Having purchased 200 goats for the Suubi goat project, from money raised in 2016, the Uganda Marathon committee were thrilled to see that number had swollen to over 250 in just 12 months. With such great progress, and ongoing commitment by the Suubi staff to make each and every project they undertake a success, the Marathon committee did not hesitate to once again include Suubi Centre as a beneficiaries of money raise by the international runners participating in this years event. The decision was made that funds raised this year would go towards constructing a ground water well at Suubi Secondary School. This will ensure a constant water supply to the school, with the added advantage of excess water being made available for local community members.
After the fun of last years Marathon adventure, everyone at Suubi had been looking forward to being part of the action again this year. In the lead up to the race there was lots to organise but on Wednesday the fun part began; two students from Suubi Secondary School were selected to join Suubi manager, Ishmael, and the international runners at a workshop in Masaka town. As part of the Marathon's Legacy Day, the international runners taught representatives from each of the 11 chosen beneficiary organisations how to make rubbish bins and green houses from recycled plastic bottles. What a fabulous concept!
Alex and Ishmael set about making one of the rubbish bins that would soon be taking pride of place at Suubi SS.
With both a male and female Suubi Secondary School student being taught the skills, this will ensure they can easily teach other students and community members once back in the village.
After the Legacy Day proving to be a huge success, on Thursday the Making A Difference Day swung in to action. This saw a group of the international runners head to Suubi to tour all of Suubi's major projects and check on last years goats that the marathon had bought. The first stop off was to meet the Suubi Ladies Group and staff from Suubi Clinic. A tour of all the facilities in the clinic, training hall and Suubi compound suitably impressed all of the visitors; it certainly gave them a better understanding of the high standard of projects and development that Suubi has achieved to date and why the marathon was so keen to continue to support Suubi initiatives.
After meeting with the Suubi staff and ladies the international runners were keen to add their hand prints to Suubi family wall in the training hall. The number of hands continue to steadily grow to perfectly show that "Together we can create hope."
One of the runners also shared new craft ideas with the Suubi Ladies. She was so impressed with their enthusiasm that she returned the following day to work with them in the hope that baskets and pot plant holders may be sold in the UK at some point in the future.
From Suubi Centre compound the team moved on to the goat project. Everyone was thrilled to see that the goats that had been purchased the previous year were thriving and numbers had steadily increased throughout the past 12 months. The first lot of goats are due to be sold later this year, with the money raised being put towards ongoing wages and administration cost for both Suubi Clinic and Secondary School.
Lunch among the goats was enjoyed by everyone!
With stomachs full, the afternoon actives at Suubi Secondary School soon got underway. The 'Make A Difference' activity saw the runners, staff and students working side by side to dig a trench between the ground water well (which had been dug earlier in the week) and the water tank in the school compound. Although it was a lot of hard work, it was a wonderful opportunity for the international runners to physically contribute, on top of the money that had raised throughout the year to actually help pay for the well to be constructed. What a hugely satisfying feeling to know that once the well is fully operational it will be an ongoing water source for both Suubi SS and the wider community.
The stoney soil surrounding the school proved a challenge to everyone but the students swung picks and hoes in a masterful fashion.
The trench was also cleared out by hand,
before the irrigation pipe was laid between the school compound
and the well that had been constructed, near the trading centre to also provide easy access for the wider community.
Once the work was completed there was also a presentation to the school of the recycle bins that had been made at Legacy Day and rugby balls that had been bought by some of the international runners.
The students were happy to be presented with the items made/bought by the international runners.
One of the runners, Thomas, also returned the following day to teach the students how to play rugby. We look forward to seeing the students showing off their new talent.
Never one's to just sit back and receive a hand out, on Saturday, Suubi had over 50 staff, students and ladies actually run in the event - what a terrific way to show their appreciation to the Marathon committee.
The huge crowd of local and international runners gathered at the start line for the race to begin.
It was a sight to behold as they took off and weaved their way around the course together.
For the second year in a row, Jja Jja Suubi did us proud and inspired everyone as she completed the 10 km course.
The Suubi SS students and staff put in a fine effort by competing the distances they had set for themselves. Participating in this wonderful event is something they are sure to remember for years to come. Well done everyone!
A huge thank you to the Marathon organisers for their tireless work to co-ordinate yet another fabulous event in 2017 and well done to everyone who ran! We look forward to being part of this amazing event again in 2018.
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