With the volunteers being at Suubi for much of the last two months we have had to use much of the available internet time to update the trip blog so my apologies for not posting updates on this blog more regularly. We have however had a couple of really exciting things happen at Suubi during that time that I would like to let you know about.
A couple of weeks ago we were thrilled when we had the first piglet passed on from those that were distributed during last year. The initial piglets had been bought as gifts through the HUG shop and been dispersed amongst underprivileged families surrounding Suubi. As part of the recipients commitment they had all agreed that when their piglet had grown and produced it's own first litter they would then pass 2 piglets back to Suubi so they could in turn be passed on to other unprivileged families. We are now starting to see the 'pay it forward' system working beautifully!
Babirye's pig had given birth a month earlier and the piglets were now old enough to be taken from their mother. She will keep the original pig and she can chose what to do with the remaining three piglets from the first litter but it was very exciting to watch as she handed the first piglet on to Maxcensia who will now benefit in the same way as she has!! Very exciting!!
Babirye had raised a fine looking pig that produced healthy piglets.
Babirye had raised a fine looking pig that produced healthy piglets.
The piglet was passed back to Suubi and David oversaw the handing over to the next recipient.
Babirye (left) was happy to pass a piglet onto Maxcensia.
Maxcensia headed home with her new piglet.
Babirye (left) was happy to pass a piglet onto Maxcensia.
Maxcensia headed home with her new piglet.
Also earlier this month David and Helen attended a library conference which was held by the Uganda Community Library Association. With over 60 members the association is a great way for small community libraries like ours to learn from each other and share ideas.
We had only recently decided to employ a full time librarian at Suubi so we took the opportunity to organise for her to spend time at three other libraries in our area. We are sure she will get a variety of ideas of how to promote reading to the wider community.
We had only recently decided to employ a full time librarian at Suubi so we took the opportunity to organise for her to spend time at three other libraries in our area. We are sure she will get a variety of ideas of how to promote reading to the wider community.
David and Helen participated in a number of workshops at the library conference.
We have been able to employ Zakia thanks to Jan Heap (a recent volunteer), her daughters and some of her book club members in Cohuna offering donate the $115 a month which will cover her wage. To Jan, her family and friends it will only be a small amount to find each month but it will make an enormous ongoing difference here at Suubi. A huge thank you goes to them all for seeing the importance of having a Ugandan to run the Suubi library.
Zakia will run all our reading sessions with our partner schools and she will be responsible for promoting the Suubi library to the wider community. She is currently working out ways to encourage the local ladies to come with their smaller children for reading. Soon she will begin translating some of the books into the local language so we can get local children to do music dance and drama performances to the community about important issues like HIV and malaria awareness and we are also organising to have her record some of the books so that we can have sessions for those who can't read at all. These are just a few of the initiatives to begin with but we are sure having a new librarian will help the Suubi library continue to grow.
Our new Suubi librarian, Najjuko Zakia
Zakia taking a reading session with children from Sharon Primary School.
Zakia will run all our reading sessions with our partner schools and she will be responsible for promoting the Suubi library to the wider community. She is currently working out ways to encourage the local ladies to come with their smaller children for reading. Soon she will begin translating some of the books into the local language so we can get local children to do music dance and drama performances to the community about important issues like HIV and malaria awareness and we are also organising to have her record some of the books so that we can have sessions for those who can't read at all. These are just a few of the initiatives to begin with but we are sure having a new librarian will help the Suubi library continue to grow.
Our new Suubi librarian, Najjuko Zakia
Zakia taking a reading session with children from Sharon Primary School.
So as you can see many great things continue to happen at Suubi. We hope you are as excited hearing about it as we are. We know the current bunch of volunteers are thrilled to be here to see it for themselves. To read all about what they have been up to please check out the trip blog as well.
HUGs from the team!
HUGs from the team!
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