be yet another huge success when over 3000 people from all over Kisekka sub-county and beyond gathered at Lubanda play ground to conclude a series of activities Suubi Centre had organised to mark World Environment day 2010.

Six weeks earlier we had launched the event when over 1000 trees were planted and the opening rounds of the sporting activities began. We were keen to get the wider community involved in a number of different ways so that we could spread the word about the importance of caring for the environment and also to promote the many programs which are now available at the centre. By incorporating a variety of sporting activities over a full six week period we were able to mobilise, involve and educate the masses.

After arriving at Suubi just a little over a week ago the Tomaino family have well and truly settled in. It has definitely been a challenge for them but they are now adapting beautifully. Things that they never would have dreamed they would be able to cope with are now being taken in their stride. In the beginning Christian was scared of the bugs, Rob couldn't survive on the matooke for every meal, Lucynda hated going to the pit latrine and Nevine didn't want to get dirty!!!!! Now after seeing for themselves what the local people have to cope with on a day to day basis they really have realised that there are more important things in life to worry about. 

At the same time they have really got stuck into to some tough physical work while they have been here. Without a doubt they will have left their positive imprint on Suubi and hopefully Suubi will have left a positive imprint on their whole family as well!

HUG sure is living up to its name of helping 'everyone' to grow!

HUGs from the team!

David and Helen explained to the Suubi ladies about Kate's journey across Africa.

The next morning, after  a well deserved nights rest, we set off with Kate and the Tomaino family to checkout some of our projects in the village. Kate was excited to hear about, and see for her self, what a positive impact our mushroom growing and piggery project are having on all those involved. Both of these concepts require very little to set up and over a relatively short space of time allow the participants to create a sustainable income for themselves. 

David explained the simplicity of setting up a mushroom house to Kate.


Babirye  proudly showed off her pig.

Next it was off to Bright Light Primary school visit one of our school garden projects. Again Kate and her crew were impressed with the simple concept of teaching schools throughout the area how to develop organic gardens where children can learn a productive and sustainable way to farm the land. 

David explained how school children pass on newly learnt farming skills to their families.

Nevine and Lucynda quickly got to know some of the local children along the way.

After the mornings tour of the village Kate spent the rest of the day checking out the facilities at Suubi and some of programs that are currently running at the centre. Ladies came for sewing, craft making and music and dance practise, while business people attended computer classes. By the end of the day Kate had very quickly realised that Suubi fitted right into her criteria of projects that are making a sustainable and long term difference to communities. So hopefully some time in the not to distant future we will sitting watching the TV in Australia and see the familiar faces of Suubi people flashing across the screen!!!

Kate chatted with the Tomaino family while the Suubi ladies rehearsed for an upcoming performance.

David, Helen, Ishmael and Joseph farewelled Kate and her crew.

Amazingly that isn't all that we have to tell you about!

During last week while David and I were in Kampala having Ruby repaired classes at the centre really got into full swing. School children began arriving for reading and computer classes. Some of the schools are very far away from the centre. Children from Busubi PS were transported in the back of a pick up to get there, a far quicker option than the three hours walk that the Sharon PS kids had to make to participate in the classes!  

Terry reading with some of the children who come to visit the Suubi library.


Busubi children arrived in the back of a pick up truck.


Sharon Primary School kids are just happy to have the opportunity to be reading.


Joseph is doing a wonderful job of introducing school children to computers.

But it is not only the school children who want to learn from the newly arrived computers which were so generously donated by the National Australia Bank. Local business people and school teachers are also lining up to take classes. One of the teachers said a few nights ago, "I am 47 years old but I am still very excited to lay my hands on the computer for the first time!"

Computer classes for local business people and teachers have begun.

So as you can see amazing things are going on here at Suubi. 'Everyday' something new and exciting is happening................In fact we can hardly believe it. Yip yip yippppeeeeee!

A huge HUG from Helen and the team!