If, you like me, missed the airing of this segment, here is a permanent link to it. Thank you for being in the Journey
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/world_news_america/8550854.stm
Monday, March 15, 2010
Friday, January 8, 2010
Saturday, November 7, 2009
After the Journey:Children of Uganda Part I
Well, I knew it would not be long before I get a not so pleasant feedback on the blog, but when it was delivered I was not ready. This past Sunday, right after church, someone walked up to me and among other things, we had a chat about the walk and the blog. He said, “I read some of your blog…but I mean, did you write it or did your secretary?” I smiled and then laughed nervously not knowing how to respond. After my sheepish confession that I was indeed the author of the blog, the critic continued, “…I thought that someone was just going off on a tangent…” The interesting thing was that the criticism came right after a message from Matt—one of the Team Leaders at ECV. Matt had said that we should be a community that loves with our minds and thinks with our hearts. Timely; right? How else to put to test what I considered to be the take-home message for me as a member of the ECV? Anyhow, if you are still following me on this journey and reading this thing, I thank you most deeply, now that I know, most of this is indeed going off on a tangent. Here we go, hopefully it won’t be too much of a departure from the point or maybe it will, thank you for reading nonetheless…
In 1996, my friend Isabel introduced me to Daughters of Charity (DOC) and Children of Uganda (COU-formerly Uganda Children’s Charity Foundation—UCCF). At the time, DOC had three main homes for abandoned and orphaned children: one in Kiwanga located on Jinja Road on the outskirts of Kampala; one in Nsambya near Nsambya Hospital, another suburb of Kampala; and one in Rakai (former capital of HIV AIDS in Uganda) at a place called Sabina, west of the capital, 25 kilometers from the Tanzanian boarder...
I went back to Kiwanga many weekends with and without Isabel. I was drawn to more than the plight of these children. As dreadful as most of their stories were and still are, there was something more to their ostensibly limited existence. I was drawn to their laughter, to their song, music and dance; to their boldness in loving the many strangers who turned up at their home, and to their hope and lighthearted attitude towards life amidst and against all odds…
Egoistically, I kept going back even when I knew that I drew much more from the encounters than they did: they had less of the worldly possessions to give and yet they gave a lot more than I did. I gave far much less…I had a day every week. Other times I would manage a day every other week…it was always a little bit of time out of my otherwise ‘busy’ schedule. The children gave me more than time, more than presence…they tagged at my heart, challenged it, and dared it to adopt a similar internal and external posture towards life, to learn a little more of what it means to have grace and courage in the context of life in Africa, to dance even when there is no music, to laugh helplessly even when it hurts, to allow myself to heal in all the ways I needed to heal, and to appreciate the meaning of taking one day at a time…
Many years have passed since Isabel first introduced me to these children and over the years, I have discovered many ways in which their stories intertwine with mine and that of many other Ugandans, as well as hundreds abroad. The passing of time has not changed the things I have mentioned above. I return to Kiwanga, and Rakai with less of a fractured internal person, with a little more confidence in my capacity to give rather than be a recipient of the challenge. Every year I return with severe expectations (self-inflicted) and with a little more courage to ask myself and others--will we give what it takes to make a difference or love these children as much? Will we hug with no reserve? I ask myself these questions and more every time I walk back into the old and new relationships, into the ever embracing open arms of Kawala and Charles, and Joseph and…
I wish I could take everyone I know to Kiwanga and Sabina, you too would be plugged in for life, may be you too would become a returning constant! A few days after the walk, we hit the road to visit Sabina home in Rakai. I know the road by heart and as soon as we negotiate the crazy parts of Kampala and its deathly traffic, I settle into three hours of anticipation and excitement. I am always assured of one thing...visiting the children is not a matter of 'maybe' I will be inspired, I know I will. Please read part two of this story to share in our experience with the children after the walk. To learn more about their stories and how you can be a part of their journey, help or sponsor a child please visit http://www.childrenofuganda.org/
On the left is charles, one of the children I met in 1996.
Thank you for being in the Journey with me...more to come
Funny, that I would be introduced to these orphans, in my own country, by someone from the UK! It was at Kiwanga that I first met and fell in love with the children. Isabel wanted me to help with the medical screening of a group of disabled children residing there. I met Theresa a.k.a Kawala, a vivacious and flamboyant young lady of sixteen with a developmental age of six or seven and a tragic story…but you would not know it, for Kawala is one of the happiest people I have had the pleasure of knowing. Her enthusiasm is infectious, her love for others fearless and fierce, her memory of those that have crossed her path impeccable, and her joy and selflessness exceptional. I also met Charles, a child confined to one place due to his disability, and with a smile that would stay with you long after you had left Kiwanga. Later, I met Joseph, and Rose, and Rebecca, and Stella, and Cyrus, and Gorretti, and Gertrude, and Sarah, and Innocent, and Kareem, and Sharif, and Stephen, and…each year, a new face representing hundreds; each year, the list grew…
I went back to Kiwanga many weekends with and without Isabel. I was drawn to more than the plight of these children. As dreadful as most of their stories were and still are, there was something more to their ostensibly limited existence. I was drawn to their laughter, to their song, music and dance; to their boldness in loving the many strangers who turned up at their home, and to their hope and lighthearted attitude towards life amidst and against all odds… Egoistically, I kept going back even when I knew that I drew much more from the encounters than they did: they had less of the worldly possessions to give and yet they gave a lot more than I did. I gave far much less…I had a day every week. Other times I would manage a day every other week…it was always a little bit of time out of my otherwise ‘busy’ schedule. The children gave me more than time, more than presence…they tagged at my heart, challenged it, and dared it to adopt a similar internal and external posture towards life, to learn a little more of what it means to have grace and courage in the context of life in Africa, to dance even when there is no music, to laugh helplessly even when it hurts, to allow myself to heal in all the ways I needed to heal, and to appreciate the meaning of taking one day at a time…
Many years have passed since Isabel first introduced me to these children and over the years, I have discovered many ways in which their stories intertwine with mine and that of many other Ugandans, as well as hundreds abroad. The passing of time has not changed the things I have mentioned above. I return to Kiwanga, and Rakai with less of a fractured internal person, with a little more confidence in my capacity to give rather than be a recipient of the challenge. Every year I return with severe expectations (self-inflicted) and with a little more courage to ask myself and others--will we give what it takes to make a difference or love these children as much? Will we hug with no reserve? I ask myself these questions and more every time I walk back into the old and new relationships, into the ever embracing open arms of Kawala and Charles, and Joseph and…
On the left is charles, one of the children I met in 1996.
Thank you for being in the Journey with me...more to come
Friday, October 30, 2009
FROM ABDUCTED CHILD TO UN SPEAKER: CHARLOTTE
From abducted child to UN speaker: By Dr. Ian Clarke: New Vision
CHARLOTTE has become a valued member of our family over the past five years, while she has been going through school. Her mother, Angelina Atiam, is well-known as the chairperson of Concerned Parents Association and champion of the campaign for the release of the Aboke Girls by the LRA.
It was only this year that the final girl came home, after 12 long years in captivity. Charlotte was held by the LRA for eight years, during which time she was horribly beaten and also bore two children. She escaped five years ago and since then has attended secondary school in Kampala and is now a student at International Health Science University.
During her captivity, she was continually under guard and endured beatings, sexual abuse and hard labour. She was also shot at, survived Operation Iron Fist and tracked through the bush for months, but despite all this, she did not become a bitter or twisted person and is one of the most balanced people I know. She is loving, kind and unselfish; she is humble and has a remarkable degree of wisdom and insight for a person still in her mid twenties.
During the long break between A levels and university, I asked her to work in Pader Health Centre as an administrator and she demonstrated her ability to get alongside people and bring the best out in them – perhaps because of her humility, but also because she has an unerring sense of what is the right thing to do.
Because of her experience of being abducted, she received an invitation a few weeks ago to speak at the United Nations in New York, at a conference on human trafficking. She first had to get a passport and there was also an interesting moment when we thought she would not get a visa, because there was some confusion over the list and she was turned away by the guards at the American Embassy. They told her she could not wait around because they said she was a security risk! Fortunately, the mistake was rectified and a visa was issued, so she travelled with her mother to New York this week. She contacted us after she arrived, saying that the journey had been fine and she was staying in a hotel in Manhattan, beside the UN.
When the organisers went through the programme with her, she was surprised to find that she was the speaker after Ban Ki-Moon and while he had been given four minutes, she was to speak for eight minutes.
We had heard her speech before she left and found it very moving – as she described without emotion, how she had been taken, some of her experiences in captivity and how she escaped.
What is so poignant when Charlotte speaks is the matter-of-fact way she describes her ordeal. If one does not really engage with Charlotte, one will take her as just another young Ugandan girl, but when she speaks in her quiet manner and looks directly into your eyes, then you see her inner strength of character. You see a deep person and appreciate her strength and purity of spirit. She was 14 when she was abducted, but nothing which happened to her has blemished her.
When I am with Charlotte I see, not only her outward beauty, but the inner beauty of someone who is meek and strong at the same time. I would love to have heard her speak at the UN, but I am sure as I write this, that she had a tremendous impact, just because of who she is.
Some people go through difficult experiences and become traumatised or broken. For others, such experiences make them stronger; this young girl is one such person.
You can also read the article online at: http://www.sundayvision.co.ug/detail.php?mainNewsCategoryId=7&newsCategoryId=137&newsId=698967
CHARLOTTE has become a valued member of our family over the past five years, while she has been going through school. Her mother, Angelina Atiam, is well-known as the chairperson of Concerned Parents Association and champion of the campaign for the release of the Aboke Girls by the LRA.
It was only this year that the final girl came home, after 12 long years in captivity. Charlotte was held by the LRA for eight years, during which time she was horribly beaten and also bore two children. She escaped five years ago and since then has attended secondary school in Kampala and is now a student at International Health Science University.
During her captivity, she was continually under guard and endured beatings, sexual abuse and hard labour. She was also shot at, survived Operation Iron Fist and tracked through the bush for months, but despite all this, she did not become a bitter or twisted person and is one of the most balanced people I know. She is loving, kind and unselfish; she is humble and has a remarkable degree of wisdom and insight for a person still in her mid twenties.
During the long break between A levels and university, I asked her to work in Pader Health Centre as an administrator and she demonstrated her ability to get alongside people and bring the best out in them – perhaps because of her humility, but also because she has an unerring sense of what is the right thing to do.
Because of her experience of being abducted, she received an invitation a few weeks ago to speak at the United Nations in New York, at a conference on human trafficking. She first had to get a passport and there was also an interesting moment when we thought she would not get a visa, because there was some confusion over the list and she was turned away by the guards at the American Embassy. They told her she could not wait around because they said she was a security risk! Fortunately, the mistake was rectified and a visa was issued, so she travelled with her mother to New York this week. She contacted us after she arrived, saying that the journey had been fine and she was staying in a hotel in Manhattan, beside the UN.
When the organisers went through the programme with her, she was surprised to find that she was the speaker after Ban Ki-Moon and while he had been given four minutes, she was to speak for eight minutes.
We had heard her speech before she left and found it very moving – as she described without emotion, how she had been taken, some of her experiences in captivity and how she escaped.
What is so poignant when Charlotte speaks is the matter-of-fact way she describes her ordeal. If one does not really engage with Charlotte, one will take her as just another young Ugandan girl, but when she speaks in her quiet manner and looks directly into your eyes, then you see her inner strength of character. You see a deep person and appreciate her strength and purity of spirit. She was 14 when she was abducted, but nothing which happened to her has blemished her.
When I am with Charlotte I see, not only her outward beauty, but the inner beauty of someone who is meek and strong at the same time. I would love to have heard her speak at the UN, but I am sure as I write this, that she had a tremendous impact, just because of who she is.
Some people go through difficult experiences and become traumatised or broken. For others, such experiences make them stronger; this young girl is one such person.
You can also read the article online at: http://www.sundayvision.co.ug/detail.php?mainNewsCategoryId=7&newsCategoryId=137&newsId=698967
Saturday, October 17, 2009
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