One definite positive day last week was Wednesday, our party in Bulayi!  It was amazing.  All I had done was written “End of Training Celebration” on the calendar we passed out at the very beginning… and the group members planned a day-long extravaganza!  FSD brought the crate of sodas and UDEI paid for a goat, but the group members did the rest.

I asked Norah to wear a gomesi, since I wanted to wear mine – attached is our photo together before the party.  Wearing a gomesi is ridiculous; I was wearing a skirt and a wrap underneath all of that outer fabric.  Norah helped me get tied into it…  It was a big hit with my group members, to see me in their traditional dress.  They were all wearing their best as well.

So the day began with the group members dancing and singing.  They had written songs especially for the event!  Some speeches followed, and then more singing and this time some of the group members performed the traditional Buganda dancing style.  After a few songs, they took off their fur or grass bustles and came over to us so that we had to get up and dance too!  That’s the other photo, dancing in a circle.  After we danced, I gave a short speech as a thank you and goodbye.  Then the group members performed a play that they wrote about how their group began.  It was fantastic.

At about 5 pm we ate lunch, matooke with sauce cooked in luwombu, the banana leaf pouch where you steam the meat and sauce.  Then they sang more songs and gave me many gifts – a mat, baskets, purses, and then food I took to my host family like a full bunch of sweet bananas, pumpkins, avocadoes, eggs…  They were very generous.  The celebration was a wonderful way to say goodbye to the group I had worked with for these months.

A few of you have asked if I feel like I have been able to make a difference here with my work, if I have affected change.  In one community, yes.  There are over 2,000 new plants in Bulayi thanks to the FSD grant.  These plants will provide almost 40 families with food and income.  The trainings Norah, Jjagwe, and Edward lead there are also very helpful to those families.  The participants have been so enthusiastic and engaged in the trainings, asking many questions so they understand the recommended agricultural practices.  I am proud also of the handouts I have been making with Norah.  The first day of training we had only one draft copy of the handout for Norah to use while teaching and several people asked if they could have it after she finished.  I was so happy to hear that.

With love,

Stephanie

Dance Circle Celebration

Stephanie and Norah